PRODUCER, EDITOR, WRITER, DIRECTOR, ACTOR

Joe McCord, founder of Tilted Room Productions, has carried a passion for film and storytelling for as long as he can remember. Raised in Pine City, Minnesota, he grew up in a home marked by the struggles of addiction—both his mother and stepfather battled alcoholism. Seeking solace, Joe found escape in the surrounding forests, where his imagination flourished. From the age of six, he was enthralled by cinema. The opening credits of Richard Donner’s Superman on the big screen sparked his love for film, while The Wolf Man (1941) introduced him to the eerie thrill of horror.

At eleven, storytelling became his refuge. He would spend hours crafting elaborate narratives—fantasy worlds of wonder and horror—allowing him to process the chaos of his home life. As his mother’s addiction worsened, his stories evolved from mythical adventures to exploring the complexities of human nature, touching on themes of violence, deception, and moral ambiguity.

Joe’s life took a drastic turn when a fire destroyed his family’s business, forcing them to relocate to Joliet, Illinois. The transition from rural solitude to an urban landscape was overwhelming. His mother’s struggles intensified after her divorce, and Joe turned to writing as a means of survival. Books on true crime and the psychology of sociopaths fascinated him, shaping his understanding of human darkness.

His realization that filmmaking was an achievable dream came when a close friend invited him to act and assist in writing two films. That experience proved that vision and determination could bring stories to life, regardless of resources.

In 2018, Joe revisited stories he and his wife, Brandie McCord, had written over 15 years, selecting the ones that forced him to confront his own moral boundaries. This became the foundation for Tilted Room Productions—where storytelling reigns over budget.

Through strength and the love of her children, Joe’s mother ultimately overcame addiction. At the time of writing, she has been sober for 12 years—a testament to resilience and transformation. For Joe, film is more than entertainment—it is salvation, a means of making sense of the world, and a way to give meaning to his journey.