View source for Aaron B. Koontz


{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}


{{Infobox person
| image              = ABK Headshot OldMan.jpg
| caption            = Koontz on the set of ''Old Man''
| birth_date         = 
| birth_place        = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]
| occupation         = {{Plainlist|
* Screenwriter
* Director
* Producer
}}
| years_active       = 2014–present
| citizenship        = American
| notable_works      = {{Plainlist|
* ''[[The Pale Door]]''
* ''[[Scare Package]]''
* ''[[Shelby Oaks]]''
}}
}}

'''Aaron B. Koontz''' is an American producer, writer and director. He is the founder and CEO of Paper Street Pictures, a film production company in Austin, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/best-of-austin/year:2022/poll:critics/category:arts-and-entertainment/paper-street-pictures-best-pandemic-production-house/|title=Best Pandemic Production House: Paper Street Pictures|website=www.austinchronicle.com}}</ref> He is also a producer behind ''[[The Pale Door]]'', the ''[[Scare Package]]'' franchise, and ''[[Shelby Oaks]]'', from [[YouTuber]] [[Chris Stuckmann]].

== Early life and education ==
Koontz was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a child, he shot home movies and wrote numerous short stories.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview with Aaron B. Koontz (Scare Package) |url=https://backlot605.com/interview-with-aaron-b-koontz-scare-package/ |website=Back Lot 605}}</ref>

After moving to Florida with his family he went on to attend [[Full Sail University]], where he was a classmate of filmmakers [[Adam Wingard]] and [[E. L. Katz]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Navarro |first=Meagan |date=July 7, 2021 |title=These Horror Filmmakers All Graduated from Full Sail University in Florida |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/sponsored/3669495/horror-filmmakers-graduated-full-sail-university-florida/}}</ref> Koontz graduated in 2001 and worked as freelance crew on various film sets including ''[[Monster (2003 film)|Monster]]'' and studio films ''[[The Punisher (2004 film)|The Punisher]]'' and ''[[Out of Time (2003 film)|Out of Time]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1323319/ Aaron B. Koontz IMDb]</ref>

==Career==

In 2003, Koontz took a nearly ten-year detour where he worked in video game production as a producer and QA tester-manager for companies like EA Sports, THQ and Zynga.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,143718/|title=Aaron B. Koontz Video Game Credits and Biography|website=MobyGames}}</ref>

In 2012, Koontz left games to start the boutique genre production company Paper Street Pictures.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2021-07-09/pandemic-production-one-year-later-aaron-b-koontz-director-scare-package/|title=Pandemic Production, One Year Later: Aaron B. Koontz, Co-founder, Paper Street Pictures|website=www.austinchronicle.com}}</ref> Through Paper Street, Koontz wrote and directed multiple short films including the award-winning ''Honor Student.''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://filmshortage.com/shorts/honor-student/|title=Honor Student &#124;&#124; Featured Short Film}}</ref> In 2014, Koontz was an executive producer of the SXSW hit ''[[Starry Eyes]]'', and then in 2016, he co-wrote, produced and directed his first feature film, [[Camera Obscura (2017 film)|''Camera Obscura'']], for NBC Universal. In 2019, Koontz lead the production team for the Shudder cult hit ''[[Scare Package]]'', of which he also was the core story co-writer and director as well as the final segment director with Horror Hypothesis. In 2020, Aaron co-wrote, directed and produced ''[[The Pale Door]]'', a horror-western he released with the help of executive producer [[Joe R. Lansdale]].

In 2022, he produced five films, with the first was ''[[The Requin]]'', starring Alicia Silverstone, followed by ''Revealer'',<ref>{{cite web |title='Revealer' Trailer – Shudder and 'Hack/Slash' Creator Take You Back to 1987 This Summer |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3715267/revealer-trailer-shudder-and-hack-slash-creator-take-you-back-to-1987-this-summer/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=2022-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704234817/https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3715267/revealer-trailer-shudder-and-hack-slash-creator-take-you-back-to-1987-this-summer/ |archive-date=2022-07-04 |url-status=live |last1=Squires |first1=John}}</ref> for which he also wrote the comic book tie-in with Vault Comics.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |date=2022-05-19 |title=Vault Comics To Publish Tie-In Comic To Revealer Movie, From Shudder |url=https://bleedingcool.com/comics/vault-comics-to-publish-tie-in-comic-to-revealer-movie-from-shudder/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220629160538/https://bleedingcool.com/comics/vault-comics-to-publish-tie-in-comic-to-revealer-movie-from-shudder/ |archive-date=2022-06-29 |website=Bleeding Cool News And Rumors}}</ref> ''[[Old Man (film)|Old Man]],'' starring [[Stephen Lang]], came out in the fall, followed by ''Blood Relatives'' which premiered at [[Fantastic Fest]], before releasing in select theaters on Thanksgiving week,<ref>[https://drafthouse.com/austin/news/blood-relatives-is-a-bloody-good-vampire-flick-that-deserves-your-attention Blood Relatives is a Bloody Good Vampire Flick that Deserves your Attention]</ref> and ''Snow Valley''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cooper Van Grootel, Tom Williamson, Barbara Crampton to Star in Brandon Murphy's 'Snow Valley' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/brandon-murphy-directorial-debut-snow-valley-horror-exclusive/ |website=[[TheWrap]] |date=2021-05-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311200618/https://www.thewrap.com/brandon-murphy-directorial-debut-snow-valley-horror-exclusive/ |archive-date=2023-03-11 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Koontz directed, produced and co-wrote ''Scare Package 2: Rad Chad's Revenge'', the sequel to ''Scare Package''. The film premiered at [[FrightFest (film festival)|Fright Fest]] in August, before streaming exclusively on [[Shudder (streaming service)|Shudder]] in December,<ref>{{cite web |title='Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge' Review – A Fun and Bloody Love Letter to the Horror Genre |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3744443/scare-package-ii-rad-chads-revenge-review-a-fun-and-bloody-love-letter-to-the-horror-genre/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |date=2022-12-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223165435/https://bloody-disgusting.com/reviews/3744443/scare-package-ii-rad-chads-revenge-review-a-fun-and-bloody-love-letter-to-the-horror-genre/ |archive-date=2023-02-23 |url-status=live |last1=Swope |first1=Michelle}}</ref> which was called a "superior and superbly silly sequel" by ''[[MovieWeb]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scare Package 2 Review: Gross-Out Goofs and Scary Spoofs in Rad Chad's Revenge |url=https://movieweb.com/scare-package-2-review/ |website=MovieWeb |date=2022-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223165434/https://movieweb.com/scare-package-2-review/ |archive-date=2023-02-23 |url-status=live |last1=Mahler |first1=Matthew}}</ref>

In 2023, he led the production of [[Emily Hagins]]'s ''[[Sorry About the Demon]]'' which premiered in January on [[Shudder (streaming service)|Shudder]]. In March, he produced ''[[The Artifice Girl]]'', starring [[Lance Henriksen]], which had its U.S. Premiere at [[South by Southwest|SXSW]]. It previously won Best International Feature at [[Fantasia International Film Festival|Fantasia]] in Montreal and [[Trieste Science+Fiction Festival|Trieste]] in Italy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fantasia Festival {{!}} The Artifice Girl |url=https://fantasiafestival.com/en/film/the-artifice-girl |website=[[Fantasia International Film Festival]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129140511/https://fantasiafestival.com/en/film/the-artifice-girl |archive-date=2022-11-29 |url-status=live}}</ref> Also in 2023, he produced the Christmas creature feature ''A Creature Was Stirring'' starring [[Chrissy Metz]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Well Go USA Acquires Christmas Horror-Thriller 'A Creature Was Stirring' Starring 'This Is Us' Alum Chrissy Metz – First Look |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/chrissy-metz-horror-film-a-creature-was-stirring-acquired-by-well-go-usa-1235115569/ |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=2022-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223170503/https://deadline.com/2022/09/chrissy-metz-horror-film-a-creature-was-stirring-acquired-by-well-go-usa-1235115569/ |archive-date=2023-02-23 |url-status=live |last1=Grobar |first1=Matt}}</ref> and the horror thriller ''[[Trim Season]]'' starring [[Alex Essoe]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Horror Thriller 'Trim Season' Sets Cast |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/trim-season-movie-cast-1235042454/ |website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2021-11-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312023744/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/trim-season-movie-cast-1235042454/ |archive-date=2023-03-12 |url-status=live |last1=Couch |first1=Aaron}}</ref>

In 2024, he produced ''[[The Bunker (2024 film)|The Bunker]]'' and ''[[Shelby Oaks]].'' Koontz launched a Kickstarter for ''Shelby Oaks'' with [[Chris Stuckmann]],<ref>{{cite web |title=YouTuber Chris Stuckmann To Make Horror Movie 'Shelby Oaks' About Missing Paranormal Investigators |url=https://deadline.com/2021/07/youtuber-chris-stuckmann-direct-horror-movie-shelby-oaks-missing-paranormal-investigators-1234786643/ |date=2021-07-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203024905/https://deadline.com/2021/07/youtuber-chris-stuckmann-direct-horror-movie-shelby-oaks-missing-paranormal-investigators-1234786643/ |archive-date=2023-02-03 |url-status=live |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas}}</ref> which went on to break the record as the most funded horror kickstarter of all-time,<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Stuckmann Horror Project 'Shelby Oaks' Flies Past $1M On Kickstarter, Studios Come Calling |url=https://deadline.com/2022/03/chris-stuckmann-horror-shelby-oaks-kickstarter-movie-studios-1234986812/ |date=2022-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307172728/https://deadline.com/2022/03/chris-stuckmann-horror-shelby-oaks-kickstarter-movie-studios-1234986812/ |archive-date=2023-03-07 |url-status=live |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas}}</ref> and then began filming in May and June in and around Ohio.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chris Stuckmann's Kickstarter Horror Record-Breaker 'Shelby Oaks' Begins Production, Reveals Cast – Cannes |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/chris-stuckmann-youtube-horror-movie-shelby-oaks-cast-starts-filming-cannes-1235028907/ |date=2022-05-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328011542/https://deadline.com/2022/05/chris-stuckmann-youtube-horror-movie-shelby-oaks-cast-starts-filming-cannes-1235028907/ |archive-date=2023-03-28 |url-status=live |last1=Wiseman |first1=Andreas}}</ref> In May 2024, [[Mike Flanagan (filmmaker)|Mike Flanagan]], Trevor Macy and Melinda Nishioka were revealed to be executive producers on ''Shelby Oaks'', under their production company [[Intrepid Pictures]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/chris-stuckmann-horror-movie-shelby-oaks-adds-mike-flanagan-kickstarter-1235901087/ |title=Chris Stuckmann's Horror Movie 'Shelby Oaks' Adds Genre Specialist Mike Flanagan To Team |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Andreas |last=Wiseman |date=May 1, 2024 |access-date=May 1, 2024}}</ref>

In late 2020, it was announced that Koontz had formed a new genre consulting firm, Blood Oath, with various other industry veterans.<ref>{{cite web |title=Genre Film Consulting Firm Blood Oath Launches With Chamber Thriller 'Old Man' & Horror 'Slashman' |url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/genre-film-consulting-firm-blood-oath-chamber-thriller-old-man-horror-slashman-1234618835/ |date=2020-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808045429/https://deadline.com/2020/11/genre-film-consulting-firm-blood-oath-chamber-thriller-old-man-horror-slashman-1234618835/ |archive-date=2022-08-08 |url-status=live |last1=Grater |first1=Tom}}</ref>

Koontz has said that he hoped to make a third ''Scare Package'' film with Shudder.<ref>{{cite web |title=Exclusive: We're Getting A SCARE PACKAGE Sequel And Aaron B. Koontz Is Here To Tell Us About It |url=https://www.fangoria.com/original/scare-package-sequel-aaron-b-koontz/ |website=FANGORIA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207225538/https://www.fangoria.com/original/scare-package-sequel-aaron-b-koontz/ |archive-date=2022-12-07 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title='Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge' Is Coming To Shudder [Trailer] |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/420003/scare-package-ii-rad-chads-revenge-is-coming-to-shudder-trailer/ |date=2021-12-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022205227/https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/420003/scare-package-ii-rad-chads-revenge-is-coming-to-shudder-trailer/ |archive-date=2022-10-22 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Filmography ==
=== Film ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! width="65"| [[Film director|Director]]
! width="65"| [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width="65"| [[Film producer|Producer]]
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Camera Obscura (2017 film)|Camera Obscura]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Scare Package]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[The Pale Door]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Also editor
|-
| 2022
| ''Scare Package II: Rad Chad's Revenge''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|
|-
|}

'''Executive producer'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Starry Eyes]]''
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2020
| ''15 Things You Didn't Know About Bigfoot''
|-
| ''The Pizzagate Masacre''
|-
|}

'''Producer only'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2022
| ''[[The Requin]]''
|-
| ''Revealer''
|-
| ''[[Old Man (film)|Old Man]]''
|-
| ''Blood Relatives''
|-
| rowspan="4" | 2023
| ''[[Sorry About the Demon]]''
|-
| ''[[The Artifice Girl]]''
|-
| ''[[Trim Season]]''
|-
| ''A Creature Was Stirring''
|-
| rowspan="3" | 2024
| ''[[Snow Valley (film)|Snow Valley]]''
|-
| ''[[Shelby Oaks]]''
|-
| ''[[The Bunker (2024 film)|The Bunker]]''
|-
|}

'''Other credits'''
* ''[[The Stylist]]'' (2020), production consultant

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! width="65"| [[Screenwriter|Writer]]
! width="65"| [[Executive producer|Executive<br>producer]]
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 2024
| ''[[Tales From the Void]]''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Earl |first=William |date=March 1, 2024 |title='Tales From the Void,' a Series Adaptation of Reddit Horror Stories, to Debut in Fall on Screambox (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/reddit-tales-from-the-void-screambox-1235927803/ |access-date=October 19, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2025–present
| ''[[Revival (TV series)|Revival]]''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| Creator and showrunner<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hailu |first1=Selome |title=Syfy's ''Revival'' Comic Book Adaptation Sets Main Cast (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/syfy-revival-cast-david-james-elliott-1236149076/ |access-date=October 1, 2024 |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=September 18, 2024}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|1323319}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Koontz, Aaron B.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Indiana]]
[[Category:American horror film directors]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Aaron B. Koontz|access_date=2026-02-24}}