“I love making movies. If I wasn’t paid to do it, I would pay to do it.”

- David Lean

A man with curly hair and a beard wearing a light jacket and a white t-shirt, standing outdoors in a grassy area with mountainous terrain in the background.

Story is king - here’s mine.

My name is Daniel Lane Kimball. I’m a 25-year-old filmmaker based in Burbank, California, and I’m interested in pushing independent filmmaking as far as it can possibly go.

A lot of my work comes from one belief: low-budget filmmaking does not have to feel small. With the right combination of creativity, discipline, accessible technology, and problem-solving, I believe independent filmmakers can create work that rivals the scope and ambition of Hollywood productions.

I’m especially drawn to genre-bending stories with complex narratives, big ideas, and emotional weight. I like projects that mix spectacle with character, mystery, politics, worldbuilding, and tension. Stories that give audiences something entertaining, but also something to unpack.

I’m also constantly working to improve my VFX skillset using tools that are becoming more accessible to independent creators, including Blender, Unreal Engine, and virtual production workflows. To me, these tools represent a major shift in what is possible for filmmakers working outside the studio system.

My goal is to build bold, cinematic, independent work that refuses to feel limited by budget. I want to make films that feel ambitious, personal, and visually exciting, and to keep proving that independent creators can do more than people expect.

Four young men on a stage with a dark blue curtain backdrop, one man operating a camera and three others standing around, one holding a script, during a filming or rehearsal.
Two individuals, one with curly hair and one wearing a hat, are closely examining or working on a professional video camera, with a car tire visible in the background.
A film or photography production scene in a small theater or studio, with a camera on a tripod pointed at a group of people, some sitting and some standing, in front of a stage with a red curtain. The crew is adjusting equipment amid stage lights.