Chris M. Rodriguez is an Atlanta-based, Miami-raised filmmaker and co-founder of the independent horror production company, ThornCreek Films. He began his career as a writer and in 2020, he wrote the award-winning short "Aubergine", a comedy about a sex worker who discovers a safe word with the potential to immobilise her client, making it easier for her to set her boundaries. Its compelling usage of physical comedy helped the film receive recognition from more than a dozen festivals including Best Comedy awards from the Big Sur Film Festival and IndieX Film Fest. Later that same year, Rodriguez made his directorial debut with the ultra low-budget horror film "Shhh", which was shot during the pandemic lockdown. The film launched the dream-like, psychological form of horror storytelling that Rodriguez continues to explore in his more recent work. "Shhh" was released in 2021 and received accolades from dozens of film festivals including an award for Best Micro Short at the Southern Horror Film Festival. In 2022, Rodriguez co-founded ThornCreek Films with the intent of forming a collective of horror storytellers and filmmakers who will bring fresh perspectives to the genre. After releasing a couple of audio stories, Rodriguez set about working on his next project "The Boy Outside." Independently produced with the help of crowdfunding, "The Boy Outside" is the story of a daughter caring for her ailing father, who swears he can hear a little boy crying outside. She soon discovers the sound is all too real and that it just might consume them both. The film is set for release in 2023.