Bio

Angus Russell

Eating fro-yo at Dodger Stadium, 2012

Born in Farmington, New Mexico to Californian parents, I've always felt out of place in West Virginia. I suppose I'd probably feel out of place anywhere though, because I'm pretty odd. I refuse the label hipster though, because those people are really annoying (and the music is atrocious). I decided to go into film around age 14, when I first saw Rocky Horror. Before that, I always figured that being on a set would be dreadfully boring, that camera angles and light composition would befuddle any fun that came out of the process. Seeing Rocky Horror made me think "There is no way that those people are not having the time of their lives". I guess that influenced me into being laid-back on set, which has kind of led to extra-long shoots interrupted with conversation. 

All Shook Up, Washington High School, Charles Town, WV

When I was in High School, I did a lot of theatre and short films. On stage, I played in 15 shows in four years. On film, I wrote and directed 8 shorts in those four years. Some of them were particularly bad, but I've had some experience doing some decent film as well.

Since I've been at Shepherd, I've tried to make some less-cheesy films, but sometimes, the cheese leaks in. Static Lullaby, produced in the Fall of 2012 for Single Camera Production, had a certain degree of this issue, but made up for it with insane amounts of profanity.

Static Lullaby was adapted from a one-act play of the same name that won me a state-wide award in 2011. Apparantly I was the best Junior/Senior High School playwright in WV for the year 2011. Huzzah.

When I'm not belittling my own achievements, I'm playing video games, buying mint-in-box Star Wars toys, and listening to music that has become a cliche of counter-culture. (I'm looking at you, Nirvana and The Pixies. How dare you be both good and not danceable?)

I also make music, but I'd much rather be a producer for another musician than keep making my own stuff. I guess thats another self-deprecating statement, but that's meant more as schtick rather than actual insult.