Corbin Rowell

Corbin Rowell is an award-winning indie filmmaker based in Richmond, VA, with expertise in directing, screenwriting, producing, and editing. Known for his innovative storytelling and meticulous craft, Rowell has earned recognition for creating atmospheric, thought-provoking horror films that captivate audiences.

Rowell’s journey as a filmmaker began in 2019 with The Collector’s Chest, a horror short crafted for the Richmond 48 Hour Horror Film Project. The film swept the competition, earning five awards, including 2nd Place Best Film, Audience Choice, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Best Sound Design.

In 2022, Rowell’s short film Sutherland, shot at a 200-year-old Civil War-era farmhouse, received the Best Virginia Film award at the Magic of Horror Film Festival. It also became a finalist for Best Cinematographer at the Montreal Independent Film Festival and won five awards at the Hollywood Blood Horror Fest, including Best Mystery, Best Director, Best Acting Duo, Best Cinematography, and Best Sound Design.

Rowell recently completed post-production for his ambitious period horror film A Raven’s Call, a gripping tale set in the early 18th century that explores Cherokee folklore. The short film follows two Cherokee friends confronting the sinister Raven Mocker, a legendary evil force. Years in the making, A Raven’s Call is planned for release in late 2025.

Blending horror and comedy with a focus on tension and atmosphere, Rowell’s work avoids cheap scares, opting instead for stories that linger with the audience. Off set, he is a devoted cat dad, husband to his high school sweetheart, and a passionate movie buff and gamer, always drawing inspiration from the stories he loves.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Freelance Film Director

Mad Crab Productions

January 2019 - current | Richmond, VA

  • Directed and produced 10 short films, amassing over 275,000 views and 20,000 hours of watch time on YouTube, showcasing creative storytelling and audience engagement expertise.

  • Directed 3 short films for the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project, demonstrating the ability to write, shoot, and edit under tight deadlines, earning 6 awards, Top 10 competition screenings, and invitations to the Crypticon Seattle Film Festival.

  • Adapted well to unforeseen challenges during production, implementing creative solutions that allowed projects to continue without compromising artistic vision.

  • Oversaw post-production editing, special effects, music selection and performance's overall tone.

Freelance Video Editor

Mad Crab Productions

January 2019 - current | Richmond, VA

  • Editing diverse content for 10 years, including 12+ short films, trailers, tutorials, promos, music videos, weddings, live events, YouTube videos, and TikToks, with expertise in industry-standard tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and Final Cut Pro.

  • Edited 6 short films for the Richmond 48 Hour Film Project, all of which achieved Top 10 Screenings, highlighting expertise in crafting compelling narratives under tight deadlines.

  • Edited a short film for the 2019 Richmond 48 Hour Horror Film Project, earning 5 awards, including recognition for Best Editing.

  • Edited a groundbreaking short film for the 2024 Yes We Cannes global filmmaking competition, making history as the first 48-hour film to feature footage from all seven continents.

Video Producer

Valnet Inc

October 2021 - January 2023 | Saint-Laurent, Canada

  • Served as Lead Producer and topic strategist for YouTube channels The Richest, CBR, and Screen Rant, collectively reaching 28 million subscribers and attributing to 9 billion total views.

  • Collaborated with scriptwriters, voiceover artists, and editors to meet departmental objectives, including the production and upload of 45 videos per month.

  • Oversaw video scheduling and task assignments, resulting in the delivery of over 50 videos that amassed over 10 million views collectively.

On-Screen Talent & Video Editor

Touchstorm LLC

March 2018 - August 2020 | Richmond, VA

  • Secured a promotion by winning an internal video editing competition, subsequently producing, editing, and optimizing tutorial content for the company’s VideoAmigo YouTube channel.

  • Delivered actionable YouTube growth strategies to 37,000+ viewers, resulting in a 55% increase in subscriber growth within three months.