Bill Cornelius

SPECIALTIES: Directing, writing, cinematography (DV/HD), acting (on-screen/voice), producing, lighting, animation, storyboard artist, editing (Final Cut Pro)

EXPERIENCE: Short films, music videos, feature films, commercials, documentaries, artist EPKs, etc...

ACCOLADES: Best Short Documentary 2011 Nashville Film Festival ("Nashville Rises"), Best Ensemble Cast 2010 48-Hour Film Project ("Seize"), Best Choreography 2010 48-Hour Film Project ("Seize"), Audience Award 2010 48-Hour Film Project ("Seize"), Best Film De Femme 2010 48-Hour Film Project ("Seize"), 1st Place: Best Music Video 2010 Western Film & Video Festival ("Mr. Optimist", The Opposed), 1st Place: Best Independent Film 2010 Western Film & Video Festival ("A Little Christmas"), 2nd Place 2010 Gatlinburg Screenfest ("Lavorsia"), Best Film: Honorable Mention 2009 48-Hour Film Project ("A Little Christmas"), 2009 Bronze Telly ("The Bell Witch Legend"), Certificate of Excellence 2009 Western Film & Video Festival ("P.S.A."), Director's Choice 2007 Western Film & Video Festival ("My Computer"), 1st Place: Best Independent Film 2006 Western Film & Video Festival ("Lavorsia")

BIO: Multiple award-winning filmmaker, artist, and actor Bill Cornelius has been creating artwork since he was old enough to hold a crayon. Coming from a family of various musicians, artists, and performers, Cornelius has inherited a deep-rooted passion for the arts. While spending his childhood in Kentucky, Cornelius was inspired by the cartoons of the 1980s and the films that he watched, most notably from director Steven Spielberg and renowned American animator Don Bluth. His unique and continually evolving drawing style has earned him a number of awards and recognition over the years. At age eight, Cornelius decided to try his hand at filmmaking. Since then, he has been involved in the creation of nearly 100 different independent productions taking on a number of different roles such as director, producer, writer, cinematographer, actor, and editor to name a few. As an actor he has appeared in a number of different independent films as well as stage productions, covering a wide range from comedy, to drama, to voice acting.

In 2001 he began attending the Watkins Film School in Nashville, Tennessee and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film in 2005. Shortly after graduating, Cornelius founded the independent production company Lavorsia Pictures Entertainment named after his acclaimed short film "Lavorsia".

Over the years Cornelius has become a strong advocate against school bullying and has commenced production on a candid documentary titled "Hear Me Now" in order to raise awareness and give hope to students dealing with bullying. In the meantime, Cornelius continues to be involved in various productions be it as a director, writer, cinematographer, actor, or all of the above. He hopes to use the storytelling power of film and art to entertain and inspire audiences across the globe.

SELECT FILMOGRAPHY:

"Child Filmmaker: The Story of B.C. Films", 2011 (Director/Himself)

"Nashville Rises", 2011 (Cinematographer/Himself)

"What Love Is" - The Opposed, 2011 (Director/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor)

"Slumber's Kiss", 2010 (Director/Writer/Producer/Cinematographer/Editor/Actor- "Van Whitaker")

"Seize", 2010 (Co-Director/Co-Writer/Co-Producer/Co-Editor/Actor- "Mike Boufontaine")

"Bayou Baby"- Karen Waldrup, 2010 (Director/Cinematographer/Editor)

"Lavorsia", 2009 (Director/Writer/Producer/Co-Cinematographer/Editor)

"Mr. Optimist" - The Opposed, 2009 (Director/Producer/Co-Cinematographer/Editor)

"A Little Christmas", 2009 (Director/Co-Writer/Co-Producer/Editor)

"Play That Song"- Karen Waldrup, 2008 (Director/Cinematographer/Editor)

(click here for a complete filmography)