Brandon Cole(VIII)
- Producer
- Director
- Editor
Brandon Cole is a freelance writer/director based in Duluth Minnesota. He also works as a versatile crew hand specializing in Assistant Director, Production Coordinator & Special Effects. He is considered by many colleagues a staple of Northern Minnesota film-making.
Though he began his creative process at a young age, Cole began his official journey into the Entertainment industry at the age of 16 as a radio host for WTIP Community Radio in Grand Marais Minnesota. Where he produced & hosted the shows "Metal Maniacs" & "Rock Revived" from 2004-2012. Winning "Producer Of The Year" in 2006. He also worked tech at at The Grand Marais Playhouse from 2005-2007. From 2005-2010 he also sang and collaborated with many local bands & music acts.
In 2010 Cole moved to Duluth Minnesota to focus on a career in film. While attending Lake Superior in 2011 Cole began laying the foundation for a studio. After minimal success the studio underwent an identity change & image make over. Death Calm Studios was born & their first short "The Dark Room" caught the attention of the local industry. After ups/downs and management changes Cole eventually handed ownership of Death Calm to his business partners Heather Olson & Scott Hensley so he could focus more on the creative process. Though he no longer owns the studio he is still involved in all of the creative and executive decisions. To date Death Calm Studios has produced more than 20 short films. Many of which Cole has directed & written. Several have also been written or co written by studio owner and Director Of Photography Scott Hensley. Including the 2017 short film "The Doll" for which Cole was nominated for Best Director. Hensley was also nominated for Best Script & Best Cinematographer. In total the cast and crew received 13 nominations though they did not take any awards home. In 2019 Death Calm scored it's first award with the film "Vote Murder" which won best editing. The film was quickly followed with "Blood Harvest" which won best trailer and was nominated for best practical effects. When the industry and world suffered setbacks in 2020, Cole turned to either forms of media to make ends meat. Cole would return to the directors chair in 2022 with the film Petals. The film was nominated for a few awards including best practical effects and best actress, but did not take home any awards. Although Hensley and Olson would be credited as producers on the film due to studio ownership, They were absent from the creative process. The film was nominated for a few awards including best practical effects and best actress. The following year however the trio would reunite for the film Minnesota Machete Massacre. A film that finally got them an award for best practical effects.
Though he began his creative process at a young age, Cole began his official journey into the Entertainment industry at the age of 16 as a radio host for WTIP Community Radio in Grand Marais Minnesota. Where he produced & hosted the shows "Metal Maniacs" & "Rock Revived" from 2004-2012. Winning "Producer Of The Year" in 2006. He also worked tech at at The Grand Marais Playhouse from 2005-2007. From 2005-2010 he also sang and collaborated with many local bands & music acts.
In 2010 Cole moved to Duluth Minnesota to focus on a career in film. While attending Lake Superior in 2011 Cole began laying the foundation for a studio. After minimal success the studio underwent an identity change & image make over. Death Calm Studios was born & their first short "The Dark Room" caught the attention of the local industry. After ups/downs and management changes Cole eventually handed ownership of Death Calm to his business partners Heather Olson & Scott Hensley so he could focus more on the creative process. Though he no longer owns the studio he is still involved in all of the creative and executive decisions. To date Death Calm Studios has produced more than 20 short films. Many of which Cole has directed & written. Several have also been written or co written by studio owner and Director Of Photography Scott Hensley. Including the 2017 short film "The Doll" for which Cole was nominated for Best Director. Hensley was also nominated for Best Script & Best Cinematographer. In total the cast and crew received 13 nominations though they did not take any awards home. In 2019 Death Calm scored it's first award with the film "Vote Murder" which won best editing. The film was quickly followed with "Blood Harvest" which won best trailer and was nominated for best practical effects. When the industry and world suffered setbacks in 2020, Cole turned to either forms of media to make ends meat. Cole would return to the directors chair in 2022 with the film Petals. The film was nominated for a few awards including best practical effects and best actress, but did not take home any awards. Although Hensley and Olson would be credited as producers on the film due to studio ownership, They were absent from the creative process. The film was nominated for a few awards including best practical effects and best actress. The following year however the trio would reunite for the film Minnesota Machete Massacre. A film that finally got them an award for best practical effects.
