Sunset Salons: Film

D. Lynn Meyers is Producing Artistic Director of the Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati where she has directed over a 100 world and regional premieres, including, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS, DANCING PRINCESSES, HANDS ON A HARDBODY, DETROIT ’67, I AM MY OWN WIFE, NEXT TO NORMAL and FUN HOME.

She directed Off-Broadway at the York Theatre with Marsha Norman’s TRAVELER IN THE DARK and James McClure’s MAX AND MAXIE. She has directed extensively throughout the US and Canada and began her career at Cincinnati Playhouse.

In addition to her directing work, she is a member of the Casting Society of America having cast for PBS, CBS, BBC, HBO, MTM, Paramount, Warner Brothers and MGM. Her favorite feature credit is serving as Location Casting Director for the iconic SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.  She recently was Location Casting Director for SHIRLEY, WHITE NOISE, BIKERIDERS, MILES AHEAD, BONES AND ALL, and WISE GUYS.

She was a named one of four finalists for the Zelda Fichandler national award, honoring directors whose work is making an impact on the art form and their community. And is a past recipient of the YWCA Career Woman of Achievement Award, The 2019 Sach’s Award, and is a past member of the Board of Trustees of Thomas More University and the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

Greg Newberry is a professional storyteller, writer, director and producer.  He is a member of the Writers Guild of America and alumni of the Sundance Institute Producers Conference. Greg has optioned four screenplays to Hollywood producers.

His first screenplay attracted the interest of Tom Cruise.  His second screenplay was optioned by Oscar and Emmy-winning producer Mark Johnson (Diner, Good Morning Vietnam, Rain Man, Bugsy, Donny Brasco, The Notebook, Narnia, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, The Holdovers).  His third screenplay, was optioned by the Samuel Goldwyn Company. His fourth screenplay was the last script Jack Lemmon was attached to star in before his death.  His latest screenplay, Guerilla Marketing, was picked up by former Executive Producers at Paramount and Warner Brothers.  He recently finished writing a three-part min-series and a new feature film.

Greg wrote, produced and directed two award-winning short films, Beemer Baby and Homefree, which played at prestigious international film festivals. Homefree garnered the Best Actor award at the Dublin Film Festival in Ireland. Independent film guru John Pierson, author of the book Spike, Mike, Slackers, & Dykes: A Guided Tour Across a Decade of American Independent Cinema, named Beemer Baby one of the top 20 short films of the year. Both Homefree and Beemer Baby were screened by the Cincinnati Film Society at the Cincinnati Art Museum in an exclusive presentation of Greg’s work.

Greg produced and directed his first stage play, Riding Shotgun, at Northern Kentucky University’s Corbett Theater to outstanding reviews in 2010.

In 2019, he produced and directed another of his stage plays, Who is Amos Otis? at Cincinnati Memorial Hall. It was voted “Favorite Local Theater Production” in Movers & Makers magazine and considered for the Pulitzer Prize in Drama in 2020. He produced and directed it as an independent film in 2020. It won Best of Show and the Humanitarian Award at IndieFEST as well as Honorable Mention by Hollywood New Directors. It is distributed by Gravitas Ventures on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi, Roku, Sling TV, Google Play and other streaming platforms.

In addition to movie screenplays and theatrical plays, Greg has enjoyed success in a wide range of writing disciplines that include branding, advertising copy, commercials, lyrics, poems, musicals, speeches, news releases, op-eds, brochures, themed entertainment productions, marketing plans, business plans, web sites and jingles.

Greg is also a producer, commercial director and creative director with over 30 years of advertising experience. He has written, produced and directed over 80 commercials and long-form film productions and won over 35 Addy, Telly and other advertising awards for his work.

In 2012, Greg spearheaded a Writing Workshop for Veterans sponsored by the Writers Guild of America and the National Endowment for the Arts to help veterans learn to write and discover their voice. The workshop was held quarterly at The Ohio State University for five years. He also conducts a Storytelling Workshop for corporations and non-profits. His latest workshop generated four award-winning short films by student filmmakers making their first short film. He currently teaches screenwriting at Cincinnati State College as an adjunct professor.

Greg owns Squeaky Toy Advertising, a creative and branding firm as well as Squeaky Toy Films, a film and commercial production company.

Sarah Young, Production Designer

Adam Sweeney, Director/Screenwriter