Filmmaker Stu Pollard has produced 9 films in his home state of Kentucky, including survival thriller RUST CREEK, powerful high school drama AND THEN I GO, and bowling comedy SPLIT. He has produced more movies outside the Bluegrass as well. These include the uproarious Jack Quaid & Maya Erskine wedding rom-com PLUS ONE, Syrian refugee documentary THIS IS HOME, and docu-drama FREELAND, starring Krisha Fairchild. Stu has also directed two features: romantic comedy NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE and suspense drama KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, both set against a vibrant Kentucky backdrop.

Pollard founded Lunacy Productions in 2015 to expand his storytelling horizons and break free of the “one-at-a-time” indie filmmaking model. This has sparked numerous new collaborations with both emerging talent and established creators. Lunacy’s current development slate includes WE’RE HAUNTED, a horror comedy about dysfunctional roommates confronting an evil spirit; THE MAN WHO KNEW BELLE STARR, a riveting Western-infused revenge drama; THE TRESTLE, a supernatural thriller revolving around an infamous Kentucky legend; and ALAS, BABYLON, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on the classic novel.

Also an entrepreneur, Stu has spearheaded a number of other creative endeavors including the event planning app REUNACY, nostalgic web series THE EIGHTIES EMPORIUM, whiskey lifestyle brand BOURBONALITY, content creation collective SMALL BATCH CONTENT, and philanthropic nonprofit organization TRUNACY.

In addition to teaching at Film Independent and USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Stu recently founded LunacyU, an online educational platform dedicated to teaching the next generation of independent filmmakers. At LunacyU, he currently teaches classes on Film Financing and Cinematic Music. He holds a BS in business from Georgetown and an MFA in film from USC, is a member of the DGA and PGA, and serves on the boards of the Louisville Film Society, the Horse Farm Workers’ Educational Assistance Fund and GU’s Alumni Board of Regents.

Alexandra discovered her passion for filmmaking while studying for her Bachelor and Master of Science in electrical engineering at USC. She took elective courses in film studies and quickly fell in love with the filmmaking process. After working full-time as an engineer, she decided to return for her third degree, an MFA in Film and TV Production at USC’s School of Cinematic Arts.

While she no longer works as an engineer, Alexandra still thinks like one in terms of creative problem solving, and it has served her well in handling film projects restricted by time, money and other resources. At Lunacy, she helps to develop projects on their slate including narrative and documentary features. She also helped launch the online learning platform LunacyU and its first class “Indie Film Financing.” She works as a producer, as well as a production sound mixer and post-production sound editor. Since 2019, she has been a sound mixer for the Sundance Directors Labs. 

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Alexandra always participated in track and cross country. Eventually, she completed the Los Angeles Marathon and decided 26.2 miles was more than enough.

Derek is a production sound mixer, sound designer, and re-recording mixer. Though he hails from Washington state, Derek has lived in Boise, Los Angeles, and now Louisville. He graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film & TV Production and has a BA in Mass Communication with a Minor in History and Political Science from Northwest Nazarene University. 

Derek’s work spans the gauntlet of formats and projects encompassing network TV, broadcast, podcasts, documentary and narrative films that have played at festivals across the country including Sundance, SXSW, Atlanta, Palm Springs, and New York.

At Lunacy, he focuses primarily on all things sound-related. Derek crewed as the boom operator and additional sound mixer on RUST CREEK, the audio engineer for Lunacy’s online educational platform, and editor for podcast content. But it doesn’t stop there; he is also a producer – currently involved in the development of ALAS, BABYLON, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on Pat Frank’s classic Cold War-era novel.

As a former NCAA Division II athlete, Derek also fulfills his passion for track and field as an assistant coach at Trinity High School for Boys in Louisville.

Brandon is a writer, director, podcaster, and producer. Originally from Tuscaloosa, AL, Brandon developed his love for storytelling and filmmaking amidst the diverse Southern landscape. He graduated with a BA in Telecommunication and Film from the University of Alabama before attending the University of Southern California where he graduated with an MFA in Film and Television Production. At Lunacy, he primarily focuses on social media and content development, specifically directing for our Eighties Emporium channel on YouTube.

His films have been shown at various film festivals, including Sidewalk Film Festival, Black Warrior Film Festival, and Austin Film Festival. His screenplays have also placed at such competitions as Screencraft and Shore Scripts. In his spare time, Brandon works as a freelance writer. He also hosts and produces a weekly podcast on film genres and film history, the CineNation Podcast.

Michelle is a Production Designer, Art Director, Graphic Designer, and Production Coordinator. Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, and a graduate of Xavier University, she put her graphic design degree and visual arts skills to work for films like WHERE HOPE GROWS, The Orchard’s IN THE RADIANT CITY, Hallmark’s THE ULTIMATE LEGACY, and commercials for brands such as ROCK BAND and OCULUS.

In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles to coordinate the digitally remastered MARX BROTHERS’ SILVER SCREEN COLLECTION and feature documentary, THE MARX BROTHERS: HOLLYWOOD’S KINGS OF CHAOS. She served as coordinator for projects such as the remastered original SALEM’S LOT, STORKS, feature documentary HAMMER HORROR: THE WARNER BROS YEARS, and an untitled HARRY POTTER project. In addition to consulting for Lunacy, Michelle production designs and art directs various music videos and films, including the Netflix thriller THE OPEN HOUSE, and is an aspiring writer.