Faizan Ahmed Khan

@faizanahmed

I'm a filmmaker and visual storyteller originally from Karachi, Pakistan, now based in St. Louis, Missouri. My background spans directing, producing, and editing across commercials, branded content, and narrative shorts. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work with some amazing teams, collaborating with directors I admire and brands like Pepsi, KFC, and Unilever. I’m currently listed with the Missouri Film Office and love bringing an international perspective to local stories. My work is often shaped by themes like identity, memory, and human connection, whether I’m leading a crew or grabbing a camera myself. To me, filmmaking is more than just telling stories. It’s about capturing emotion in a way that feels honest and lingers with you. That’s what drives me, and that’s what I bring to every project I take on, including this one.

Phi

@dx_0777

I am a director. I am a writer. I am an actor. I am a model. I am a plethora of things but ultimately, I am a storyteller. Filmmaking is, at its core, visual storytelling and I have so many stories to tell. My body of work combines filmmaking and original writing/storytelling to explore culturally relevant themes and ideas in engaging, thrilling, and innovative ways. I draw inspiration from anything and everything. A sense of curiosity - the what, why, when, how - about the simplest of things such as a drop of water on a desk to profound concepts such as what makes one happy and the human condition has always piqued my interest. Films and shows of all genres has also creatively inspired me to explore these ideas and challenged me to present them in a manner that others can relate to. Along with being an award winning director, I am also a multi-agency repped model, and thus have had the pleasure of working with and learning from many different directors and their teams. Having been on both sides of the lens, these experiences grants me a unique sensibility of incorporating a fashion forward, stylish aesthetic, and energetically paced method into my films. My hope is that whoever watches my films will be completely immersed, entertained, and at the conclusion of it, ask “When is the next one coming?”

Cora Trout

@coratrout

I am a designer, illustrator, and writer whose work explores interior spaces and the built environment. I make books and paintings that examine the documentary, emotional, and memorial qualities of interiors. I have an unhealthy obsession with historic interiors and chairs, and they are often the subject matter of my paintings and writing. My most recent project is 62-page illustrated book titled Mise en Scène: Illustrating French Interiors, which combines paintings of interior spaces across Île-de-France with short writing passages that provide historical context and commentary. The book features ten different locations—from a formal ancien régime palace on the Place de la Concorde to a 1950s home in the western suburbs of Paris. Even across time periods, a certain gôut français inhabits all of these interiors. The paintings and research for this book were made possible by a two-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris (September-October 2024). I earned my MFA from Washington University in St. Louis in 2024, and my BA with majors in French and Francophone Studies and Classics from Macalester College in 2016. My illustrated book, Looking Inside: Room Portraits of St. Louis, was the recipient of the Lewis E. Atherton Prize for an outstanding master’s thesis on Missouri history from the State Historical Society of Missouri. My work has also been recognized by American Illustration 42. Prior to joining the faculty at the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, I worked as a designer and motion graphics artist in Minneapolis.

Rebecca Begis

@rebeccabegis

My paintings use bold colors and expressive brushstrokes to explore my perception of the past and its connection to my present life. I scour old black-and-white photographs for interesting people, reimagining their likenesses in oil paint. As I build up my paintings, I incorporate imagery drawn from both my life and imagination. My ultimate goal is to keep refining my voice as an artist and mastering my craft.

Travis Scholl

@travisschollwriter

Travis Scholl is the author of Walking the Labyrinth. His most recent essays and poems have appeared in ANMLY, Essay Daily, Fourth Genre, and Saint Katherine Review. He holds a PhD in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri, Columbia, and an MDiv from Yale Divinity School. He has taught at Washington University and Concordia Seminary, and works as a mission leader at the nonprofit EverTrue.

Kelene Monsterlove

@monsterlove09

I have been creating art since I was a small child. I started finger painting at a young age and was hooked on art from then on. I enjoy creating art which helps me strive to push myself as far as I can go in imagination. Flowers, nature and human emotion trigger my inspirations. I mainly work with acrylic paint.

Henri Trinh

@henritrinh

Henri Trinh is a multifaceted visionary who manifested his journey through curiosity and his creative roots as a former classically trained dancer. He focuses on telling stories through fashion and commercial work with an emphasis on movement, beauty and soft goods. From inception to fruition, the execution of his work is refined through collaboration, community and authenticity. The blossoming of his creativity intensified through the lens and finding the permanence and timeless beauty of visual art. His purpose is bringing awareness to discrepancies of his culture and other under-represented groups and challenging the current socio-political climate. His mantra "your creative freedom and process, and life experiences represent the beauty and intention of an idea in its purest form; art." is a constant reflection of growth and evolution.

Ahmon Walls

@ahmon

Ahmon - St.Louis born and raised. I’ve had a creative practice since a young age, initially dabbling in Origami. Then moving into video production, and basic animation during my middle school years. From highschool and college is when I began in-depth study of Technology . I was able to graduate high school (North Technical 2015) with a Cisco Networking Certification. I continued my studies of the world of tech eventually completing my Bachelors of Science : Computer Science at the University of Central Missouri (2019). It wasn’t until after college (Covid) is when I made the commitment to a Fine Arts practice. I’m always looking to connect the methodology and thought process I’ve gained studying computers and software to the way that I create Art. This has allowed me to connect with the craft on a much deeper level, and my systematic approach to how I create allows me to communicate and connect with others, giving them a different perspective of the craft. I also show others that talent is not required for the creation of art given I began my practice at an “older” age.

Cooper Shaw

@coopershaw

Cooper Shaw holds her MFA in Acting from The Actor’s Studio Drama School in NYC. She studied Improv at Chicago’s Second City Conservatory Program, at The Improv Shop in St. Louis and has trained in Improvisation and Physical Comedy with Gary Austin, Michael Gellman, David Razowsky, Ali Farahnakian, Scotty Watson and Kenny Raskin. She studied Acting with Susan Aston, Gene Lasko, Stuart Vaughan, Michael James Reed and Musical Theatre Performance with Danny Burstein, Rebecca Luker, Keith Buhl & Nova Thomas. Cooper’s acting and writing has appeared in film, television, commercials, voice-overs, and many stages across the U.S. She has taught at William Jewell College, Second City, New Dance Group, Arias Dance, Artistic New Directions and The New School in NYC.  As an improviser, she has performed in NYC at The Gotham Comedy Club and The Living Theatre with her duo “Martin & Shaw”, and in sketch comedy as a founding member and writer with STuFF FiLMS. Cooper is an award-winning film actress, playwright, and filmmaker. Her debut short film “Not Suitable” just wrapped up at the film festival circuit, and will soon be released for streaming.

Justin Perkins

@largechocolateshake

What’s good, I'm Bombay Boeski aka Justin Myleke Perkins. I’m an artist, creative director, and founder of Large Chocolate Shake. I use media, design, sound, and storytelling to spark conversation, shift culture, and give people something to feel and think about. Everything I create is rooted in purpose whether it’s a podcast, a photoshoot, a brand concept, or a community project. I don’t just make art to look good I make art that means something. My work speaks for folks who been overlooked, under-resourced, or misunderstood. I’m here to build legacy, move the culture forward, and connect with other artists who really stand on something. I joined Culturalyst to tap in with other creatives, find local opportunities, and collab with folks who serious about their craft. If you looking for somebody with vision, consistency, and that get-it-done energy let’s build. “Keep the momentum going, be prosperous.”

Kenneth Young

@pucasso

Kenneth Young is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work explores identity, culture, and legacy through vibrant imagery and layered symbolism. Blending digital and traditional techniques, his art bridges fine art and design—drawing from street culture, history, and personal experience. Young’s work often examines empowerment and representation, using bold color, expressive form, and narrative depth to challenge perception and celebrate individuality.

Shannon Laine

@shannonlaine

Shannon Laine is an actor, advocate, and educator working in film, television, commercials, and corporate education. Based in the Midwest, she serves as President of the SAG-AFTRA Missouri Valley Local, representing performers across Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Western Iowa. She is also Vice Chair of Cinema St. Louis. Shannon is passionate about protecting performers, expanding opportunities, and strengthening the union voice in the region. She blends her passion for performance with leadership to build opportunity and grow the film industry across the Midwest.