Chad Allen Barton | Director, Writer, Producer & Showrunner

Independent filmmaker Chad Allen Barton is available for film screenings, presentations, and discussions with students, filmmakers, and creative communities.

With experience spanning narrative films, documentaries, music videos, and television production, Barton offers a practical perspective on filmmaking, from developing an idea to getting a finished project in front of an audience.

Featured Presentation

The Multitool Filmmaker

Film Screenings, Discussion & Q&A | Approximately 90 Minutes

You don't have to do every job on a film set, but understanding how those jobs work together can make you a better filmmaker.

The Multitool Filmmaker is a screening and discussion with filmmaker Chad Allen Barton about how the different parts of filmmaking connect, and why having a working knowledge of those disciplines can help you make better creative decisions, communicate with your crew, and solve problems during production.

Writing, directing, producing, cinematography, sound, and editing all influence one another. A director who understands editing can make more informed decisions about coverage. Knowing the challenges of recording sound can help you anticipate problems before they happen. Understanding what other departments need makes it easier to work together, particularly when time and resources are limited.

Through screenings of his recent narrative short films, selections from his earlier feature Lights Camera Bullshit, and examples of his television work, Barton discusses the decisions, challenges, and experiences that have shaped his approach to filmmaking.

The presentation also looks at how his filmmaking has changed over the years, from early independent productions to creating original television programming, and how working in different roles has influenced the way he approaches directing and collaborating with others.

Barton also discusses working with his son, Mason Fox Barton, who served as cinematographer on the 2026 short film Prey To Me. Their collaboration offers another perspective on communication, trust, and working with people who bring their own ideas and abilities to a project.

The goal isn't to convince filmmakers they need to do everything themselves. It's to demonstrate how understanding the filmmaking process as a whole can make you more effective in whatever role you choose.

The program concludes with an audience Q&A.

What Audiences Can Expect

Screenings of recent short films and selections from earlier work.

Discussions about how writing, directing, cinematography, sound, producing, and editing influence one another.

Real examples of creative decisions, production challenges, and problem-solving.

Insights into working with crews, communicating across departments, and making the most of limited resources.

A look at the differences and similarities between narrative filmmaking, documentary production, music videos, and television.

An opportunity to ask questions about filmmaking, working in the industry, and developing your own projects.

Ideal Audiences: Film students, emerging filmmakers, university programs, independent film organizations, creative communities, and anyone interested in how films are made.