Connor J. McElhaney
Filmmaker & Musician
Biography
Film, music, & my creative journey.
I explored many creative avenues as a kid: everything from learning music software through YouTube, to making amateur stop motion Lego films. Eventually, I got involved with my high school media department, jazz band, and theater troupe. There, I honed my filmmaking, musical, and storytelling craft. After that, it seemed natural to pursue film and music further.
Now, I am a proud SCAD student studying Film & Television and minoring in Music Composition. I plan to direct and score films professionally. My goal is to find other talented artists who can enhance my creative potential and tell stories that benefit us all.
I am fortunate to have a family that supports my work; after all, my first encounter with storytelling was bedtime stories, which I enjoyed very much as a child. From a young age, I was a listener. I wanted to hear people's stories, what they had experienced, and what they dreamed of doing.
Stories are one of the purest forms of good in this world. I want to have a hand in telling stories that will positively change the world. I create movies and music to prove that each person has a place in this world, and only by following what we love can we be our best selves for everyone else.
Virginia born. Pittsburgh raised.
Film
Recent Student Film Activity:
Happy Life Inc. (2026) | Short | Post-Production, Role: Director, Writer, Score, Co-Editor
One Night Only (2026) | Short | Festival Run, Role: Score & 2nd Assistant Camera -- Boiling Point (2026) | Short | Post-Production, Role: 1st Assistant Director
Take a look at Connor's lastest work.
What Rabbit?! (2024)
Directed, Written, Scored, & Co-Edited by Connor McElhaney
After a complicated breakup, Josh (Ben Goddard) receives a box of his old things given to him by his ex, Christina (Raeh Eichelberg), which includes a stuffed rabbit he has never seen before. Soon enough, he realizes this rabbit is no ordinary cute and cuddly peace offering.
Film Inspirations:
Steve Chbosky, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, Ridley Scott, Edgar Wright, Christopher Nolan, The Coen Brothers, Dennis Villanueva, Robert Zemeckis, Gareth Edwards, Guillermo del Toro, Damien Chazelle, Michel Gondry, John G. Avildsen, Shawn Levy
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, Lord of the Rings: Return of The King, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Shawshank Redemption, Stranger Things, Tron: Legacy, How To Train Your Dragon, The Iron Giant, WALL-E, Ratatoullie, Tenet, Interstellar, Memento, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich, Alien, Backrooms, Dune, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Arrival, The Fabelmans, Jurrasic Park, Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Inglorious Bastards, Cinema Paradiso, Fight Club, Catch Me if You Can, The Terminal, Saving Private Ryan, Fury, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, Avatar, Spiderman 2, Parasite, Baby Driver, Dumb & Dumber, Seven, The Social Network, War Games, Little Women (2019), The Village, The Blair Witch Project, 12 Angry Men, Super 8, Dead Poets Society, Back to the Future
Music Inspirations:
Tyler, The Creator, Frank Ocean, Childish Gambino, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, Jacob Collier, Com Truise, Funkadelic, Neon Indian, Bee Gees, Bickle, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Blood Orange, Bobby Caldwell, Wes Montgomery, Breakbot, Daft Punk, BROCKHAMPTON, Kid Cudi, Daryl Hall & John Oates, David Bowie, Tame Impala, Ludwig Göransson, Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross, Michael Giacchino, Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, Jon Brion, Bill Conti