Jack McWilliams – Director
@tycoonjack
Jack gravitated towards the camera precociously when he became the youngest photographer to be featured in the internationally acclaimed FotoFest. He continued on the path to being a director by shooting short films, interviews, and avant-garde fair on a myriad of mediums such as the Super 8, the Hasselblad, 16 millimeter, and the retro, Eastern Bloc “Lomo.”
After graduating from St. John’s School in Houston, Texas, a school immortalized as RUSHMORE by previous alumni Wes Anderson, Jack moved to the bohemian paradise of Austin to attend the University of Texas and, in particular, the RTF program (Radio, Television, Film). He continued to foster the filmmaking community as a founding member of Paradigm at SJS and as a member of the leadership team at UT film club, UFA (University Filmmakers Alliance). In college his documentary on Nokoa the Observer, an independent Austin weekly struggling to survive, appeared on PBS. His short, DOS BLOKES, won a 48 hour competition (selected by Robert Rodriguez) and premiered at SXSW.
A software whiz kid, it’s rumored Jack built a Nintendo out of parts of a boat engine at age seven. He is an experienced editor and colorist, working on everything from the flatbed film editor Steenbeck to cutting edge software such as Final Cut and Avid. He has an editing studio set up in ALF’s Hollywood office and spends much time there with his Mac, his Drobo, and the terabytes of data the McWilliams brothers have shot.
When not behind a camera, he can be found commandeering the kitchen. His hobby is molecular gastronomy, and with his trusty Sous-vide and rare and curious ingredients such agar agar (“it’s so nice they must say it twice” – Jack) and that sweet transformer, diastatic malted powder.
Ed McWilliams – Screenwriter
@edmcwilliams
E.C. knew he was meant to be a writer when he wrote a 9th grade final essay paper in iambic pentameter. This effort garnered him a failing grade, but the bug was caught. At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his efforts began paying off as he published short stories and poetry in University periodicals, and was a founding member of the UNC literary journal, Parallax. He graduated with highest honors in English and Creative Writing.
He moved to Hollywood and landed his first job as an assistant at Madonna’s Film Company, Maverick Films. There he learned the valuable skills of copying and binding screenplays with incredible speed and precision. Also, he experienced filmmaking from the studio side. He rose through the ranks to land at the management/production company, Content House, as a Creative Executive in charge of developing ideas, screenplays, and writing treatments. There he was lucky enough to work with Oscar nominated screenwriters (Al Reinert, Tab Murphy) and participate in deals with some of Hollywood’s largest players.
E.C. has numerous scripts in development with Attic Light. He sold his epic adventure, Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, and has optioned others. He is currently working with renowned manager Joel Gotler at the Intellectual Property Group on the adaptation of a mobster novel by LA Times award winning writer, James Carlos Blake.
He has striven to round out his filmmaking knowledge by taking acting and writing classes from UCLA. He speaks fluent Spanish and has traveled to over 40 countries. When not working or traveling he enjoys holding screenings at his house in Hollywood with his filmmaker friends, as well as a notoriously rowdy BBQ every summer to introduce Californians to some Texas flavor.