About Hoot Owl Films
Hoot Owl Films was founded on the belief that filmmaking should be both collaborative and personal—rooted in craft, curiosity, and a genuine love for storytelling.
Will Carter - Director and Founder
Director and founder Will Carter grew up in Jackson, Tennessee, where he began making films as a teenager using his grandfather’s workshop as a makeshift studio. It was there that he learned to experiment—lighting scenes, testing cameras, and discovering how stories come together through image and sound.
While attending college, Will worked at a local television station, beginning a career in broadcast news that spanned more than a decade. He worked as a photographer, producer, reporter, anchor, and meteorologist—building a strong technical foundation while never losing sight of his passion for narrative filmmaking.
After stepping away from film to focus on a marketing career in Kansas City, a creative spark was reignited through filmmaking competitions and community collaboration. In 2023, Will returned to directing through the SATO 48-hour film challenge, a project that ultimately led to the formation of Hoot Owl Films in 2024.
Momentum & Recognition
In its first year, Hoot Owl Films earned Best Set Design at the 2024 SATO 48 competition for "Cold Heart," along with multiple nominations and festival selections. The film went on to screen at festivals across the Midwest and internationally, receiving Best Sci-Fi Film at the New York Tri-State International Film Festival and an Honorable Mention at the Absurd Film Festival in Italy. "Clown at a Funeral" also received an Honorable Mention at the One-Reeler Short Film Competition in Los Angeles. Most recently, "When the Daffodil Blooms" won Best Documentary from the Los Angeles Short Film Awards.
Since then, Hoot Owl Films has continued to grow through short films, commercial work, live event productions, and ongoing collaborations within the Kansas City and Springfield film communities.
Looking Ahead
Today, Hoot Owl Films is focused on expanding into longer-form narrative projects while continuing to support and collaborate with independent filmmakers. With projects planned throughout 2026 and beyond, the company remains rooted in the same philosophy that started it all: make the work, find your people, and keep telling stories.