Filmmakers

THADDEUS D. MATULA | DIRECTOR

Thaddeus D. Matula is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning director of scripted and documentary film & television. He is best known as the director of the ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries PONY EXCESS and BRIAN AND THE BOZ, with the former landing as the most-watched documentary premiere in the network’s history. Matula’s additional credits include projects for the NFL, BBC, PBS, and The Grammys. He began his career directing narrative short films, including his award-winning science fiction short THE DREAMER which earned him his initial international acclaim while playing in festivals in New York, Toronto, London, and Paris and released nationwide in the States on PBS.

In addition to his work in sports documentaries, Matula’s deeply passionate about championing stories of social advocacy and documenting climate action, producing two seasons of the civil-liberties docuseries INDIVISIBLE for the NFL and documenting species and habitat conservation efforts in the Caribbean and Central America. His work on the film LIGUANEA helped to save the Jamaican Iguana; a conservation success story that is now the subject of a new installation at the British Museum of Natural History in London.

Currently, Matula is directing the documentary features UNRELEASED, INTO THE SPOTLIGHT, 20K, as well as the docuseries THE PROGRAM, while executive producing the biopic of Fidel Castro's daughter ALINA OF CUBA and directing a documentary on the same subject matter. 2023 sees him returning to his scripted film directing roots with the science fiction enviro-thriller AS I LIVE & BREATHE. Thaddeus serves as President & Chief Cinemagician at Double Life Films; a company he co-founded with fellow dreamers in 1999

Rev. Paul Rasmussen is the Senior Minister at Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, and the Producer of Into the Spotlight.

After serving as assistant men’s basketball coach for Centenary College for five years, Paul pursued a career in sports marketing as the National Sales Director for SportsCare USA, Inc. Paul left the corporate world to pursue his call to ministry and has served on the staff at HPUMC since 2000, when he began an internship while studying for his Master of Divinity from SMU’s Perkins School of Theology.

In 2010, Paul became the Senior Minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church. Under his leadership, HPUMC now expands across multiple campuses and remains one of Methodism's fastest-growing churches. Paul and the HPUMC team remain dedicated to the rich history of serving individuals and communities who need help the most yet have access to the least amount of support. The Belong Disability programs, including Spotlight Performing Arts and Spotlight Theater, are evidence of this commitment. Belong programs welcome people of all abilities, ages, and faiths to participate in an adaptive, inclusive community at no cost to participants and their families.

In producing Into the Spotlight, Paul envisioned sharing the story of the Belong Disability programs from the perspective of the amazing teens and adults who are creating a newly inspired performance each year. His hope is that the film will motivate others to create similar programs in their communities.

A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Paul is a fourth-generation United Methodist minister. He holds an undergraduate degree in history from Centenary College of Louisiana, a Master of Arts from the University of Richmond, and a Master of Divinity from Southern Methodist University Perkins School of Theology. Currently, he serves on the Methodist Health System Foundation Board of Trustees and the St. Philips School and Community Center Executive Board. Paul and his wife, Ashley, have three children: Paul, Jr., Arden, and Luke.

REV. PAUL RASMUSSEN | PRODUCER, HPUMC

Ricky Townsend is a producer/director/editor and community leader in the intellectual & developmental disabilities (IDD) space. Originally from Orange County, CA, Townsend attended Southern Methodist University to study marketing and cinema-television. There, he was President of SMU’s Best Buddies Chapter and met Austin and Christi Davenport—a married couple with Down’s Syndrome. Across over a decade of friendship, Townsend watched the Davenports in many unforgettable performances of Spotlight Musical Theater. In 2019, Townsend and Christi’s mother, Judie Hockel, organized a national speaking tour that gave Austin & Christi a platform to share their story and insights on love and marriage.

Professionally, Townsend began his film career working for Academy Award-winning producer Edward Saxon. His experience spans the production offices of the American Film Institute; the public relations arm for Warner Bros. - CRAZY STUPID LOVE (2011), HORRIBLE BOSSES (2011); the in-theatre marketing department for STX Entertainment - THE GIFT (2015), BAD MOMS (2016); and Sendero, where he led the consulting firm’s video strategy. He is currently producing the documentary feature UNRELEASED and field-directing the docuseries THE PROGRAM. He also runs his own production effort, RickTown Media, producing content for national brands including JCPenney and Women Against Alzheimer’s. Townsend continues to serve the IDD community, previously acting as the Vice President of Best Buddies’ Dallas Advisory Board.

INTO THE SPOTLIGHT represents the merging of Townsend’s love for the IDD community and passion for filmmaking—two worlds that Austin and Christi taught him to tackle with fervor. Austin passed away one month before production began and the film is dedicated in his honor.

RICKY TOWNSEND | PRODUCER

KING HOLLIS | PRODUCER, THOUSAND FOOT SQUID

King Hollis was born into a military family, so his sense of purpose was long instilled in him. His grandfather taught him to dream, his mother taught him to dream big, and his grandmother taught him that those dreams were made of hard work and dedication. King grew up with some hard knocks but channeled that energy into writing. In high school, King won awards for his short stories and poetry. He would later turn his love for storytelling into a career in filmmaking. King would go on to develop, create, produce, and direct television shows and movies for ABC, FOX, The CW, Universal, PBS, Loma Alta, Anchor Bay, and Vertical.

As a commercial director, King has won several Addy Awards, and his narrative film work has placed in festivals all over the globe. King won Best Director for his film Pearl at the Native American Film Festival. Other honors for Pearl include screening as a finalist at the Heart Land Film Festival and screening at the United Nations. King has created several episodic television shows and documentaries for major networks, including ABC, FOX, The CW, PBS, Direct TV, Dish, and Comcast. King is currently developing original content with partners at Laddertruck33/DNEG (Men in Black) and KTTC Productions (13 Reasons Why).

King’s style has been described as grit that gleams. His images are a symphony of beautiful dualities that are personal and resonating. His cinematic sense is in harmony with his ability to reach actors and create stories that move the spirit. King’s imagination has fueled his life. It has been the spark to the flames of his passion. King was once told to live his life like a piece of art. His life is now his art. His art is now his dream.

FILMMAKERS

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EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, HPUMC

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

EDITORS

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ASSOCIATE PRODUCER