Tony Olmos is a Mexican-American filmmaker and musician who is the creator of the films Continuance (2021) and South of 8 (2016), and directed Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea (2023), Fletcher and Jenks (2016) and Pulp Friction (2021). He was awarded Best Dramatic Screenplay at the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival in 2016 and received several nominations at the GI Film Festival San Diego in 2017.
Personal life
Olmos moved to
San Diego from Mount Shasta,
residing in La Jolla, California. He was previously a musician before becoming a filmmaker.
Career
Olmos filmed his movies in San Diego County, which is where most of them are set in. His work in character development is influenced by
Martin Scorsese.
Feature films
Olmos helped compose the score on his debut film
South of 8 and his writing earned him a screenplay award in 2016 at the Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival.
His horror comedy film
Continuance premiered in 2021 and was a follow up to
South of 8.
Production issues delayed its release and its festival circuit was hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
He later collaborated with screenwriter Brian Patrick Butler by directing the film
Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea,
which received several nominations at the 13th Oceanside International Film Festival in 2024
and was later distributed by BayView Entertainment.
Short films
Olmos directed the short film
Fletcher and Jenks, which was in competition for the 48 Hour Film Project, and it received nominations at the GI Film Festival San Diego in 2017.
He worked with producer Mark Atkinson on
Pulp Friction, which screened at the San Diego Latino Film Festival in 2022
and was nominated for Award This! in 2023.
Filmography
|
| 2015 | Hatred | | | | | | Short film |
| 2016 | Fletcher and Jenks | | | | | | Short film |
| South of 8 | | | | | | Also composer |
| 2018 | A Hole in the Ground | | | | | | Short film |
| 2021 | Pulp Friction | | | | | | Short film |
| Continuance | | | | | | |
| 2023 | Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea | | | | | | |
Accolades
|
| Downtown Los Angeles Film Festival | 2016 | Best Dramatic Screenplay | South of 8 | | |
| GI Film Festival San Diego | 2017 | Best Narrative Short | Fletcher and Jenks | | |
| Local Choice Award | Fletcher and Jenks | |
| Best Film Made by a Veteran or Service Member | Fletcher and Jenks | |
| Award This! | 2023 | Award This! Short Film | Pulp Friction | | |
| 48 Hour Film Project, San Diego | 2016 | Best Film | Fletcher and Jenks | | |
| Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema | 2022 | Best Director – Short Film | Pulp Friction | | |
Rosewood Five
Olmos collaborated with Jeanette Di Pinza and
Luke Pensabene to form Rosewood Five, a
microfilmmaking company that began in 2016 during the production of the film
South of 8.
Rosewood Five also produced the films Hatred, Fletcher and Jenks, Flowers for My Garden, Pulp Friction, Continuance, and Hemet, or the Landlady Don't Drink Tea.
Olmos is the founder, and describes the company's projects as captivating stories that address societal issues and brings to mind strong emotions.
External links
