Sebastian native, filmmaker grows storytelling niche, releases movie on streaming platforms

In the 1990s, before streaming became the dominant way to experience original TV shows and movies, Corey Frost would go to the AMC Classic Theater in Vero Beach and get lost in the world of cinema. Frost’s eyes were glued to the big screen as he sat in the big, comfy seat with a bag of fresh popcorn and waited for the lights to dim. 

“That’s when the inspiration sparked,” said 37-year-old Frost, an Emmy-nominated editor and University of Central Florida graduate recognized for his work in documentary and scripted films.

“Being in a theater and experiencing movies with other people is unique,” said Frost, whose favorite filmmaking storytellers include greats like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Baz Luhrmann. 

For Frost, who grew up in Sebastian, there’s no better feeling than watching a newly-released movie in the theatres. 

“I would take my girlfriend, who later became my wife, (to the theatre) and we would get immersed in movies,” said Frost, a 2006 Sebastian River High School graduate. 

Inspiration turned reality

A young Frost would occasionally grab a bite to eat at Giuseppe’s Pizzeria & Italian Cuisine in Sebastian. He’d also meet up with friends to play football and basketball at the Sebastian Barber Street Sports Complex.

Years down the road, Frost found himself on a trip to the coastal paradise of Santa Barbara, California. It would be the location for the premiere of his first scripted 2023 feature film “Grace Point.” 

 

Frost edited Grace Point, which was released January 28 on Apple TV and Amazon Prime. The film was directed by Rory Karpf, a five-time Emmy and Peabody-award winning filmmaker. Karpf was also a writer for the movie, along with Paul Russell Smith.  

“We all rallied around Rory to make this special,” Frost said. “He had a project that was written and shot under $1 million.”

Two years ago, Grace Point premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. The independent movie is about a young man on his way to a remote drug rehab who then gets chased by locals in a strange town. The man also goes through a battle with his own personal demons. 

Frost watched Grace Point with family, friends and colleagues at the Metropolitan Metro 4 Theatre during the film festival. The highly-acclaimed event is considered one of the top 10 film festivals in the U.S. that attracts more than 100,000 movie-lovers with 11 days of 200-plus film screenings. 

Grace Point – filmed in Laurinburg, North Carolina – would go on to earn a 94 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a website that collects movie and TV show reviews from critics and fans.  

Frost said the movie premiere of a project he helped bring to life brought him back to his childhood feelings of excitement watching films in theaters. As the lights dimmed and the crowd hushed, Frost’s jitters went up. 

“I’m a ball of anxiety. I feel like I’m going to see all of the mistakes,” said Frost, who now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Alyssa and their 1-year-old daughter. “It’s a nice way to see your project (in a theater) as opposed to on your phone or TV. To see your movie screened in the same environment brings a lot home.”    

Afterwards, Frost’s feelings of nervousness subsided when the movie was over. The end credits rolled along the screen with white text laid against a black background. Frost’s excitement grew again in that moment when he saw his name listed as the movie editor.

“When you see your name in the credits, there’s no better feeling,” Frost said. “I have a sense of pride in my work. Every project I (edit), I’m extremely proud of it.”

 

Creating his own lane

On any given day, Frost is usually at home editing away on his laptop. While Grace Point was Frost’s first edited scripted feature film, he has also edited a variety of documentary projects for the past 15 years since those days in Sebastian. 

Some notable documentaries that Frost edited include Netflix’s “Coach Snoop,” Amazon Prime’s “All or Nothing: The Michigan Wolverines,” “Shaq Life” on TNT and UFC’s “25 Years in Short” series. Frost, who was recently inducted as a member of American Cinema Editors honor society based in Hollywood, received a Sports Emmy-nomination in 2018 for his work on 25 Years in Short, a compilation of short films. 

Frost also served as a director and producer on other films including ESPN’s “Before They Were Cowboys.” Frost, a 2010 UCF film school graduate, said trusting his own instincts helped him charter a path into shaping stories in movies.   

Frost laid out the differences between editing scripted films versus documentaries. 

“In scripted, the writer writes the script, then the film is made based on that,” said Frost, who is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “In documentary filmmaking, there is no script. The editor writes much of the story in the edit, sifting through hundreds of hours of footage to shape the film. You try to make it as compelling and emotional as possible.”

‘Go with your gut’

For Frost, improvisation is key when it comes to editing a film. The skill of on-the-spot decision making initially came from his experience as a trumpet player in bands at Sebastian River Middle School and Sebastian River High School. 

“I learned improvisation through music. I was drawn to jazz. I learned to go with the flow and how to improvise,” Frost said. “A lot of film editing is a ‘go with your gut’ feeling. If things go awry on set, we can fix it in editing so the audience won’t be confused.”

Musical gifts run in the Frost family. Frost said his great-grandmother, Catherine Murray, played piano live in theatres in New York City during the silent movie era in the 1920s, before the use of sound and speakers.  

“The movie soundtrack would be played live,” said Frost, whose mother Jill Frost owns Pink Pelican Florist in Sebastian. 

Hearing the stories from his great grandmother lit a fuse of creative imagination for Frost. The inspiration that built up in Frost’s mind, body and soul made him ready for the adversities that laid ahead.  

Challenges

The film industry – with its tuxedo-driven awards shows and star-studded movie premieres – may look glamorous from the outside. However, Frost emphasized that it’s a tough industry to break into and is filled with ups and downs.  

“It’s not a 9-to-5 steady career. You have to fight for it,” Frost said. “When things go wrong, there are lots of people to answer to, especially when you’re making a million-dollar film. There’s a sense of pressure for the editor to make sure all the pieces fall together.”

Frost said anyone looking to be successful in the film industry should develop a thick skin. He also said those making films should have patience, perseverance and a love for storytelling.

“I still feel overlooked. If you don’t love this work, you will leave,” Frost said. “Some filmmakers in L.A. are still out of work after COVID. I felt like I was in a rut. I wanted to challenge myself and do something different. I pushed toward learning my craft even more.”

It was during this personal time of focus and reflection that Frost decided to delve more into editing scripted films after years of working on documentaries. 

 

Giving back

Frost said one of his long-term goals as a member of the American Cinema Editors is to provide mentorship and show other people how to make it in the film industry. Frost said being part of the American Cinema Editors allows him to sit next to some of the most accomplished editors in the world. 

“It’s a strong community looking out for each other. The editors love talking about editing and love to hear from other people what they thought about something,” Frost said. “Now, I sit on a committee that helps find interns.”

Frost said the film industry is not just about talent. It’s also about who you know.

“If people sit back and let their work speak for itself, that may not be enough,” Frost said. “You have to build authentic relationships, network and make friends. People are willing to help you as a young filmmaker.”

Surprise the audience

For Frost, films such as The Sixth Sense, Parasite and I Care A Lot stand out because the filmmakers twist the audience’s expectations. Frost said being an editor requires taking instant feelings and applying that to the craft. 

“To make stories authentic, you need to use real life experiences,” Frost said. “Have characters that audiences want to take journeys with.”

Frost said during his senior year in college, he made a documentary called Close By That Much   about his grandfather, Gordon and great uncle, Blair, who were identical twins. The film showcased their vast differences, with Gordon having conservative, religious and Christian values, and Blair having liberal values, being bi-sexual and struggling with alcohol.

“It was always a struggle. They didn’t understand each other. Their differences separated them,” Frost said. “They reconnected in 2019 when my uncle was on his deathbed. It was one of my greatest filmmaking experiences…something I’ll cherish forever.”

Frost remembers the moment…describing it as “powerful” and “gut wrenching.” Both Gordon and Blair have since passed. 

“Making the film about my family will always be my crowning achievement in filmmaking,” Frost said. 

 

In the meantime, Frost is working with Dan Sickles, winner of the Sundance Film Festival’s Grand Jury Prize, on a hybrid documentary about crypto art pioneers. The film, produced by Oscar winner Shane Boris, is part oral history and part desktop dreamscape.

“This film is completely different,” Frost said. “When it comes out, it will be a wild ride.”