The Cinematropolis is a website presented by Planet Thunder Productions and founded by Caleb Masters, Jacob Burns and Zachary Burns dedicated to bringing a thoughtful, analysis driven conversation about the imaginative stories and diverse independent voices working in the arts and film.

At The Cinematropolis, you can expect nothing less than a wide variety of pocasts, articles and essays highlighting the most important classics, today’s trending indies and the very best films time has forgotten. The Cinematropolis is a new home and platform for writers, filmmakers and content creators seeking to voice their analysis and readings of independent film.

Caleb Masters – Co-Founder / Editor-in-Chief / The Cinematic Schematic Co-Host

Caleb is a lifelong film and pop culture enthusiast with a passion for writing, podcasting and video production. After several years of experience building websites and creating content for publications including GoodTrash Media, We Got This Covered, Renegade Cinema and Screen Rant, Caleb is now collaborating with Planet Thunder Productions to create this website dedicated to bringing new insights to genre and independent cinema in addition to the latest releases in theaters. Caleb currently runs The Cinematropolis editorial, along with the The Cinematic Schematic podcast as the host and producer. 

Caleb’s favorite films include the Wachowski’s sleeper, Cloud Atlas, Memento, Mad Max: Fury Road and Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy.

Zachary Burns – Co-Founder, Co-Curator & Graphic Designer

A photographer and designer with curly hair and poor eyesight, Zachary came to filmmaking through the side door. Having always given support to his brother Jacob on his many short films through still photography and designing film posters, Zachary found great satisfaction in helping craft and create films of any size. Taking on more responsibilities with each successive film only came naturally as his love of film, photography, and design further collided and intertwined, culminating in his first feature film as a producer, The Fable of Shannon Cable, written and directed by college friend Vinnie Hogan.

Working alongside Jacob Leighton Burns and Vinnie Hogan, the trio solidified their commitment to creating imaginative and original films by founding Planet Thunder Productions. Their first feature under this new banner, Electric Nostalgia, written and directed by his brother Jacob, has garnered much attention along the festival circuit, picking up multiple awards as well as fans from across the US. The trio is deep withing development of their third feature together, Werewolf Scouts.

Zachary lives quietly in his apartment with his thoughts, his fellow filmmaker girlfriend, and their houseplant Frank, with eyes to make the jump into the directors chair soon.

Jacob Burns – Co-Founder & Co-Curator 

When Jacob was in third grade, he told his school counselor that he was going to be a director when he grew up, and ever since, he has been working towards that goal. After spending years convincing friends and family to appear in his charmingly offbeat no-budget home movies, Jacob enrolled as a film production major at Oklahoma City University where his love of filmmaking and passion for storytelling expanded and flourished.

Applying the knowledge and experience he gained on set over the years, Jacob acted as producer and cinematographer on an independent horror/comedy feature film called The Fable of Shannon Cable, written and directed by his producing partner Vinnie Hogan. Building upon the success of their first feature film, Jacob, his brother Zachary, and Vinnie formed Planet Thunder Productions, with the intent to create unique and memorable films of any length or genre. Under the Planet Thunder banner, they produced a science fiction thriller, written and directed by Jacob, called Electric Nostalgia, which has won multiple awards and screened in cities all across the US. Jacob and Planet Thunder are currently in development on their third feature film, Werewolf Scouts.

Staff Contributors

Laron Chapman – Essay Contributor, Co-Host on The Cinematic Schematic 

Laron Chapman is a passionate Oklahoma City-based, freelance screenwriter and filmmaker with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Media Studies and a background in entertainment journalism and film production. From reality television (Food Network, FOX, etc.) to Academy Award nominated films (August: Osage County; Weinstein Company) to directing his own feature film (You People), he has worked with an electric variety of professionals in the ever-complex and competitive entertainment industry. He currently serves as the co-host of The Cinematropolis podcast, The Cinematic Schematic, and is the author of the Reel Insights column.

Daniel Bokemper – Essay Contributor

Daniel Bokemper is a film and literary critic. His work has appeared in the Currentland, Wicked Horror, and the Oklahoma Gazette. He was the film, television and culture editor of the late Oxford Karma. Daniel also dabbled in broadcasting on The Spy FM, producing interviews and film reviews. Currently, he is an active contributor to World Literature Today.

Daniel’s passion lies within writing, editing and having meaningful conversations with other thinkers. Though he feels an individual can spur momentous changes with their work, he finds it takes a community working in tandem with one another to spark truly systemic change.

Daniel lives in Oklahoma City. He enjoys moviegoing, basketball, Swedish Fish and performing secular wedding ceremonies.