Meet The Collective

Painted Desert Films was established in 2022 by combining the collective resumes of four cinema industry professionals with the common goal of revolutionizing independent cinema. We are able to operate on condensed budgets and schedules thanks to our unique planning and execution systems.

In its current format, Painted Desert operates with a focus on international co - production between Alberta, Canada & Arizona, USA.

  • Director

    Austin Lutz is a director & cinematographer that has worked on multiple feature films & documentaries in various roles, in addition to two network TV series'.

    Known for going against typical camera convention to create emotionally charged visuals, Austin has worked as a Director of Photography, digital imaging technician, first assistant camera, production assistant, sound engineer, & more. This gives him the well rounded knowledge needed to create high quality visuals with high efficiency.

  • Production Sound Mixer & Audio Engineer

    Ty Loewen is a production sound mixer and audio post production engineer. He is always focused on capturing not only the dialogue that is important to the story but the sounds that breathe life into every scene.

    His post production work brings you into each scene, every sound considered and carefully placed to make you feel as though you're right there in the action. His knowledge about the process in post leaves no important sound heard onset go unrecorded.

  • Producer

    Gerald Pagdato is a marketing, and branding machine. He is a highly driven professional and the owner of Inumin Media, a cutting edge digital marketing and content production company based in Edmonton, Alberta. Gerald brings with him 10 years of project management experience that will enable every project to run smoothly in every regard.

  • Cinematographer

    Elwyn Lewis, the British Director of Photography in Calgary, Alberta, is a visual storyteller extraordinaire. With a keen eye for composition and a passion for lighting, he elevates scenes, creating both stunning imagery and profound emotional impact. Elwyn is not just an artist during the shoot; he is a meticulous planner who places significant emphasis on lighting design in the pre-production process, ensuring every frame tells a compelling story.