JOE BARR | ROUTE 66

Patrick O’Connor is an award-winning writer/director whose documentary film, The Invisible Patients, had its national PBS broadcast premiere on AMERICA REFRAMED and also screened at the Heartland, Cucalorus, Chicago International Social Change Film Festivals, as well as at dozens of universities and national conferences on bio-ethics and healthcare. In 2021, he released Look Away, Look Away about the fierce five-year battle that led to the removal of the Mississippi state flag in 2020.  The film won the 2022 Erik Barnouw Award for Best Documentary from the Organization of American Historians. In 2024 ROCO Films released The Zebra & The Bear, an intimate film about how a mother’s fierce determination to save her daughter from a fatal, ultra-rare genetic disease leads her on a journey to raise millions of dollars and drive the development of a pioneering gene-therapy treatment.

A recipient of a National Endowment of Arts Fellowship in literature and a Fulbright to teach and research in Hungary, Margaret McMullan is the author of nine award-winning books.

Matt Wagner is a creative director and designer with 25 years of experience in brand storytelling across film, music, hospitality, and community. His work has achieved international recognition, appearing in Communication Arts, GRAPHIS, and publications by Gestalten. A 2017 Silver Medal recipient from the American Advertising Federation, he has spent his career connecting people and organizations to their most authentic expression. The Joe Barr Project is his feature directorial debut.

Leslie Eades is an Entrepreneur, Endurance Athlete, Life Coach & Retreat Mentor based in Black Mountain, NC. She co-founded LMNTL alongside Matt Wagner and founded Social + Sage, an operations & strategy firm where she consults with high-impact creators & entrepreneurs to maximize their time, money and energy. She's previously worked in film for post-production impact & content strategy. She loves traveling in her campervan, Del Taco, trail running, jumping in creeks, drinking (always decaf!) coffee, staring at the ocean, and affirming people to live their dreams.

Misty Talley is an accomplished Director, Editor, and Cinephile with over fifteen years of experience in the film industry. She began her career in 2009 as an Assistant Editor, quickly rising in the ranks to become a sought-after Editor on feature films and documentaries. In 2013 she made history as the first woman to direct a Syfy Channel original film, Zombie Shark. She went on to direct three more Syfy films while continuing her editing work on notable projects like Jeepers Creepers 3. With over 30 feature films edited, and many more completed as post supervisor, and VFX editor, contributing to projects like AMC’s Mayfair Witches, her knowledge extends throughout post production. Known for her work ethic, speed, and attention to detail, Misty is a resourceful and innovative filmmaker, valued for both her creative work and production management.