Chris M. Rutledge is originally from Chicago, IL and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. He attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where he also pledged Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Chris began his creative writing by penning short stories in 1997, later started a novel, then subsequently transitioned into screenwriting in 2009 after taking a screenwriting course at Emory University. The transition to screenwriting was appropriate since Chris has a strong interest in writing, fused with a passion for film. He has written several feature-length screenplays. Chris decided to "reverse engineer" one of his screenplays into a novel, which would eventually become his first published novel in 2016, "Murder at Venegoni's." He made his sophomoric authorial release in 2019 with his novel "ASCLEPIUS," also derived from one of his screenplays. The screenplay for ASCLEPIUS won "Best Thriller" in the Olympus Film Fest in 2019.
In 2018 Chris decided to direct and produce one of his screenplays. The short film titled "Trombone Jones" was completed in late 2018. This short film went on to become an Official Selection at a film fest having it's world premiere at the Brenden Theatre at the Palms Casino Resort Hotel in Las Vegas in 2019. Chris currently juggles authoring novels, screenwriting, and indie filmmaking.
Date Nights
(
Film (short)
by Guerilla Film Group
Writer, Director, Producer Story of love and grief.
Trombone Jones
(
Film (short)
by Guerilla Film Group (Drama)
Writer, Director, Producer A short silent film about a US Marine veteran that masters the trombone to cope with his PTSD.
Trombone Jones film, “Official Selection” - Golden State Film Fest, LA, CA
(2020)
We The People, “Quarterfinalist”- ScreenCraft Sci-Fi/Fantasy Screenplay Contest
(2020)
Englewood, “Quarterfinalist” - Scriptapalooza 2020 Screenplay Contest
(2020)
ASCLEPIUS, “Best Thriller Screenplay” - Olympus Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA
(2019)
Trombone Jones film, “Official Selection” - WideScreen Film Fest, Las Vegas, NV
(2019)
We The People, “Semifinalist” - WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Screenplay Contest
(2019)
ASCLEPIUS, “Semifinalist” - WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Screenplay Contest
(2017)
We The People, “Quarterfinalist” - WeScreenplay Feature Screenplay Contest
(2017)
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
(1997-2000)