From Hollywood to St. Louis

Chris Lawing is a man that some might call a "magician" that's because he can make things disappear!

He's a man who can literally take reality and tweak it without you ever knowing!

But Chris doesn't need a magic wand to perform any of these amazing feats; all he needs is his computer and a mouse!

Chris is a film director and editor who now lives in St. Louis but who got his start in the movie capital of the world.

"I started about 14 years ago in Los Angeles and the first film I ever worked on was an Indy film called "Grinders". Chris tells us.

While working in the city of angels he spent some time on a Pixar movie that your kids have probably made you watch close to a million times by now, "Monsters Inc."

"It's always fun having Monsters Inc and telling my daughter I worked on this but the funny thing is, up until recently it was the least favorite Pixar film for my children, I was like..That was me I helped make that movie!" he says.

In 2005, this Kansas native moved to the gateway city and opened up his own production company called "Mercury Multi Media".

"Everything has kind of blossomed into something else and into new challenges" Chris says.

His latest challenge is his debut in the St. Louis Filmmaker's Showcase, an event that shows off local work.

"From feature films that used local talent, shot locally, local directors to short films to my film which is a music video called Movie of Your Life"

Chris's music video is from an artist by the name of Spencer Day and in this mini-flick they re-created classic movie scenes with everything from The Graduate and War of the Worlds to Citizen Kane.

"We wanted to get a cease and desist letter from a studio because we wanted it to be so authentic that people would say they just stole my Casablanca scene" he says.

Chris says that a lot independent films are shot in St. Louis, that's why this showcase is such a special treat for St. Louisans.

"There are great filmmakers here there's some really talented camera people, there's talented editors, talented directors" he says.

So you don't need to say abracadabra, because right here in our own backyard, there's already a large troupe of amazing people, like Chris, living their dreams and putting it on film!

The St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase will be at the Tivoli Theater thru July 24th.

Tickets for film programs cost $10 each or $8 for students and Cinema St. Louis members. Chris's music video will be aired tonight, Monday July 21st at 9:30pm.

For more information head to www.cinamastlouis.org