Participants

2013 FILMMAKERS & WRITERS

BROKEN, published in The Petigru Review, Oct. 2011; nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Retitled IF YOU LOVED ME.
Vickie DaileyVICKIE DAILEY, writer
Dailey writes from the heart in her work-in-progress memoir about overcoming abuse.  Both of her two published excerpts have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize with one placing second in the Carrie McCray Literary Awards.  In addition, her poetry has been published in Writers Inc. and has ranked high in the 2012 William Faulkner Wisdom in Writing Poetry Contest with a co-authored piece on the Short List for Finalists and an independent piece in the Semi-Finalists list.  Moreover, she’s had a book review with commentary and a research paper published.
Jeanette Li
JEANETTE LI, filmmaker
Li is an aspiring filmmaker from Gaffney with a Media Studies degree from Hampshire College. The Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival of 2013 will be her first foray into short filmmaking; however, she has had a hand in many local productions. Picking up grassroots knowledge from the local film community about production, Jeanette seeks to put her skills to the test with the upcoming challenge of transforming a writer’s work into a film. With a desire to support the arts of Spartanburg, Jeanette hopes one day she will make a career out of her budding talents.
DELAYED, winner of the Writer’s Inc., award for Best Fiction; ed. Marilyn Knight. Retitled THE CONFIRMATION.
Joseph BodieJOSEPH BODIE, writer
Bodie was born like most people, unceremoniously and without his consent. Not to imply that he regrets the occurrence. He comes from honest stock. His father was in the Air Force, leaving only so that he and his mother could become Methodist ministers, circumstances which led to a rather migratory life. To this day, he has a tendency to wander. He considers himself a musician, a playwright, a poet, an artist, and a writer. He hopes others do as well.
Porter BlackmanPORTER BLACKMAN, filmmaker
Director of last year’s festival entry Touch of Blue, Porter Blackman seeks to pursue a Los Angeles career in professional film editing while maintaining a consistent presence in screenwriting and short film creation. With a degree and experience working in the psychology field, Porter often observes people and their lives and transforms these observations into works of art, whether it is with his drawings, paintings, or storytelling films.
 DENOUEMENT, published in Zero Ducats; ed. Shane Joaquin Jimenez. [Read the story here.] Retitled RESOLUTION.
Matthew FogartyMATTHEW FOGARTY, writer
Fogarty lives and writes in Columbia, where he is a Masters of Fine Arts candidate at the University of South Carolina. His fiction has appeared in such journals as Zero Ducats, Utter Magazine, and Nanoism, and, as a founding member of the Washington-based sketch comedy group, Orbit Chef, has co-written a number of comedy shows selected to appear in such venues as the Capital Fringe Festival. Matthew was born and raised in the square-mile suburbs of Detroit.
Tyrell JemisonWILLIAM “TYRELL” JEMISON, filmmaker
Jemison is a junior at Wofford College majoring in Humanities. Hailing from Charleston, SC, he classifies his experiences and interests as “diverse and nurtured,” which include writing, filmmaking, and listening to other peoples’ stories. His journey into filmmaking was encouraged by an introductory course taught by Dr. Julie Sexeny, and Tyrell developed a love for editing and a talent for creating intuitive films with limited resources. Tyrell is unsure of where his aspirations for filmmaking will take him, but he hopes to explore his experience with travel and his expansive understanding of diverse cultures through documentaries and scripted filming.
Kameron UnionKAMERON UNION, filmmaker
Union is a student from Orangeburg, South Carolina. She is currently in her third year at Wofford College as an English and French double major. Some of Kameron’s favorite pastimes are reading and filming anything that moves (and sometimes things that don’t).
 
 
GRAMMY’S KEYS, winner of the 2011 SC Fiction Project from the SC Arts Commission; judged by Rae Paris. [Read the story here.]
Melinda CottonMELINDA S. COTTON, writer
Cotton, a South Carolina native, is a member of the South Carolina Writers Workshop. Two of her essays have been published in South Carolina Writers Workshop’s literary journal, The Petigru Review. She recently had one of her photograph submissions chosen as the cover photo for the 2012 Petigru Review. Melinda works full time as a medical malpractice paralegal and writes when she can.
Durham HarrisonDURHAM HARRISON, filmmaker
Harrison resigned a position he had for ten years at a well-known company in July of 2012 to start his own company and pursue a passion of film production. Now, he is the happiest broke guy he knows. Whether it’s writing, directing, or acting, Durham just wants to be a part of it, a mentality that landed him a number of roles with productions across the state–he was cast in The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams and Nailed, has participated in a discussion of his screenplay at the Sunscreen Film Festival, and has produced two music videos. Now he hopes to produce visually-stimulating films and promote South Carolina’s film industry.
LIVING THE DREAM, published in Altered States; ed. Amy Locklin.
Terresa HaskewTERRESA HASKEW, writer
Haskew always wanted to be a writer, but she did not pursue that dream until seven years ago, at the age of 51.  She has now published both poetry and short fiction in journals and anthologies such as Atlanta Review, Cold Mountain, Pearl, Press 53 (1st Prize Poetry 2010) and various Main Street Rag publications. “Living the Dream” appeared in MSR’s 2011 anthology Altered States. She and husband Ben live in Greenville and have three children and two grandsons.
ron HagellRON HAGELL, filmmaker
Hagell is originally from Camden and has made films across the globe for many years, including a wide variety of award-winning shows and films. Most recently, he taught media studies in London (where he screened his most recent work, Birdman) and at the Rhode Island School of Design.
 
Shirley Ann SmithSHIRLEY ANN SMITH, filmmaker
Smith is an educator that focuses on how to improve teaching and learning using digital media. As she continues her mission to improve teacher craft, she seeks to expand her horizons into other forms of digital expression, bringing her to the art of filmmaking, which she anticipates will enhance her teaching reform ideas. Additionally, Shirley believes that the Expecting Goodness project will bring what she knows and what she hopes to learn together under the banner of creative South Carolina roots.
PRETTY PITIFUL GOD, published in Expecting Goodness; ed. C. Michael Curtis.
Deno TrakasDENO TRAKAS, writer
Trakas is the Hoy Professor of English and the Chair of the English Department at Wofford College.  In addition to his book Because Memory Isn’t Eternal: A Story of Greeks in Upstate South Carolina, he has published fiction and poetry in many magazines and anthologies.  Holocene Press published two of his poetry chapbooks, The Shuffle of Wings and Human and Puny.  He’s won five South Carolina Fiction Project prizes and an Individual Artist Grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission.
Jeffrey DriggersJEFFREY DRIGGERS, filmmaker
Driggers grew up in Columbia, SC, where he spent his high school years making movies. He pursued this passion at the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Radio, TV and Film. Since graduating, he has launched and continues to run his own videography business while still creating movies. He hopes that his business will fund his own personal films for the future.
Drew BaronDREW BARON, filmmaker
Baron is a film producer based out of Columbia, SC. He graduated Cum Laude in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts and Sciences concentrating in Media Arts from the University of South Carolina. During his stay at the university he produced a variety of short documentaries and narrative films as well as hosting a local Non-Profit film festival for amateur filmmakers in the Columbia area. Since 2012 he has worked with Palmetto Productions as a producer and production manager. 
REAGAN IN KABUL, winner of the 2011 SC Fiction Project from the SC Arts Commission; judged by Rae Paris. [Read the story here.]
John SaylorJOHN R. SAYLOR, writer
Saylor is a South Carolina Arts Commission Fiction Project Winner (2011) and recipient of the 2012 Linda Julian Essay Award.  His work has appeared or will appear in The Emrys Journal, Sandlapper Magazine, and Seersucker Annual.  John has degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Buffalo, the University of Minnesota and Yale University, where he received his doctorate. He currently works as a professor of mechanical engineering at Clemson University.  John is originally from New York State and has lived in South Carolina since 2000.
Julie SexenyJULIE SEXENY, filmmaker
Sexeny was hired by Wofford College in 2008 to teach film studies and screenwriting in the English department and develop a visual studies program at the college; her research focuses on the construction of gender, sexuality, and subjectivity in film. This background in the English department gives her an interest in the process of using short stories as a point of departure for new interpretations through film. She received a B.A. from Barnard College, a Ph.D. from Emory University, and an M.F.A. in filmmaking from Columbia University. 
REMEMBER, NO THINKING, winner of the 2011 SC Fiction Project from the SC Arts Commission; judged by Rae Paris. [Read the story here.]
David A. WrightDAVID A. WRIGHT, writer
Wright lives in Travelers Rest, S.C., with his wife, Andrea, and daughter, Evelyn.  He teaches writing at Furman University in Greenville.  He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric from the University of South Carolina, where he also earned an M.F.A. in Creative Writing in 2008.  Currently, he is writing a dissertation on the rhetoric of 20th century Southern humor.
John Daniel FisherJOHN DANIEL FISHER, filmmaker
Fisher is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Media Arts Department. Taking a chance, he and his brother decided to start their own production company in 2011 called Fisher Films. They have been making music videos, commercials, and web videos ever since. Daniel himself has won numerous awards for his short films and documentaries featured in other film festivals across an expansive set of miles. With this success, Daniel hopes to see his company produce more short films. 
SHE-WOLF, winner of the Concept fiction prize; ed. Meagan Kusek.
Erin Michelle FlemingERIN MICHELLE FLEMING, writer
Fleming graduated from Converse College with a BFA in Creative and Professional Writing and a BA in Spanish with a minor in Theatre.  She was Editor-In-Chief of the Converse student newspaper, The Conversationalist, and has been published through local, regional, and national competitions.  She is active in the local theatre community, writing, directing, and designing for the stage. 
Terry Lee MillerTERRY LEE MILLER, filmmaker
Miller is a 50 year old electrical contractor in partnership with his son, Brian. Together, they created Ridge Runner Media, a video and photography business that, so far, has recorded live events, weddings, and interviews. They each have a desire to make films and music videos. The Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival is his first filmmaking venture.
SIMON OF THE DESERT, published in The Monarch Review, Nov. 2011; ed Jacob Utti. Retitled GRACE.
Susan Levi WallachSUSAN LEVI WALLACH, writer
Wallach is a freelance copyeditor and generally nice person. Her stories have appeared in Fogged Clarity, Stone’s Throw, and Monarch Review; her articles in theatre, technology, and military publications; her poetry in Literary Matters and emails to her children. She won the Keith D. Ware Journalism Award in 2003; her novel Flasher is a finalist in the 2012 Faulkner-Wisdom Competition. In March, Best Fiction showcased her story “Pool,” and she’s featured on the homepage. She has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Adam GordonADAM GORDON, filmmaker
Winner of the Best Editing Award for “The Nipper” in the 2012 Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival, Adam’s portfolio hosts a number of commercials, short films, and videos. He currently makes commercials for a living but has a strong drive to become a feature film director.
SUCKER, winner of the 2009 SC Fiction Project from the SC Arts Commission; judge by Gwyn McGee and Ronald Gauthier. [Read the story here.] Retitled DONDE COMEN UNO, COMEN DOS.
Lindy CarterLINDY KEANE CARTER, writer
Carter is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s journalism school and earned her living writing non-fiction. In 1998 she decided to try fiction. In her first writer’s workshop in Charleston, the members beat the who, what, when, where and why out of her. Painful but powerful.  Two of her short stories won prizes in the South Carolina Fiction Project contest (2003 and 2009), sponsored by the S.C. Arts Commission and Charleston’s newspaper, the Post and Courier.  She is the mother of three young adults and is working on her second novel.
Abe DuenasABE DUENAS, filmmaker
Operating as a freelance filmmaker since 2007, Abe Duenas has distinguished himself in the filmmaking community with his cinematography, screenwriting and directing. In 2012 his film The Widower’s Pearls won Best Film (juried) and Best Actor (juried) for the Expecting Goodness Short Film Festival. In 2011 he was recognized by The South Carolina Film Commission with a grant to produce The Lot, a short film to help showcase the state’s filmmaking talent. Bringing the experience of writing/directing award-winning short films, and commercials, Duenas is excited to bring that same passion to every Reflection Films story.
YOUR FATHER, FREDERICK, winner of the 2009 SC Fiction Project from the SC Arts Commission; judged by Gwyn McGee and Ronald Gauthier. [Read the story here.] Retitled GOOD NIGHT.
Audra Kerr BrownAUDRA KERR BROWN, writer
Brown told her first story at the age of two and has been writing ever since. She is a two-time winner of the Piccolo Spoleto fiction contest, a 2009 winner of the South Carolina Fiction Project, and a Best Screenplay winner of the 2003 Charleston Countdown Cinema contest. Brown received a BA in English from the University of Iowa and now lives with her husband and daughter in Summerville, South Carolina.
Jason JohnsonJASON D. JOHNSON, filmmaker
Johnson is the Vice President of Creativity for Maxwell Group, Inc. An experienced professional actor, Jason manages an in-house design agency which includes a private documentary film series and film shorts for internal company and commercial use. He holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Andrew KetchumANDREW KETCHUM, writer
Ketchum’s passion for multimedia began at a young age—creating radio spots, producing and recording original music tracks, and touring with an inner-city ministry organization as their production manager—all before his 19th birthday. After furthering his education in live event production at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida, Andrew moved to North Carolina where he became the Media Production Manager for MorningStar Ministries, serving for 10 years with direct oversight of live video events, broadcast editing and production, as well as web, graphics, and audio integration for various multimedia applications. Andrew created AK Media, a South Carolina-based multimedia production company which specializes in audio & video production, graphic design, and web development.