Today we’d like to introduce you to Dylan Russ.
Hi Dylan, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was always obsessed with movies from a young age. Some of my core memories growing up surround watching them. I had worked on a few college short films with friends many years ago but never expected that to go anywhere. It wasn’t until I moved to Jacksonville that film really opened up for me. About 4 years ago now Creative Veins hosted their annual Halloween movie festival, where you make a team and create a 5 minute short film with the requirements drawn. I showed up super early to the event and sat in my car waiting for others to arrive as I was incredibly anxious. Once people did I made every attempt to interact with folks, and was eventually invited to join a team as makeup. That eventually transitioned to makeup, effects, and acting in the short film Transmitted. From that I was hooked, but not sure what I wanted to go forward doing. I acted again in a Christmas short festival for Creative Veins, but it wasn’t until the LOL was announced that year that I gave writing a shot. I wrote my first short Piddle, and pitched it to the team I had worked with. They loved it and we worked on bringing it to life. I acted, wrote it, and directed it…something I swore I wouldn’t do again…but then in 2026 for the LOL I did with my short Death in The Family. In between then and now I created my own production company of sorts, worked on a number of short films both for festivals and myself, and am in the process of creating a feature film.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Filmmaking is anything but smooth, however it is the struggles that force us to adapt and grow. Each set has problems that arise, forcing you to learn on the fly. Examples of challenges faced, in my short The Grand Petarade, the original prosthetic would not adhere in the humid outside we were filming in. So we adjusted the look, and it was so successful that we won best makeup that year at the LOL.
As you know, we’re big fans of Kreeper Reaper Productions. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Kreeper Reaper Productions is something I started originally just to house the shorts I wrote and directed, but it has evolved into a production company that while mainly focusing on horror, works with a number of talented cast and crew to bring stories to life. What sets us apart is our willingness to have anyone work with us. Film is about collaboration and learning, and often we learn best when we are teaching others how to do tasks.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I hope that the industry continues to foster growth in the indie markets. There has been an uptick in indie films making big screen showings and doing well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://reapthekreep.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreeper_reaper_productions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563682386713
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@KreeperReaperProductions
- Other: https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/hellskate/borrowed-success?ref=search
