Daniel Knudsen

{{Infobox person | name = Daniel Knudsen | image = | caption = Knudsen at the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan, Italy. | birth_name =  | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1988|2|28}} | birth_place = Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. | occupation = Director, actor, producer, | education = Thomas Edison State University | years_active = 2005–present | website = {{URL|http://www.danielknudsen.com/}} | known_for = }} '''Daniel Knudsen''' ({{IPAc-en|k|ə|ˈ|n|uː|t|s|ən}}) is an American film director, actor and film producer. He is also a co-founder of Crystal Creek Media.

== Biography == Daniel Knudsen was born in Dearborn, Michigan. His father is a commercial airline pilot and his mother was a former saleswomen for Michigan Bell.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dove.org/father-son-team-make-family-approved-film/ |title=Father and Son Team Up To Make Family-Approved Film |date=August 25, 2014 |work=The Dove Foundation |accessdate=September 9, 2014}}</ref> In 2005 he began his involvement with movies and later went on to study digital media production in college. He graduated from Thomas Edison State University in 2009 and has worked in the film industry ever since.

=== Career === Kundsen began his career working as an intern on films while he was still in highschool. The first feature he directed was the thriller ''Creed of Gold''. The film was nominated for an Adam Award for best feature drama at the Sabaoth International Film Festival in Milan, Italy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sabaothfilmfestival.com/en/film-in-competition/category-2011/feature-drama/277-il-culto-dell-oro.html |title=Sabaoth International Film Festival - Feature drama finalists |date=March 16, 2013 |work=Sabaoth Film Festival |accessdate=July 23, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140805112304/http://www.sabaothfilmfestival.com/en/film-in-competition/category-2011/feature-drama/277-il-culto-dell-oro.html |archivedate=August 5, 2014 }}</ref> and won a Redemptive Storyteller Award at the Redemptive Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.redemptivefilms.com/winningentries2011-3.htm |title=Redemptive Storyteller Award Winners |date=November 19, 2011 |work=Redemptive Film Festival |accessdate=November 30, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122001947/http://redemptivefilms.com/winningentries2011-3.htm |archivedate=January 22, 2012 }}</ref> Since then he has produced and directed other films including ''Indescribable'', ''Christmas Grace'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/arts-and-entertainment/20131209/main-art-theater-in-royal-oak-shows-locally-filmed-holiday-movie |title=Main Art Theater in Royal Oak shows locally filmed holiday movie |date=December 9, 2013 |work=The Oakland Press |last=Khaleghi |first=Sam |accessdate=December 10, 2013}}</ref> ''Courageous Love''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20140611/michigan-made-film-being-shot-at-troy-office-building |title=Michigan-made film being shot at Troy office building |date=June 11, 2014 |work=The Oakland Press |last=Kidd |first=Andrew |accessdate=July 24, 2014}}</ref> and ''Christmas Coupon''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/tamil/movies/news/napoleon-plays-a-sports-agent-in-this-american-film/articleshow/70002002.cms |title=Napoleon plays a sports agent in this American film |date=June 30, 2019 |work=The Times of India |last=Suganth |first=M |accessdate=June 30, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyles/suburban/oakland-county-filmed-christmas-coupon-premieres-for-sold-out-crowd/article_3553fb18-15fd-11ea-b4ed-0bed1d52cd3d.html |title=Oakland County-filmed ‘Christmas Coupon’ premieres for sold-out crowd in Novi |date=December 3, 2019 |work=The Oakland Press |last=Drake |first=Monica |accessdate=December 4, 2019 |archive-date=December 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191204163552/https://www.theoaklandpress.com/lifestyles/suburban/oakland-county-filmed-christmas-coupon-premieres-for-sold-out-crowd/article_3553fb18-15fd-11ea-b4ed-0bed1d52cd3d.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Many of Knudsen’s film projects feature a theme about hope surviving in adverse situations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://insider.pureflix.com/movies/actor-breaks-down-why-you-should-cling-to-hope-amid-trials |title=Actor Breaks Down Why You Should Cling To Hope Amid Trials |date=March 7, 2019 |work=Pinnacle Peak Pictures |last=Hallowell |first=Billy |accessdate=March 12, 2020 |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716071637/https://insider.pureflix.com/movies/actor-breaks-down-why-you-should-cling-to-hope-amid-trials |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Lawsuit=== Knudsen's Crystal Creek Media launched a lawsuit against Christian film company CMD Distribution for failing to fulfill its contractual financial obligations over the distribution of the movie Creed of Gold. In early 2017 Crystal Creek was awarded a judgment against CMD by the Superior Court of New Hanover County in the state of North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crystalcreekmedia.com/statement-about-cmd-distribution-inc |title=Statement about CMD Distribution Inc |date=March 8, 2017 |work=Crystal Creek Media |accessdate=March 14, 2017}}</ref>

=== Personal life === Knudsen is an avid carpenter and loves music. He stated in an interview that he sees Divinity as “the life force that animates all things.”<ref>{{cite web |url=https://canvasrebel.com/meet-daniel-knudsen/ |title=Meet Daniel Knudsen |date= June 22, 2023 |work=Canvas Rebel |accessdate=June 23, 2023}}</ref>

== Filmography == ;Director *''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1122594/ Late for Church (2007)]'' *''Creed of Gold'' (2014) *''A Horse Called Bear'' (2015) *''Courageous Love'' (2017) *''Christmas Coupon'' (2019) *''SKYDOG'' (2020) *''Dinosaur Cove (film)'' (2022) *''Eternal Theater'' (2024)

;Producer *''[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1122594/ Late for Church (2007)]'' *''Indescribable'' (2013) *''Unexpected Places'' (2013) *''Christmas Grace'' (2014) *''The King's Messengers'' (2017) *''Christmas Coupon'' (2019) *''SKYDOG'' (2020) *''Dinosaur Cove (film)'' (2022)

;Actor {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role |- | 2013 | ''Unexpected Places'' | Mysterious Passenger |- | 2014 | ''Christmas Grace'' | Worship Leader |- | 2014 | ''Creed of Gold'' | Coffeehouse Barista |- | 2015 | ''A Horse Called Bear'' | Paramedic |- | 2017 | ''Courageous Love'' | Jason Kwilos |- | 2017 | ''The King's Messengers'' | David Sutherland |- | 2019 | ''Christmas Coupon'' | Chris McGill |- | 2020 | ''SKYDOG'' | Colt Lifestone |- | 2022 | ''Dinosaur Cove (film)'' | Terrance Walker |- | 2024 | ''Eternal Theater'' | Himself |}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{official website|http://www.danielknudsen.com/}} *{{IMDb name|id=2152398}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Knudsen, Daniel}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:Film directors from Michigan Category:American male film actors Category:Male actors from Detroit Category:American businesspeople in the entertainment industry Category:Thomas Edison State University alumni Category:American people of Danish descent Category:American people of Polish descent