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Arkansas native Damon McKinnis recently wrapped production on his short “The Last House.” He utilized the Panavision New Filmmakers Grant, which he won in 2022 as part of Filmland: Arkansas. “The Last House” synopsis: Max and Dee make their living a little unethically. They're daytime burglars. Dee, presenting himself as a member of the National Census Bureau, talks with and distracts homeowners, while Max sneaks in the back and takes their most precious belongings. Despite their success, the two find themselves at odds. As Dee grows more controlling and ambitious, Max becomes more reserved and ashamed. In this film, they must put those odds aside to get through the last house of the day, but this house is a little different from the others.
McKinnis is an actor and filmmaker from Little Rock. He attended New York Film Academy in Burbank, earning his AFA in Acting in 2018. Since graduating he has written and directed or acted in numerous shorts and features. He won the Audience Choice award at ACS' Filmland: Arkansas three consecutive years with "Purple Monster," "Absent" and "The Show," for which he received the Panavision grant. His feature film debut was Unfix, written and directed by Graham Streeter. He will be seen later this year in the feature films Violent Ends, written and directed by John Michael Powell and Good Time Charley, written and directed by Corbin Pitts.
Damon currently lives in Studio City, California. He just wrapped his most recent short film using the grant from Panavision.
At ACS, we believe that if we provide filmmakers an arena to exhibit their talents, and film enthusiasts a healthy diet of quality programming, we can inspire more Arkansans to make and watch more films. By supporting filmmakers, festivals, theaters and young people interested in filmmaking throughout the state, we hope to create statewide network, pool Arkansas’s resources and be an umbrella organization that feeds all things film. We believe a rising tide lifts all boats.
To be a filmmaker, we have to connect to create. A painter needs a brush, paint and a canvas. A director needs a writer, a cinematographer, a sound mixer, production designer, editor, actors, distributors, and an audience. We cannot do it alone. This art form forces one to collaborate and thus, creates jobs. Filmmaking is unique in the arts in this way. It takes an army.
