Out of nearly 300 exhibitors, Clay Cross, President -ClayMation Video Productions, was awarded Best Booth Honors at the Ft Worth Entrepreneur Expo on St Patrick's Day!  

entrepreneurexpo.org

When colleague Scott Crain of Crain Video Production out of Shreveport, LA knew he would be shooting Tracy Lawrence for a Pete Makins Auto Mall spot, he asked Clay Cross, President and owner of ClayMation Video Production to “head on over” to document a “Behind the Scenes” program of the event. Pete Mankins Auto Mall is located in Texarkana, Texas.

Crain Video Production was hired by the Kalmbach-Smith -Meadows ad agency out of Shreveport, in which Crain has worked with many times before. ClayMation jumped at the chance to document the country superstar shooting various scenes and billboard shots for the Mankins Auto Mall.

“It was fun to watch Tracy lip syncing a note or two to a jingle he had recorded”, stated Cross.

“I was amazed how right on pitch he was in person compared to the CD playback”, the ClayMation President and Owner exclaimed.

The photo/Billboard shoot took place at Fairfield Studios in Shreveport by proprietor/photographer/audio engineer Dana McCommon.

The spots are scheduled to begin airing in winter 2005.

2004 US Miss World Event
WHAT: Claymation, Inc. infomercial shoot with California actress T.J. Myers, Semi-finalist Contestant Erica Charlton and local actress Eryn Brooke
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 30, 2005
WHERE: 749 Lonesome Dove Trail, Hurst, Texas, (817) 498-9790
WHO: Successful North Texas business Claymation Digital Video, Inc. a production studio in Hurst is owned by Clay Cross, a writer, producer, director and actor who has worked with some of Hollywood and Texas’ best loved actors like Burton Gilliam, Adam West and Billy Barty. Cross has also won Telly’s for Carl Westcott: A Biography, a rendition of Hollywood Squares, as well as safety issue videos. Former North Texas resident T.J. Myers is currently competing for 20K on Court TV’s Ocean’s Twelve style show called “Impossible Heist”. Her other credits include: television Combat Missions, Walker Texas Ranger, 18 Wheels to Justice, Who’s Your Daddy, Dr. Vegas; and films Intolerable Cruelty and Dodgeball; in addition to three Dallas Theater productions.

2004 US Miss World Semi-finalist Contestant Erica Charlton, also reigned as Ms Houston 2004 and Ms. Lubbock 2002, a singer and songwriter she has performed for Sam Houston Raceway, Johnnie High’s Country Music Review, and the British Choral Convention. She currently is a music teacher in Madisonville, Texas. Local Actress Eryn Brooke whose films include: Bit Parts, The Body, Hidden Meanings, Side FX (Best Texas Feature Deep Ellum Film Festival), Ocean Front Property; theater Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, and Best Friends.

HISTORY: The 2004 US Miss World Event was a three day contest held in Dallas in October 2004 with Troy McClain (The Apprentice) as the Master of Ceremonies. Twelve beautiful contestants competed to see who would go the the annual international Miss World Contest held every year in China. The swim suit, evening gown, and other events were filmed on location at Fair Park/State Fair and South Fork Ranch.

Clay Cross and T.J. Myers Pursue Dreams That Connect in North Texas

Many have a dream, but few exhibit the spirit and courage to pursue that dream. Cross and Myers began at similar places and followed different paths to achieve their dreams, but discovered some interesting connections during the current phase of their journeys.

Ålthough born in LA County, Clay Cross the owner of Claymation, Inc., grew up in Hurst, Texas when it was considered a small town. An avid television and movie fan growing up, Cross always wanted to passionately tell stories as well as earn a chuckle or two. “I use to watch the Three Stoooges shorts and thought ‘They’re working...that’s what I want to do when I grow up!’”

Meanwhile a little girl was born in LA County, but grew up in a tiny town in Arizona. T.J. Myers dreamed while watching the sun set, convinced that her destiny lay just beyond that mountain to the west.

Around his peers and teachers, Cross often gain smiles and laughs by imitating his favorite entertainers from game shows, television programs or blockbuster movies. He always identified with a great, simple story and was entertained for hours with action packed adventure that could steer his imagination into another dimension. Early on he developed a sense of respect for different actors and their styles.

Myers journey during which she reigned as Miss Texas Teen, served her country as a soldier in the US Army, won awards as a sharpshooter, martial artist and rodeo competitor, and worked as a cover girl, were just stops on the way to her real dream acting.

After working as an entertainer in Texas, Florida and California, he developed a passion for telling a story through the lens. Coming full circle he moved back to North Texas and opened his own production studio and joined a local theater group where he won Best feature actor for his performance in Treasure Island and Best Children’s Director for a production of Pinnocchio.

When she got to Dallas, Myers co-hosted Dallas Night Life on Paramount and performed in local theater in Owl & the Pussy Cat, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe. She starred as Major Myers in the USA Network’s series Combat Missions and went on to be cast in co-starring roles in Walker, Texas Ranger and 18 Wheels of Justice.

She currently is competing in “Impossible Heists” an Ocean’s Twelve style show for Court TV and most recently she appeared in the motion pictures Intolerable Cruelty starring George Clooney, Dodgeball starring Ben Stiller and the television series Dr. Vegas starring Rob Lowe, Who’s Your Daddy originally titled Reunion.

Cross meanwhile continued to pursue writing, directing and acting with appearances in Hot Squad, Santa’s House, JFK, Problem Child, and The Riff. He has produced over 1,000 projects and recently achieved another Telly for Carl Westcott: A Biography. He won previously for a rendition of Hollywood Squares.

Never one to rest on her laurels, in 2002 Myers formed her own production company CineVision Entertainment Corporation, which co-produced pilots for two television series and the on-going Fine Art Treasures. CineVision is producing two feature films in 2005, Music City and Town Without Pity and co-producing Day of Miracles a docu-drama for Christian broadcasting that salutes some of the survivors of the September 11th terrorist attack.

“I had the honor of directing Day of Miracles and in spite of her beauty, ‘star’ and ‘producer’ status, she was the first on the set and the last to leave. When she wasn’t in front of the camera, she was wrangling cables and lights, dressing the sets, correcting make-up, keeping script notes and logs, setting up shots and even directing the other actors when she thought I wasn’t looking. I don’t recall a more hard-working or dedicated individual, on or off the set,” said Anthony Logan, Director/Producer.

Myers dream has taken her on a journey from Arizona through Lubbock then Dallas and finally to Hollywood where she has established herself as a successful model, actress and producer.

“T.J. and I both started out the same –– as adopted children. We both pursued our dreams of working in the entertainment industry and touching people’s lives. I am very excited about working with her on this project,” said Cross. “It’s marvelous the way connections are made in our lives when we have open hearts and act on opportunities.”

Not bad for a little boy from Hurst watching the big and small screen and a little girl, living on a farm in Camp Verde, both saying to themselves “I have a dream.”

March 1, 2005 – Ft. Worth, Texas. Out of ten-thousand-plus entries from all fifty states and five continents, ClayMation Digital Video Production, Inc, a local, full-service post and production company, earned an award in the Classic Telly Awards Competition.

The awards recognized the company's video production of Carl Westcott: A Biography – a documentary about a local, self-made, entrepreneur. The program was written, produced and edited by Clay Cross, Owner and President of ClayMation.

Cross was a long-time employee of Mr. Westcott when he created his Westcott Communications satellite television, training business and revolutionized the art of training and news delivery. Cross boasts "I was the very first production employee hired by the company when it was still in its infant stages in the fall of 1986. At that time we were launching the first network called ASTN, the Automotive Satellite Television Network." This network would be the beginning and spawning of a company that eventually housed over 25 training networks.

"I was really pleased and proud of the program and wanted to share with others Mr. Westcott's wonderful story of self-made success and generosity," exclaims Cross.

Cross also states: "Even though the final product was for Mr. Westcott's video vault, the story and the man inspires and motivates me every time I watch it!"

The project was an idea of Mr. Westcott's to document his personal story so his grandchildren, as well as future Westcott generations would know of their wonderful ancestor's pioneering legacy.

Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is the premier award honoring outstanding local and regional cable TV commercials and programs, as well as the finest video and film productions. The Telly Awards annually showcase outstanding work of the most respected advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable operators, and corporate video departments.

For more information, please contact ClayMation Digital Video Production, Inc at 817.498.9790.

Those of us who work in the industry know how hard it is sometimes to get our projects done on time and keep it within the budget perimeters. If your budget doesn't allow you to visit the super posthouses, you may want to check out a new, intimate studio facility called ClayMation Digital Video/Film Production located in Colleyville.

It is the creation of Clay Cross, who has been in the television/film industry for over 17 years. With writing, producing, directing and editing credits under his belt, Cross has worked staff as well as contract for several different places including Primedia Workplace Learning and Lockheed Martin. Cross has also worked on such programs and the syndicated Mark's Web World and Hot, Hip an Country as well as last years Texas-based full length feature called The Riff.

"People refer to me as the little guy with the little shop at little prices,' boasts Cross.

Claymation Digital Video/Film has an Avid Elite Express with Boris FX Pro and Pinnacle Commotion Pro Graphics package. ClayMation also has a Multiwave, dual processor, 2D graphics station with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator 9.0, After Effects 5.0, and Premier 6.0 and a Pinnacle DV 500 editing program.

Included at ClayMation Digital Video/Film Production is a small studio to get those quick product shots done as well as a conference area to interact with your clients during those necessary pre-pro meetings.

If your next budget doesn't support a multi-million production and you want to get out of the congested city for a little while, then visit ClayMation Digital Video/Film Production at 1009 Cheek Sparger, Suite 109A (in the Tara Village Shopping Plaza) in Colleyville. Call Metro 817.498.9790

COLLEYVILLE - As owner of a video and film production company, Clay Cross creates training videos for businesses. His own training came from the classes and teachers at Kilgore College.

Cross, who graduated in 1982 from L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, attended the community college as a broadcast major. He learned how to operate a camera by filming football games and other events.

Although technology has changed, the basics remain the same.

"That's all the stuff I do even today, and that was 17 years ago," said Cross, 37, of North Richland Hills.

Cross was also helped by Carl Bean, who was director of the communications department. The teacher gave Cross advice on internships and job interviews.

Since attending college, Cross has worked for various communications companies and as a contractor for area TV news stations as well as Lockheed Martin. His company, Claymation, has been open in Colleyville for three months and will have a ribbon-cutting Thursday.

Cross said he hopes to offer internships to Hurst-Euless-Bedford district broadcast students, just as his own instructors helped him.

"I always appreciated when somebody gives me the opportunity," he said.