Travis Mills (director)

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Travis Mills
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Born
Quito, Ecuador
Occupation
  • Film director
  • Producer
  • Writer
  • Actor
Years active2010 - present

Travis Mills (born December 26, 1985) is an American film director, Film producer, writer, and actor. Mills has directed and produced over twenty-five feature films, including 12 feature-length Westerns filmed during 2020.[1]

Early Life and Education

Travis Mills was born in Quito, Ecuador to Christian missionary parents and spent most of his childhood overseas in the Comoro Islands.[2] Mills attended film school at Arizona State University's Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts during its first years of existence, where he met professor and playwright Gus Edwards.[3][4] Mills and Edwards founded Running Wild Films together in 2010 with a goal to make independent movies in Arizona.[5][6][7]

Film Career

Arizona Period

Between 2010 and 2016, Mills produced and directed six feature films and over one hundred short films in Arizona under the mentorship of Gus Edwards.[6] During 2013, Mills made 52 short films in 52 weeks.[7][8] These short films were contemporary adaptations of short stories written by Edgar Allan Poe, James Joyce, and other authors with works in the public domain.[7]

In 2015, Mills directed Tom Sizemore in Durant's Never Closes, a feature film based on the true story of a Phoenix restaurateur with rumored connections to the mafia.[9][10][11] The film mentions the murder of Arizona Republic journalist Don Bolles.[9] Mills wrote a screenplay about the Bolles murder titled Valley of Shadows that is un-produced.[3] Durant's Never Closes also stared Peter Bogdanovich, Michelle Stafford, and Jon Gries.[3]

Silver Slipper was an improvised feature-length movie filmed without a script that follows a young woman selling her virginity online.[2]

Mississippi Period

From 2016 to 2019, Mills produced several films in Mississippi.[12] Porches and Private Eyes and subsequent If These Porches Could Talk were small town comedies and murder mysteries.[13][14] Blood Country was the first Western directed by Mills and is based on a true events in the post-Civil War 1880's.[15][16][17] Cornbread Cosa Nostra was a 1980's action film concerning the Dixie Mafia.[12][18] Son of a Gun was a Civil War comedy/drama about Legrand G. Capers and the bullet pregnancy myth.[19] The character of Legrand in Son of a Gun was played by three different actors including Miles Doleac.[6]

"12 Westerns in 12 Months" Project

During 2020, Mills completed 12 feature-length Western films in a 12 month period.[1][20] The "12 Westerns in 12 Months" project began in January of 2020 with Bastard's Crossing starring Mississippi film commissioner Ward Emling.[21] This was followed by Texas Red, a true story of an African-American outlaw played by Grammy-nominated blues musician Cedric Burnside.[22][23][24]

The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach, one of the films in the 12 Westerns series, was the first feature length Western film ever to be shot on a mobile phone.[1] The film tells the story of female outlaw Pearl Hart, played by Lorraine Etchell. The cast also included Mills as her partner-in-crime Joe Boot and Cat Roberts as one of the passengers on the stagecoach.[25]

Other historical subjects explored in the "12 Westerns in 12 Months" set of films include The Pleasant Valley War, the stories of Samuel Mason and the murderous Harpe brothers| in The Wilderness Road, and folk tales about Mike Fink and Andrew Jackson in Tales of the Natchez Trace.[26][27] The project culminated with a dark Western titled Heart of the Gun featuring actor Jay Pickett with Cat Roberts in a supporting role.[28][29][30]

Though the COVID-19 pandemic changed production plans, Mills and his team continued to film the twelve Westerns during 2020 and completed the project by the end of the calendar year.[26][31] All twelve of the films were released during 2021.[32] Mills published a book about his 2020 movie-making experience titled The Making of 12 Westerns: Or How I Made a Dozen Movies During a Global Pandemic and Survived in December 2021.[26]

Subsequent Work

In July of 2021, Mills re-teamed with Jay Pickett while directing Treasure Valley, a modern Western set in Idaho.[33] During production, Pickett died of a heart attack and the film remains incomplete.[34][35][36][37]

Mills served as an associate producer and actor on Terror on the Prairie, produced by Dallas Sonnier and starring Gina Carano.[38] Terror on the Prairie premiered on June 14, 2022.[39][40][41][42][43]

Accolades

  • Won "Best Southern States Feature" for Bastard's Crossing (2020) - Southern States Indie FanFilmFest.[44]
  • Won "Best Mississippi Feature Film" for Bastard's Crossing (2021) - Oxford Film Festival.[45]
  • Won "Best Script Fiction Feature" for She was the Deputy's Wife (2021) - Spring Grove Caledonia Film Festival.[46]
  • Won "Best Silent Film" for The Adventures of Bandit and Wild Wes (2021) - The Wild Bunch Film Festival.[47]
  • Won "Best True Story Film" for The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach (2021) - The Wild Bunch Film Festival.[47]
  • Won "Director's Choice - Best Actor (Feature Film)" for The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach (2021) - The Wild Bunch Film Festival.[47]
  • Won "Best Director (Western Feature)" and "Best Western Feature" for She was the Deputy's Wife (2021) - Cowpokes International Film Festival.[48]

Filmography

Year Title Position
2011 The Big Something[49] Director, Producer, Writer
2012 The Detective's Lover[50] Director, Producer, Writer, Lead Actor
2013 The Men Who Robbed the Bank[51] Director, Producer, Writer
2014 Duel at the Mound[52] Director, Producer, Writer
2016 Durant's Never Closes[53] Director, Producer, Writer
2016 Porches and Private Eyes[54] Director, Producer, Writer
2017 Blood Country[55] Director, Producer, Writer
2018 Cornbread Cosa Nostra[56] Director, Producer, Writer
2018 Bride of Violence[57] Director, Producer, Writer
2019 Son of a Gun[58] Director, Producer, Writer
2019 Silver Slipper[59] Director, Producer, Writer
2019 If These Porches Could Talk[60] Director, Producer, Writer
2019 The Deadbeats[61] Director, Producer
2021 Bastard's Crossing[62] Director, Producer
2021 Texas Red[63][64] Director, Producer, Co-Writer
2021 She was the Deputy's Wife[65] Director, Producer, Writer
2021 Counting Bullets[66] Director, Producer, Co-Writer, Supporting Actor
2021 A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West[67] Director, Producer
2021 The New Frontier[68] Director, Producer, Writer
2021 The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach[69][70] Director, Producer, Writer, Lead Actor
2021 The Pleasant Valley War[71][72] Director, Producer, Co-Writer
2021 The Wilderness Road[73] Director, Producer, Co-Writer, Lead Actor
2021 Tales of the Natchez Trace[74] Director, Producer, Co-Writer, Supporting Actor
2021 Heart of the Gun[75] Director, Producer, Writer, Supporting Actor
2022 Terror on the Prairie[38] Associate Producer, Supporting Actor

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Suid, Murray. "Shooting 12 Westerns in 12 Months". mobilemoviemaking.com. Retrieved 2022-01-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Latzko, Laura. "Arizona Filmmaker Explores Why Girls Sell Their Virginity Online". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Saria, Lauren. "Durant's Never Closes, a Feature Film About Phoenix Steakhouse Owner Jack Durant, to Debut Next Month". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  4. ↑ Simpson, Jon (2013-08-22), Gus Edwards - African American Playwright, retrieved 2022-01-09
  5. ↑ Blufish (2014-07-02). "Running Wild Films promotes prolific filmmaking in Phoenix". AZ Big Media. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Threadgill, Jacob. "Arizona filmmaker sets up shop in Brookhaven". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Nguyen, Tanya. "Running Wild Films to Present 52 Films Made in 52 Weeks in Phoenix This Weekend". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  8. ↑ "The Red Book Magazine • September 2017 by The Red Book - Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Goodykoontz, Bill. "Review: 'Durant's Never Closes' a stylized misfire". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  10. ↑ Altavena, Lily. "Here's the Trailer for Durant's Never Closes, a Film About Legendary Phoenix Steakhouse Owner Jack Durant". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  11. ↑ "Actor Tom Sizemore talks 'Durant's Never Closes' in Phoenix". KTAR.com. 2014-12-19. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Brannan, Jonathan. "Casting underway for South Mississippi film". wlox.com. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  13. ↑ Paden, Aaron (2015-10-11). "Film set in city to start shooting in March: 'Porches and Private Eyes' will feature local actors". Daily Leader. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  14. ↑ Campbell, Donna (2018-05-30). "Casting call opens for 'Porches' sequel — Cupit returns for 'If These Porches Could Talk,' filming here in October". Daily Leader. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  15. ↑ "OFF Screens "Blood Country," a Western Film Set in Mississippi". HottyToddy.com. 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  16. ↑ Campbell, Donna (2017-09-09). "Area history comes alive in 'Blood Country'". Daily Leader. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  17. ↑ Kennell, Tiana. "The South shines on movies screens in Shreveport". The Times. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  18. ↑ Clark, Jeff (2017-08-25). "Why make a film about the Sherry murders? Filmmaker says 'it's too fascinating not to'". SunHearld. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  19. ↑ Ciurczak, Ellen. "Did a bullet impregnate a woman in the Civil War? New film tells the tale". Hattiesburg American. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  20. ↑ Marlow, Elle (2021-03-03). "‎Elle Marlow's Way Out West: Let's talk with Producer Director Travis Mills and John Marrs about the 12 Westerns Projects". Apple Podcasts. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  21. ↑ PBS Conversations, Travis Mills & Ward Emling, Season 20, Episode 2001, 2020-01-05, retrieved 2022-06-05
  22. ↑ Warren, Anthony. "Filmmaker turns fascination with Mississippi culture into feature films". WLBT. Retrieved 2022-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ Mississippi Film Office. "The magic that Mississippi offers to international film productions". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  24. ↑ "New Mississippi Film "Texas Red" Comes to Oxford". The Local Voice. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  25. ↑ Gross, Linda (2020-09-15). "Filming A Pearl: 12 Westerns in 12 Months with Travis Mills". Globe Miami Times. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Mills, Travis. The Making of 12 Westerns: Or How I Made a Dozen Movies During a Global Pandemic and Survived. 8 December 2021: Independently published. ASIN B09MYQ9GBM. ISBN 979-8781061037.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  27. ↑ Garcia, Mario. "Western Movie 'The Wilderness Road' Features Local Man". Kicker 102.5. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  28. ↑ Knapp, Becky. "Local firefighter featured in new movie". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  29. ↑ "Oxford Film Festival Announces 2022 Lineup". HottyToddy. 2022-02-23. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  30. ↑ McKinney, Andy. "'Heart of the Gun'". White Mountain Independent. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  31. ↑ Hoff, Sawyer. "12 Movies in 12 Months: E.C. Residents Participate in Western Movie Mission". volumeone.org. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  32. ↑ "Filmmaker Travis Mills, 11/20/21 – Voices of the West". Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  33. ↑ 12 Westerns Video Podcast - Travis Mills and Jay Pickett - June 13th, 2021, retrieved 2022-01-10
  34. ↑ Medina, Eduardo; Paybarah, Azi (2021-08-02). "Jay Pickett, Veteran Soap Opera Actor, Dies at 60". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  35. ↑ Suppe, Ryan. "Locally grown actor Jay Pickett dies at 60". Idaho Press. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  36. ↑ Ziegler, Megan (2021-08-01). "Soap opera star Jay Pickett dies while filming movie in Idaho, director says". FOX TV Digital Team. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  37. ↑ Robinson-Johnson, Evan. "Commemorative Jackson Hole ride honors late actor Jay Pickett". Jackson Hole News&Guide. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 Wiseman, Andreas; Wiseman, Andreas (2021-10-12). "Gina Carano Underway On First Project Since 'The Mandalorian': Daily Wire Western 'Terror On The Prairie' Also Stars MMA Fighter Cowboy Cerrone, "Justified" Actor Nick Searcy, More". Deadline. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  39. ↑ Gardner, Chris (2022-06-02). "Daily Wire Releases Full Trailer for Gina Carano-Led Western 'Terror on the Prairie'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  40. ↑ Dick, Jeremy (2022-06-01). "Gina Carano's New Western Terror on the Prairie Gets June Release Date". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2022-06-05.
  41. ↑ Rotten Tomatoes, Terror on the Prairie, retrieved 2022-06-19
  42. ↑ "Travis Mills – Gideon – Terror on the Prairie Movie Poster". The Daily Wire. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  43. ↑ Buttons, Christina (2022-06-15). "The Daily Wire launches 'Terror on the Prairie' with red carpet premiere". The Post Millennial. Retrieved 2022-06-19.
  44. ↑ "Southern States". IndieFanFilmFest Int. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  45. ↑ Thompson, Jake (2021-03-30). "Oxford Film Festival names 2021 winners". The Oxford Eagle. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  46. ↑ Inc, Sacred Noise Society. "Star City Film Festival accepting submissions now on Film Freeway!". Sacred Noise Society, Inc. Retrieved 2022-01-10. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 "2021-TWBFF-Finalist-Nominations-Winners". www.thewildbunchfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  48. ↑ "Cowpokes Int'l Film Festival 2021 Winners". www.brenrockproductions.com. Retrieved 2022-01-10.
  49. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Big Something". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  50. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Detective's Lover". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  51. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Men Who Robbed the Bank". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  52. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Duel at the Mound". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  53. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Durant's Never Closes". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  54. ↑ 5jmedia. "Porches and Private Eyes". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  55. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Blood Country". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  56. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Cornbread Cosa Nostra". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  57. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Bride of Violence". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  58. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Son of a Gun". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  59. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Silver Slipper". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  60. ↑ Mills, Travis. "If These Porches Could Talk". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  61. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Deadbeats". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  62. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Bastard's Crossing". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  63. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Texas Red". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  64. ↑ AMC Theaters (2021-02-04), Texas Red, retrieved 2022-06-05
  65. ↑ Mills, Travis. "She was the Deputy's Wife". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  66. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Counting Bullets". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  67. ↑ Mills, Travis. "A Guide to Gunfighters of the Wild West". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  68. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The New Frontier". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  69. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  70. ↑ AMC Theaters (2021-08-27), The Woman Who Robbed the Stagecoach, retrieved 2022-06-05
  71. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Pleasant Valley War". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  72. ↑ AMC Theaters (2021-08-26), The Pleasant Valley War, retrieved 2022-06-05
  73. ↑ Mills, Travis. "The Wilderness Road". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  74. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Tales of the Natchez Trace". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  75. ↑ Mills, Travis. "Heart of the Gun". Running Wild Films. Retrieved 2022-07-17.

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