Academy Award winning writer, director, producer and actor Ray McKinnon will give an all day Directing and Acting Workshop in Reeves Theatre in The Vaughn Center on Monday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to students, faculty, the public, and media.
McKinnon’s breakout film as writer-director was 2001’s comedy The Accountant. After winning awards at three national festivals, The Accountant won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. His redemption drama, Chrysal (2004), starring Billy Bob Thornton and Lisa Blount (An Officer and A Gentleman), was nominated for the Grand Jury Award at the Sundance Film Festival in 2004.
Randy and the Mob (2007), his latest release, is the story of a good ol’ Southern boy who finds himself in some down home mobster troubles with only his quirky family to turn to. The comedy features Brent Briscoe (National Treasure: Book of Secrets, The Messengers) Bill Nunn (of the Spiderman trilogy), and Burt Reynolds. It has already won awards at the Slamdance Film Festival and Nashville Film Festival.
McKinnon not only writes and directs his award-winning films, but stars in them as well. He has also acted in various television and movie roles including Deadwood, The X Files, and O Brother Where Art Thou.
Shifting focus, McKinnon is now involved in pre-production, as both producer and actor, of the Southern dramedy I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down, directed by Scott Teams.
During the workshop, he will speak about his involvement in the business from all angles and emphasize the complex collaboration between the creative departments to realize a “vision”.
Schedule of Monday, March 17th.
* 9 a.m. Doors open- * 9:30 a.m.- Intro w/ Ray McKinnon * 9:45 a.m.- “The Accountant” * 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Ray McKinnon- “The Working Actor” workshop w/ Ray McKinnon
Lunch Break * 1:15 p.m. “The Accountant” 38 min * 2 p.m. “Randy and the Mob”- Florida premiere 98 min * 3:30-6 p.m. Ray McKinnon: The Filmmaker: The journey of an independent filmmaker: writer, director, actor and producer.
YOUTUBE TRAILER FOR RANDY AND THE MOB