Charley Baxter: Director of OperationsNeed someone to manage a fleet of wooden sailing ships, control explosives, shutdown a fan-filled football stadium or go to the FBI Academy with you? Call Charley.
On January 2, 2008, veteran filmmaker Charley Baxter joined Metro Productions as Director of Operations. Charley has earned a reputation among top cinema professionals as “the man who gets things done.”
After receiving his B.F.A. in Theater Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, Charley set out to become an actor. He began by auditioning to be a film extra – a part he didn't get. However, he did get a job as a production assistant in the Location Department. Driven by his passion for the ability to create, Charley has worked in the film and video industry ever since.
Before joining Metro Productions, he worked in television and feature films as Production Supervisor, Production Manager, Location Manager, Director and Producer. His past co-workers include Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Colin Ferrell, Christian Bale, Keanu Reeves, Gene Hackman, Jessica Lange and Sissy Spacek. And although Charley was denied that role as an extra years ago, his acting is now featured in scenes alongside Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfus and Samuel L. Jackson.
As Location Manager of The Replacements, Charley accomplished staggering logistical assignments. The script called for a scene of the fictional team playing football in stadium packed with fans. The solution wasn't simple. During the half-time of a professional football game, the cast and crew had a strict nine-minute window of opportunity to get on the field, capture the perfect shots and leave the premises. They counted on Charley and he made it happen.
The cast and crew of Ridley Scott’s Hannibal relied on Charley for more than just logistics. In preparation for her leading role as Clarice Starling, Julianne Moore faced the daunting task of attending the FBI Academy at Quantico. She was too apprehensive and intimidated to go alone -- so she took Charley. Humored by his attempts at each challenge, Moore followed with enough confidence in her own abilities to take on the obstacles.
A short time later, he emerged from the numerous fires and explosives in Ladder 49 to manage (among other things) a fleet of 17th century styled ships in The New World. Out of all of these ambitious undertakings, Charley is particularly fond of his experiences in HBO’s mini-series John Adams, Joe Johnston’s feature film October Sky and Frank Oz’s What About Bob?.
While he has amassed an extensive list of achievements within the production industry, he proudest of his three children. So when you need “the man who gets things done,” don’t just check the movie sets -- look for him around town with his family, along the banks of the James River with his pet Boxer, or in his office right here at Metro Productions.
