Hi! I’m David Tyler Sheets. I’m a filmmaker and business owner based in Chicago, IL. My companies, Old North Film Company and Old North Media, have employed more than 100 contract videographers and editors around the world. We have produced mini documentaries, commercials, and corporate films, and have created more than 1000 event films since 2014. My most recent project is a short film called HOST, which you can view below, along with other examples of my work.
I love watching films as much I love making them. The Coen Brothers, Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, and Jordan Peele are a few of of my favorite modern auteurs. I’m also a huge fan of the classic filmmakers Charlie Chaplin, Frank Capra, and John Ford. My goal is to create stories with transcendent value that promote redemption and love. I believe that these stories can thrive in any genre, but I’m particularly fond of sci-fi, fantasy, westerns, and suspense thrillers.
Fun fact about me: I bought my childhood home in 2020, where I live with my amazing wife and four wonderful children.
HOST
HOST is a micro-budget short film that also serves as a proof-of-concept for the feature screenplay titled Flesh. The story follows a couple in a dysfunctional relationship as they visit a mysterious Air BnB. After making a terrible discovery on the property, they encounter the enigmatic Host and must overcome the perils of his sinister plan. I was the film’s writer, director, editor, and music composer (under the pseudonym Ralph E. Nufipu). Patrick Ball produced and Alicia Herder co-produced the film.
Runaway
Runaway is a micro-budget, proof-of-concept opening scene for the feature screenplay of the same title. The scene introduces a valiant but mischievous orphan girl that stands up to a group of bullies and a dark, ominous bank robber that commits a violent heist. The two briefly intersect after the robbery, but the full story has much more in store for them as they cross paths again and a lethal conflict escalates. I co-produced, wrote, directed, and edited the film, along with producers Tyler Grandholm and Bryan Buchelt.
Feature Version Logline: In the rural Midwest, a grieving hunter must protect an orphan girl caught in the middle of a deadly conflict between an ominous criminal and her abusive guardians.
Liz Lui - Wedding Photographer
Liz Lui was an accomplished Chicago and Seattle wedding photographer during the 2010s. This mini documentary details how her personal history and values impacted the substance and style of her work. I co-produced, directed, and shot the film.
Solemn Oath
This business spotlight was created as a promotional mini documentary for Solemn Oath Brewery in Chicago, IL. This relatively new business possessed substantial vision and authenticity that made for an evocative, cinematic production. I produced the film with Tyler Grandholm and cinematographer Brandon Mattingly.
Barber Justin
This business spotlight exposes the craft and character of Barber Justin, a talented artisan at Esquire Barbershop in Chicago, IL. Justin’s dedication to mastery and his philosophy of devotion were fertile ground for producing a stirring exposé on the essence of craftsmanship. My company produced the film, which was created by Tin Nguyen and Dom Udell.