BURNT SUGAR PRODUCTIONS
EMILY RAILSBACK
FILMOGRAPHY & CV
Director (18 credits):
Roadtrip to the Totality Zone (In Development)
The Game Camera - Short (2024) Burnt Sugar / Wright Bros. URSA Black Magic
American Parent - Feature (2023) Burnt Sugar / Wright Bros / Knowledge Flower
Fear Not - Short (2020) Burnt Sugar Productions Arri Alexa
Made In Japan - Feature Doc (In Post) Burnt Sugar Productions Canon
Kokoromi Gakuen - Short Doc (2019) Burnt Sugar Productions Canon
GAMS (2018) Gayerbear Music Video Canon
The Resentful Angel (2018) TV Pilot
Our Blood Is Wine (2018) Burnt Sugar / Morgan Station Films iPhone 6
At Papa’s - Short Film (2014) Columbia Thesis Film Arri Alexa
Columbia Frameworks (2014) Columbia College Chicago Canon 5D
Warbaby - Short (2014) Burnt Sugar Productions RED
The Vain Illusionist - Short (2014) Columbia Thesis Film 35mm
Fort - Short (2013) Columbia Thesis Film Arri Alexa
The Fool (2013) Upsin Hounds Music Video Canon 5D
The 6th Stage of Sugar - Short (2013) Columbia College Chicago RED
Atoms - Experimental Short (2013) Independent Project Canon 5D
The First Fall - Short (2012) Columbia College Chicago 16mm
Writer (9 credits):
American Parent (2023) Narrative Feature
Fear Not (2019) Burnt Sugar Productions Feature & Short, Drama
At Papa’s (2014) Columbia College Chicago Short, Drama
The Armadillo’s Crisis (2014) (Unproduced) Short, Claymation
The Vain Illusionist (2013) Columbia College Chicago Short, Dark Comedy
Hide Eliza (2014) (Unproduced) Feature, Dark Comedy
Fort (2013) Columbia College Chicago Short, Drama
The 6th Stage of Sugar (2013) Columbia College Chicago Short, Drama
The First Fall (2012) Columbia College Chicago Short, Drama
Producer (7 credits):
Smoothie - Short (2023) Dir. Chris Churchill
Made In Japan (In Post-Production) Dir. Emily Railsback
Fear Not (2020) Burnt Sugar Productions Dir. Emily Railsback
Kokoromi Gakuen (2019) Burnt Sugar Productions Dir. Emily Railsback
Warbaby (2014) Burnt Sugar Productions Dir. Emily Railsback
Bird (2013) Columbia Thesis Film Dir. Mark Winters
The Persistence of Loss (2013) Columbia Thesis Film Dir. Brian Lange
Other Credits (12 credits):
Widows - 2018 Extra Dir. Steve McQueen
Freak Flag - 2016 Production Designer Dir. Sarah Conley
Facets Promo Video - 2014 Production Designer Dir. Michael Smith
Uncle John** - 2013 Set Decorator Dir. Steven Piet
Pay Per View - 2014 Production Designer Dir. James Heiner
Pool Week - 2013 Production Designer Dir. Jeff Warner
The Persistence of Loss - 2013 First Assistant Director Dir. Brian Lange
Said the Blind Man - 2013 Production Designer Dir. Ben Fout
The Articulators - 2012 First Assistant Director Dir. Paul Demos
Valmara - 2012 UPM / 1st AD Dir. Ryan Shuck
Owning It - 2012 First Assistant Director Dir. Rondell Merrill
Some Punishment - 2012 First Assistant Director Dir. CJ Richter
Live Performance
Director: “Gayerbear: The Live Visual Album” (2019)
A live comedy show mixed with musical theatre and video projections at Judy's Beat Lounge in The Second City, Chicago.
Art Exhibits
“A Juxtaposition in Peruvian Life”
A painting and photography exhibit showing poverty in Peru; juxtaposing quality of life in rural villages to urban slums.
2010 The Living Room Kansas City, MO
2010 The Brick Kansas City, MO
2010 LP Coffeehouse Hillsboro, KS
2010 Junction City Arts Junction City, KS
Education
Columbia College Chicago - (2012-2014)
MFA Screen Directing
Tabor College - (2007-2009)
BA Graphic Design, BA International Studies. Minor in Painting.
Whitworth University - (2005-2007)
Majored in Acting & Creative Writing. Minored in Dance.
Teaching Experience
Film Production - University of Central Arkansas - Conway, AR (2021 - present)
Film Production II, Film Production III, Film Production IV, Production Project III (Graduate), Creative Producing, First Assistant Directing, Micro Short Film,
Marketing Distribution & Exhibition
Cinema Arts & Television - Columbia College Chicago - Chicago IL (2017 - 2021)
Advanced Casting Director, Interdisciplinary Documentary Producing, Strategic Distribution for Filmmakers, Seminar in Producing.
Oil Painting Instructor - Moxie Art Supply - Nashville TN (2011)
Taught a beginner’s oil painting course for adults at a community art studio.
Yoga Instructor - New Day Yoga Studio - Kansas City MO (2010)
Taught a course in Hatha beginning yoga.
Teaching Assistant - Tabor College - Hillsboro KS (2010)
Intro to Cultural Anthropology - Taught 3 lectures on art in cultural anthropology.
Assisted with grading and hosting study sessions for students.
Darkroom Chemist - Tabor College - Hillsboro, KS (2009)
Photography I / II - Managed the dark room, changed chemicals and assisted photography students with darkroom photography development.
Tutor - Bruce PERU - Trujillo Peru (2009)
Tutored children in the slums whose education levels were too low to be accepted
into state elementary schools. Taught in Spanish and tutored math, and reading.
ESL Teacher - Bruce PERU - Trujillo Peru (2009)
Taught a basic English course to working professionals.
Related Work Experience
Film Director / President - Burnt Sugar Productions (2015 - present)
Production company co-owned with award-winning sommelier Jeremy Quinn. Our first documentary feature "Our Blood Is Wine" was produced with
the partnership of Morgan Station Films and distributed by Music Box Films.
Videographer / Graphic Designer / Photographer - Freelance - (2008 - Present)
Print design, Logos, branding, portraits, stationary, music videos.
Film Distribution Intern - Music Box Films - Chicago IL (2014)
Assisted with grassroots marketing, film festival submissions & shipping.
Library Assistant - Tabor College - Hillsboro KS (2009)
Library desk attendant. Assisted students with book checkout and software.
Digital Media - Bruce PERU - Trujillo, Peru (2009)
Created logos and design projects for Bruce PERU. Photographed the Bruce PERU programs in the different slums.
Filmed interviews about the programs offered by the organization amidst political turmoil for the Peruvian education system.
Resident Assistant - Tabor College - Hillsboro KS (2008-2009)
Mentored college freshman, created & led weekly activities to help create community on the college campus.
Community Case Worker - Prairie View - Hillsboro KS (2007)
Worked with emotionally disturbed kids at a low-income summer camp. Led activities, tutored kids.
Admissions Ambassador - Whitworth University - Spokane WA (2005-2007)
Gave campus tours, hosted prospective students, data entry for the incoming applications.
Volunteer Experiences
Art Coordinator & Camp Counselor - Justice Mission International (Chisinau, Moldova - July 2011)
Created art activities for orphans, Drew portraits for all of the children at the orphanage, led movement and dance activities.
Service Volunteer - TLC Thailand - (Summer 2008)
Volunteered with TLC in Chonburi, Thailand. Worked with AIDS orphans, tutored ESL
students in the TLC after school program.
Awards / Grants / Scholarships
Film Grant: Expecting COVID - Documentary
Columbia College Chicago Part-Time Faculty Grant
Film Grant: Fear Not - Short Film
Chicago Digital Media Production Fund - Chicago Filmmakers (2019)
Film Grant: Warbaby - Short Film
Albert P. Weisman Award - Columbia College Chicago (2014)
Scholarship:
Follett Award - Columbia College Chicago (2012-2014)
Awarded by Columbia College for tuition in the film program.
Film Grants:
Columbia College Chicago Production Fund Awards:
Director: At Papa’s (2014)
Director: The Vain Illusionsist (2014)
Director: WarBaby (2014)
Director: The 6th Stage of Sugar (2013)
Director: Fort (2013)
Award:
"Best Narrative Kansas Short Film" - Tallgrass Film Festival (2020)
Director: “Fear Not”
Award:
Outstanding Achievement in Cinema - Big Screen XVII Festival (2013)
Director: “The First Fall”
Award:
Junction City Senior Artist Award - (2010)
Best Senior Artist across Kansas - Oil Painting & Photography
Film Festival Official Selections:
AMERICAN PARENT - (director/co-writer)
BFI Flare London (2023), Mostra Fire! Barcelona LGBTQ Festival (2023)
FEAR NOT - (writer/director)
Tallgrass Film Fest (2020)
GAMS - (director/cinematographer/editor)
Austin Music Video Festival (2018)
Our Blood Is Wine - (director/cinematographer/editor)
Berlinale International Film Festival, London Georgian Film Festival, Transatlantyk Festival (Poland), DOC YOUR WORLD (Chicago), Museum of Fine Arts (Boston)
Uncle John - (set dresser)
SXSW, Wisconsin Film Fest, Middle of the Map Fest, Florida Film Fest, Midwest Ind. Film Fest, Greenwich Film Fest,
Cinetopia Film Fest, deadCENTER film fest, SAG foundation, Destiny City Film Fest, Breckenridge Film Fest, Strasbourg Film Fest,
Milwaukee Film Fest, Hell's Half Mile Fest, San Diego Film Fest.
WarBaby - (director/producer)
Kansas City Film Fest, Louisville International Film Fest
The 6th Stage of Sugar - (writer/director)
Louisville International Film Fest, Tallgrass Film Fest
The First Fall - (writer/director)
Big Screen XVII Festival (Columbia College Chicago)