Black and white photo of a smiling man wearing glasses, a cap, and a zip-up jacket, standing with arms crossed in front of a colorful poster with multiple faces and a movie scene.

Luke

Renner

www.LukeRenner.com

Luke@LukeRenner.com

Luke A. Renner is an innovative filmmaker, storyteller, and creative mind known for his deep exploration of complex emotional and psychological themes. As the director of What Lies Inside: Healing in the Face of Trauma, a feature-length documentary, Luke has demonstrated a talent for capturing profound human experiences and fostering empathy. He is currently developing the second film in a planned trilogy, focusing on the human experience and the nuanced perspectives surrounding mental health, societal narratives, and existential exploration.

With over 25 years of experience in storytelling and communication across television and film, Luke has honed a diverse skill set that includes content creation, team leadership, creative problem-solving, and fostering collaboration across ideological and political divides to achieve shared goals. His portfolio spans a wide range of clients and brands, including the NFL, NASCAR, Royal Caribbean, White Castle, Home Depot, Panasonic, LG, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and Universal Music Group.

Luke has directed numerous music videos, both long and short-form, in iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House. His work has brought him alongside legendary artists including Paul Simon, Andraé Crouch, Marty Stuart, Ricky Skaggs, and Bill and Gloria Gaither. A testament to his creative impact, Luke has earned multiple RIAA Gold and Platinum certifications.

Luke balances his creative pursuits with a commitment to storytelling that challenges societal norms and fosters authentic conversation. A thoughtful and reflective seeker, he leverages his own life experiences, including moments of personal struggle, to connect with and empower others. A husband and father, Luke is driven by a passion for art that heals, provokes thought, and celebrates the unpredictable nature of life, citing his own children as his ultimate target audience.

Luke loves to hear from others in the form of emails and comments on his latest YouTube project, “The Conversation,” a multi-part exploratory series being filmed around the creation of his second documentary.

A vintage film camera set on a tripod, with mountains and trees in the background, depicted in a stylized, animated manner.

Luke’s Favorite Resources

Broken mirror with images of five people's faces reflecting in the shards and a black hole in space in one shard, along with the text 'What Lies Inside' and subtitle about healing from trauma.
Gray square icon with a green checkmark overlay, symbolizing approval or correctness.
A 3D digital illustration of a blue checkmark overlaid on a blue square inside a white square border.

It might be strange to suggest my own film as an essential resource in my journey, but I honestly cannot think of a single work that has changed me more than the creation of this film.

A person standing on railway tracks looking into the distance, with a cloudy sky above. The image is in black and white with a red band and a red circle on the book cover.
3D illustration of a white square checkbox with a red checkmark.

This book was instrumental in my ability to break free from the terror wrought by ideas like “original sin” and “eternal torment in hell.”

A digital icon of a checkmark in a square, with a 3D effect, white border, blue checkmark, and a purple background.
White checkmark inside a square with rounded edges, overlaid on a gray and white background.
Book cover for 'The Untethered Soul' by Michael A. Singer, featuring a horse walking on a beach with a calm ocean in the background.
3D illustration of a square button with a checkmark, primarily white with a blue checkmark overlaid, and a purple background.
A white square icon with a purple outline and a green check mark overlay.
3D rendering of a white square icon with a blue checkmark overlay.
The cover of a book titled 'Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others' with a blue background and white text.
Book cover titled 'The Tao of Fully Feeling' with a subtitle 'Harvesting forgiveness out of blame' by Pete Walker. The cover features a wolf standing on a rock under a full moon with a yin-yang symbol and other smaller yin-yang symbols floating upward against a night sky background.
A 3D illustration of a grey square checkbox with a blue checkmark overlay, representing a selected or completed option.
A white square icon with a green checkmark overlapping it, signifying approval or completion.
A digital 3D icon of a check mark inside a square with a rounded border, predominantly blue, on a white background.
Book cover titled 'Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving' by Pete Walker, featuring an abstract collage artwork with blue tones and various shapes.
Cover of a book titled 'What If? 125 Questions to Discover More about Life and Faith' by Ann Espey Smith, with a decorative background.

I absolutely LOVE good questions and this book is a treasure trove of powerful questions that will challenge and inspire you.

A white square button with a red checkmark overlay.
Cover of a book titled 'Leaving the Fold' by Marlene Winell, Ph.D., with a subtitle about guiding former fundamentalists leaving their religion, featuring colorful abstract shapes and a silhouette of a walking person.

Every time I think about writing a book about leaving the church, I remember that the best book has already been written. This is that book.

Great resources for holistic healing, recovery, and growth: