R. Christian Anderson

R. Christian Anderson

Director, Screenwriter, Script Consultant, Filmmaker, Songwriter and Music Composer

Las Vegas, Nevada

Member Since:
February 2017
Last online:
> 2 weeks ago
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About R.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Hollywood, his passion for film came at an early age. His mother, Lita, was a radio personality for station KMPC, at the time a music and entertainment station. He was performing on live radio in commercials by the age of 3. She took him to many movie premiers on the boulevard that she covered in her broadcasts, so he was able to meet many stars of the time while still a small child, among them Lucille Ball, Celeste Holm, Dick Powell, June Allison, cowboy star Lash LaRue, Sally Forrest and celebrity psychic "Criswell."

At the age of 9, his mother married Raymond D. Bowman, a jazz and classical music impresario and noted music critic who taught and encouraged Christian to write. His step-father later owned an art gallery in Beverly Hills where he was inspired by the artists showing there, including Innocenzo Daraio, Mae Babitz, Leonora Cetone Starr, and the late Edgar Payne. At age 12 he met legendary dance pioneer Ruth St. Denis, who encouraged his love of art and shared her life and career with him.

In 1969 Christian volunteered to serve in the United States Air Force where he was trained as an illustrator and designer. He created orientations and briefings with the 62nd Military Airlift Wing (MAC), where he was also a member of the base Honor Guard. He later worked on military training films with the Aerospace Audiovisual Service (MAC), and worked with one of the first units to produce films on video tape, rather than film stock. He received an Honorable Discharge for his service.

By 1973 he moved to San Francisco where he freelanced as a graphic designer, creating numerous posters, brochures, print ads and collateral materials over the next couple of decades. He spent two years in Springfield, Ohio where he was active in live theater. During the 1980 season at the Springfield Civic Theater, he performed in two plays, Agatha Christie's "Mousetrap" in the part of "Christopher Wren" and played the lead role of "Charles Condomine" in Noel Coward's comedy "Blythe Spirit". Both plays required him to speak in an English accent.

He lived in New York City in during the spring of 1984 and worked for a noted entertainment manager. It was during that time he was fortunate to meet several people he admired in film. Among them Martin Scorsese, Robert DeNiro, Treat Williams, Martin Scorsese, Shelley Winters, Anthony Franciosa, Joe Pesci, and Martin Balsam, respectively. This experience further inspired his passion for film.

During the 1990s he returned to college to obtain a degree in Multimedia and was then employed by two major advertising agencies in the San Diego area. He also gave tours at the San Francisco Opera House, worked as a classical music manager in a music store, and spent a season working with the Houston Symphony Orchestra in the Operations Department. He began freelancing as a writer and had several magazine articles on music and film published during this time.

By the 2000s, he turned to ghost-writing screenplays before finally directing his first feature-length film "Defcon 2012" in 2008. He is also a composer and song lyricist and co-wrote the song "The Ghosts of San Francisco," sung by Chris Clark for the film "When the World Came to San Francisco", the music video of which won the "Mixed Genre Jazz Film Award" at the "New York Jazz Film Festival" in Harlem in November, 2016. He is married and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he continues to write, compose, and direct films. He is a member of ASCAP.

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Credits

  • A Minute of Stirling Calder

    A Minute of Stirling Calder (2017)
    Film (Short) Producer A montage of images showing the work of sculptor A. Stirling Calder.

  • Manhattan Montage

    Manhattan Montage (2017)
    Film (Short and Music) Producer The music of Pat Thomi featuring a montage of images by New York City documentary and art photographer Miriam Danar.

  • Lost Broadway

    Lost Broadway (2017)
    Film (Short and Musical) Producer A music video using vintage images taken from Broadway, Vaudeville and early experimental films made in the New York area.

  • Tetrazzini at the Fountain

    Tetrazzini at the Fountain (2017)
    Film (Short) Producer Add a Plot »

  • Love and Something Like It

    Love and Something Like It (2017)
    Film (Comedy, Drama and Romance) Producer Dan tragically loses his loving wife while only in his late 50s, then goes through the dilemma of finding "true love" again. It's a challenging journey, but he soon learns his life will change in ways he wasn't prepared for, with surprising and often hilarious results. Will Dan ever find love again? All bets and expectations are off in this modern American dark and romantic comedy! Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • Slate Me!

    Slate Me! (2017)
    Television (Talk-Show) Producer Slate Me is a show giving advice for those wishing to get into the entertainment industry. We will have interviews with Directors, Producers, Studio heads, actors as well as music by up and coming musicians to Grammy Award Winning Bands.

  • I Remember Devi Dja

    I Remember Devi Dja (2017)
    Film (Short) Producer A short documentary about Devi Dja, known as the "Pavlova of the Orient." She was an Indonesian dancer who traveled the world and became a choreographer and bit player in Hollywood.

  • The Eyes of Bierstadt

    The Eyes of Bierstadt (2016)
    Film (Short) Producer A short documentary which encapsulates the life of the 19th century American landscape artist, Albert Bierstadt, a man with a passion for nature, the outdoors, and wildlife. He brought it all to life in his remarkable paintings.

  • Shay

    Shay (2016)
    Film (Short and Western) Producer It's Texas, 1875 and Sheriff Lawrence Anders and his sister Shay are at odds over her chosen profession which accidentally puts him in danger with a ruthless gang that take him hostage. Now Shay must rescue her brother with the help of her own gang of four very deadly girls. Written by D.R. Pedraza

  • A Chance to Say Goodbye

    A Chance to Say Goodbye (2016)
    Film (Short, Comedy and Drama) Producer A wanna be Valley Girl Sam invites herself to a meteor shower viewing with a most improbable group of people. Along the way, she stops for a surprise visit to her grandmothers only to find she has passed away. This shakes her to the core and changes her until she discovers the real reason for the trip and her life in one fail swoop. Written by Pedraza, D.R.

  • The Ghosts of San Francisco

    The Ghosts of San Francisco (2015)
    Film (Short and Music) Producer "The Ghosts of San Francisco" is the music video for an original the song of the same title. It was written especially for singer, Chris Clark, for the motion picture "When the World Came to San Francisco."

  • Sugarfoot Photo Shoot

    Sugarfoot Photo Shoot (2015)
    Film (Short) Producer Memories of a publicity photo shoot in 1956 inspires a man to become a filmmaker as an adult.

  • Danse Sensuelle

    Danse Sensuelle (2015)
    Video (Short and History) Producer A documentary short film of women nightclub dancers from the 1940s with an original, newly-composed music score.

  • When the World Came to San Francisco

    When the World Came to San Francisco (2015)
    Film (Documentary, Biography, Drama, Family and 1 More) Producer This feature-length drama-documentary commemorates the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, which hosted almost 19 million visitors. It was a showcase for over 2 dozen foreign countries and 27 states. Though the fair was meant to salute the newly-built Panama Canal, it became a celebration of the rebuilding of San Francisco following the devastating earthquake and fire of 1906. Writer and director, R. Christian Anderson, says: "I've had a head start, since I've been collecting memorabilia and souvenirs of historic San Francisco for over 38 years. For the past year I've been painstakingly collecting, sorting, and digitally restoring hundreds of images from the fair especially for this the film'. Many images belonged to the late Reyna Belasco Rosenthal, niece of the famed New York producer David Belasco. Reyna's father Solomon Belasco was a shareholder and, with her family, she was able to visit the fair 14 times over the course of its run. The film is unique, in ... Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • My Tempest

    My Tempest (2015)
    Film (Short and Drama) Special effects A grandfather tries to redeem himself to his son through his granddaughter.

  • The Last Rose

    The Last Rose (2014)
    Film (Short and Drama) Miscellaneous Crew Add a Plot »

  • Nijinsky: Still Dancer

    Nijinsky: Still Dancer (2013)
    Film (Documentary and Short) Producer A documentary montage of Vaslav Nijinsky in still images, set to the music of Stravinsky.

  • To Serve and Protect

    To Serve and Protect (2012)
    Film (Short) Producer Add a Plot »

  • A Matter of Divorcement

    A Matter of Divorcement (2012)
    Film (Short, Drama and Family) Producer Gail arrives at ex-husband Howard's home with their daughter Vivian for a scheduled visit, however, Gail uses the moment to belittle him. Howard is no longer the fool Gail thinks he is and we discover a secret Howard can hardly wait to tell his daughter. Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • Gunner's Rift

    Gunner's Rift (2012)
    Film (Short and Crime) Producer A ruthless hit man's path to destruction while surviving the mire of crime and corruption. Gunner and his brother Dom, a detective, may have to corroborate to solve Gunner's ex-girlfriend's murder. All hell breaks loose.

  • Old Hollywood

    Old Hollywood (2012)
    Film (Short and Drama) Producer Handsome Vince Carter left Dolores O'Day because he was just a chump with an old Plymouth, a night watchman job, and barely a dime for coffee. He came back for Dolores because he made good as an L.A. Police Detective. Once he arrives at the "Studio Club" to claim her, he finds out she is now the property of Nick O'Dell, a tough gangster who is now very protective of his "canary". They encounter each other and a gun fires. A game of deception, corruption, broken promises, and greed is revealed. Such is life in old Hollywood. Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • A-lister

    A-lister (2011)
    Film (Documentary) Composer Two girls, two nobodies, are trying to achieve their goal of getting an interview with an A-lister, such as George Clooney. They think if they can do something unattainable like that, then any American can hope to have their dreams come true. The question is: will they meet their goal? Will they be able to get the interview with an A-lister? Written by julia dagovich

  • Tea and Destiny

    Tea and Destiny (2010)
    Film (Short, Drama, Family and War) Producer Celeste Guilliams confronts her father head-on in this short, intimate drama. A tense discussion ensues as she tries to explain her reason for joining the Army. Her conviction is unclear to her father until she asserts herself and comes of age within a few moments. She makes the first adult decision of her life when she declares she has 'spread her wings' and will leave home. Though he is frustrated and a bit frightened, he can't help but release her after understanding her determination and conviction. Written by Anonymous

  • Defcon 2012

    Defcon 2012 (2010)
    Film (Sci-Fi) Director On October 30, 2009 an independent filmmaker and his cast and crew are reported missing a month before the release of their controversial film predicting the end of the world. Authorities have reason to believe the film's 2012 doomsday scenario may have something to do with their disappearance. An agent for CEA (Central Extraterrestrial Agency) discovers the footage to the film and watches the film on September 10, 2012, three months before the world is to come to an end. The film is reported to star actors Brian Neil Hoff (Automaton), Shy Pilgreen (Echo 6), and Xu Razer (Fragments.) Here is the synopsis to the mystery film. In 2012 a devastating war between humans and aliens left the earth a nuclear wasteland. 200 years later the descendants of both civilizations have returned in search of treasure and lost artifacts. After landing their ship on the abandoned planet, three galactic thieves, Kaynin, Rune, and Archer descend into an underground city. Soon a series of mechanical ... Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • Mind Games

    Mind Games (2009)
    Film (Short, Crime, Drama, Mystery and 1 More) Producer Detective Morgan's babysitter is dead, her five-year-old daughter is missing, and there's a strange man in her house...let the games begin.

  • Twists of Fate

    Twists of Fate (2009)
    Film (Action and Crime) Miscellaneous Crew Add a Plot »

  • Knight Rider

    Knight Rider (2008)
    Television (Adventure, Mystery and Thriller) Actor KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) is an artificially intelligent car that can hack any system, shoot weapons like a jet fighter, and use holograms to transform into other vehicles. This is reinvented version of the 1982 show of the same name. Written by Anonymous

  • Automaton

    Automaton (2008)
    Film (Animation, Short, Drama and Sci-Fi) Production manager In the future, a planet in peril evolves to a mechanized existence, destroying the natural order. All life and beauty is recreated electronically and thrives on solar power, until the day the sky turned black. Built to carry data between command stations, a robot butterfly embarks on a journey to the last city of lights. Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • Motel 5150

    Motel 5150 (2008)
    Film (Short, Crime, Drama, Horror and 1 More) Production manager Richard Watson, is a successful clockmaker who is on his way to Las Vegas with his bride-to-be... a certain Miss Lulu Sinclair. While crossing the hot California desert, his new Cadillac stalls and rolls to a stop. In short order, the situation takes a sinister turn when the hot and frustrated couple are stranded on lonely highway forcing them to come upon a run-down motel owned by a clearly unstable woman who practices the black arts. Written by R. Christian Anderson

  • Cartoon Express

    Cartoon Express (1954)
    Television (Family and Talk-Show) Actor "Cartoon Express" was a train-themed kids' show hosted every weekday afternoon by "Engineer Bill" Stulla on KHJ Channel 9, in Los Angeles. Surrounded by an elaborate model-train set, "Engineer Bill" would introduce cartoons, play a game called "Red Light, Green Light," read the names of viewers who weren't feeling well - for whom he would ring the "get-well bell," chat with a child guest and, of course, promote products. Written by D.H. Martin

Awards

  • Mixed Genre Jazz Film Award at the New York Jazz Film Festival for "The Ghosts of San Francisco."
    (2016)

  • Best Sci-Fi Film at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival for "Defcon 2012."
    (2010)

Education

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