Rydrea Walker is a Deaf filmmaker, media executive, and Founder & CEO of WarriorsGate Entertainment, Inc., a Deaf-led media company focused on film, live sports production, and original digital content. With over a decade of experience in media production, his work blends visual storytelling, accessibility, and disciplined execution across education, sports, and entertainment.

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Born on May 3, 1995, with bilateral profound hearing loss, and first Generation Deaf in the family of Walker and Billups. Rydrea is originally from Fayette, Alabama. He attended the Alabama School for the Deaf in Talladega, Alabama, where he graduated on May 27, 2015. He later earned an Associate of Applied Science in Design and Imaging Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, through the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. He was later accepted into the Cinema and Television Arts program at California State University, Northridge.

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Rydrea’s journey into filmmaking began at a young age, driven by a deep interest in visual storytelling and hands-on production. His creative interests span directing, producing, writing, and editing, supported by a strong technical foundation that includes graphic design, live streaming, and post-production workflows. He has worked extensively with Adobe Premiere Pro since his early teens.

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At age 17, while still a student at the Alabama School for the Deaf, Rydrea released his first short film, Bob Movie (2013), which earned Third Place for Best Short Film at the Jacksonville State University Technology Fair in the Central East Region of Alabama. He went on to complete several short films, including Sleeper Chair (2013), Battle of Evil (2014), and Never Forget… (2016), and later produced the feature-length film Battle of Evil: Part Two (2014). These early projects laid the foundation for his continued work in film, live production, and media leadership.

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From April 2023 through November 2023, Rydrea worked on Jesus: A Deaf Missions Film as a Grip, Second Assistant Camera, and Drone Operator, contributing to on-location production and technical execution in support of accessible, faith-based storytelling for Deaf audiences.

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His short film ERASED has received notable recognition within the disability and independent film communities. The film was an Official Selection of the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge and was nominated for Best Awareness, presented by Amazon MGM Studios in partnership with Easterseals. ERASED also screened at the Heartland International Film Festival through the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge, where Rydrea participated in a post-screening Q&A panel. Additional official selections include the Together! Disability Film Festival and the Little Venice Film Festival.

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In addition to his filmmaking work, Rydrea is a media production professional at Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), where he leads video editing, develop a video content, webinar production supporting multiple departments nationwide. His professional background spans filmmaking, live production, post-production workflows, and media strategy, with a focus on accessibility, brand consistency, and high-quality execution.

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Through WarriorsGate Entertainment, Rydrea continues to build sustainable media infrastructure that creates opportunities for Deaf and Hard of Hearing creators while delivering compelling content to broad audiences. His leadership approach balances creativity with accountability, emphasizing long-term growth, cultural impact, and professional standards.

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Currently based in Indianapolis and operating nationwide, Rydrea and WarriorsGate Entertainment collaborate with partners across the United States, with long-term expansion underway in Southern California.