John E. Hudgens is a renowned independent director, producer, and editor, widely recognized for his exceptional work on short "Star Wars" fan films and numerous "Babylon 5" promotional videos.
In the early 1990s, Hudgens began editing "Babylon 5" videos, meticulously cutting them to popular music. His impressive early efforts did not go unnoticed, as "Babylon 5" creator and writer J. Michael Straczynski took notice and subsequently hired Hudgens to officially produce B5 promotional music videos for science fiction fan conventions and other events. Over the course of his tenure, Hudgens produced a total of eight official videos.
In addition to his work on "Babylon 5", Hudgens had previously dabbled in fan films, creating "The Empire Strikes Quack" in the late 1980s. Beginning in 2000, Hudgens embarked on a series of notable "Star Wars" fan films, commencing with "Crazy Watto", a two-minute parody of "Star Wars" and used car commercials. The film's immense popularity would go on to earn it an official selection at Lucasfilm's Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards and a screening at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
Hudgens' subsequent film, "Darth Vader's Psychic Hotline", is a fast-paced four-minute parody of various science fiction shows and films, and was the second runner-up for the Audience Choice Award at the 2002 Official Star Wars Fan Film Awards. He would go on to win the Audience Choice Award the following year for "The Jedi Hunter", a parody of "Star Wars" and "The Crocodile Hunter". In 2005, Hudgens would claim the Audience Choice Award once more for "Sith Apprentice". Notably, all of Hudgens' fan films were collaborations with renowned writer Lowell Cunningham.
Currently, Hudgens is in post-production on "American Scary", a feature-length documentary that delves into the world of television horror hosts.
