Dr. Ron Dante has had a colorful career as a grifter, stage hypnotist and infamous conman. As 'Mr. Hypnotism' he became a hit, selling out venues nationwide. Following a brief marriage to Lana Turner, Dante was tried and convicted for the attempted murder of a rival hypnotist. Continuing his performances onstage, Dante expanded his operation to include cons like the Permaderm Academy, a fake cosmetics school, and Columbia State University, a diploma mill scheme. He amassed tens of millions of dollars until the FBI caught up with him following an interview on ABC's 20/20. Assets seized, Mr. Hypnotism was once again sentenced to prison. Dante says, 'I was a con artist. I was a good conman. I say what people want to hear, just like all conmen do."

Austin-based filmmaker Bradley Beesley has made a cinematic career documenting oddball Americana, strange sub-cultures and homegrown rock stars. Post art school, he began filming with legendary bluesman R.L. Burnside to make his first movie 'Hill Stomp Hollar' (SXSW). He has since directed nine feature-length films, including seven documentaries, a concert film and a sci-fi narrative. Bradley is the producer and director of the backwoods cult classic Okie Noodling (PBS). The film chronicles the lost art of bare-handed catfishing in his home state of Oklahoma. In 2005, Shout! Factory released 'The Fearless Freaks', a documentary starring The Flaming Lips. He has collaborated on over ten music videos with the Lips and recently teamed-up with Wayne Coyne to make 'Christmas on Mars'. (Warner Bros.) 'Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo' (HBO) is his latest effort and goes behind prison walls to follow convict cowgirls as they compete in the Oklahoma State Penitentiary Rodeo. Other films include 'The Creek Runs Red' (Independent Lens), 'Summercamp!' (Sundance Channel) and 'UFO's at the Zoo' (Warner Bros.). His TV credits include 'Roller Girls' (A&E), 'Paranormal State' (A&E) and 'Storm Chasers' (Discovery).