Drawing Flies
A Feature-Length Drama
2002 • Feature Film
Official Trailer
About the Film
Drawing Flies is a feature-length drama that represents Clayton Rye's venture into narrative filmmaking. Written, produced, shot, and edited entirely by Clayton, this ambitious project showcases his versatility as a filmmaker beyond documentary work.
The film demonstrates Clayton's commitment to independent filmmaking and his ability to wear multiple hats—from screenwriter to cinematographer to editor. This complete creative control allowed him to realize his artistic vision while drawing on decades of experience in visual storytelling.
Sabbatical Production Story
Drawing Flies was edited during Clayton's sabbatical leave from Ferris State University, where he had been teaching film production, television, and digital media since 1988. The sabbatical provided him with dedicated time to focus on this personal creative project, allowing him to apply the same principles he taught his students to his own narrative work.
This period of focused creative work resulted in a feature-length drama that would go on to win recognition from the Broadcast Education Association, validating Clayton's approach to narrative filmmaking and his ability to excel in both documentary and dramatic storytelling.
The sabbatical project exemplified Clayton's belief in the importance of educators maintaining active creative practices, bringing real-world experience back to the classroom to enrich student learning.
Funding
Drawing Flies was partly funded by ArtServe Michigan, an organization dedicated to supporting arts and culture throughout the state.
This funding support enabled Clayton to realize his vision for the feature-length drama, demonstrating the importance of arts funding in supporting independent filmmakers and creative projects.
Creative Approach
As writer, producer, cinematographer, and editor, Clayton maintained complete creative control over the project. This hands-on approach allowed him to craft every aspect of the film according to his artistic vision, from script to final cut.
Animated Teaser: "Fly Drawing"
In addition to the feature film, Clayton created an animated teaser titled "Fly Drawing" as a creative promotional piece for the project.
This animated short demonstrates Clayton's experimental approach to filmmaking and his willingness to explore different mediums and techniques to support his narrative work.
Awards & Recognition
Broadcast Education Association Award
Narrative Category
2002
This award recognized excellence in narrative filmmaking, honoring Clayton's achievement in creating a compelling feature-length drama.
Production Details
Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor
Clayton Rye
Year
2002
Format
Feature-Length Drama
Production Context
Edited during sabbatical from Ferris State University
Funding
Partly funded by ArtServe Michigan
Additional Content
Animated teaser "Fly Drawing"
Related Content
Frontiers
1990s • Music Video
Another creative work showcasing Clayton's artistic vision, featuring time-lapse cinematography for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones.
Learn More →BOOM
1976 • Animated Short
Early experimental work from Clayton's USC period, demonstrating his long-standing interest in diverse filmmaking approaches.
Watch on Videos Page →Complete Filmography
Five Decades of Work
Explore Clayton Rye's complete body of work spanning documentaries, dramas, and educational content.
View Filmography →More Creative Works
Frontiers
1990sMusic Video
Award-winning 16mm music video featuring Béla Fleck and the Flecktones with stunning time-lapse cinematography.
Learn More →Jim Crow's Museum
2004Documentary
Award-winning documentary exploring the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia at Ferris State University.
Learn More →Explore More Creative Works
Discover more of Clayton Rye's diverse filmmaking portfolio