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Gigi "Fast Elk" Bannister (formerly Porter) has over 35 years of experience in the film industry as a director, actress, special effects artist, producer, and manager. Discovered while working in a Texas diner, she began her entertainment career in the 1970s as an in-house model under contract with Dale Blanc & Associates. Her extensive background spans acting, makeup artistry, special effects, talent representation, management, writing, directing, and producing across stage, film, television, and live events.
In 2012, after a career starting at age 14, Gigi returned to school at Riverside City College to earn a degree and share her real-world filmmaking experience. During her studies, she contributed to multiple student projects, including completing "The Intruders," a student film reboot of the 1961 Twilight Zone episode "Invaders," featuring her signature twist ending.
"The Intruders," a 10-minute black-and-white short filmed with a Panasonic 4K in 1080 format, stars Gigi as a widow in a remote mountain cabin confronting extraterrestrial invaders in the form of a flying saucer and robots. After overcoming them, she retreats home only to awaken to eerie sounds, questioning if it was a nightmare. The film features narration by her husband, Reggie Bannister (Phantasm I-V, Bloody Bloody Bible Camp), with Ken Cress as the voice of the Ship Captain. Michael Bates (Bloody Bloody Bible Camp) served as Director of Photography, with support from Riverside City College film students and local mountain community members.
Known primarily for her practical special effects and production expertise, Gigi is equally adept in front of and behind the camera. She has appeared in over a dozen films and TV shows, frequently attends horror conventions, film festivals, workshops, and seminars, and holds credits as a producer, production manager, location scout, and film liaison. Recent projects include producing with her husband on Don Coscarelli and David Hartman's "Phantasm V: Ravager" (2016) and Steve King's "One For the Road" (2011) (Night Shift Anthology).
As a character actor, Gigi has portrayed roles such as Mother Mary in "Bloody Bloody Bible Camp" (2011), the Bearded Lady in "Carnies" (2009), a hygienic Trailer Gal in "Small Town Saturday Night" (2009) alongside Chris Pine, John Hawkes, Reggie Bannister, and Perry Anzilotti, as well as appearing in Don Coscarelli's "Bubba Ho-Tep" (2002) with Bruce Campbell, Reggie Bannister, and Ozzie Davis. She also played the Sheriff's Wife in "Spring Break Massacre" (2008) and contributed in various capacities to numerous other productions. Notably, she served as Special Effects Makeup Coordinator for "Phantasm IV: Oblivion" (1998), a Don Coscarelli film where she held 14 different roles.
Gigi has produced and directed numerous projects, including dozens of live events, fundraisers, seminars, six independent feature films, and six television shows. She has made a distinctive impact with her political music videos, beginning with the Native American-themed "Love That's Gone" (1997), protesting the Yellowstone National Park buffalo slaughter. Subsequent videos include "Land of the Free" (2001), advocating for parkland preservation in Long Beach, California, and "Baby That's Not Right" (2007), co-written and produced with her husband, Reggie Bannister, based on his original music.
Her writing talent emerged early, earning her a Golden Poet award. She has authored a children's story, "The Adventurous Mr. Tiggy," and is developing a Native American horror script. Her original short script, "Miracle," about the birth of a white buffalo at Christmas, was a finalist for the AFI Director's Workshop for Women and was praised at the Lake Arrowhead Film Festival for its potential as a holiday TV film.
For decades, Gigi produced and hosted the chat show "Nightmarez Café" as Vampi the Vegetarian Vampire. She now produces public service announcements such as "Every 15 Minutes," an anti-drunk driving program, as well as Battlefield Effects and Mass Casualty/Moulage Makeup projects. She manages her husband's music and film careers and is dedicated to community service, haunted houses, and free film camps for youth through her non-profit organization, the Crestline Creative Arts Foundation.
Production Magic Inc
PO Box 3287
Crestline, CA 92325
productionmagic@msn.com
