R.J. Redl

Born Russell James Redl, R.J. developed a strong interest in storytelling at an early age. However, instead of making short films, he spent his childhood and teenage years drawing and writing. R.J. gravitated toward horror stories more than any other genre. His Nana and his father were instrumental in developing his fascination with movies, frequently taking him to picture theaters to see the next tent-pole blockbuster. But his stepfather's eclectic taste in movies was ultimately what pushed R.J. into becoming a filmmaker. R.J. was exposed to countless movies (Hollywood, indie AND art-house). Ratings didn't matter. This over-exposure to different forms of visual storytelling was the catalyst for R.J. changing his preferred tool for creating art from a pen to a camera. He made his first short film straight out of high school, working by himself instead of with a team. This experiment was the culmination of an entire lifetime of cinematic analysis. He would spend the following decade honing his craft while dreaming of, and attempting but failing at, making a full-length feature film. He dabbled in a few short films of various artistic merit. But his perceived strength was his ability to write. And find humanity in the characters he created.