Originally intending to be an English teacher, Jim McKay moved instead into the realm of documentaries, music videos and public service spots. This eventually led to features and the release of "Girls Town" (1996), his first effort as a director and co-scenarist which won both the Filmmakers Trophy and a Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The story of four friends who think their senior year in high school is supposed to be proms and fun but discover far more angst, was made for under $100,000 and shot on 16mm film. McKay worked on the script with his stars Lili Taylor, Bruklin
