CONNOR AUSTIN JONES
CREATIVITY IS LIMITLESS
CO-CEO / Director of OPERATIONS (VISION )
Connor is an emerging writer-director and producer from the DMV.
Following studies at the GEFFEN SCHOOL OF DRAMA AT YALE’s 2022 Director’s Lab and Practicum and with the GOTHAM FILM & MEDIA INSTITUTE’s Series Fellowship, Connor produced and directed his debut short, ‘On The Line.’ The action/sports-drama premiered at MAMMOTH FILM FESTIVAL (March 2022), received an honorable mention at the SAN ANTONIO BLACK INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL and was nominated for best cinematography at CANNES SHORTS.
Connor’s screenwriting work has since received accolades at the BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL, BIG APPLE FILM AND SCREENPLAY FESTIVAL, HORRORIGINS FEST, ATLANTA FILM FESTIVAL, LOS ANGELES INT’L SCREENPLAY AWARDS, JUST4SHORTS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION, HOLLYSHORTS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION, OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY SHORTS, and FILMMATIC’S HORROR SCREENPLAY AWARDS.
He recently directed the ‘Full Moon’ music video for performing artist, D'Zhari (cred. Beyoncé, Lizzo, Kirk Franklin), and he’s currently collaborating with Matt Kennedy (Prod. Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon), Kyra Knox, and Charles A. Bush on the adaptation of Charles’s YA drama, ‘Every Variable of Us.’
He’s just completed a year as a Rideback RISE’s Y1 Circle Member and is focusing on telling YA/college-aged stories in the action-sports, drama and science fiction genres.
PRIOR WORK
ON THE LINE
FULL MOONSCREENWRITING
In The Dark Times, Will There Be Singing? (Adaptation)LOGLINE: A year after a fatal encounter, a true believer visits the family of a now-deceased romantic. As the outside world encroaches on their isolated estate, their well-guarded reality becomes a fever dream spiraling out of control.
Radioplay produced by Invited Dress on Spotify (Starring Xavier J. Roe)
Stageplay incubated at the Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, IL
Adapted from the stageplay of the same name by DIANNE NORA (Writing Editor to the Tony, Pulitzer-Winning Playwright Tracy Letts)
Every Variable of Us (Adaptation)LOGLINE: After Philly teenager Alexis Duncan is injured in a gang shooting, her dreams of a college scholarship and pro basketball career vanish in an instant; leading her to shift focus to the school’s STEM team, a group of self-professed nerds seeking their own college scholarships.
Screenplay adapted from Charles A. Bush’s YA best-seller, “Every Variable of Us”
Directed by Kyra Knox (“Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia”, EP: Allen Iverson)
Produced by Matt Kennedy (Startling Inc., Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon, Dying Earth with A24, Dark Winds at AMC)
The AthleteLOGLINE: An ex-felon turned collegiate gymnast is faced with his past when his childhood best friend drunkenly assaults their long-time girlfriend, who's also the coach's daughter. Throughout the season, he reconciles with his own history as a survivor and questions who, if anyone, deserves redemption... himself included.
AugustLOGLINE: A runaway trans-masc DJ at a struggling drag bar - AUGUST (27) - in the Mission District of San Francisco must reconcile with a past they’d left behind upon the death of their estranged parents.
Byrdie's CallLOGLINE: The night of Atlanta pride, gogo dancer Byrdie J (26) makes a very important call. A gritty true life experience about learning to navigate the moments that change us forever.
SF, Atlanta Film Festival
SophomoresLOGLINE: Cameron Ocean, a gay college sophomore struggles with drugs, liquor and relationships as he searches for comfort in a cycle of toxic men.
QF, ScreenCraft Film Fund
On The LineLOGLINE: A charismatic track prodigy with BPD, Myles D'Vine (18), suffers a chronic spinal injury after a devastating crash at championships. A year later, the crash still haunts him and he struggles to face the future of his once burgeoning career.
Nominee: Cannes Shorts (Best Cinematography)
Official Selection: Mammoth Film Festival, San Antonio Black Int’l Film Festival, 6th Meihodo Int’l Youth Visual Media Festival, Lift-Off Film Festival (Berlin, Tokyo, Austin, Manchester), Orlando Film Festival
Screenplay Recognition: Los Angeles Int’l Screenplay Awards (QF), ScreenCraft Film Fund (Second Rounder), Your Script Produced! S3 (SF), Gotham Narrative Series Fellowship and Featured Project Market Selection
LegacyLOGLINE: In his final training session before the final Worlds selection camp Matteo finds himself unable to focus, distracted by his drunken father. Matteo struggles to care for his father, only sending him deeper into a long withheld depression. For a moment the family is estranged, but with time they find reconciliation as Matteo becomes his own person, and his dad the same.
SF, Black Film Space x CliveRd Film Grant
UNDRGRNDLOGLINE: Pressed for cash and a moment of relief, ROX (27) longs for a promotion to the role of content reviewer at her AI optimization factory. Will the reality of the position and what it takes to succeed be too much to chew, even if it's to provide for her family?
Recently adapted into 2077
That Summer in ChicagoLOGLINE: After being cut from her dance major following a growing substance abuse problem, Riley Tucker (20), a once-aspiring choreographer struggles to move on after she’s forced to move back home and work in her father’s barbershop in Chicago. When an opportunity comes knocking years later, she tests the waters wondering if she may still have a chance at her dream.
Consulting Producers: Ameenah Kaplan, Ilyssa Goodman
Selected for further development at Rideback Ranch under mentorship of Jessica Sharzer; adapting to feature film format
2077LOGLINE: In the near-future, sea levels rise and abandoned coastal cities have become farms for server storage. This newly restructured era creates challenges for server technicians who must brave the daily tides to fix malfunctioning servers and keep the inland society afloat.
Best Sci-Fi Script, Just4Shorts
Official Selection, HorrOrigins Film Fest
Official Selection, Beverly Hills Film Fest
Honorable Mention, Cosmic Film Festival
QF, Hollyshorts Screenplay Competition
QF, Outstanding Screenplays Shorts
QF, Filmmatic Horror Awards S7
YAMS LOGLINE: Fresh off a messy break-up, Shay (mid-20ss), a Black-American server at a poppin' Soul Food restaurant explores a new life with the help of her wildly charismatic co-workers
Co-Created and Co-Written with Xavier J. Roe and Takayla P. Carlton