Welcome to Penalty.

May 28

I distinctly remember the first time I ever made a film. The exhilaration and process of relaying a screenplay into moving images is one that left a profound mark on me. In 2014, I wrote a script called “The Penalty,” which was 10 pages long and I had the ambition to make it into a film with my friends. I cut the film together myself, screening it to my friends and family, which left me with a budding desire and hunger for more.

It wasn’t until I was much older that the famous quote by Frank Capra resonated with me in a personal way:

“Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream, it takes over as the number one hormone; it bosses the enzymes; directs the pineal gland; plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to film is more film.”

⁃ Frank Capra, Academy Award Winning Director

With that quote in mind, I had endeavored to create more content. I worked as an independent filmmaker for many years, directing a film a year when I finally decided to start Penalty Productions in 2018. Penalty exists because I believe stories are integral to the foundation of who we are, and I believe it’s possible to tell unique stories as an independent artist, not yielding to the mainstream.

I started this newsletter as a place to update, report and reflect on the content that I, along with several others, produce and share. It seems like only yesterday that I created my first film and now nearly a decade later, planted right in the middle of the entertainment capital of the world (Los Angeles), I can now bring you along this journey.

- Logan Mansberger

Founder and CEO, Penalty Productions.

Logan Mansberger

Logan Mansberger is an American film director, producer, writer, and the Founder & CEO of Penalty Productions®, an independent film and media studio based in Los Angeles known for its bold visual style and fearless storytelling.

Born in Truckee, California, and raised in the mountains of Oregon, Mansberger’s passion for filmmaking began early. At twelve, he picked up a camera for the first time and never looked back — directing his first short and setting the course for a career defined by relentless creativity and independence.

He made his formal debut with My Brother (2011), a World War II thriller that explored family, loyalty, and survival. His breakout short Charlotte — made on a shoestring budget — caught attention across U.S. film festivals for its emotional precision and striking cinematography, earning Mansberger early recognition as a distinct voice in modern indie cinema.

In 2018, he founded Penalty Productions®, officially launching the studio with John, Do Your Will, a short film later acquired by Amazon Prime. The project marked the beginning of a brand dedicated to authenticity, grit, and the power of independent storytelling. He followed with At Noon (2020), a contemporary reimagining of the American Western, and Contingency (2021), a taut prison drama that earned multiple awards and critical acclaim across U.S. and European festivals.

Expanding beyond film, Mansberger has produced documentaries and authored the book Michael Bannon, extending Penalty Productions® into literary and branded content.

As Founder & CEO, Mansberger leads every creative and strategic aspect of Penalty Productions®, from development through distribution. Under his leadership, the studio has evolved into a home for risk-taking artists, unconventional voices, and stories that blend cinematic craft with cultural relevance.

Driven by a collective of filmmakers, rebels, and dreamers, Penalty Productions® stands as a testament to Mansberger’s belief that great stories — like the American West that inspires him — are forged through resilience, individuality, and an unflinching pursuit of truth.

https://penaltyproductions.co

Welcome to Penalty.

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