{"id":354396,"date":"2025-11-04T06:37:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T06:37:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/354396\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T06:37:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T06:37:10","slug":"film-maker-alec-roths-directorial-debut-billy-knight-makes-its-way-to-usc-alongside-alum-max-pratts-annenberg-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/354396\/","title":{"rendered":"Film maker Alec Roth\u2019s directorial debut \u2018Billy Knight\u2019 makes its way to USC alongside alum Max Pratts \u2013 Annenberg Media"},"content":{"rendered":"

Film maker Alec Roth\u2019s feature directorial debut, \u201cBilly Knight\u201d was screened at USC\u2019s School of Cinematic Arts on Thursday. The screening of \u201cBilly Knight\u201d at USC is part of a nationwide college tour Firebrand Media<\/a> is hosting with the goal of taking a grassroots approach to film distribution.<\/p>\n

The film follows a man named Alex who \u2014 after the death of his father \u2014 navigates his career as an aspiring filmmaker using his late father\u2019s unfinished scripts and a handkerchief with the name \u201cBilly Knight\u201d on it. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt changed my life. And, you know, it\u2019s my first foray into showing you know who I am as an artist.\u201d Roth told Annenberg Media. \u201cAnd there\u2019s a lot of things that I absolutely love and love in the film. I wouldn\u2019t change the way that it was made for anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBilly Knight\u201d features Charlie Heaton as Alex Hubbs, Al Pacino as Billy Knight and Diana Silvers as Emily. <\/p>\n

USC alum Max Pratts was on the production team for \u201cBilly Knight.\u201d He graduated from USC\u2019s SCA in 2021 and started working with Firebrand Media this year.<\/p>\n

While reflecting on the advice he would give to students trying to break into the film industry, Pratt says he encourages them to work with people they love, prioritize happiness and keep creating and promoting their best work. <\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to put yourself out there \u2014 grow and work with your peers, but also reach out to anyone you can who has a leg up in the industry,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is a business where you need help to get to the next bar. Never be ashamed of asking for help, and when you don\u2019t get it, that\u2019s fine \u2014 you keep trying and keep making your pitch stronger.\u201d <\/p>\n

Pratts explained how he got in contact with USC in hopes of scheduling a screening at SCA near the beginning of the film\u2019s tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cUSC is known to have top quality stuff, and what we want to show and hopefully build a community around is great art and really pushing and motivating artists to make their best stuff,\u201d Pratts said. <\/p>\n

Roth\u2019s start in the industry came from his family of cinema enthusiasts. His father, Eric Roth, won an Oscar for \u201cForrest Gump\u201d in 1995. His mother and siblings are also involved in the film industry as producers and screenwriters.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy whole family all together [is] blessed with the ability to go to different movie sets,\u201d said Roth. \u201cYou can create these worlds on a bigger scale, to where it\u2019s not just playing with Legos anymore, but you can actually build sets and build walls.\u201d<\/p>\n

This year Roth also directed and produced the TV mini series \u201cGolden Gai\u201d which was released in June. In the past, Roth has been a producer for \u201cDesert Road\u201d (2024) as well as the producer and director for the short film \u201cProtagonist\u201d (2017). <\/p>\n

The film\u2019s Instagram<\/a> posted a list of 10 universities where they would be holding a screening, having already completed stops at Miami Dade College, University of Miami and USC. <\/p>\n

Inspired by the \u201cBilly Knight\u201d movie, Firebrand Media is hosting a short film contest that is open to anyone interested, according to the film\u2019s Instagram page.<\/a><\/p>\n

A cash prize of $25,000 will be awarded to the winner with second and third place winning $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.<\/p>\n

The post listed themes for the contest like \u201cHollywood fairytale!\u201d or \u201cRedemption through art!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is about making movies and having fun doing it,\u201d Roth said when asked about the short film contest. \u201cWe\u2019d love to see films from around the world, and get people, you know, talking about \u2018Billy Knight\u2019 as a thing that really inspired them to make movies again.\u201d<\/p>\n