Since he was seven years old Jonathan Straiton has known that he wanted to tell stories,whether as an actor, a writer or a director. Throughout his early years he performed with various theatre companies throughout Virginia andmade several short films using his mothers VHS Camera. He made his first short film at the age of 8 titled The Shape Shifter from Outer Space.

In 1998, as a high school graduation present, Straiton was sent to the New York Film Academy to study in Paris, France. There, he shot three sixteen millimeter films and confirmed his passion for filmmaking. He returned home to Middlesex Virginia eager to make a movie and wrote his first feature Killbiz. A dark comedy about two unlikely hit-men who find themselves in the ultimate double cross. Straiton talked his long time friend Thomas Williams into helping with the production. Williams talked their mutual friend, Eugene Pearce a.k.a. Mean Gene into it as well….so began White Lightning Productions (WLP Films).