CHRIS COONEY- Creator, Director, Writer, Producer

Chris Cooney, a filmmaker and writer from Syracuse, NY, developed a passion for storytelling early in life, inspired by watching his father capture memories on a Super 8 movie camera. At 16, instead of buying a car with the money he saved from a summer job, Chris invested in his first camcorder. This decision sparked a lifelong love for filmmaking, as he spent his youth creating short films with his siblings and friends.

In 2009, while working as a special investigator, Chris realized he no longer had any passion for his career. During a reflective drive through the backroads of Upstate New York, he questioned what truly made him happy. The answer was clear: making movies, especially horror films, combined with his long-standing vegan lifestyle. This epiphany led to the concept of a horror film about a zombie apocalypse brought on by meat and dairy consumption but he lacked the funds to produce it. To develop his skills and build an audience, Chris launched “The Vegan Zombie,” a unique YouTube cooking show blending vegan recipes with horror-themed entertainment.

Chris’s loyal companion, Indy, a German Shepherd, became his sidekick on the channel, significantly impacting his creative journey. Indy’s presence and bond with Chris not only added charm to the show but also inspired elements of the script for his film, “A44.” The weekly production of the show allowed Chris to refine his filmmaking talents while promoting veganism in a fresh, entertaining way.

Through his channel, Chris was able to hone his filmmaking skills while sharing creative vegan recipes, filling a niche that didn’t exist at the time. A few years later, he co-authored the award-winning cookbook “Cook and Survive,” which was entirely fan-funded. Building on its popularity, Chris returned to his filmmaking roots and launched a crowdfunding campaign to create his feature film, “A44.” The campaign was a success, and production began in the fall of 2022. Despite numerous challenges, Chris completed post-production in September 2024, marking a significant milestone in his journey as a filmmaker.