PLAYGROUND FILMS

Playground Films Corp. (PFC) was established by Mike Prosser, Jeff Yarnall, Greg James, and David Walker in the summer of 1994 with the production of THE DIVIDING HOUR. Since then, PFC has involved itself in a number of projects including the completion of the dark comedy short THE LIFE OF DEATH, the lighthearted short HOUSE FOR SALE, and the horrifically funny music video HUNG LIKE THE LORD. PFC is currently developing the scripts, production designs, and preliminary budgets for the features ADVERSE EFFECTS and TIDE-POOL, while also producing a series of short films beginning with ANNIVERSARY, in association with Drunk Tiger Productions.

OUR MISSION

Playground Films places original storytelling at the top of its priority list at all times and strives to raise the bar of independent cinema regardless of genre, project length, or format.

JOIN US!

PFC is always open to new ideas, talent, and venture capitol. If you would like to take part in our future success in any capacity, feel free to contact us at… admin@playgroundfilms.com

As is the case with most independent film companies, we accept donations of any kind to keep our dream alive. We accept all forms of payment by clicking below (all secure through Paypal):

Mike Prosser draws from years of experience in the performing, literary, and visual arts to maintain Playground's dedication to its "story comes first" edict.

Prosser's journey began as an avid artist and child actor. He quickly embraced all aspects of the creative journey, writing an award-winning one-act play, directing, and designing the sets, costumes, & special make-ups for various productions in both a scholastic and professional setting. Prosser developed his sculpting skills as the youngest full-time sculptor at Will Vinton Studios, the creators of the infamous Dancing California Raisins. He continued on this path at Southern Oregon State College where he proceeded to write his first three screenplays before graduating with his BFA. After college, Prosser brought together his most talented colleagues to produce the "cult hit" THE DIVIDING HOUR. Since then, he has also starred in PFC's HOUSE FOR SALE, THE LIFE OF DEATH and HUNG LIKE THE LORD, Brandt Wilson's SPIDER'S GAME and recently in Todd Robinson's ANNIVERSARY, a Drunk Tiger Production in association with PFC.

Prosser has expanded his knowledge of CGI further the past two years in developing a video game title with Monk Studios in Portland, Oregon. He has eight feature screenplays in a variety of genres, three of which, PRODIGAL SUM, ADVERSE EFFECTS and TIDE-POOL, are currently in preproduction.

Greg James is a founding member and has been with Playground Films every step of the way. He has put his acclaimed stage acting and directing experience in front of and behind the film camera for a number of PFC and other productions.

Since receiving his BA at the University of Oregon where James starred in and directed many theater productions, he came back to his home town of Forest Grove, Oregon, to act in and help produce THE DIVIDING HOUR. From there, James went on to act in various professional stage productions in the Portland Metro area while helping to edit, market, and begin distribution of HOUR. He acted in the Bret Eichenberger's short BEAUTIFUL ONE, currently on the festival market, and Spiral City Production's feature THE SEXY CHEF, set to be released to the festival market by Winter 2001. James then decided to focus on his own writing and directing skills and came out with both the short film THE LIFE OF DEATH and music video HUNG LIKE THE LORD for PFC.

James co-wrote and has been developing the feature screenplay TIDE-POOL with Mike Prosser. He is budgeting, scheduling, and generating investor interest for TIDE-POOL while also slating to star, co-produce, and do second-unit directing for Prosser's ADVERSE EFFECTS, also in preproduction. Recently, he starred in Todd Robinson's ANNIVERSARY, a Drunk Tiger Production in association with PFC. He is also set to appear as Harper & Collin "The Bookend Boys" Smythe in THE PRODIGAL SUM, currently in pre-production.

Founding member Jeff Yarnall is the technical heart of PFC. If it involves computers, cameras, rigging, or mechanics of any kind, Yarnall is the best man for the job.

Yarnall graduated in 1992 from Southern Oregon State College with a BFA in Technical Theatre where he shot the short HOUSE FOR SALE. He went on to train for a year at both Cal Arts and NYU for additional theatre and film knowledge before moving to Forest Grove, Oregon, to embark on his filmmaking career. Yarnall was not only a producer on THE DIVIDING HOUR, but took this film beyond the budgetary restraints with his beautiful cinematography, fine tuned editing, and digital wizardry. Afterwards, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked on such films as BOUND and STAR KID.

Yarnall is currently on hiatus from PFC to contend with the newfound joys of fatherhood.

David Walker is a founding member of PFC. He co-wrote and co-produced THE DIVIDING HOUR.

Walker is the most respected scholar of Blaxsploitation Cinema in the world. When Walker is not creating new stories with PFC, he can be found putting the finishing touches on his documentary MACKED, HAMMERED, SLAUGHTERED, AND SHAFTED, publishing and editing his internationally renowned 'zine, Badazz Mofo, and is the current screen editor for the newspaper Willamette Week's film section in Portland, Oregon.

In addition to his busy schedule, Walker somehow manages to circulate his screenplays in the industry. One script in particular, PROJECTS, a zombie film, is being considered by multiple studios.

trobinson@playgroundfilms.com

As is custom with PFC's brass, Todd Robinson stays busy on both sides of the camera as well and has formed his own media company Drunk Tiger Productions. Robinson has studied filmmaking ever since his father gave him his first Super-8 camera when he was 12 years old, a camera his father had earlier used in Vietnam. His first project was entitled GUTS, which he starred in, shot, and created special effects for.

Robinson recently starred in Spiral City Production's feature THE SEXY CHEF and Brandt Wilson's short SPIDER'S GAME. In addition to his acting, he has been Director of Photography, Assistant Camera, and a jack-of-all-cinematic-trades for a number of productions in the Portland and Los Angeles areas.

Specifically for PFC, Robinson was a Supporting Actor and Assistant Camera for THE LIFE OF DEATH, the Director of Photography for HUNG LIKE THE LORD, and working with Prosser and James on co-producing ADVERSE EFFECTS and TIDE-POOL. Robinson is also currently in production with his short film ANNIVERSARY which he wrote, directed and produced under Drunk Tiger in association with PFC. He is also set to appear as Vinnie "2-Tone" in THE PRODIGAL SUM, currently in pre-production.