Tyranny: A Labor of Love

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Tyranny was my first independent feature film—a deeply personal project born from passion and perseverance. With no budget beyond my NASA paychecks, I saved for years to acquire the gear needed for an ultra-low-budget production. The cast doubled as the crew, with everyone wearing multiple hats. When I was in front of the camera, I trained fellow actors to operate it. The camaraderie on set made it feel like a band on tour—this project was all of ours, and for many, including Olga Kurylenko, it was a first step into film.

I chose Prague as the filming location for its timeless architecture, a perfect contrast to the high-tech world outside its borders. Production evolved in 2006 when I lost a principal actor, and I adapted the film into a web series, exploring the backstory of my character. The series garnered immediate interest from Lionsgate, Disney, and others after the trailer debuted on YouTube in 2007.  While the industry hadn't yet figured out monetizing online content, I partnered with Koldcast.TV, producing 19 episodes over two years, totaling over two hours of story.

Out of necessity, I wore many hats—something I was used to from my NASA days. As the project’s producer, writer, casting director, director, cinematographer, editor, set designer, costume designer, and composer, I shaped every aspect of Tyranny.

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Roles and Responsibilities:

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• Producer: Managed a cast of 24, organized travel, created budgets, and scheduled shoots.

• Writer: Crafted and adapted the script, turning the feature film into a 19-episode web series.

• Casting Director: Auditioned and selected cast members for both the film and series.

• Director: Directed both the feature and the web series, marking my directorial debut.

• Director of Photography: Designed the visual style, lighting, and set compositions.

• Editor: Edited the feature film and all 19 episodes.

• Set Designer: Built a 2,200-square-foot studio and constructed multiple sets for the series.

• Costume Designer: Designed costumes for male and female characters.

• Composer: Composed the music for the feature film and the first 16 episodes of the series.

Tyranny was a defining moment in my career—a testament to passion, resourcefulness, and the power of collaboration.