Dylan Kussman will speak at The Backlot: A Place For Filmakers on Monday, Jan. 23 at Heritage House Arts and Civic Center, 1428 Jenkins Road in Chattanooga.
"Some film fans will remember him in the role of Richard Cameron in 1989's 'Dead Poets Society,' starring the late Robin Williams. More recently, Mr. Kussman has starred in the TV series "Vital Signs" as well as the features 'Jack Reacher' and 'Flight.'
"In the over 30 years since he entered the industry at the mere age of 16, Mr. Kussman has branched out to create a very large and varied body of work.
"Today's moviegoers will be familiar with his work as one of the writers for Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, as well as The Mummy (2017). A member of the Writers Guild of America (West) since 2005, Mr. Kussman has also contributed to the scripts for Booth, The Mayor of Castro Street, The Ghost Inside, and Mission Blacklist, as well as being the writer, director, and star of the critically-acclaimed web series The Steps, filmed in Chattanooga in 2010.
"Mr. Kussman directed his first feature, Wrestling Jerusalem, last year. The film deals with the many perspectives to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict," officials said.
There will also be two casting calls that evening; for Emily Steele's PFTT short film project "Train of Thought"*, and for Leonard Jackson's anti-gang violence film, 'The Get-Away.' The roles for "Train of Thought" are paid. See the "notes tab" of the Backlot Facebook page for complete character descriptions and sides of both projects.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and a Q and A with Mr. Kussman starts at 7 p.m.
The event is potluck and attendees are encouraged to bring a snack to share with their fellow filmmakers as well as business cards and/or head-shots.
Although 'The Backlot' is normally held on the third Monday of the month, the January meeting will be held on Jan. 23 in recognition of the Martin Luther King holiday.