John Milton Branton

Producer/Writer/Director at Emerald Films
Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Theater Professional, Acting Teacher, Actor, Line Producer and Playwright

Vancouver, Canada

Member Since:
November 2016

Last online:
1 day ago

Invites sent:
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About John

John Milton Branton is an award-winning screenwriter, director, producer, and the former Head of Production for Benetone Films-Thailand.
His writing credits include Absolute Fear, which aired on SyFy UK, adaptations of The Falconer for Australia’s Vanguard Productions & The Dalai Lama’s Cat for London’s Amber Entertainment. He has won numerous screenwriting awards and had several scripts optioned. Off Course, a true-life thriller set in Italy and co-written with director, Katrin Bowen, is currently in soft prep and The Square Root of Pie, a fantasy film drawn from childhood experiences, is scheduled to shoot in late 2024.
John directed the political thriller, Dark Power, starring Sean Patrick Flannery, Kristanna Loken, Chris Carmack, Kevin Dobson and Morgan Fairchild, now streaming on Tubi and wrote, directed & co-produced Absolute Fear, a thriller starring Patrick Bergin and Matthew Alan for MarVista, Osiris and SyFy UK. He is currently attached to direct Donor, an action-thriller for Bangkok-based Peripheral Pictures and Mbrella Films.
He directed 2nd Unit for the Scott Adkins sci-fi thriller, Abduction, the action films Pound of Flesh, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Special Ops, starring Steven Bauer, the SyFy Channel films Zombie Tidal Wave and Frenzy, the horror film, Pernicious and the Fox Family series The New Addams Family.
His first short film was a period drama, Tears of a Lotus. It garnered several Best Film and Best Director awards, was nominated for five LEO Awards and was selected by more than 30 international film festivals, including Montreal, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, Nashville, Bilbao and Quebec. speechless…, starring Danica McKellar, Dan Lauria, Wil Wheaton and Dorothy Lyman received a Best New Director award from the Hollywood Underground Film Festival, and won Best Film and two Best Actor nominations at the California IndieFest.
Born and raised in the southern US, John is proud to claim his mixed-race heritage from his Trinidadian mother and Antiguan grandmother and his Native American lineage from his great-great-grandmother on his father’s side.

Unique traits: PADI-certified open-water diver; archery instructor and multi-medal winner. Kayak & canoe. 1st AD.

Gender:
Male

Height:
5' 7"

Hair:
Short

Hair color:
Black

Eyes:
Brown

Ethnicity:
Caribbean

Badges

Certifications

Photos

Videos

Loglines

Reel Lies Budget: $1M - $5M | Thriller “Nothing is what it seems.” Vincent's big break becomes a real-life nightmare when he's framed for murder on an underground reality show. Desperate to prove his innocence, Vincent kidnaps Zoe, the only person who might know the truth, and together they unravel a twisted trail of increasing homicides that lead them through deepfakes into the Dark Web and a shocking revelation.
Trading Up Budget: $1M - $5M | Romance ⋄ Comedy "A modern urban fairy tale about Love, Sex, and DNA testing". Bar-owner, Stewart advises his romantic younger brother, Ryan, to: “Trade up, always trade up” and he's good at following his own advice until he meets Nicole who leaves him literally climbing walls to woo her, but will it be enough to win her?
Blood Covenant Budget: $1M - $5M | Horror “Love never dies… it waits.” When Cara reunites with her lover from a past life they must defeat the vengeful spirit of her dead suitor who has been waiting centuries for her return and will stop at nothing to reclaim her - even in death.
Angel Island Budget: $1M - $5M | Family ⋄ Fantasy “Angels walk among us.” After her father's murder, 12-year-old Angela is on a downward spiral when she meets Bobby, a 12-year-old misfit and together they rescue a reluctant angel and they all learn what it means to live.

Credits

Ponniyin Selvan: Part Two (2020 - 2023)
Film by Mani Ratnam Line Producer Arulmozhi Varman continues on his journey to become Rajaraja I, the greatest ruler of the historic Chola empire of south India.
Mistletoe Connection (2023)
TV Movie by David I. Strasser 1st Assistant Director Its Christmas and Kate runs a nostalgic gift store shop in neighborhood that has just been slated for redevelopment A chance encounter on the bus with Mark sets off sparks for them both.
Ponniyin Selvan: Part 1 (2020 - 2022)
Film by Mani Ratnam Line Producer Vandiyathevan crosses the Chola land to deliver a message from the Crown Prince Aditha Karikalan, while Kundavai attempts to establish political peace as vassals and petty chieftains plot against the throne.
#Christmas (2022)
TV Movie by Heather Hawthorn Doyle 1st Assistant Director When Jen gets the chance to enter a brand-design contest, she poses as a family influencer, and when her video is selected as a finalist, she's torn between continuing her perfect "family" or revealing the truth.
Big Sky River (2022)
TV Movi by Peter Benson 1st Assistant Director Trying to move forward after a messy divorce, a woman returns to Parable, Montana., and meets a handsome neighbor who presents an unexpected twist.
Heatwave (2022)
by Ernie Barbarash 1st Assistant Director Claire, an ambitious young woman, starts working for a successful and rich businessman, but unknowingly gets involved in an affair with his wife.
Time for Them to Come Home for Christmas (2021)
TV Movie by Peter Benson 1st Assistant Director During the holidays, a woman with amnesia catches a ride with her handsome nurse to investigate the only clue to her identity.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made (2021)
TV Movi by Linda-Lisa Hayter 1st Assistant Director Follows Shane and Oliver who help a young boy fighting leukemia reunite with his long-lost friend while preparing for their wedding. Also, Rita and Norman deal with the challenges of trying to start a family.
Cradle Did Fall (2021)
TV Movi by Keegan Connor Tracy 1st Assistant Director A woman poses as an infant photographer in order to befriend a young mother and steal her baby.
Death of Me (2020)
by Darren Lynn Bousman (Horror) 1st Assistant Director A vacationing couple must discover the mystery behind a strange video that shows one of them killing the other.
Abduction (2019)
Film by Ernie Barbarash (Action and Sci-Fi) Second Unit Director/1st Assistant Director Quinn steps out of a park fountain in Vietnam with no recollection of who he is or where he came from. As he wanders through the city, piecing together clues to his past, he is relentlessly pursued by mysteriously dangerous figures.
Zombie Tidal Wave (2019)
Film by Anthony C. Ferrante (Horror) Line Producer/2nd Unit Director A fisherman contends with an ocean-borne outbreak that threatens his seaside island community.
Attrition (2018)
Film (Action) 1st Assistant Director When a Thai girl with mythical powers goes missing, Axe and his old team unite in attempts to bring her back.
Surrounded (Frenzy) (2018)
Film by Jose Montesinos (Thriller) Production Supervisor/Second Unit Director In the aftermath of a plane crash, a woman fights to survive a pack of killer sharks.
Ghost House (2017)
Film by Rich Ragsdale (Horror) 1st Assistant Director A young couple go on an adventurous vacation to Thailand only to find themselves haunted by a malevolent spirit after naively disrespecting a Ghost House.
Bato (2017)
Film Actor
Six Gun Savior (2016)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Tie the Knot (2016)
Film 1st Assistant Director
The Bronx Bull (2016)
Film Actor
Pound of Flesh (2015)
Film by Ernie Barbarash (Thriller) Production Supervisor A man's heroic attempt to help a woman in distress ends up with him waking up the next day without a kidney and plotting his revenge.
Pernicious (2014)
Film by James Cullen Bressack (Horror) Second Unit Director/1st Assistant Director It was supposed to be an adventure of a lifetime as three young girls spend the summer in Thailand. But their adventure quickly becomes a nightmare when the trio unleashes the spirit of a murdered child with only one thing on her mind - revenge.
The Next Dance (2014)
Video 1st Assistant Director
Act of Faith (2014)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Avalanche Sharks (2014)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Defending Santa (2013)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Out of Reach (2013)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Sink Hole (2013)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Player vs. Pain (2013)
TV Series Field Producer
Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013)
Film Casting department
Dark Power (2013)
Film by John Milton Branton (Thriller) Director When the mayor of a crime-ridden city and his opponent are assassinated, two FBI agents join forces to investigate the murder and become the targets of a powerful criminal conspiracy.
The Wailer 3 (2012)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Under the Bed (2012)
Film 2nd Assistant Director
Stealing Roses (2012)
Film Co-Producer/Line Producer
Absolute Fear (2012)
Film by John Milton Branton (Thriller) Director/Screenwriter/Co-Producer Jessie Valiquette follows her scribe boyfriend of 3 years Dale Morrow on a search for his long-lost Father last heard from on a deserted island in the Philippines. They encounter more than they bargained for when they discover not only was Dale's father part of a top-secret government project testing the depth of people's fears, but also that he had very good reason for not wanting to be found.
A Golden Christmas 3 (2012)
TV Movie Casting department
A Deadly Obsession (2012)
Film Casting department
Last Hours in Suburbia (2012)
Film Casting department
Playdate (2012)
TV Movie Casting department
Sexting in Suburbia (2012)
TV Movie Casting department
Pluripotent (2011)
Film Co-Producer/Production Supervisor
Infection: The Invasion Begins (2011)
Film Line Producer
My Girlfriend's Back (2010)
Film UPM/1st Assistant Director
Watch Out for Slick (2010)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Special Ops (2010)
Film by Tom Shell (Action and Thriller) Co-Producer/Second Unit Director When Captain Kyle Fierson's unit is ambushed during a raid to rescue a deadly nuclear device, he must run for his life - not only to track down the missing time bomb, but also to clear his name when he is accused of aiding the terrorists.
Co-Ed Confidential (2010)
TV Series 1st Assistant Director
Co-Ed Confidential (2010)
Series by Fredrick Vaughn 1st Assistant Director A frat house notorious for parties is turned into a co-ed residence for four freshmen under the supervision of a graduate student and her occasional boyfriend, a party animal from the closed fraternity.
Manipulation (2010)
Film by John Milton Branton (Action and Thriller) Director When a German surgeon is blackmailed into killing her patient, she must choose between the life of her family and the oath she made as a doctor.
Pretty Twisted (2009)
Video 1st Assistant Director
Just the 3 of Us (2009)
Film 1st Assistant Director
The Greatest American Hero: The Fan Series (2009)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Pandemic (2009)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Reach (2009)
Film 1st Assistant Director
Bigfoot (2009)
Film Dialogue (Acting) Coach
The Least Among You (2009)
Film Casting department
La linea (2009)
Film Location Scout
Alone in the Dark II (2008)
Video 1st Assistant Director
The Sandlot: Heading Home (2007)
Video Dialogue (Acting) Coach
Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side (2007)
TV Series Actor
The River Jordan (2006)
Film by John Milton Branton (Thriller) Director A young man recounts his father's startling deathbed confession concerning a crime committed in the desert over 30 years ago.
Awake (2005)
Film Actor
The Chris Isaak Show (2004)
TV Series Actor
Black Hole (2002)
Film Associate Producer/Screenwriter
Yesterday Upon the Stair (2002)
Film by John Milton Branton (Drama) Producer/Director/Screenwriter
Bang! (2001)
Film Actor
Speechless... (2001)
Film Director
Level 9 (2000)
TV Series Actor
Lift (2000)
Film Actor
The New Addams Family (1998 - 1999)
TV Series 2nd Unit Director/Dialogue (Acting) Coach/Actor
The Net (1998)
TV Series Actor
Tears of a Lotus (1998)
Film by John Milton Branton (Thriller) Producer/Director/Screenwriter An unusual tale of indelible revenge set in 19th century Canada.
The X-Files (1996)
TV Series Actor
Eye Level (1995)
TV Movie Actor
The Commish (1995)
TV Series Actor
Tokyo Cowboy (1994)
Film Actor
Relentless: Mind of a Killer (1993)
TV Movie Actor
Street Legal (1987)
TV Series Actor
Chained Heat (1983)
Film Actor
Six Weeks (1982)
Film Actor
Night Shift (1982)
Film by Ron Howard (Comedy) Actor A mild-mannered morgue attendant is assigned to the night shift, and his new coworker, along with his prostitute neighbor, convince him of running a prostitution ring out of the morgue.
Violet (1982)
Film by Shelley Levinson (Short) Actor Academy Award Winner
Judy
Producer

View all 81 credits

Awards

Best New Director, Hollywood Underground Film Festival - speechless...
Director's Citation, Black Maria Film and Video Festival - Tears of a Lotus
Best Short, California Independent Film Festival - speechless...
Short Film Winner, Key West Film Festival - Tears of a Lotus
Best Direction in a Short Drama, Nominee, Leo Awards - Tears of a Lotus
2 x Best Short Film Winner, Telluride - Tears of a Lotus, Yesterday Upon the Stair
Best Screenplay, Telluride - Trading Up
Award of Merit, National Film & Video Showcase, Canada - Baby Talk
Honorable Mention, Festival du Cort Metrage de Cinema, Belgium - Tears of a Lotus
Award Winner - Yes! Film Festival - The Square Root of Pie
Hope Film Awards - The Square Root of Pie

Education

Vancouver Film School
York University