Inside Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol: Samuel L. Pierce on ambition, collaboration and his future in film

The actor, producer and director discusses the challenges of bringing his latest science-fiction action thriller to life, his creative partnership with Christopher Noordman, and why his future may lie increasingly in acting and producing.

For Samuel L. Pierce, every production undertaken by Electric Shock Productions has represented an opportunity to push creative boundaries, develop new skills and take on challenges that once seemed beyond reach. But with his latest feature, Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol, the actor, producer and filmmaker found himself navigating an entirely new level of complexity.

What began as a relatively straightforward ambition to make a science-fiction movie evolved into the company's most technically demanding undertaking to date. With elaborate action sequences, visual effects, challenging locations and an increasingly ambitious narrative, Rogue Protocol required Pierce and his collaborators to rethink how they approached nearly every stage of production.

“Looking back at Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol, I think it's fair to say this was by far the most technically challenging film we've undertaken at Electric Shock Productions,” Pierce explains. “It required an enormous amount of hard work, preparation, and planning, not just during principal photography, but throughout pre-production and post-production as well.”

For Pierce, who stars in the title role and shares directing duties with longtime collaborator Christopher Noordman, the experience became as much about understanding his own future in the film industry as it was about completing another feature.

Building a Bigger World
The original concept for Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol was simple: create a science-fiction film. As the story developed, however, its ambitions expanded considerably, demanding more intricate action choreography, sophisticated technical execution and a larger fictional world. Working within the resources available to an independent production company meant finding creative solutions without compromising the overall vision. Pierce and his team consulted experienced professionals across multiple departments, paying particular attention to cinematography, visual effects, sound and the physical demands of the action sequences.

“One of the most important lessons I've learned as a filmmaker is that preparation is everything,” says Pierce. “You can have a wonderful script and a great cast, but translating what's on the page into something that works on screen is an entirely different challenge.”

That lesson extended well beyond the shoot itself. Although principal photography lasted just ten days across two weeks in the summer of 2024, the production demanded extensive preparation and a substantial post-production process. Locations ranged from a Seattle high-rise to a cattle ranch in the mountains, with the filmmakers frequently adapting their plans to accommodate a demanding schedule.

A Creative Partnership Built on Experience
Pierce's collaboration with Noordman dates back to The Get Rich Quick Scheme in 2022. Noordman subsequently became an associate producer and supporting actor on Off The Line, further developing a working relationship that would eventually lead to their first shared directing credit.

By early 2024, Noordman had become involved in developing the new science-fiction project, supervising the writers' room and helping assemble the production team while studying filmmaking at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Having watched Pierce balance acting and directing on previous productions, Noordman proposed a different approach.

“So, I pitched to him, ‘Why don't the two of us direct the project together?’” Noordman recalls. “He could focus on his character's scenes more and still have the vision of the film executed faithfully.”

The arrangement allowed the two filmmakers to divide responsibilities according to their respective strengths.
Noordman concentrated much of his attention on blocking and the technical execution of individual scenes, while Pierce focused on character performances and maintaining the film's broader creative direction.

“Chris and I had already worked together on several projects, and over time we'd developed a strong creative understanding of one another,” Pierce explains. “We each brought different strengths to the production.”

Their collaboration was not without challenges. The demands of a compressed shooting schedule meant that decisions often had to be made quickly, and creative disagreements were inevitable. Both filmmakers, however, emphasize the importance of mutual respect and the ability to resolve differences professionally. During production, they sometimes directed separate scenes when neither was required on camera. At other times, they worked side by side, coordinating complex sequences and making adjustments immediately before filming.

Noordman recalls that the pair even shared the final moments of principal photography, with Noordman calling “Cut!” and Pierce announcing, “That's a wrap!”

For Pierce, the experience reinforced the value of surrounding himself with collaborators who could bring different perspectives and technical strengths to a project.



Action, Suspense and Something Beneath the Surface
Although Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol is firmly rooted in science-fiction action, Pierce is reluctant to reveal too much about its narrative. He believes that audiences will benefit from entering the film without knowing exactly where the story is heading.

“One of the most interesting things about Rogue Protocol is that it's not necessarily the movie you expect it to be,” Pierce says.

The film combines action, suspense and adventure with underlying questions about humanity, trust and forgiveness. According to Pierce, its themes are deliberately open to interpretation, allowing audiences to draw different conclusions from the same events.

“Two people could watch exactly the same film and walk away with completely different understandings of what happened or what it all meant, and I don't think either person would necessarily be wrong.”

Noordman similarly describes the film as a fast-paced action thriller built around trust and forgiveness, noting that those same qualities proved essential to the collaboration behind the camera. The production features numerous fight sequences choreographed by Pierce, alongside lighter comedic moments and romantic elements that Noordman helped develop. Despite the film's more ambitious thematic territory, Pierce is equally concerned with delivering an entertaining cinematic experience. He hopes audiences will enjoy the action and suspense while leaving room for those interested in exploring the story's deeper implications.
The Importance of Music

One element Pierce considers particularly significant is the film's original score, composed by Kevin West.
For Pierce, music is not simply a finishing touch added during post-production. It is an essential storytelling tool capable of shaping the emotional meaning of a scene.

“A great score doesn't simply accompany the images on screen. It helps tell the story,” he explains.

Throughout Rogue Protocol, the filmmakers wanted music that could support the action while remaining emotionally connected to the characters and narrative. Pierce credits Kevin West with understanding those requirements and creating a score that enhances the film without overwhelming the performances.

“Kevin is an extraordinary talent, and I really can't speak highly enough of his work,” Pierce says.

The score is among the elements Pierce is most eager for audiences to experience, and he regards West's contribution as another example of the importance of assembling the right creative team.

Looking Beyond the Director's Chair
Perhaps the most significant outcome of Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol is the clarity it has given Pierce about his long-term ambitions. Having taken on multiple responsibilities throughout his filmmaking career, he is beginning to consider where his strengths and interests can have the greatest impact as Electric Shock Productions continues to develop. While directing has been an important part of his professional journey, Pierce now envisions concentrating more heavily on acting and producing.

“As the company continues to grow and we take on increasingly ambitious projects, I intend to gradually step back from day-to-day directing responsibilities and concentrate more fully on producing and acting,” he explains.

For Pierce, producing offers an opportunity to shape a film from its earliest stages, assemble talented collaborators and oversee the creative direction of a project without necessarily managing every detail of its execution. He is particularly interested in the creative side of producing, where he can help establish the overall vision and support the people responsible for bringing it to the screen.

“That doesn't mean I'll never direct again, but I do see my long-term future primarily as an actor and producer,” Pierce says.

It is a significant development for a filmmaker whose career has been defined by taking on multiple roles, often simultaneously. Rather than viewing the decision as a departure from directing, Pierce sees it as a natural progression in his understanding of filmmaking and the responsibilities involved in growing a production company.

The Next Chapter for Electric Shock Productions
As Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol moves toward audiences, Pierce views the production as an important milestone in the continuing development of Electric Shock Productions. The film challenged the company technically, creatively and logistically, while demonstrating the value of an established team willing to take on increasingly demanding work.

For Noordman, the experience was equally formative. From early development meetings in Tacoma to coordinating production across Washington and reviewing cuts during post-production, the project represented a demanding but rewarding collaboration.

For Pierce, the greatest achievement lies not simply in completing the film, but in what the experience has taught him about leadership, collaboration and his own creative priorities.

“Ultimately, filmmaking is an incredibly collaborative process,” Pierce reflects. “As an actor, producer, and director, I may be involved in a great deal of the decision-making, but no movie comes together because of one person.”

With Jack Harrison: Rogue Protocol, Pierce has taken another step toward defining the filmmaker he wants to become. The experience has strengthened his commitment to ambitious independent storytelling while giving him a clearer sense of where he hopes to take Electric Shock Productions next. And while he welcomes the possibility that audiences will discover unexpected meanings within the film, his ultimate hope remains refreshingly straightforward: that they enjoy the experience.

“And if people simply walk away having had a great time watching a science-fiction action movie, I'll be happy with that too.”

For more details on Electric Shock Productions visit the Website. You can follow Samuel L. Pierce on IMDb, Instagram, Facebook.