First-Time Filmmaking Is a Charm

Dallas director Ronnie Allman wins Ron Howard contest with first-ever film

Before June 2013, Rowlett native Ronnie Allman had never made a film of any kind of his life. Just a few months later, Allman can officially call himself an award-winning filmmaker.

That's because Allman, who works as an art director at a San Francisco ad agency, was just named one of five winners of Canon's Project Imaginat10n contest for his debut short film, Filter. The contest was personally judged by director Ron Howard and his daughter, actress/director Bryce Dallas Howard.

Unlike the other four winners, Allman had no previous experience making anything other than home movies, which makes his accomplishment all the greater.

Allman's film, a haunting eight-minute piece about a world where people cannot use tap water or go outside without wearing gas masks, was shot over just five days this past June and July. Without any spoken dialogue, it tells the story of one man trying to live in this strange world while still feeling the effects of a personal tragedy.

Unlike the other four winners, Allman had no previous experience making anything other than home movies, which makes his accomplishment all the greater. The other four winners include Arrius Sorbonne from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Los Angeles-area residents Jared Nelson, Julian Higgins and Kalman Apple.

The films of five winners will be shown at the upcoming Project Imaginat10n Film Festival, along with films by five celebrity directors: Eva Longoria, Jamie Foxx, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, former LCD Soundsystem lead singer James Murphy and Twitter co-founder Biz Stone. But you can see all five winning films now by going to imagination.usa.canon.com.

"It just amazes me what can be done these days with a simple camera, an imagination and great group of friends," Allman says. "I am so shocked that my film won, and I cannot wait to meet Ron Howard."

The first time was a charm for filmmaker Ronnie Allman, as his debut short Filter was named one of five winners of the Project Imaginat10n contest.

Photo courtesy of Ronnie Allman

The first time was a charm for filmmaker Ronnie Allman, as his debut short Filter was named one of five winners of the Project Imaginat10n contest.

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World Cup match recap

Croatia can't weather Harry Kane in England's 4-2 World Cup win in Dallas

England v Croatia: Group L - FIFA World Cup 2026

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Harry Kane of England celebrates the team's 4-2 World Cup win over Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Harry Kane scored twice to equal the English record for FIFA World Cup goals, Jude Bellingham added another two minutes into the second half, and England beat Croatia 4-2 on Wednesday at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.

Martin Baturina and Petar Musa answered each of Kane's first-half goals in a rematch of the 2018 semifinal game won by Croatia. Musa's goal came on the final play before the whistle ending the first half.

The even score didn't last long once play resumed.

Bellingham took a long pass and stayed clear of the defender the rest of the way, sending a shot past Dominik Livakovic and in off the far post. Marcus Rashford padded the lead in the 85th minute.

Kane, who won the Golden Boot at the 2018 World Cup in Russia by scoring six times, is up to 10 World Cup goals, tying Gary Lineker's mark from the 1986 and 1990 tournaments.

The 32-year-old striker's first goal came on his second chance on a penalty kick after Livakovic's save on the first try was nullified by a video review that showed both his feet off the goal line as Kane was striking the ball.

Kane went the same way toward the right post with the second attempt, while Livakovic lunged the other direction, to his right.

The penalty was called when Luka Modric, the 40-year-old midfielder who extended his Croatian record by appearing in his fifth World Cup, kicked Noni Madueke in the thigh.

England vs. Croatia World Cup Luka Modric #10, of Croatia, is challenged by Harry Kane, #9 of England, during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group L match between England and Croatia at Dallas Stadium on June 17. Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Kane matched Lineker's mark when the Bayern Munich striker easily beat Livakovic with a powerful header off a corner kick from Declan Rice. Kane has 81 international goals.

Bellingham almost immediately had another great scoring chance soon after his seventh international goal. Livakovic made that save and about a half-dozen more in a matter of minutes during a frenetic English attack.

Musa plays for Major League Soccer's FC Dallas, which has its home games about 40 miles from AT&T Stadium.

The retractable roof venue that is home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys is giving World Cup fans an air-conditioned reprieve from the muggy Texas heat, this time for white-clad English fans and Croatian supporters who were mostly wearing their country's familiar red-and-white checkered uniforms, not the blue kits the players had on.

Musa tracked a header from Ivan Perisic and put a one-timer past Jordan Pickford, who was also beaten in the 36th minute by Baturina. That shot into the left corner ticked off Pickford's hand.

England next plays Ghana in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in Group L on Tuesday, the same day Croatia plays Panama in Toronto.

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