About Chad Allen Barton

Filmmaker • Director • Producer • Memphis, Tennessee

Chad Allen Barton is a filmmaker, director, and producer based in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been making films since 2010, working across narrative film, documentary, music video, live performance, television, and digital programming.

Chad co-founded the Memphis production company Piano Man Pictures, where he wrote, directed, and produced a number of independent short films, including Am I, Hirsch, and H.I.D. His films have screened at festivals in Memphis and around the world, including screenings in Los Angeles, New York, and London.

He made his feature directorial debut with Lights, Camera, Bullshit, an independent comedy about a group of filmmakers attempting to make a movie in Memphis. The film later returned to Indie Memphis as part of the festival's retrospective programming.

Chad has also worked extensively in music, directing and producing music videos and other music-related projects. His credits include producing the North Mississippi Allstars concert documentary World Boogie Is Coming, directed by Cody Dickinson.

The Library Channel

Since 2024, Chad has worked as a Producer at The Library Channel at Memphis Public Libraries, where he produces original programming for audiences throughout Memphis and Shelby County.

During that time, he has developed a growing slate of original shows and documentary projects.

Chad created StoryTime, a children's series following Kevin, a Floppy from Floppyland who accidentally falls through a portal and winds up in Memphis. After discovering the Memphis Public Library and books for the first time, Kevin builds the Imagination Room, where the illustrations from books can come to life around him. The series features local children's authors reading their work and joining Kevin on adventures inspired by their stories.

He also created From the Bookstore, an intimate live performance series filmed inside the library bookstore. The series has featured artists including Kia Shine, Blvck Hippie, North Mississippi Allstars, Hope Clayburn and Soul Scrimmage, Louise Page, HEELS, and Singa B.

Chad created the long-form documentary series A Few of My Favorite Things, which explores interesting people, places, communities, and cultural subjects around Memphis. Subjects have included Edge Motor Museum and Memphis Armored Fight Club.

He also produces Memphis Makers, a documentary series focused on Memphis nonprofits and community organizations. Episodes have featured Memphis Music Initiative, Memphis Union Mission, Community Legal Center, and others.

Independent Filmmaking

Alongside his work at Memphis Public Libraries, Chad continues to make independent films.

His recent short films include How Deep Is Your Love and Follower, the latter created for the Neptune 53 Hour Film Competition.

His upcoming short Silhouette Prayer is a sci-fi/horror film directed by Chad and photographed by his son, Mason Fox Barton. Their collaboration is part of a father-son filmmaking partnership that has developed as Mason has grown from learning the basics of filmmaking alongside his father to working as a cinematographer.

Chad is also producing a documentary about the connections between Memphis and Star Trek. The project began when Memphis Public Libraries historian Wayne Dowdy introduced Chad to the story of Memphian Charles Washburn and his connection to Star Trek. That discovery led to numerous other connections between Memphis and the franchise.

As part of the documentary, Chad traveled to Los Angeles to interview Memphis creatives Randy Oglesby and Jason Liles about their careers in the film and television industry.

Memphis

Memphis has remained at the center of Chad's work throughout his career.

Whether he's making an independent film, documenting a nonprofit, filming a musician, interviewing someone for a documentary, or creating a children's television show, much of his work begins with the people and stories around him.

Chad also volunteers his time and expertise on the advisory committee for Southwest Tennessee Community College's film and television program and has mentored emerging filmmakers and artists throughout Memphis, including interns from the University of Memphis.

He continues to live and work in Memphis while developing independent films and producing original programming for The Library Channel.