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Chris Hicks - Deseret News Feature Editor
Chris grew up obsessed with movies. He spent most of his growing years either in libraries learning about movies or in the theaters watching them. After spending three years in the Army, which included a year-long tour in Vietnam, Chris attended Weber State University where he studied journalism. Upon graduating he landed a job with Ogden’s Standard Examiner where he worked for two years before moving to the Deseret News. Chris served as Deseret News’ movie critic for 20 years. He also spent 13 years reviewing movies for KSL. Chris is currently the Feature Editor for the Deseret News in charge of all feature sections, as well as Arts and Entertainment.
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Rocco DeVilliers – Producer/Director
Rocco DeVilliers’ love of film began at an early age, and since then he has immersed himself in every facet of the filmmaking process by producing, directing and editing numerous films. Rocco is best known for his editing ability and his incredible knack for directing action. At seventeen, Rocco amazed his teachers and peers when he produced his first film, Bounding Overwatch. Rocco coordinated every aspect of the production which included a Huey helicopter and several full combat action sequences. By this time, Rocco was already winning numerous awards for his work. At age 21, Rocco directed his first feature film, Pure Race. This action-packed drama about friendship and racism not only won awards but also launched several careers. Although made on only a shoestring budget, the film contained a powerful story and plenty of stunning action. Pure Race was released in theaters overseas and has been seen on cable and Pay Per-View internationally. It has also enjoyed a successful run in the Blockbuster and Hollywood Video chains. Recently, Rocco produced and directed the high school drama Only Once which starred Austin O’Brien from The Last Action Hero and Promised Land. The film not only exhibited Rocco’s ability to make a story visually interesting but also displayed his gift for pulling strong performances out of his cast. Only Once earned critical acclaim, was released on video internationally, and recently premiered on cable TV. Rocco also owns a high-end post-production facility and is continually sought after by fellow filmmakers for his services and expertise. He has edited and supervised the post-production of many feature films. Rocco is married and the father of two boys.
Click here to read more about Rocco.
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Gregory C Haynes - Producer/Director/Screenwriter
Gregory C. Haynes was introduced to writing at a very young age. His father and mother have written eight novels between them. After graduating with a mechanical engineering degree from Utah State University, he decided to follow in his parents' footsteps and moved to Los Angeles to pursue screenwriting. Since then, Gregory has made three films with various budgets. His first film, Heaven or Vegas, was made for $1.2 million by Cineville and was distributed by Columbia Tri-Star. The film starred Yasmine Bleeth, Richard Grieco and Monica Potter. His latest film, Cowboys and Angels, premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and won an award at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis a few months later. Starring Radha Mitchell, Mia Kirshner, and Adam Trese, Cowboys and Angels was made for $3 million and just finished a regional theatrical release. Gregory currently resides in Salt Lake City, UT.
Click here to learn more about Greg’s movie "Cowboy’s and Angels."
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Eric Hendershot – Producer/Director/Screenwriter
Eric’s experience with screenwriting began when he wrote the story "Takedown." The film was produced by an academy award-winning director and was released nationally by Disney. He next sold "The Imposter" to ABC, which aired nationally as a "Movie Of the Week." Other films written by Eric at the time include, "On Our Own," "Dream Machine," "The Quest," and "Dream Stealers." Eric’s first effort at directing was the documentary "Tyler, A Real Hero." Steve Young of the Forty Niners narrated and participated in the making of the film. After Tyler, Eric began producing and directing feature films. He wrote and directed "Club House Detectives." "Angels In The Attic," "A Kid Called Danger," and "Baby Bedlam." These films have caught the attention of many companies such as: Disney, Fox, Family Channel, and New Line Cinema just to name a few. Eric's most recent works include "Message in a Cellphone" and "Horse Crazy." Eric, his wife Dickilyn, and children reside in St. George, Utah.
Click here to learn more about Eric’s movie "Horse Crazy."
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Tim Bywater – Associate Professor of English, Dixie State College of Utah
Tim received his Ph.D. in English from the University of Utah with an emphasis in Film Study. Tim wrote his dissertation, "Critical Approaches to Film," while specializing in film appreciation, criticism, and production. Tim began teaching courses in film study and criticism at Montana State University in 1974. In 1977, Tim returned to the University of Utah where he taught introductory courses to film criticism. Four years later Tim moved to St. George, Utah, and began teaching at Dixie College. In 1989, while serving as Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Dixie College, Tim published his book, "Introduction to Film Criticism." Tim currently teaches English and the Understanding Movies course at Dixie College.
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