Alan Ray

Producer, Director, Screenplay

Alan Ray is an American filmmaker, actor, and producer whose multifaceted career as a lifelong artist across many disciplines spans four decades in independent cinema, performance, commercial production, and innovative educational media.

Ray began his creative journey in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1985, building a foundation as an actor in independent films, television commercials, and theatrical stage productions. In 1989, he produced and starred in the feature film Twisted Fate. Drawn to Los Angeles in 1996, he immersed himself in advanced training, studying acting at the Beverly Hills Playhouse under acclaimed instructors Jeffrey Tambor and Richard Lawson, refining on-camera technique with Margie Haber, and developing voice-over skills at The Voicecaster. He appeared in numerous feature films, commercials, and theater productions. As a consulting producer, he contributed to dozens of graduate thesis projects at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, wearing many hats and supporting emerging filmmakers across various aspects of production.

In 2004, Ray founded CNK Digital, Inc. and served as its President, spearheading the creation of Looney Tunes ClickN READ Phonics, an animated, interactive 100-lesson children’s learn-to-read program featuring licensed Looney Tunes characters from Warner Bros. Raising $13 million in capital, co-wrote scripts, cast and directed voice-over talent, oversaw animation production, and produced a wide range of long- and short-form television commercials. The program became the core software for the EPIK Learning Tablet, distributed nationwide in 4,500 Walmart stores and achieving $100 million in sales over its final five years and giving millions of children the gift of reading.

In 2023, Ray returned to acting in front of the camera, followed by a renewed focus on narrative filmmaking. In 2024, he wrote, directed, and produced the short drama Honeysuckle, a genre-bending tale that uses vampirism as a lens to examine disrupted life plans, profound loss, and questions of identity and societal expectations. In 2025, he joined the Wesley Bros. faith-based feature comedy A Very Southern Church, as associate producer while portraying the memorable Sheriff I. Catchum.

Throughout his career, Ray has balanced creative pursuits with diverse professional ventures, including roles as a software engineer for Honeywell developing industrial control computers that saved enormous natural resources and Motorola developing the very internet we all use today that has transformed the world, founding a venture capital consulting firm, managing the early career of singer-songwriter Celeste Stoney—securing her a publishing deal with Peer Music, a recording offer from Island Def Jam, and a Platinum Record for her feature on Ja Rule’s “Murder Reigns”—and executive producing her debut music video “My Kinda Crazy.” He currently owns Kidz Rocks, an e-commerce business specializing in rocks and crystals.

With roots firmly planted in performance and a proven ability to navigate both creative and entrepreneurial landscapes, Alan Ray brings a distinctive blend of authenticity, versatility, and storytelling craft to his work. His films reflect an enduring commitment to character-driven narratives that illuminate universal human experiences with warmth, insight, and emotional truth.

William Brian Baker

Producer, Director, Story & Screenplay, Starring as Craig & Honeysuckle

William Brian Baker is a Charleston-based actor, writer, director, and producer whose character-driven short films delve into themes of isolation, human connection, and contemporary existential struggles.

Baker began performing as a teenager and honed his craft over a decade in theater and independent projects. His early work includes writing, executive producing, and starring in the 2010 short Gives, followed by television appearances on Army Wives (2009) and Unforgettable (2011), as well as a role in the 2011 music video for Motionless in White’s “Immaculate Misconception.”

After relocating to New York City, Baker trained at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting, accumulating regional theater credits alongside film and television work. Upon returning to Charleston, he pivoted toward writing and directing, embracing a multi-hyphenate approach to independent storytelling.

His directorial efforts include the 2023 short Keeping Away from the Kardashians (which he also wrote and starred in) and the award-winning 2025 short A Letter to Let Go, where he directed and played Dr. Thatcher, earning accolades including Best Short Narrative.

In his most recent project, the completed 2025 short Honeysuckle, Baker serves as director, writer, producer, graphic designer, and lead actor (as Craig Mason). This subtle drama reimagines vampire mythology through a modern lens, exploring loneliness and bureaucratic alienation in the digital age.

Baker continues to develop original narratives rooted in emotional authenticity. He is currently writing a feature film slated for production in 2026.

Patrick Lipp

Director of Photography, 1st Assistant Director, Editor, Colorist, Production Sound Mixer

Patrick is a multi-talented entrepreneur. Producer, director, cinematographer, editor, IT Engineer, eCommerce brand developer and so much more. Patrick first began his video editing journey in early Highschool, learning the basics from his older brother.

Having been surrounded by numerous bands, a recording studio, and playing multiple instruments himself, the creativity was in his blood, and was merely waiting for inspiration and motivation. After multiple photo and video projects in school, he soon would place that creativity on the back burner to focus on his career working IT as a defense contractor which he would continue for the next 15 years.

In the early 2010’s Patrick would find his way back behind the camera, only this time helping a few friends with a project they were starting on YouTube. While he enjoyed this, it wasn’t the direction he aspired and would soon go off on his own. Over the next 13 years he would begin the journey of learning not only the basics of working a camera, but the more advanced techniques and theory behind framing, lighting, editing and color grading, all while starting multiple businesses based around IT and his various creative passions.

He would go on to build a successful photography business with his wife, and would offer Wedding videography for a period of time, and then in 2022 Patricks photo and video interests would shift focus on another of his passions, Automotive. He soon began building his most recent business venture, The Cultured Car, which is an automotive documentary/narrative style video series. This included developing a production company based around capturing the imagery. As of May of 2024, he has joined the production Honeysuckle as Director of Photography, Editor, Colorist, as well as the Sound Engineer for production days.

Dell Brewer

Camera Operator

Budding creator with in-depth experience behind the camera and behind the curtain. Applicable skills and qualities from on stage to on set. Highly focused and determined to make way into the film environment with directing, editing, cinematography, acting, and choreography experience. Adept and eager to apply skills from several trades and art backgrounds to your project. In this world of out-of-the-box thinkers, there are no unworthy skills. My name is Dell Brewer. Art has been the one constant of my life in which I have found definition and meaning. From penciling to cinematography, I aim to acquire as much as I can from those fellow artists around me. After all, life is the greatest production. How are we to understand it if not through art?

BRADLEY SHUFFLER

Camera Operator

Bradley, from his roots as a drone pilot and iMovie creator, worked his way up to the intricate processes of writing, film making, and editing. Since 2014 Bradley has produced everything from Films and TV Commercials to industrial training videos and live events across a wide range of business sectors.

Teddy Schafer

Gaffer

Recently graduating from the College of Charleston in 2022, Teddy has been exploring multiple workplace fields in an attempt to learn a variety of skill sets and lessons. Ranging from sales positions, marine work, and even combat training, it’s safe to say there’s no area of work that Teddy wont try. After spending multiple years practicing cinematography on his own (and studio level training in high school), Teddy is ready to set his sights on the world of film.

Kala Kannisto

Makeup Department Head

In 2016, Kala saw an episode of Face Off, a creature creation competition show first appearing on SYFY. Something magical happened inside her and her creative makeup spark was ignited! As a former theatre major and competition dancer, makeup had always been a fun part of her life but seeing this show made a career applying makeup for stage and film feel like a real possibility.

Fast forward to 2024 and Kala has studied for two weeks in Los Angeles under 3 time Oscar winning makeup artist Ve Neill (Hunger Games, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice), Emmy awarding winning makeup artist Debbie Zoller (A Star is Born, Pitch Perfect) and Academy Award nominated makeup artist Eryn Krueger Mekash (Fabelmans, American Horror Story).

She has also created special effects makeup for an independent feature film, several short films, commercials, live TV appearances and theatrical productions and is currently being mentored by BAFTA and Emmy nominated makeup artist and designer, Naomi Bakstad. She was also featured in the Nov 2021 edition of The Charleston City Paper and in SC Voyager Magazine for her work. She loves applying and painting prosthetics, playing with manipulating light and shadow through contouring, working with vivid colors, making makeup look invisible and most of all, as a natural extrovert, working with others in interesting environments.

Celeste Stoney

Celeste is a professional singer, actress, voice over artist and songwriter signed to Peermusic Publishing. Celeste as a featured artist on legendary rapper Ja Rule’s single, “Murder Reigns” earned Celeste a Platinum Record. Celeste has been a featured singer with other artists including Foxy Brown, Raekwon The Chef, MC Lyte and NAS as well as UK rapper Fugative with the cart topping UK single “Bad Girl”.

The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club are an American pop rock band originally from the coast of South Carolina, United States. The music of their first album is heavily influenced by the vocal harmony styles and production of The Beach Boys. Their second album shows more influences of soft-pop artists of the early-1970s such as Burt Bacharach, Glen Campbell, etc. The band released their third studio album ‘Together’ in 2016. On 2020 they released the self-titled album ‘The Explorers Club’ and an album of covers titled ‘To Sing and Be Born Again’ on Goldstar Recordings.

Other Crew

Cameron Scharf – Script Supervisor
Jon Fang – Gaffer
Graham Stowe – Best Boy
Brighton Brown – Makeup Artist
Payton Hood – Lighting Technician
Justin Edward Baker – Locations
Loud House Audio – Recording Studio

Production Assistants

Abbey Carr
Ashley Perry
Savannah Davis
David Floyd
Alisa Simmons
Johnny Birchfield
Tamara Starnes
Noah Greenawalt