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Timothy Christian always knew he wanted to work in the entertainment industry, even as he was acquiring a degree in finance. Fortunately, he turned that passion for entertainment into a career that uses his finance skills.
He started as an intern for Teddy Riley, the music producer who worked with noted names such as Blackstreet and Boyz II Men. That internship was the start of many connections he has made with the entertainment industry. Christian has since become a producer for movies such as "Z for Zachariah," starring Margot Robbie.
Film production is a job that requires Christian to go all in, to risk it all, to love it all, and to give it his all.
“Most people can’t do that because of family, money, all these reasons people have that get in the way of their dreams. Fortunately for me, I was a bit younger when I started,” Christian said. “I also don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. And you can’t in film. You just can’t. I hear ‘no’ all the time.”
Film production takes years—getting enough money to make the film, sending the film off to a cultivated list of festivals, and hoping the right investors see it and want to give money to take the film into the hands of distribution companies.
While Night Fox Entertainment is working in the larger film industry, Christian is mentoring people in the local film community.
Sam Bench, co-owner of Empty Space Studios, has been appreciative of the time Christian has spent helping him learn the ropes. “He’s been helping us out with navigating the film scene around Omaha ever since [2017],” Bench said, continuing that the first script he wrote isn’t going to be produced, but he’s learned that tenacity is key in this profession. “He got us in contact with his company’s screenplay supervisor. We spent the next, probably, eight months with [the supervisor] as he guided us with screenwriting…Since then, we have written one that is in development with Tim acting as our industry mentor. He hasn’t been directly involved with any financing yet, but we are on his radar.”
Christian is also helping bring productions to Nebraska that will allow even more films to be made locally.
“To a certain extent, you’ve got to bring productions here that don’t mind having to spend a little more,” he said. “So one of the things that we’re doing is lining up productions at a certain budget level so we can do three to five films here in Nebraska, different parts of Nebraska, to hopefully build a blueprint to show what it would look like.”
Christian maintains an office in Los Angeles, but Night Fox’s headquarters are located in Omaha.
“I think Tim provides a great example that you can live in Nebraska and still be working in the film business,” said Ehren Parks, current president of the Nebraska Film Association. “He’s been generous with his time, giving development notes to local filmmakers and giving them insight into how the top-level of the industry really works—without having to leave their state.”
Christian is currently involved in "The 18th," a one-hour series inspired by the true story of Louise Vinciquerra, known as Nebraska's "Queen of the Bootleggers." The lead is still being confirmed, but could be a well-known name. Part of the project will be filmed in Nebraska.
In mid-August, Christian was in funding mode, as the film "Midnight," partly produced by Night Fox, wrapped production and was headed to places such as the Toronto International Film Festival. The action-thriller film stars Alexandra Shipp, Rosario Dawson, and Milla Jovovich.
His contributions to the film scene in Omaha may be understated, but Christian hopes that by playing a long game he can help bring money into the state through film.
“There’re simple things, like food,” Christian said. “Now you have folks that are purchasing more food. Travel—everything from rental cars, hotels—then you start to get into equipment, whether it’s sound, whether it’s lighting, all those places, when there’s a film production in town, they see a spike in that. And that helps the economy.”
It’s a positive effect that Christian hopes will blossom in the coming years.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Omaha Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
