I came from a modest-of-means family in Eugene, Oregon – one that couldn’t really afford much in the way of travel, and certainly not to countries abroad. Sure, we had the family road trips now and then to the Pacific coast, to visit relatives in central Oregon, and up to Seattle. I loved it all. But I think our most exotic trip when I as young was a family car journey to Banff. My mom has never been on an airplane, and the only travel my dad experienced was as a radio officer on a ship during WW II’s Pacific Theater. A harsh kind of travel experience, let’s say. It didn’t really seem that travel was in the family genes. However, I had a keen interest in collecting foreign coins, stamps and poring through National Geographic magazines and the World Book encyclopedia my folks invested in.
When I was 12, my dad won an 8mm camera – a booby prize at some local contest. I became fixated with that little camera, and started making short films. These were action-packed, shot-in-the-neighborhood tiny adventure stories, starring friends, like Gary Zenzen. I’d been playing piano since age 8 and I believe that background aided me in filmmaking, giving me a sense for the rhythms of editing films. Then I won an “Oregon Young Filmmaker” award and a couple of other prizes in high school, and a screening on the Oregon PBS channel, of a short I made, A Child’s Vision. There was no looking back from there.
My first foray outside of North America was when I was 16, as I played trombone, and my high school concert band managed to spend about eight weeks touring various cities in Europe. Fantastic. That was the lodestar first travel experience, the one that cast the die for the rest of my life. I always tell audiences at my travel-film lectures that they should get their kids and grandkids to travel now, when they’re young. If you travel when young, your curiosity about the world will stay with you for the rest of your life. My daughter Maya (22) has three passports (US, Japan, and Brazil), and has already been to about 30 countries, and I know that her thirst for knowledge and world experience will be with her forever.
Making travel-adventure films, documentaries, and feature films over the past many decades has given me a laser-like focus on “the project” at hand, on the specific productions I’ve been commissioned to make, or films that I’ve funded through private equity.
My wife Lin Zuo is also a producer and contributing writer on our films, and we both wish we had more time during productions to linger in the locations, and talk in more depth with the local people.
Other specific challenges I’ve had during productions. The physical challenges of getting myself, the crew and the equipment through the run of production in the swamps and forests of tribal lands in New Guinea.Sitting through dinners with cold-blooded assassins in the Tribal Zone of Pakistan, trying to bend your mind around the juxtaposition of the hospitality offered and the fact they’ve brutally killed dozens of people. Being knife-attacked in an open market by an old woman in China – never knew exactly why. And obviously, filmmaking draws a lot of attention! There have been significant challenges to film topics that might embarrass the dictates of certain strong-arm governments. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been stopped or questioned or harassed by local authorities in communist, Muslim or dictator-driven countries.
“Three Corners of Deception” is a story about how a college law professor and an attorney fell in love over a Las Vegas Memorial Day weekend. They got married shortly thereafter, then started a family only to realize he wasn’t the man he said he was and a complete manipulation of the relationship occurred. The marriage ended hastily after a year, only to be carried out in a court of law that brought even more deception than what was originally thought. Eventually the court would rule against the mother in all areas due to judicial deception with judges, lawyers, and lawmen involved. They were part of the “good ol’ boy network.
TCDProductions
Tracee Lee Cocco was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, and moved to California with her family at the age of 2. She grew up in Santa Ana, California and graduated from the Santa Ana High School in 1979. Throughout the following years, Cocco started to work as model and was featured as model for Alberto Mousse in several magazines. She also worked as model for Revlon, Jimmy Z Ad, Pool & Spa Magazine, 7Up, the Auto Stereo Sound Magazine, and McDonald’s.
Sharyn Wynters has always had an eye for the stage. But, her life has taken many turns, granting her the chance to evolve as a model-actress-naturopath-author-singer and champion for humanity. After high school, Sharyn entered a beauty pageant and became Miss Pennsylvania in the Miss World contest. This led to a modeling job in New York for Oleg Cassini, the world-renowned designer (and dress designer for Jacqueline Kennedy). While modeling, Sharyn met actress Bobbi Shaw, who convinced her to pursue a career in acting. As a young woman in her early twenties, she packed up her things and drove to LA-and within two weeks, she was cast as Cat Girl in the original Batman TV series . This led to a TV and film career, with credits including: The Rockford Files, Kojak, The Odd Couple, Hook Line & Sinker, Westworld, and Funny Lady. With a growing acting career, Sharyn’s life took another turn. She developed cancer and was told it would eventually take her life. Refusing to accept this, she traveled to Texas to enlist the help of Dr. William Donald Kelly. Her decision not only left her cancer-free, but also gave her a new passion. Sharyn studied dozens of healing disciplines including Metabolic Nutrition, Cranial Sacral, Acupuncture, Reflexology, Meditation, Pilates, Hypnosis, Rolfing, Feldenkrais, Yoga, and many others. She acquired a degree as a naturopath from the Clayton School of Natural healing, and a degree from the Santa Monica School of Massage Therapy. After many years as a naturopath, Sharyn decided to write a book. She is co-author of, The Pure Cure: A Complete Guide to Freeing your Life from Dangerous Toxins-a reflection of over 30 years of research into the dangers of the toxins in our modern living environment and how to avoid them. Of this part of her life Sharyn says: An important part of healing is learning to listen to your inner voice. Healing is an adventure! Illness is our body trying to teach us how to be well. Sharyn has a strong commitment to humanity and a passion for making a difference. Following the release of her book, she dedicated herself to influence as many lives as possible- in as many ways as possible. She became a popular speaker at conferences and seminars; she hosted a Talk Radio show on health and healing; and she worked with Fran Drescher, creator of the Cancer Schmancer movement (www.cancerschmancer.org). Sharyn is the recipient of the Naturopathic Doctor of the year award from the Qi Gong Congress (2011) and the Lifetime Achievement award from the Amazing Women Organization (2010). At the turn of the millennium, Sharyn asked herself, “What else have I always wanted to do that I have not already done?” The answer to that question came passionately-“…to be a torch singer of romantic jazz.” Sharyn contacted an old friend, Dini Clarke (Billie Holliday’s piano player)and began to take voice lessons. Within a year and a half she recorded her first album, “Reflections of Love.” Of this experience Sharyn says: As long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to reach out and touch the souls of others. First it came through my modeling and acting, then by healing therapies. Now I am overjoyed that I can also heal through song. Then, on a Sunday morning in mid 2018, after a 40-year hiatus from acting, Sharyn was overcome with a strong desire to return to acting. She said out loud, “I want to get back into acting!” That same day, Sharyn went to a baby shower and sat next to a talent agent who asked, “Have you ever considered getting back into acting?” Within weeks, Sharyn re-connected with Bobbi Shaw-Chance (now a renowned acting teacher ) and following a showcase, was offered the starring role in Night Mistress. With the ability to captivate an audience and years of experience, Sharyn Wynters has begun yet another adventure.
Actor, Producer and Director Richard Ryan established Ox Films in 2008. Richard was inspired to start Ox Films as a way to create stories, then to produce, market, and distribute films under a company. Richard also wanted to create opportunities for others. Mr. Ryan feels as if he is doing what he has always done since he was a little kid, which is creating and team building. Richard believes everyone has the ability to create and to be great, but with dedication, focus, and willingness to learn, and allowing self improvement every step of the way the possibilities are endless. Ryan says, “the constant education and opportunities we have to be creative and too collaborate with so many brilliant people is very exciting and inspiring”. Ox Films is currently developing new movies. Ox Films has produced three feature films and 14 short movies. Ox Films is now in pre-production of their next feature film.
