Growing up, Ryan Curtis loved to make “terrible movies” (his words, not mine) with his friends. He didn’t know it then, but he was already directing. A few decades and deployments later and he’s finally releasing his first feature film in theaters nationwide.

“Hollywood Grit” is Curtis’ debut feature film and he attributes his growing success as a filmmaker to his time serving in the Army.

“People always come up to me and say, ‘you’re so calm,’” Curtis observed, “and I’m like, ‘yeah, because we’re not getting shot at.’”

From the discipline and organization it takes to logistically make a movie happen to the leadership skills required to manage a well-run and, ideally, enjoyable set, Curtis is a natural.

After joining the military in August 2001, Curtis served eight years as a combat en

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