Since its conception, Wooden Finger Studios has held strong narratives at the core of their identity. Led by the multifaceted Ty Gordon, the production company based in Marina del Rey, California burst onto the scene in 2019, quickly hopping from short to feature and even into other media pursuing the drive to create compelling, relevant narratives.
This multi-media approach to narrative sets Wooden Finger Studios firmly apart from the majority of contemporary production houses. And, thanks to the success seen by its debut short Harm (2020) and debut feature Obscura (2020), Ty Gordon and his team have demonstrated that such an approach doesn’t have to negatively affect quality.
Such success is undoubtedly linked to the expertise and credentials which form the foundations of Wooden Finger Studios. Let’s take a look back to see how the studio became what it is today, while simultaneously looking forward to the plethora of projects we have to be excited about.
Getting Knee-Deep in Cinema
Founder Ty Gordon began his career in film in 2010, at the ripe age of 20, by grasping a production assistant internship opportunity with both hands.This internship saw Gordon dive head-first into the bustling set of the TV show Leverage (2008-2012), giving him an incredibly potent first taste of the industry. It goes without saying, that experience acted as the spark for what would become a career in the industry.
In 2014, Gordon was thrown a curveball when offered the opportunity to intern for the decorated documentary filmmaker T. C. Johnstone (Red Horizon, Dealmakers, Teen Press). Quickly adapting from a bustling set to on-the-ground run-and-gun, Gordon found himself driving down to Mexico capturing footage for Johnstone’s documentary Hearing Everett.
Amalgamating these two vastly different early experiences in the industry, the seeds for Gordon’s fascination in the wide range of methods to tell cinematic narratives were surely sown. Planting the ideologies which would later go on to craft Wooden Finger Studios into what it is today.
While these early experiences created a solid platform for Gordon, life, as it so often does, had other plans. 2015 was a difficult year, riddled by loss and difficult relations, worsened by alcohol and drug abuse. Riding the unsteady waters, Gordon found refuge at his writing desk, drafting up numerous screenplays, solidifying his ambitions to become a writer/director.
Overcoming those darker days, Gordon steamed into a third internship in 2017, partnering with The Bible Project, a faith-based production company. Mobilising his already extensive experience, Gordon made the most of this experience, on-boarding all the fundamentals of what it takes to create and run a production company.
Despite having filled his toolbox with applicable knowledge to create his own production company, Gordon had to prove it to himself that he could see through the dream. Thus, he joined the intensive film apprenticeship program at The Film Connection which saw Gordon direct his first short film, the thriller Harm.
Towards Features: Wooden Finger Studios
With experience, expertise and knowhow under his belt, Ty Gordon began to lay the foundations of what would become his future base of operations. And with his debut short, Harm, already receiving a warm reception, what better project to kick off a production house than with a release.
Thus, Ty Gordon founded Wooden Finger Studios and quickly onboarded Vice President Robert Thomas Preston alongside associate producer Andrew John Lee Tevis.
Riding the success of Harm, the trio were quick to set off on their next project—which would become Wooden Finger Studios’ debut feature.
Executive produced by Ty Gordon, directed by Robert Thomas Preston and starring Andrew John, Obscura tells the thrilling story of a photographer who becomes entangled in a series of murders as clues begin to show themselves on his camera’s 35mm film stock. Shot throughout Gordon’s home turf of Oregon, Obscura released in 2020 securing a future for Wooden Finger Studios.
Without time for celebration, Gordon eagerly pitched the concept for his debut feature, Never Forgotten, which quickly went into production. The film, a tale of three friends with an old, dark secret surfacing to threaten their friendship, along with their sanity, synthesises the atmospheric thriller atmosphere which was developed throughout Harm and Obscura.
With Gordon writing, directing, producing and performing in the lead role, there is a lot resting on Never Forgotten. With the dual pressure of being Gordon’s debut and the production house’s sophomore feature film. Yet, if Wooden Finger Studios’ previous two releases are anything to go by, it’s clear that audiences will have a lot to look forward to.
While waiting for Never Forgotten to enter theatres in October 2021, the team at Wooden Finger Studios are not waiting for a pat on the back. Instead, Ty Gordon has been eagerly penning a variety of cinematic works which hope to become the upcoming endeavours which will put the studio on the Hollywood map.
From the off-beat coming-of-age dramady California Dreaming to the high-concept sci-fi epic World War III, these coming productions are sure to define the scope and success of the studio.
Underneath these pipeline productions, Gordon and his team are already in the midst of creating their first documentary. Harking back to Gordon’s work with documentary veteran T. C. Johnstone, this documentary, entitled Hollywood Big Hitters, seeks to capture the team’s rise up the filmmaking ranks. Hollywood Big Hitters is intended to be released in a number of one-hour segments, running parallel to their other, fiction, productions.
Wooden Finger Studios is sure to become prolific in the coming years, filling its ever-expanding catalogue with rich, diverse content.
Beyond Cinema
While the cinematic futures of Wooden Finger Studios’ future productions may require some patience from fans, Gordon and the team have dedicated themselves to more than just cinema.
Dipping their toes into the realms of graphic novels and gaming, Wooden Finger has quickly become a multi-media production house. But these are more than frivolous endeavours into media on the periphery of cinema.
Both products, Ethereal (graphic novel) and Ethereal Run (mobile game), take an early dive into the lore-rich world Ty Gordon has crafted in his script for World War III. Laying the early foundation for an extensive, multi-media franchise to be built from the upcoming project.
The graphic novel, Ethereal, is written by Ty Gordon and crafted by illustrator Ben Perkins. Spanning an impressive 68 pages, each bustling with design, colour and action. The narrative presented within is a story-rich prequel to the events within World War III, taking place 13 years prior to the events in the film-to-be.
Ethereal Run follows the same narrative as Ethereal but is presented in the interactive medium of video games—making multiple entry points for future fans of the franchise. The game is an action-heavy romp which prides itself on challenge and rich narrative.
Combined, these endeavours into multiple different forms of media have added a wealth of feathers to Wooden Finger Studios’ cap. Locating them not only as a film studio, but a studio willing to do what it takes to reach beyond traditional cinematic audiences, telling (and expanding) their stories across the boundaries of medium.
Of course, these multimedia projects may well have been instigated due to the stranglehold the COVID-19 pandemic placed on the global film industry—stopping many productions in their tracks. But, even if that is the case, Wooden Finger Studios’ ability to adapt to such restrictive conditions, allowing them to continue to output relevant works, is certainly commendable.
With luck and careful finesse, such an approach will surely serve Wooden Finger Studios well in the future, following in the footsteps of similarly multifaceted media companies such as the empire of George Lucas (Lucasfilm, LucasArts, Skywalker Sound), The Walt Disney Company and many more.
Keeping the Cogs Turning
From early days of inspiration to debuts and branching out into other media, Ty Gordon and Wooden Finger Studios have time and again demonstrated their drive to craft compelling narratives. But, perhaps more importantly, they have displayed an unwavering passion to create. Quickly bouncing from debut short to debut and sophomore feature within the span of two years—sprinkling two multimedia works in there for good measure. Keeping to this philosophy of production, it is exciting to consider that Wooden Finger Studios already has a number of works in the pipeline.
From Never Forgotten, set to arrive in theatres in October 2021, to California Dreaming and World War III which hope to go into production in the coming years, Ty Gordon and the studio are keeping their cogs well lubricated, ensuring that production is consistent. A work ethic which will likely garner much attention for the studio in the coming years.
Wooden Finger Studios, then, positions itself as a production company to keep your eyes on. Its ever-growing forward momentum combined with Ty Gordon’s deep-seated passion for storytelling poise the studio to break out into the film industry. And, fortunately for us, we’ll be able to watch their growth through the episodic releases of Hollywood Big Hitters.
Our website: http://www.woodenfingerstudios.com/
Our most recent film, Never Forgotten: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14154734/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Our film, Obscura: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3576242/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_2
