Our Story
Rankin and Tracy met in 1998 on the Forest Whitaker project, Black Jaq. They have been friends and colleagues ever since. They share a dedication to hard work with a healthy dollop of perfectionism that informs how they do what they do, and it becomes elevated even more when they work together. So, in 2023, they decided it was time to rekindle the dream that was washed away by Katrina in 2005… to start their own production company. Based in New Orleans, with 50 years of production experience between them, Big Brass was reborn.
As a production team, Rankin works as a DGA UPM and Tracy focuses on accounting and Louisiana Tax Incentives. This makes for a solid one stop shop for all the needs of an independent film maker to be successful in Louisiana.
Rankin Hickman is a writer, producer, and director with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Specializing in feature length films and with extensive knowledge of all aspects of narrative storytelling , he has the experience to take a project from concept to completion. He has worked with both studios and independent producers on projects with budgets ranging from $200K to $85M. His credits include Runaway Jury, Dark Meridian, Beautiful Disaster, Parker, 22 Jump Street, Wounds, After, 2 Guns, Into the Badlands, Queen & Slim, and Where the Crawdads Sing.
Rankin splits his time between Los Angeles and New Orleans. He is married to the production designer Christina Kim and is the father of two.
Tracy Keller has been a longtime member of the New Orleans film community devoted to creating successful independent productions. Her resume includes experience as a production manager, line producer, and production accountant, with a portfolio of projects that includes Kasi Lemmon’s iconic film Eve’s Bayou, Runaway Jury and American Violet as well as Beyonce’s groundbreaking visual album Lemonade. She has worked on the documentary features Breaking the News, Spike Lee’s Hurricane Message, Wuhan Wuhan and Dante: Inferno to Paradise. Her recent indie features include Average Joe, History of Evil, In the Summers and Off Ramp: Juggalo Road. Additionally there is a long list of commercial work from Ceasar’s Sportsbook with the Mannings to Google Pixel with Amy Schumer. Tracy’s skill at budget management and tax credit processing is informed by her close partnership with the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association. She is also a mother of two fantastic humans, a dog named Freda and a member of the Mardi Gras dance troupe The Muff-A-Lottas!
Collier Meyer, New Orleans-based filmworker, discovered his passion for storytelling in the 90’s while bouncing back and forth from Texas and Louisiana. Inspired both by parables and late-night sci-fi alike, he uses film to promote progressive ideas and explore the shared human experience. Collier began his journey in a news room, excelling in roles like Floor Manager, Camera Operator, Photographer and Sound Mixer. Collier moved to Los Angeles after college and worked as an assistant to a Hollywood legend. His career took off with a production office job in New Orleans during new parenthood—a defining milestone. Since then he has worked on projects such as Bill & Ted Face the Music, Where the Crawdads Sing, Hitman & Twisted Metal. Dedicated to growing Louisiana’s film community, Collier puts emphasis on empathy and care for crew as he attempts to balance his own work life and time at home with a beautiful wife and two boys. Known for being a little weird, hard-working, and a bit chatty, he strives to tell stories that foster connection and inspire discovery.
