Parker Otto is a filmmaker from Illinois currently based in Brooklyn, NY. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University’s class of 2022 with a B.A. Degree in Media Studies with a minor in Journalism. He also has received certificates in Digital Media Production and Film and Television Studies. Parker has written for The Northern Star, NIU’s school newspaper, as a reporter, editor and columnist.
To look at Parker’s work at The Northern Star, NIU’s award-winning newspaper, click the button:
Some Facts About Parker:
He is a frequent patron of both AMC Theaters (thanks to the magic of the AMC Stubs A-List) and the many independent/arthouse theaters of New York City that frequently program indie cinema and a multitude of classics.
Parker’s biggest influences as a film critic are Roger Ebert (1942-2013) of The Chicago Sun-Times, Gene Siskel (1946-1999) of The Chicago Tribune, Chris Stuckmann of Chris Stuckmann Reviews and Doug Walker of Channel Awesome.
His favorite films of the year since becoming a critic are: A Star is Born (2018), Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019), The Gentlemen (2020), Dune (2021), The Fabelmans (2022), Oppenheimer (2023) and Perfect Days (2024).
Parker is heavily involved in New York’s local music scene, serving as a photographer and videographer for several up-and-coming musicians.
He also plays music himself, mainly folk and rock covers, at open mics in the city, namely The Music Inn in Greenwich Village where he also reads and writes poetry.
He was a Rocky Horror Picture Show shadow cast member and has played The Criminologist and Dr. Everett Scott.
Parker’s biggest influences as a filmmaker are Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, D.A. Pennebaker, Werner Herzog, Damien Chazelle, Quentin Tarantino, Richard Linklater, Greta Gerwig, David Lynch and Steven Spielberg.
La La Land is what made Parker want to become a filmmaker.