At Dennis Films, every project brings a new challenge. With I Am Super, we stepped into uncharted territory: our very first superhero story. Written, filmed, and edited in just seven days as part of the Knoxville 7-Day Shootout Competition, this film tested us like never before.

From the very beginning, we wanted I Am Super to feel like a classic blockbuster superhero film complete with larger than life characters, intense set design, and a story with real heart. Achieving that in a single week meant countless hours of editing, special effects built from scratch in Adobe After Effects, and late nights filled with problem-solving and creativity. By the third day of production, we had found the film’s voice, and from there, it took off.

But what truly brought I Am Super to life wasn’t just the editing, effects, or production design. It was the people.

Meet the Cast & Crew

Jake Morelock as Joey, an Unlikely Hero

For lead actor Jacob Morelock, stepping into the role of Joey was both surreal and inspiring.

“I think my favorite part of playing the lead role in I Am Super was the fact that I had superpowers. It’s a bit surreal to think that I made the poster, and that my character plays such a huge role in the story. I am so thankful to play a delinquent, ‘cool guy’ with powers that, towards the end of the story, come in handy.” - Jake

But beyond the thrill of playing a superhero, Jacob also connected deeply with his character:

“Joey is a guy who probably did not have a lot of opportunities growing up, especially with how niche and limited his power is. I grew up without a lot of money and was isolated since I was an only child. I imagine that Joey had similar circumstances and had to make due or create his own opportunities in life… Joey seems like he has a very tight-knit crew of friends… that he would put his life on the line for, which I would like to say the same for me. I feel like Joey and I would get along super well if he truly existed.” - Jake

That connection grounded his performance, making Joey both relatable and real, a character audiences could root for beyond his powers.

Drew Zimmerman as Aiden, Joey’s Best Friend

Drew Zimmerman brought depth to Aiden, a grounded, serious character who stood in contrast to Drew’s own lively personality.

“If you ever talk to me in person, I’m such an all-over-the-place loudmouth. Aiden is very serious and goal-oriented. Just getting to play a character in such juxtaposition to myself made it feel like I was growing through the whole process.” - Drew

Acting alongside his real-life son, Alex, made the experience even more memorable:

“It fills me with so much pride and joy to see my son working alongside me. We get to step out of the boundaries of our familial relationship and become almost coworkers.” - Drew

His performance earned him the Best Supporting Actor Award at the Shootout, an honor he described as humbling:

“After watching the nominees, I was shocked I won! I’m just super blessed to work with the team I work with and to be given the opportunity to make the characters my own.” - Drew

Alexander Zimmerman as Asher

Playing Aiden’s son in the film, Alex Zimmerman (Drew’s real-life son) brought energy and charm to the story.

“I liked the late nights filming because I got to stay up past my bedtime! Acting with my dad was very fun especially in a scene where he had to pull me up really fast while escaping a building.” - Alex

Allison Felty as Villain & Co-Writer

For Allison Felty, the superhero genre was a daunting challenge at first, but one that pushed the entire team to new heights.

“Honestly, when we were given the genre ‘superhero’ at the kickoff of the 7-day shootout, I knew both Drew and I had a moment of slight panic. With a limited amount of time and a fairly small team, the task seemed daunting. However, we’ve learned to use our resources and to write a detailed story with those in mind. I think what we ended up with is incredibly cinematic, heartfelt, and epic!” - Allison

One of her favorite memories was filming inside the radio station

“It was a great location and setting up the scenes in the different rooms really helped bring the story to life. We’re super grateful to my mom (Tonya) for staying late and letting us film there!” - Allison

Allison’s dual role as both villain on screen and co-writer behind the scenes was key in shaping I Am Super into a film that balanced spectacle with storytelling.

Meet the rest of the cast and crew on October 16th!

Awards & Recognition

At the Knoxville 7-Day Shootout, I Am Super earned multiple awards and nominations, including:

Awards:

🏆 Breakthrough Filmmaker Award — Andrew Dennis
🏆 Best Production Design
🏆 2nd Place Film
🏆 2nd Place Audience Favorite
🏆 Best Supporting Actor — Drew Zimmerman

Nominations:

Best Director — Andrew Dennis
Best Sound Design
Best Original Score/Use of Music
Best Production Design
Best Editing
Best Supporting Actress — Tonya Stout Brown
Best Film
Best Ensemble Cast
Best Cinematography

Honorable Mention Cindependent Film Festival

Beyond Knoxville, I Am Super was honored with a special mention from the Cindependent Film Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To receive recognition from such a credible and fiercely competitive festival was a milestone for Dennis Films. As Andrew Dennis reflected:

“Cincinnati has become one of my favorite cities to connect with filmmakers and industry leaders. The Cindependent crew is ON FIRE for film, and getting a mention from them is truly an honor.” - Andrew Dennis

A Breakthrough Film

What started as a challenge, creating a superhero film in only seven days, became a breakthrough for Dennis Films. I Am Super tested the limits of what we could achieve in such a short time, but with determination, creativity, and a cast and crew who poured their hearts into the project, it became one of our most rewarding experiences yet.

And on October 16th, 2025, I Am Super will return to the big screen at the Capitol Theatre for the Dennis Films Premiere, a night of red carpet, indie film, music, and community.

🎟️ Don’t miss this breakthrough film. Get your tickets today.

Behind the Scenes of I Am Super