Rick Pate, an independent filmmaker and high school English teacher from Hamilton, Ohio, is driven by a passion for capturing authentic moments and complex characters often overlooked by mainstream cinema. Drawing inspiration from filmmakers like John Cassavetes, Rick made his writer-director debut with Parlay, which won several Best of Fest awards in 2022 and gained recognition in the Midwest filmmaking scene. With a background in music and a deep love for the arts, Rick has spent over 20 years immersed in bands and music projects, always returning to the written word through screenwriting, short stories, and poetry.
In 2018, he co-founded Waldist Methods Productions with longtime friend Vince Cox. Together, they produced their first co-story project, Northpointe, a Midwestern epic in the form of a short film – written and directed by Pate. Northpointe has earned several awards on its festival run including Best Drama and Audience Choice (Short. Sweet. Film Fest.), Best Pilot (NYC TV Festival and Hollywood Screenings Film Festival). As a father of four, Rick continues to balance his creative work with his teaching career, committed to bringing authentic, meaningful stories to life.