Filmmaker and photographer Ryan Hartley joins Michael Chovan-Dalton from the 2026 Chico Review to discuss project, Oaksplitter, a southern gothic exploration of the people and land from his upbringing
About this episode
Ryan Hartley discusses his project Oaksplitter, exploring the southern gothic themes of his upbringing.
Filmmaker and photographer Ryan Hartley joins Michael Chovan-Dalton from the 2026 Chico Review to discuss project, Oaksplitter, a southern gothic exploration of the people and land from his upbringing. https://ryhart.com https://www.instagram.com/ry.hart/ Crawling out of northwest Tennessee, Ryan Hartley is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and photographer. In his youth, he roamed the outskirts of his small rural town, skateboarding, making home movies, and photographing both his friends and locals. He has traveled around the world, working in reality TV, photographing bands, and capturing the communities and unseen people who remind him of his childhood. Now based in Nashville, he works with artists, major record labels, and brands to help shape and capture their identity. His latest project, Oaksplitter, is a southern gothic exploration of the people and land from his upbringing, and the in-between spaces where those worlds collide. Publications: Rolling Ston, Oxford American, The Bitter Southerner Publishing, Garden & Guns, Paste Magazine, Sunnyside Projects, Black Flower Publishing , Flood Magazine, Uncut Magazine This podcast is sponsored by the Charcoal Book Club…
People in this episode
Host: Michael Chovan-Dalton
Guest: Ryan Hartley
Topics covered
- filmmaking
- photography
- southern gothic
- personal narrative
- artistic identity
Keywords
- Ryan Hartley
- Oaksplitter
- southern gothic
- photography
- filmmaking
- Nashville
- northwest Tennessee
Sponsors
Charcoal Book Club
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Rolling Stone, Oxford American, The Bitter Southerner, Garden & Guns, Paste Magazine, Sunnyside Projects, Black Flower Publishing, Flood Magazine, Uncut Magazine
Books & works: Oaksplitter
Places: northwest Tennessee, Nashville
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