deadCenter Education

Big congrats to Team Eleanor!

Created during the 2025 deadCenter University + Rose State College Teen Workshop, the short film has been officially selected for the Circle Cinema Film Festival!

So proud of the student filmmakers, actors, mentors, and our partners at Rose State College for bringing this story to life.

Director - Tristan Pritchett
Writer - Makinley Paige Montez
Briley Smith — Eleanor
Griffin Edge — Francis
Madison Sein — Josephine
Michelle Mestayer — Counselor Jones
Bryan Whorton — Dr. Anderson
Renee Krapff — Mrs. Phieffer
Abbie de Vera — Mary
Ryan Rase — Physical Therapist
Emerald Chapin — Support Group Member
Mack Keen-Williams — Support Group Member
Tristen Moles — Support Group Member
Tristan Pritchett — Support Group Member
Kayla Scott — Support Group Member
Cathleen Amy Wilhoit — Nurse
Addison Williams — Support Group Member
Alyssa Zongker — Support Group Member
Victor Caballero — Producer
Marcus Mallard — Producer
Teagan Stubblefield — Assistant Producer
Keagan Sponsler - Composer
Landon Thweatt - Cinematographer
Lucas J. Jackson - Editor
Addison Williams - Production Designer
Erika O’Bar — HMU Mentor
Blanca Pantoja — Makeup Artist
Ingrid Carrillo — Assistant Makeup Artist
Maddie Winkleman — Hair Stylist
Spencer Griffith — First Assistant Director
Mack Keen-Williams — Second Assistant Director
Steve Jones — Directing Mentor
Malcolm Gari Love Owens — Assistant Directing Mentor
Madeline Markcum — Art Mentor
Kort Nicholson — Set Designer
Brayden Shoults — Sound Mixer
Rorey Younge — Boom Operator
John Marshall — Sound Mentor
Ethan Swartz — Assistant Sound Mentor
Hogan Hulsey — Camera Operator
Jaydee Lynn Keehn — Gaffer
Keagan Sponsler — First Assistant Camera
Sekyia Williams — Second Assistant Camera
Logan Walcher — Camera Mentor
Tristen Moles — Grip Mentor
Rylie Rodgers — Grip
Alyssa Zongker — Electrician / Key Grip
Valerie L. Parker — Costume Mentor
Gray Stringer — Assistant Costume Designer
Hannah McElfresh — Editing Mentor
Madison Martin — Assistant Editing Mentor
Emerald Chapin — Script Supervisor
Jaden Riddle — Script Mentor
Alondra Arrioja — Production Assistant
Daniel Gomez — Production Assistant
Madison Simon — Production Assistant

Huge congratulations to the Clandestine team!

From the classroom to the festival screen, “Clandestine”, created during the 2025 deadCenter University + Oklahoma City Community College Youth Camp, is now an Official Selection at the Circle Cinema Film Festival.

This moment belongs to the passionate student filmmakers who brought this story to life and to the mentors, actors, and partners who helped guide the journey.

Especially grateful for our sponsors, , , , and . We couldn’t have done it without you.

Thank you to the Circle Cinema Film Festival!

Director - Gray Stringer
Writer -Ariana Almeida

Cast
Cecilia Ibarra — Silvia
Emilia Cifuentes — Bety
Deonna Marie Cattledge — Tanisha
Lauren Winkleman — College Student

Victor Caballero — Producer
Sean Lynch — Producer
Teagan Stubblefield — Assistant Producer
Composer - Christopher Bourland
Cinematographer - Ruth Lopez
Editor -Kale Vance
Production Designer - Ella Wayne
Costume Designer - Rylie Rodgers
Candie Renee — Makeup Mentor
Lyric Whorton — Makeup Artist
Rogelio Almeida Marquez — Directing Mentor
Kamryn Lee — Assistant Directing Mentor
Makinley Paige Montez — Second Assistant Director
Gabby Searcy — First Assistant Director
Leo Belvin — Assistant Art Mentor
Madeline Markcum — Art Mentor
Anberleigh Belcher — Boom Operator
Tobi Bessinger — Sound Mixer
Christopher Bourland — Sound Mentor
Emma Garcia — Assistant Sound Mentor
Olimar Bazan — Grip
Jacob Leighton Burns — Camera Mentor
Abigail Camargo — Assistant Camera Mentor
Hayden Carson — Assistant Grip Mentor
Jaida Carter — Grip
Annie Cox — Second Assistant Camera
Parker Finks — Assistant Electric Mentor
Ike Hoyt — Key Grip
Tania Ibarra — Assistant Grip Mentor
Alexander Poole — Electrician
Fatima Rangel-Villanueva — Gaffer
Scarlett Shdeed — First Assistant Camera
Rorey Younge — Electrician
Reyna Zammarripa-Flores — Camera Operator
Jack Odell — Costume Mentor
Paige Pilgrim — Assistant Costume Designer
Zachary Burns — Editing Mentor
Keila Chavarría — Script Supervisor
Gavin Wildman — Script Mentor
Daniel Garcia — Production Assistant
Madison Simon — Production Assistant

Our mystery filmmaker has been revealed…

We’re excited to announce that Hunter Nickless, whose film “Where We Left Off” was selected for the 2026 deadCenter Film Festival, will be joining Ella Janes and Tanner Ray at our FREE Coffee Mixer on Saturday, June 13 at Stella Nova in Downtown OKC.

All three filmmakers began making films while still in high school and will be sitting down with teens to talk filmmaking, creative process, and how to start building your own projects now.

So sign up for limited one-on-one pitch deck sessions for a focused conversation with a filmmaker!

Application link in bio.

🎬 CASTING CALL FOR EXTRAS!!!

Seeking extras for the short film G.A.D! To be shot on the OCCC campus June 2 - 4th, 2026!

EXTRAS TO PORTRAY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

If interested and available email:

[email protected]

Subject: "GAD EXTRA"

📌 Deadline to submit: May 29th, 2026

One of the most exciting parts of our Statewide Education Tour is that every student we visit is eligible to enter our 3 Minute Movie Competition, with the winning film premiering at the deadCenter Film Festival.

We’re thrilled to announce that Will McClure from Fairview Technology Center has officially been selected to premiere his film “An Tus Egyptian Highway” at the 26th Annual deadCenter Film Festival!

Seeing young filmmakers turn creativity into something powerful enough for the big screen is exactly why this program exists. Congratulations, Will!

We’re beyond proud to announce the films created by some of the most imaginative, fearless, and inspiring young storytellers as Official Selections of the 26th Annual deadCenter Film Festival.

But the real achievement isn’t just making it into the festival, it’s the courage and hard work these young filmmakers poured into every frame and every moment of believing in themselves enough to create something meaningful. Watching them grow, collaborate, and find their voices has been nothing short of extraordinary. We couldn’t be prouder.

This journey would not have been possible without the incredible instructors, mentors, and community partners who stood beside these students and poured their time, knowledge, and encouragement into them. Endless gratitude to our partners at the University of Oklahoma, Rose State College, Boys & Girls Club Oklahoma County, the Oklahoma Latin American Film Institute, Oklahoma City University, Anadarko Alternative, Dimensions Academy, Faver Alternative, Meridian Technology Center South Campus, and Oklahoma City Community College.

To every mentor who worked behind the scenes to guide and uplift these young creatives, thank you for helping shape the next generation of storytellers. And to our amazing sponsors and supporters such as the Kirkpatrick Family Fund, NEA, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, Allied Arts, and everyone who believes in these students, thank you for making opportunities like this possible.

For the very first time in deadCenter Film Festival history, deadCenter University films will have their own dedicated festival block. Catch these six incredible films, along with a seventh currently in pre-production with OCCC, on Sunday, June 14 at 1:15 PM at Harkins Theatre Bricktown OKC.

Come celebrate these filmmakers and their stories. Tomorrow’s storytellers are already here.