Don Winkler

Don Winkler (born Sheldon Winkler) is an independent filmmaker from Idaho. Don has been the artistic type since childhood, but it wasn't until high school, when they started attending a charter school focused on the arts, that they could truly begin to express them self. At the age of 11 they discovered the Syfy original series, FaceOff, and developed an interest in movie makeup. After years of stealing cardboard from their parent's recycling bin (and with only one Halloween costume to show for it) they lost interest. When Don was enrolled in an arts school, they became very involved with the theatre department. Their first endeavor in film making was a short PSA, which was a project for their freshman health class, regarding a healthy life style for teenagers. Unsatisfied with the quality of the project, they acquired an unhealthy obsession with film and spent the next few years (and many more to come) teaching themselves the art of film making. In 2017 Don came out as transgender (they came out once before in 2012 as bisexual, but they are only attracted to men). They also began to explore their interest in music during high school. Guitar is their primary instrument, but they also play bass, ukulele, and drums. They have played for school bands such as Royal Strawberry and Saint Marshall and the Molar Bear, as well as non school related acts such as the acoustic punk duo, Corduroy Blue.