Ryan Pickett (filmmaker)
Encyclopedia
Ryan Pickett is a Nashville, Tennessee
based American filmmaker. Pickett has created award winning films, such as Look
, which received an important 4-star review from Film Threat
, while he has appeared in television shows, including an appearance on Lifetime
series Strong Medicine
where he played the part of the Young Handsome Doctor as well as an appearance on Fox
series Arrested Development (TV series) where he played the Young Oscar Bluth.
at an art show with all his set designs from his movies in High School. He sat on stage and talked with his set designer about making movies, real guerilla style and getting it done at any cost. I could have listened to him for hours. A real inspiration who made nothing in the world sound cooler then being a filmmaker." Ryan studied acting at Stella Adler Studio of Acting
and he concentrated on film directing at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. He received a BA in English Language and Literature at University of Maryland, College Park
and immediately after moved to Los Angeles where he worked for entertainment companies and "got bitten by the acting bug." Ryan is currently living in Hillsboro Village
with his wife Theresa Meeker
.
short film Look
which won an Award of Merit in the 2009 Accolade Competition
for student films and an Award of Merit in the 2011 Best Shorts Competition for experimental films. Ryan directed Look
using the Red One 4K in 2009. Look
received several positive reviews. Ryan had a small role in Look
as a photographer who photographs a model played by a woman who later became his wife, Theresa Meeker
. Mark Bell of Film Threat
gave Look
a four star review and he said, “I think it is better that folks see it and come to their own conclusions. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the relevance, resonance and power of LOOK resides entirely in the eye of the person watching it.” Writer Terra King reviewed Look and said that it is "deep and full of metaphor," while author Sean Kernan shows in his article "Look is an Elegant Examination of Beauty" that captivating visuals reveal why Look is an award winning film. Matthew Saliba writes in his review for Rogue Cinema that Look is "directed with an exceptionally keen eye for detail and color." In an interview with Pickett for Rogue Cinema, Saliba says that Look
"is an exquisite experimental narrative short film that evokes feelings of a Lynchian nature in regards to its masterful use of visual metaphors as well as a Coco Chanel
ad in terms of its costume and set design."
, as well as his business proposal helped him beat out thousands of others across the world to earn him a top 5 finalist in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to BE hosted by Russell Simmons
at Sony Picture Studios in Los Angeles. In an interview with Nashville Business Journal, Ryan says You Only Loved Me Twice
is "a beginning film, but I did decide to go over the top with it."
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
based American filmmaker. Pickett has created award winning films, such as Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
, which received an important 4-star review from Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
, while he has appeared in television shows, including an appearance on Lifetime
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
series Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine
Strong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
where he played the part of the Young Handsome Doctor as well as an appearance on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
series Arrested Development (TV series) where he played the Young Oscar Bluth.
Early childhood and personal life
Ryan hails from Baltimore, Maryland although he was raised in Germany by father George Pickett, who was a member of the USA Olympic Weightlifting Team in the 1968 Olympics, Mexico City, as well as mother Cheryl Pickett. In an interview with Matthew Saliba of Rogue Cinema Ryan says, "It’s been my passion to create movies as long as I can remember. I remember as a little kid watching the Oscars with my parents thinking that’s what I want to do. I was lucky enough to meet John WatersJohn Waters
-Entertainment:*John Waters , American film director, active 1926–29 and 1947*John Waters , American film director, writer, visual artist, actor and cult figure...
at an art show with all his set designs from his movies in High School. He sat on stage and talked with his set designer about making movies, real guerilla style and getting it done at any cost. I could have listened to him for hours. A real inspiration who made nothing in the world sound cooler then being a filmmaker." Ryan studied acting at Stella Adler Studio of Acting
Stella Adler Studio of Acting
Stella Adler Studio of Acting is an acting school in New York founded by the actress and teacher Stella Adler -History:...
and he concentrated on film directing at Watkins College of Art, Design & Film. He received a BA in English Language and Literature at University of Maryland, College Park
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and immediately after moved to Los Angeles where he worked for entertainment companies and "got bitten by the acting bug." Ryan is currently living in Hillsboro Village
Hillsboro Village
Hillsboro Village is a neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, located 3 miles southwest of downtown.The center of Hillsboro Village is located along Hillsboro Road, a major thoroughfare dating from before the Civil War...
with his wife Theresa Meeker
Theresa Meeker
Theresa Meeker is an Italian-American actress who appeared in several films.-Early Life and education:Theresa hails from Williamson County, Tennessee although she was raised in Sumatra, Indonesia by mother Judith Meeker and father Dr. William Meeker MD...
.
Look
Ryan directed, produced and co-wrote avant-gardeAvant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
short film Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
which won an Award of Merit in the 2009 Accolade Competition
Accolade Competition
The Accolade Competition is an international, non-traditional, virtual awards venue. Awards go to those filmmakers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries....
for student films and an Award of Merit in the 2011 Best Shorts Competition for experimental films. Ryan directed Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
using the Red One 4K in 2009. Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
received several positive reviews. Ryan had a small role in Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
as a photographer who photographs a model played by a woman who later became his wife, Theresa Meeker
Theresa Meeker
Theresa Meeker is an Italian-American actress who appeared in several films.-Early Life and education:Theresa hails from Williamson County, Tennessee although she was raised in Sumatra, Indonesia by mother Judith Meeker and father Dr. William Meeker MD...
. Mark Bell of Film Threat
Film Threat
Film Threat is a former print magazine and, now, webzine which focuses primarily on independent film, although it also reviews DVDs of mainstream films and Hollywood movies in theaters. It first appeared as a photocopied zine in 1985, created by Wayne State University students Chris Gore and André...
gave Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
a four star review and he said, “I think it is better that folks see it and come to their own conclusions. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, the relevance, resonance and power of LOOK resides entirely in the eye of the person watching it.” Writer Terra King reviewed Look and said that it is "deep and full of metaphor," while author Sean Kernan shows in his article "Look is an Elegant Examination of Beauty" that captivating visuals reveal why Look is an award winning film. Matthew Saliba writes in his review for Rogue Cinema that Look is "directed with an exceptionally keen eye for detail and color." In an interview with Pickett for Rogue Cinema, Saliba says that Look
Look (2009)
Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
"is an exquisite experimental narrative short film that evokes feelings of a Lynchian nature in regards to its masterful use of visual metaphors as well as a Coco Chanel
Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel was a pioneering French fashion designer whose modernist thought, menswear-inspired fashions, and pursuit of expensive simplicity made her an important figure in 20th-century fashion. She was the founder of one of the most famous fashion brands, Chanel...
ad in terms of its costume and set design."
You Only Loved Me Twice
The very first film that Ryan made, You Only Loved Me TwiceYou Only Loved Me Twice (2008 film)
You Only Loved Me Twice is a crime drama short film directed by award winning director Ryan Pickett, which along with a business proposal helped him become a top 5 finalist in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to Be hosted by media mogul Russell Simmons at Sony Picture Studios in Los...
, as well as his business proposal helped him beat out thousands of others across the world to earn him a top 5 finalist in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to BE hosted by Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
at Sony Picture Studios in Los Angeles. In an interview with Nashville Business Journal, Ryan says You Only Loved Me Twice
You Only Loved Me Twice (2008 film)
You Only Loved Me Twice is a crime drama short film directed by award winning director Ryan Pickett, which along with a business proposal helped him become a top 5 finalist in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to Be hosted by media mogul Russell Simmons at Sony Picture Studios in Los...
is "a beginning film, but I did decide to go over the top with it."
Film director
- LookLook (2009)Look is an award-winning avant-garde short film shot on the Red One and directed by award-winning filmmaker Ryan Pickett.- Plot :Look is about an unsightly barmaid Emma who is searching for the meaning of beauty while she imagines a man who is attracted to her, John...
(short, 2009) - You Only Loved Me TwiceYou Only Loved Me Twice (2008 film)You Only Loved Me Twice is a crime drama short film directed by award winning director Ryan Pickett, which along with a business proposal helped him become a top 5 finalist in the film entrepreneurship competition the Race to Be hosted by media mogul Russell Simmons at Sony Picture Studios in Los...
(short, 2008)
TV Actor
- "Arrested Development (TV series)" season 2, episode 7 "Switch Hitter," played the Young Oscar Bluth
- Strong MedicineStrong MedicineStrong Medicine is a medical drama with a focus on feminist politics, health issues and class conflict. The television series aired on the Lifetime network from 2000 to 2006. It is distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The series was created and produced in part by comedienne and...
" 22 episodes from 2005–2006, played the Young Handsome Doctor
Awards
- Ryan was voted one of Nashville's Best Visual Artists as well as Nashville's Best Filmmaker by Village Voice Media owned Nashville SceneNashville SceneNashville Scene is an alternative newsweekly in Nashville, Tennessee. It was founded in 1989, became a part of Village Voice Media in 1999, and later joined the ranks of sixteen other publications after a merger of Village Voice Media with New Times Media early in 2006. In 2009 the paper was...
in 2011. - 2011 Best Shorts Competition – Winner Award of Merit Best Experimental Film (Look)
- 2009 Accolade CompetitionAccolade CompetitionThe Accolade Competition is an international, non-traditional, virtual awards venue. Awards go to those filmmakers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries....
– Winner Award of Merit Best Student Film (Look)