Patrick C. Clinton, PhD, MFA, MA

Background

Patrick C. Clinton is an independent filmmaker and university professor. He has an MFA in Film & Media Arts from Southern Methodist University, a PhD in English with a Creative Writing concentration and a major subject area of Theory & Criticism, and an MA in English with a Rhetoric concentration, both from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Filmmaking

Patrick Clinton has produced, directed, and written two feature films that have earned significant awards and recognitions at prestigious, internationally recognized film festivals, including a Best Picture win in the horror category at the Great Lakes International Film Festival and a Best Actor win and Best Actress nomination at the Horrific Film Festival, both for The Inherited (2008). He has also written, produced, and directed a variety of short films and been the creative force behind countless web videos and web shorts. His film “R,” which is a surreal exploration of the tragic consequences associated with sexual violence, recently earned an Honorable Mention at the Los Angeles Movie Awards. Currently, he is in development on his third feature film, Haddonfield, and in production on a short film entitled, “Relieving the Past,” which explores race differences and bigotry within a family dynamic.

Writing & Collaboration

In addition to his own films, Patrick Clinton has written and co-written scripts for other production companies, as well as worked in a variety of roles on projects that cross types and genres, ranging from feature documentary to short narrative productions. And while his specialties are writing, producing, directing, and cinematography, his credits cover a wide range of experience, including Producer, Co-Producer, Writer, Co-Writer, Story Writer, and Executive Producer in the preproduction phase, Director of Photography, Production Manager, 1st Assistant Director, Grip, and Script Supervisor in the production phase, and Editor and Assistant Editor in the postproduction phase.

Film Community

As an active member of the film community, Patrick Clinton’s involvement goes well beyond his work on film projects. He served as a Pre-Screening Juror in the Shorts Competition for the 2015 USA Film Festival, as Host and Coordinator for the 2015 and 2016 Dallas HorrorFest, and as Coordinator of the 2015 and 2016 Horror Film Race.  In addition, he has given guest lectures and been a guest speaker at several college and university events ranging in topics from “Making a Single Element Lens” to “The Style and Cinematography of the Horror Film.” Recently, he was a Featured Speaker for The Cavanaugh Lecture Series, a monthly community event sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art and Louisiana State University at Alexandria, where he delivered an hour long presentation on “The Art of Independent Filmmaking” followed by a short screening of some of his films. 

Teaching

As a university professor, Patrick Clinton has taught a wide range of courses in a variety of subject areas. He usually focuses on film production, screenwriting, and film history and theory courses, but he has also taught courses in literature, composition, and university studies, as well as graduate courses in academic writing and research. He is currently a full-time assistant Professor of Film & Television Production in the Department of Communications at Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. Previously, he spent five and a half years as an Assistant Professor in Digital Filmmaking and Video Production at The Art Institute of Dallas in Dallas, Texas.