Travis Knox
Associate Professor, Artistic Faculty; Producing
Film and Media Arts, Lawrence and Kristina Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Office Location: Marion Knott Studios 358
Phone: (714) 744-7800
Email: tknox@chapman.edu
- Education:
- Chapman University, Bachelor of Fine Arts
Biography
Immediately following graduation from Chapman University in 1993, Travis Knox packed
his belongings and moved to Hollywood. His entry-level gig as a receptionist for Bruce
Willis and Demi Moore’s production company lasted six weeks before he was promoted,
starting the glamorous life of a producer’s assistant.
After a couple of years paying his dues, Knox was hired by producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron as a production associate on the television movie events Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Beach Boys: An American Family and Annie, Rob Marshall’s directorial debut. He worked his way up to executive vice president of development and production at Zadan & Meron’s Storyline Entertainment, where he oversaw numerous feature and television productions, including Miramax’s Chicago (which went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Picture).
During this time, he was responsible for finding, packaging and producing the Rob Reiner‑directed Warner Bros. hit The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. He was also a co‑producer on the movie musical Hairspray, starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Knox returned to Chapman in 2012 as an adjunct professor to give back to the university that launched his career and transitioned to full‑time teaching in 2019. In addition to his studio feature experience, he has produced projects such as the documentary Breaking Bread, which achieved a 91 score on Rotten Tomatoes and secured a wide theatrical release; the thriller The Barber, now streaming worldwide; and the streaming special Behind the Indianapolis 500 with Parnelli Jones.
During his time with Dodge College’s Creative Producing (CRPR) program, Knox launched the Producer‑Initiated track, which remains a major draw for CRPR students who want to originate and drive their own projects. He also created the Business of Entertainment Minor, an interdisciplinary program with the university’s Argyros College of Business and Economics, which has developed into one of the most sought‑after minors on campus. He takes great pride in his commitment to equipping students to navigate the intersection of art, commerce and strategy in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Knox continues to mentor Dodge College alumni on their first feature projects, advising them on packaging, production logistics and market strategy as they build sustainable producing careers.
After a couple of years paying his dues, Knox was hired by producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron as a production associate on the television movie events Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, The Beach Boys: An American Family and Annie, Rob Marshall’s directorial debut. He worked his way up to executive vice president of development and production at Zadan & Meron’s Storyline Entertainment, where he oversaw numerous feature and television productions, including Miramax’s Chicago (which went on to win six Academy Awards, including Best Picture).
During this time, he was responsible for finding, packaging and producing the Rob Reiner‑directed Warner Bros. hit The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. He was also a co‑producer on the movie musical Hairspray, starring John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer.
Knox returned to Chapman in 2012 as an adjunct professor to give back to the university that launched his career and transitioned to full‑time teaching in 2019. In addition to his studio feature experience, he has produced projects such as the documentary Breaking Bread, which achieved a 91 score on Rotten Tomatoes and secured a wide theatrical release; the thriller The Barber, now streaming worldwide; and the streaming special Behind the Indianapolis 500 with Parnelli Jones.
During his time with Dodge College’s Creative Producing (CRPR) program, Knox launched the Producer‑Initiated track, which remains a major draw for CRPR students who want to originate and drive their own projects. He also created the Business of Entertainment Minor, an interdisciplinary program with the university’s Argyros College of Business and Economics, which has developed into one of the most sought‑after minors on campus. He takes great pride in his commitment to equipping students to navigate the intersection of art, commerce and strategy in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
Knox continues to mentor Dodge College alumni on their first feature projects, advising them on packaging, production logistics and market strategy as they build sustainable producing careers.
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Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications