Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Sumlin.
Hi Emma, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I have always loved film and acting since I was a little girl. I was involved in theatre and when I was twelve, I got busy writing novels and screenplays. I was fascinated by the reality that I could write anything I desired to read or see. All I needed was my imagination and a pen to bring it to life. When I was thirteen, living in Clovis, California, I wrote an ambitious short film that took place in London, England in the midst of the 1930s. I was inspired by the movie Hugo, I guess. I cast my friends and sisters as the roles, played one myself, and shot it with my Ipad. I loved seeing my vision come to life. I loved directing. I loved going to thrift stores and antique shops and finding costumes and props. It’s definitely not a masterpiece, but it unlocked something within me that I truly loved.
When I was fifteen my family moved back to Texas because my dad was going to pastor a church in Dallas. I remember thinking that all my film opportunities would go out the window since we weren’t near Hollywood anymore. But I never stopped writing. I think I’ve written fifteen screenplays since we moved. I think that was the thing that kept that passion inside of me. I didn’t give up. I always came up with new stories. I always shared those stories with people.
When I was a Freshman in college I had two amazing opportunities. I auditioned for a UTA Master’s Thesis film and got the role. I spent two separate weekends filming it and I got to see how a real movie was shot. There was a real crew, real costars, and a real camera. I got to see how important the crews’ roles were. I always thought it was about the actors growing up. Hollywood doesn’t give crew the credit they deserve. Only the actors get those fancy pictures quite often. If there weren’t crew, those actors would not have a job.
I met a lot of amazing people on that set–and little did I know that they would one day be working for me. There I was, an uncertain, nervous little actress. One day some of them would be my crew. I would never have imagined.
The second thing I got to do the summer post Freshman year, was work for my dream film company: Kingdom Story Company. In 2018 my family had gone and seen <i>I Can Only Imagine</i> in theaters. I thought to myself: “God is on the move in the film industry and I want to be a part of it.” I knew the Erwin Brothers were making incredible films and soon afterwards formed Kingdom Story Company. I just knew I’d be a part of what they were doing one day.
It is a very long miraculous story–but an amazing man at my church happened to be a producer for KSC, and he got me connected with them. I interviewed for an internship and got it. I spent the summer directly learning from the Erwin Brothers, the Director of Creative & Storytelling, Nick Carey, and Jesus Revolution’s director, Brent McCorkle. It was mind blowing. I did script coverage and got to see them edit <i>Jesus Revolution</i>. I also worked on <i>Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon</i> on archival editing. It was incredible.
When I came back to school for my sophomore year, I left with all my mentors’ encouragement from KSC. If God had placed these desires in my heart and the opportunities to pursue them in this season, I should lean into them and do it for Him. As soon as I did, I started to see God show me my purpose. To tell stories that draw people in, spark conversation, and glorify God ultimately.
The fall of 2022, I revisited a screenplay I had written called <i>We Were Happy</i>. It was about a dad raising his daughter fresh off a recent divorce. It showed the family dynamics and the meaning of an “incomplete family.” We shot it in October of 2022 and had a little screening at Dallas Baptist University in 2023. It was the first time, for real, that something I had written came alive officially. Professional actors Adam Randall and Melissa Chick starred as the parents, and now they’re off doing incredible A-list projects, and at one point they followed the guidance of a 20-year-old director on her first project. I felt extremely humbled.
I learned a lot on <i>We Were Happy</i>, and at the screening I had been asked what my next project was. I had been pre-planning the most ambitious film I’ve ever made–a 1940s period piece short that was silent. I knew I wanted to shoot it at my grandparents’ house in Springtown. I told everyone this, and they got excited. I had no idea how I would make it happen.
One day my best friend Grace Adams came into my dorm room and we began to plot about our dream film. Grace, just as I, is an old soul. We love old movies and classic romance. We began to talk about it and suddenly, by the end of the night, we had the whole plot thought out. This was in April of 2023. I thought about this film, which we had called <i>Timeless</i>, all summer and had it in the back of my mind to make, but I didn’t know when we’d do it. Then I brought it up to Jonathan Collins (my friend and editor on <i>We Were Happy</i>) and he was totally interested in hopping on as co-director, editor, and cinematographer. We began pre-production in September of 2023 and shot in July of 2024. Post production wrapped in March of 2025.
<i>Timeless</i>’ official plot is: Pearce and Marjorie meet each other by accident and fall in love quickly. Their relationship is pure and exciting. Pearce is the epitome of a gentleman and Marjorie is the essence of grace and classic beauty. As their love story unfolds, one cannot help but admire them and desire to twirl into their cinematic dream world. One night, as they dance among the stars, Pearce proposes to Marjorie and overcome, she accepts. They are married and begin their exciting life together. All seems to be going well until one day, Pearce receives a letter in the mail that he has been drafted into WWII. Pearce and Marjorie have an emotional parting as he heads off to war. They promise to write every week, and that is just what they do. There is much hope for them as they send and receive letters. But one day…Pearce’s letters stop coming.
<i>Timeless</i> stars Grace Adams as Marjorie Kent and Jordan Pope as Pearce Lauder.
<i>Timeless</i> will have its World Premiere at Silicon Beach Film Festival. It will show at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, September 9, 2025, at 4pm.
Truly, being only 22, I never could have imagined nearly four years later from being on my first movie set, I’d have a film premiering in Hollywood at the historic Chinese Theatre. Pinch me! My cast and crew are over the moon excited as well!
Not only <i>Timeless</i>, but a film I starred in called <i>Classic</i> will be premiering at SBFF on September 8, 2025, at 4pm. God is so good! A lot of the people who worked on <i>Timeless</i> worked on <i>Classic</i> two months before. We are all so thrilled.
Now, I am about to direct and star in a film called <i>A Dying Crescendo</i>. It follows Nic, a gifted young cellist facing a terminal illness, as he navigates the loss of his father, the weight of his own diagnosis, and the music that has always connected them. Moving between pivotal childhood memories and present-day struggles, Nic must decide whether to give up or to perform one final, life-defining piece. We are currently trying to fundraise for the film.
So this is my journey so far! So much more to come!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
First of all, being so young and inexperienced is always the hardest thing. I don’t have a long resume, so people don’t often take me seriously. I also was in college for most of the time I did these films. I did all of pre, initial, and post production in the midst of a busy school schedule and not to mention, being so broke (like all college students) amidst all of it. I truly think it was faith that helped us get to be where we are. God provided every step of the way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an actress, writer, and director.
I have directed 2 shorts and have one short in the making.
I have written numerous screenplays and novels, a few which are sold on Amazon.
I have acted in shorts, features, television, commercials, you name it!
I have worked for Kingdom Story Company as a Storytelling Intern. I gave critical feedback on the film Jesus Revolution and did archival editing on Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon.
As of now, I am currently known for Timeless. This film has been making its rounds as front page of the Tri-County Reporter, a feature in Fort Worth Magazine, and an article in DBU Campus News. About to make its Hollywood debut, more excitement has grown for the film. All glory to God. But Timeless is what I’m most proud of because I got to make it with my best friends, and it is the film I dreamed it could be. Not many filmmakers feel that way when they see their final product, and I have been disappointed before by previous works–but Timeless exceeded my expectations.
What sets me apart is my faith. Ultimately, I want to be an example to people who don’t know the Lord about what His love looks like. So when people walk on my movie sets I want them to leave knowing their eternal worth. I want people to know I take my faith seriously–and I show them that by taking my film work seriously. If I am professional and handle with care the gifts and opportunities God has given me, then people will take my faith seriously. Its a part of who I am. If they felt loved during an experience making a movie with me, then they have gotten an imperfect taste of what the love of God feels like. I want people to know they are so much more than their gifts. Talented indeed they are, but so much more loved by God they are.
What’s next?
A Dying Crescendo! We are shooting February. It is being directed by me, Emma Sumlin, produced by Michelle Kaumeyer Hoffman, starring Jordan Pope, and Jonathan Collins will be back on crew! We look forward to bringing on a whole new cast/crew that will become a part of our filmmaking family! We are excited to get things rolling.
Our premiere for Timeless and Classic in Hollywood in September is EXTREMELY exciting.
I included more details about these in my first block.
I graduated from Dallas Baptist University this past May, so I’m excited to see what the Lord has for me. Currently I work at Tangerine Salons making reservations, but on the side I make movies–hoping one day it could be my career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmasumlin.wixsite.com/emma-sumlin
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/storiesbysumlin/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-sumlin-411b64238/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzowG7bduq-6ri384iGtF4A
- Other: https://timelesstheshortfilm.weebly.com/ , https://www.instagram.com/timelesstheshortfilm/
Image Credits
Timeless poster – by Kylie Guentherman Timeless behind the scenes images (me with striped tank) – by Sophia Swim Classic still (me looking out the window) – Michelle Kaumeyer Hoffman (director) Timeless stills – Sunrise Collective Cinema A Dying Crescendo poster – Sunrise Collective Cinema
