Blown Away: How a Palisadian Filmmaker Got Swept Up in a ‘Hurricane Heist’

By JAMES BRASHER | Special to the Palisadian-Post

There are two types of people in the entertainment business: those who are the business and those who love it.

Palisadian Jeff Dixon, a screenwriter on the new film “The Hurricane Heist,” is one of those rare people who are both.

When you meet Dixon, his powerful voice, quick wit, bright sunglasses and energetic way makes one wonder why he isn’t in front of the camera. It’s his gentle manner that easily makes one understand why he isn’t—he may lack the tyrant gene.

Dixon attended film school in his home state of Utah and originally wanted to be a director, but quickly found it not to his liking.

“Although I did a few short films, I didn’t enjoy directing,” Dixon told the Palisadian-Post.

After signing up for a screenwriting class at the University of Utah, Dixon found writing more to his liking.

“Most people look at a blank page and get freaked out, but I found that I love creating the worlds far more than I did directing,” he recalled.

During college, Dixon found himself working on the film “The Crow: Salvation” as a casting assistant. As low-budget films go, he was asked to be a body double for almost all of the male cast members who were killed off.

“I was impaled by rebar, squibs put on me and shot, I was even electrocuted at the end,” Dixon shared.

He found himself in horror film heaven when he got to work with the effects team.

After the film wrapped, he immediately packed up his car and moved to LA.

His first steps were in production, but that wasn’t his thing. Dixon won a screenwriting contest and then quickly found himself with an agent.

Since then, he has slowly built his career by writing everything from graphic novels to scripts for wrestlers in the WWE. But he readily admitted that the stuff of nightmares makes him most happy.

“My heart is in horror,” Dixon said, “because horror is such a visceral experience that translates into any language.”

Dixon was recently hired to work on the adventure film, “The Hurricane Heist.”

Even though the story wasn’t his original idea (Scott Windhauser shares the credit), Dixon said hopefully some of his “horror” influences can be found throughout the film.

Directed by Rob Cohen (creator of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise at Universal), the story follows 30 mercenaries intent on looting the local treasury in New Hope, Alabama.

They are using a category five hurricane as cover for the robbery.

Competition, as always, is fierce: Nine mainstream movies came out last weekend alone, including the long-awaited $35 million Disney adventure “A Wrinkle in Time,” which has been produced by Alphabet Streets resident Jim Whitaker.

Dixon humbly conceded that his movie is definitely vying for second place because, “even I want to see ‘A Wrinkle in Time,’” Dixon said.

But, Dixon said he believes that the PG-13 rated “Hurricane Heist” will be a success because, as he said, “People need an escape right now.”

“With everything going on in the world, sometimes you want a movie where you can just turn off your brain and have fun.”

Even before the film hit theaters, Dixon’s phone has already been ringing with more opportunities.

Dixon and his wife Amy have two daughters—both about to perform in plays at Theatre Palisades. Bella, a freshman at Palisades Charter High School is set to perform in “Play On!” while younger daughter Ava, a sixth-grader at Paul Revere Charter Middle School, was recently seen in “The Lion King JR.”

Yes, showbiz is now firmly in the Palisadian blood.