Brent Backhus to Give Hollywood Filmmaking and Recording Talk at Motlow Smyrna on Nov. 17

SMYRNA, Tenn. -- Hollywood Filmmaker, Producer and Sound Engineer Brent Backhus has worked with entertainers ranging from Reese Witherspoon and Farrah Fawcett to William Shatner, Mick Jagger, and Sheryl Crow, receiving more than 100 movie credits on the IMDb movie database.

Students, faculty and others will learn the ins and outs of moviemaking and audio production (with a few surprising stories, too) during a special talk from 2-3 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 17) in HSC 323 on the Smyrna campus. The artist’s presentation, “Filmmaking and Recording in Hollywood,” is part of the fall 2022 “Famous Communicator Speakers Series.”

Brent Backhus, filmmaker, producer and sound engineer

“I started my career in Los Angeles as a guitarist, gigging with whomever would let me,” said Backhus, who commutes between Nashville and California. “Once the recording bug hit me, I became fascinated with sound engineering and production.”

But a DVD production stint involving actors Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd (“Overnight Delivery”) led to his transition from audio to movie production. Other film projects have included The Bangles (“Live at The House of Blues” on DVD); “Chasing Farrah: Starring Farrah Fawcett” for TV Land; “William Shatner In Concert” with Ben Folds and Joe Jackson for TV Land; the documentary film “On The Brink” (co-directed); the “Solomon Burke Tribute” with Mick Jagger and Raphael Saadiq, performed Live at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards (archival footage); and “Sheryl Crow: Live at the Capitol Theatre” (Winner Best Music/Performance Blu-ray).

“But if playing with the greats and near greats was fun, recording was even more fun,” said Backhus, referring to the musical part of his career journey. 

He has served as a sound engineer and producer for artists such as Ray Manzarek (The Doors), The Whispers, Deacon Jones, William Clarke, Charlie Musselwhite, John Lee Hooker, and The Blind Boys of Alabama: “Spirit of the Century” (Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album).

Brent Backhus’s “Filmmaking and Recording in Hollywood” talk is free to all students, faculty members, administrators and staff. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis in HSC 323 from 2-3 p.m. on Nov. 17 (Thursday). For more information, contact Professor Charles Whiting at cwhiting@mscc.edu.