Born and raised in North Carolina, Jacob Hatley has made several internationally screened short films, including China, which won First Look's gold medal at the Director's Guild of America. After receiving an MFA in Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Hatley directed numerous music videos for artists such as Shawn Mullins, Levon Helm, Yonder Mountain String Band and Darryl Worley. His favorite directors are Bud Boetticher and Hal Needham. Currently, he is developing a few exploitation film projects set in the south.