A Founder-Led Studio Focused on Original IP
CirrusFilm™ exists to develop and shepherd original feature film concepts and stories that are grounded and cinematic.
Founded by writer and filmmaker JD Herrera, the studio’s work draws from American history, subcultures, and mythologies, blending period detail, character-driven drama, and a deep respect for classic filmmaking traditions. This is a creative home for projects designed to move from page to screen with intention.
Original Feature Concepts
Narrative-driven films developed as complete cinematic worlds, not formulas.
Founder-Driven Vision
Projects authored and guided by a singular creative voice from development through production.
Built for Collaboration
Structured to invite producers, directors, financiers, and creative partners into the process.
Where Story Leads
Original feature films rooted in character, history, and place
Founder
With a background in film, television, and broadcast journalism, JD brings a cinematic eye shaped by decades of professional work, including a distinguished career as a board-certified criminal trial attorney in both federal and state courts. His legal work has included major felony cases, death penalty litigation, and service as a special prosecutor in the aftermath of the New Mexico Penitentiary riot, the deadliest prison uprising in American history.
These experiences inform JD’s writing and filmmaking, grounding his projects in authenticity, moral complexity, and an unflinching engagement with American systems and histories. He has authored multiple feature-length screenplays and continues to develop narrative and docu-drama projects through CirrusFilm™.
In addition to writing, JD directs and produces feature films and has appeared as an actor in both film and television. His longstanding passion for aviation (and his status as a licensed pilot since 1972) continues to influence the themes and settings of his work.
Featured Film: 66
In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Route 66 in 2026, 66 is a 1950s-set period thriller centered on the murder of two people along Route 66 and the prosecution that follows.
When an innocent traveler is charged, a corrupt district attorney and a powerful U.S. senator with influence over national transportation policy work in tandem to shape the case, revealing a web of political ambition, institutional corruption, and buried truth stretching from the American road to Washington, D.C.