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Rich Varville | |
|---|---|
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Notable credits | |
| Awards | Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards (3) |
Rich Varville is an American filmmaker, cinematographer, editor, producer and musician. He began working in filmmaking through music videos and later worked on independent films including Adalynn and Death Is a Rose Bush. He also directed the 2025 San Diego Film Awards television special, which was broadcast by KPBS.[1]
Career
[edit]Music and music videos
[edit]Varville was a member of San Diego rock bands before moving into filmmaking. In 2012, Dave Good of the San Diego Reader identified Varville as the bassist for Trailerpark Rockstar, describing the band as "razor tight, highly skilled, and aggressive".[2] Varville was also a guitarist and vocalist for Head Trip Superstar.[3]
In 2015, Varville directed the Head Trip Superstar music video "Let's Get Medicated". Following the video's recognition at the San Diego Film Awards, the San Diego Reader published a feature about Varville and the production. The article discussed the video's depiction of addiction, its low-budget production and Varville's transition into filmmaking.[1]
Later that month, the Ramona Sentinel published a feature about Varville following a presentation he gave to student filmmakers. The article discussed his work directing music videos, his production methods and his plans to expand into narrative filmmaking.[4]
Film and television
[edit]Varville subsequently worked in cinematography, editing, directing and producing. He served as cinematographer on the 2023 psychological horror film Adalynn. HorrorBuzz singled out Varville's cinematography, writing that his use of camera angles and lighting established the film's atmosphere and that its tight framing helped place the viewer within the protagonist's psychological perspective.[5]
Varville directed and edited the short film Death Is a Rose Bush. Reviewing the film for KOGO, Josh Board praised Varville's direction and editing. Board gave the film five stars and said it would be only the second short film he had placed on one of his annual top-ten lists in three decades.[6]
In 2025, Varville directed the 11th annual San Diego Film Awards. The program, produced by the Film Consortium San Diego, was broadcast by KPBS in June 2025.[7]
In 2026, Varville launched Hollyweird Pictures, an independent production company focused on horror and psychological thrillers. In an interview with Pop Culture Unplugged, he discussed the company's development and its planned first feature, Area 1, as well as his approach to psychological horror.[8]
Varville discussed his preference for psychological suspense over gore and jump scares in a 2026 appearance on the filmmaking and entertainment podcast Hellblazerbiz: Conversations with the Stars.[9]
Filmography
[edit]Film and television
[edit]| Year | Title | Cinematographer | Editor | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | The Calling | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Short film |
| Santa Fe Station | No | Yes | No | No | Short film | |
| Break of Dawn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Co-writer | Also producer | |
| 2019 | Poverty of Will | Co-cinematographer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film, also proudcer and visual effects |
| 2023 | Adalynn | Yes | Yes | No | No | Also co-producer[5] |
| 2024 | Glass Casa | No | Yes | No | No | Also sound designer |
| Death Is a Rose Bush | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Short film[6][10] | |
| 2025 | Deathline: The Juicy Hidden Truth Behind the Killer Tomatoes | Yes | Yes | No | Story consultant | Documentary, also producer |
| San Diego Film Awards | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Television special; broadcast on KPBS | |
| 2026 | Attack of the Killer Tomatoes: Organic Intelligence | No | No | Second unit | No | Also associate producer |
Music videos
[edit]| Year | Artist | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Head Trip Superstar | "Let's Get Medicated" | Director | |
| Cage | "Across the Sea of Madness" | Director and producer | [11] | |
| 2019 | The Three Tremors | "The Wrath of Asgard" | Director |
Accolades
[edit]| Event / Festival | Year | Award | Title | Result | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences | 2026 | Pacific Southwest Emmy Award – Special Event Coverage | 2025 San Diego Film Awards | Won | Shared with Jodi Cilley, Tony Amat, Derrick Acosta, Paulina Perea, Giovanni Autiero | [12] |
| Pacific Southwest Emmy Award – Lighting Design/Lighting Direction | Won | |||||
| Pacific Southwest Emmy Award – Photographer - Long Form Content (longer than 10 minutes) | Won |
References
[edit]- 1 2 Good, Dave (2015-03-18). "And the winner is..." San Diego Reader. Archived from the original on 2015-03-22. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ Good, Dave (June 29, 2012). "Heavy, But Not Metal: Trailerpark Rockstar". San Diego Reader. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Head Trip Superstar". San Diego Reader. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Award-winning director meets with OPMS students". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2015-03-22. Archived from the original on 2026-05-21. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- 1 2 B, Erik (2023-03-29). "ADALYNN A Mother's Dark Journey". HorrorBuzz. Archived from the original on 2026-05-21. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- 1 2 Board, Josh. "At The Movies With Josh: Death is a Rosebush". Newsradio 600 KOGO. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ Robinson, Jennifer (June 27, 2025). "San Diego Film Awards 2025". KPBS Public Media. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- ↑ Elias (August 9, 2026). "Rich Varville Is Ready to Make Hollywood a Little Weirder". Pop Culture Unplugged. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- ↑ "Exploring the Depths of Horror with Rich Varville". Hellblazerbiz: Conversations with the Stars. September 1, 2026. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- ↑ Voorhis, Chelsea Van (2024-10-31). "Coronado Island Film Festival to Feature Short Film Shot in Rancho Santa Fe - Rancho Santa Fe Post". Rancho Santa Fe Post. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ DiVita, Joe (2015-12-08). "Cage's Sean Peck Talks New Album, Blaze Bayley + More". Loudwire. Retrieved 2026-05-21.
- ↑ "NATAS PSW – EMMY® Awards - Nominees". NATAS PSW. Archived from the original on 2026-07-10. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
External links
[edit]- Interview at Bunker 15
- Interview at SDVoyager
- Interview at Shoutout SoCal
- SD Media Pros