Denizen is a 2010 low-budget sci-fi horror-action film written and directed by J.A. Steel (also known as Jacquelyn A. Ruffner). The film stars Steel, Julie Corgill, Glen Jensen, Ben Bayless, and Jody Mullins, and is Steel's third feature film. Plot A group of scientists must stop a mysterious creature from attacking a small town. Sierra Deacon's (J.A. Steel) team, consisting of Dexter Maines (Ben Bayless) and Dallas Murphy (Jody Mullins), must help the locals led by Callie Calhoun (Julie Lisandro) in saving the town from the creature that is killing the residents. After several deaths, a special Army Unit, led by General Jernigan (Glen Jensen), is called in to contain the creature, and if necessary, destroy the town. It becomes a race against time to stop the creature and prevent the town from being destroyed. Cast Production Production began in April 2008, in Muskogee, Oklahoma and filming was completed in nine days, with principle filming taking place primarily in Muskogee, the Cenotes of Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and in Salt Lake City, Utah. Steel brought back her tough motorcycle-riding character from The Third Society in the form of 'Sierra Deacon'. In her personal life, Steel races motorcycles, skydives, handles swords, competes in Muay Thai kickboxing, is a Master SCUBA Diver, and holds 22 marksmanship awards with various weapons, so in several cave diving scenes, Steel did her own stunts as well as some camera work. The film includes a transgender supporting character of General 'Zeke' Deacon, the father of Sierra Deacon, played by trans woman actress and activist Dominique Storni. Recognition A Denizen trailer screened at the Park City Music Film Festival in 2009, and when the Denizen film premiered at the Bare Bones International Film Festival in April 2010, it received a nomination for the 'Best Sci-Fi Feature'. Denizen also was the only film to screen at the LGBT 'Outlantacon Sci-Fi Convention'. Director and producer Jessica M. Bair won the 2009 Nevada Film Festival's 'Silver Screen Award' in the Short Film Competition, for the behind the scenes documentary Denizen: Special Access J.A. Steel. The short film was shot during the post-production of the Denizen feature, with director J.A. Steel and sound editor Wayne Rawley providing a close-up view into the filmmaker who does her own stunts. In June 2010, Denizen was awarded the Bronze Medal for Excellence Award for the 'Best Impact of Music in a Feature Film', at