Films produced by Robert Towne
With over 20 years of making movies, here is a selection of films that I either directed or had heavy involvement with as a producer. Some of these were produced outside the "Towne Films" banner, which I included to demonstrate our production capabilities and landmark moments with collaborators.
2022 | Short
19 mins. Directed by Arnaldo Mirabal
*Made by Altair Pictures | Collaboration Project
With Anthony Hord, Mariah Padilla, Roger Ivens, Ryan Federico
Down on his luck and having trouble with his girlfriend, Richard comes across an old VR headset in the trash. Putting it on, he finds himself and his girlfriend transported to a world where they are secret agents on a high-stakes mission, but determining the actual reality is more difficult than it seems. VR is an experience spanning multiple frame rates.
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Written by Eric Michaels (The Curse and the Covenant), and directed by my friend Arnaldo Mirabal with Altair Pictures, I served on this project as an executive producer among other roles in casting, location scouting, logistical support, the art department, editing, sound design, and promotions. This was the first film I edited using DaVinci Resolve in a move to modernize the Towne Films production arsenal after using Final Cut since 2010.
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2020 | Feature
57 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Eric Michaels, Graci Clark, Danny Fogle, Josh Horton
Budget: $6,000
In a dark time when kingdoms have fallen and orcs dominate the earth, Akosh, the cowardly survivor of a dragon attack, seeks refuge in the mountains. There he must learn the ways of the sword from an exiled knight named Eli, and his daughter Zephra. But as Akosh gets groomed to take up the mantle of heroes who have passed in to legend, he begins to uncover dark secrets about Eli's family history.
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This was our first film with paid actors, our first award-winning film, and our first film to be made after basing operations in Albuquerque, NM. The film is a prequel set 900 years before "Song of the Starslayer," with a more intimate and confined plot that does not require watching the first film to appreciate.
While it ranks as the highest rated Towne Films production on Amazon and IMDB, it holds the odd distinction of being the only film since we started shooting in HD to have never had an in-person theatrical screening. This was due to the COVID pandemic disrupting the premiere in early 2020.
2016 | Feature
188 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Baron von Goghku, Anna Suratt, Stephanie Frias, Ben Kullman
Budget: $20,000
In the distant dragon worshiping empire of Ashelon, a disgraced knight seeks to restore his fortunes and win the hand of the king's daughter while a band of mountain rebels wages war under the leadership of the true heir to the throne.
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Our dear friend Ray Niemira, who played King Myklos in this film, passed away in the middle of production. All his scenes were kept intact, though the first part of the film is rather bloated to explain his absence.
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This is the first story we made in a larger "Song of the Starslayer" franchise. It was also our first film to be featured in panels at Comic Conventions, with a lot of help from the SCA and the local Mandalorian Mercenaries club as actors and extras.
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This film was a quest to make the largest and most epic indie fantasy film ever made in New Mexico. We spent over three years making it from pre-production to the final edit. Literal blood, sweat, and tears were shed on this project. This is our most ambitious production to date, the likes of which may not be seen again unless we get a lot of money.
Eye on the Prize*
2013 | Short
4 mins. Directed by Edmund Lozano
*Made by By Numbers Productions | Collaboration Project
With Edric Ray, Humberto Castro
Budget: $500
Two professional hitmen meet at a motel to discuss their new target.
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I served as an executive producer and assisted with funding and various on-set roles behind-the-scenes for this production.
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2013 | Feature
91 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Baron von Goghku, Stephanie Frias, Ray Niemira
Budget: $8,000
His better days long gone, a former confederate soldier must choose between two gangs searching for the Lost Padre Mine in a quest of riches, revenge, and redemption.
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This was the first film we made after graduating college, and was made as a love letter to the legends, folklore, and natural beauty of El Paso and southern New Mexico. It was our first film to feature horseback scenes. It was made in large part thanks to the help of the Lamoree family at Steins ghost town in New Mexico, and Patricia Beltran who allowed us to film on their properties.
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The film also marked the first appearance of "The Book of the Dragon," a maguffin that links the stories of various Towne Films productions.
2011 | Feature
70 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Baron von Goghku, Stephanie Frias, Danny Fogle
Budget: $5,000
A chauvinist Army Captain and a CIA Agent embark on a mission to prevent a Russian warlord from using a zombie virus to wipe out all his enemies. Little do they know, the package they must deliver could start World War III.
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This was our last major project before graduating from UTEP. It was the first film where we got to work with Ray Niemira, who played the Russian warlord. This was our first major project with our friend Rhonda Napoleon, our frequent collaborator for hair and makeup in Cloudcroft. It was our first film to play at a local comic convention, and it also marks our earliest film available for streaming on Amazon.
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2010 | Short
10 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Baron von Goghku, Kaitlin Atkinson
Budget: $100
What if Quentin Tarantino had directed the cinematic classic "Casablanca?"
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This was our first film edited entirely on Final Cut Pro
2010 | Short
8 mins. Directed by Stephanie Caroline Soto
*Made by The Miner Movie Makers | Collaboration Project
With Joel Gannon, Michael Huante, Chris Gardea
A poorly digested lunch leads to a case of mistaken identity in the restroom.
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Originally a short film for a class, the entire Miner Movie Makers club at UTEP banded together with their resources to remake it with a fuller crew. I provided the lighting and camera equipment, and acted as D.P. I also assisted with editing.
2009 | Short
27 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Sven Tuonela, Baron von Goghku, Danny Fogle, Jorge Gomez
Budget: $500
An exiled Viking seeks a new life as a mercenary in the Byzantine Varangian Guard during the time of the 1st Crusade: a world where friends may be your enemy, and your enemy may be your friend.
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This was our first film shot in HD, our first film to be shot extensively in Southern New Mexico, our first film festival appearance, and our first film to play on local television. It was made in large part thanks to the help and medieval armory of Sven Tuonela. This film featured the debut of Baron von Goghku and Stephanie Frias, who would both go on to play lead roles in future productions. Danny Fogle also made his first appearance in a Towne Films production. It is remembered by the cast for a grueling hike four miles up a mountain wearing armor.
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2008 | Short
10 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Michael Martinez, Jorge Gomez
Budget: $0
Electronics start acting strange in the night as something sinister draws near
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This was our first film with an original soundtrack, and a final project for a film class in college It was our last film shot in standard definition with a consumer camcorder.
Star Wars: The Empire Reloaded
2008 | Short
43 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Jesse Flores, Addy Crespo, Andres Olivas
Budget: $100
A comedic remake of "The Empire Strikes Back."
This was our first film edited on Sony Vegas, and ended up being the last of the Star Wars parodies.
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2007 | Feature
64 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Robert Towne, Michael Martinez, Jorge Gomez, Jesse Flores
Budget: $300
A U.S. army sergeant struggles to cope with a failed romance as his squad is caught behind enemy lines in WWII Northern Africa.
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After changing my major in college, this was our first go at making a serious feature film with proper costumes, props, and more efforts on symbolism behind the shots. This was our first completely original screenplay written by Jorge Gomez. This was our last film edited on Windows Movie Maker, which nearly broke the computer trying to handle a movie of this size. This film featured the debut of Sven Tuonela, who would later become responsible for most of the props, weapons, and art department in later productions.
2007 | Short
39 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Jesse Flores, Addy Crespo, Andres Olivas
Budget: $100
A comedic remake of the original 1977 Star Wars, with more empire.
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This was our first film to utilize green screen technology.
2006 | Short
26 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Michael Martinez, Robert Towne, Jorge Gomez
Budget: $100
Treachery and glory are abound as three Roman legions are annihilated by Germanic tribes. A retelling of one of the greatest battles of ancient history.
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This was our first film utilizing 3D visual effects and our first casting call for help outside our circle of friends.
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2005 | Short
17 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Robert Towne, Jorge Gomez, Michael Martinez
Budget: $0
A comedic remake of "Revenge of the Sith" as the Clone Wars come to a high school on the planet Earth.
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This was our first film to be posted online, when videoblog websites still had an edge over a very nascent YouTube. The original posting has since been taken down along with the website. New access to high speed internet and the ability to post movies online revolutionized Towne Films from an occasional hobby usually related to school work, into a full-time obsession.
Beowulf
2004 | Short
15 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Robert Towne, Michael Towne, Michael Martinez
Budget: $0
A retelling of the Old English epic poem as the hero Beowulf fights the monster Grendel and its mother.
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This film featured the debut of Michael Martinez, who would play key roles in future productions.
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2004 | Short
16 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Robert Towne, Jorge Gomez
Budget: $0
A relaunched Soviet Union invades Mars in 2036 with AT-AT Imperial Walkers.
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This film featured the debut of Jorge Gomez, who would become a major writing force in later productions.
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2003 | Short
10 mins. Directed by Robert Towne
With Johnny P, Marco Avlia, Valerie Endlich
Budget: $0
NASA launches its first manned mission to Mars in the year 2014 with new hyperdrive technology.
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The was very first Towne Films production. It was made during an engineering summer camp at UTEP when we decided to turn a skit for a class assignment into a movie.
