 |
|
 Marilyn Agrelo
MAD HOT BALLROOM proved to be the perfect vehicle for first time feature filmmaker Marilyn Agrelo’s directorial debut. With over 15 years of experience in the world of filmmaking and production, she jumped at the chance to create this critically acclaimed film with her friend, writer/producer Amy Sewell, that would be a love poem to New York, while also delving into the amazing contrasts being offered by the characters in the story.
Born in Cuba, Agrelo came to the United States with her parents and three siblings at the age of 2 years old. Growing up in New York in a family that was culturally different than those of her peers shaped an early awareness of human themes which she continues to explore through her work. It was this sensibility that distanced MAD HOT BALLROOM from other films to make it the success it has become. Far from being a movie just about kids doing ballroom dancing, the film represents a poignant, humorous and uplifting window into humanity, with its myriad points of view and its realities and dreams. Critics and audiences have felt the same way about Agrelo and the film. A surprise box office hit in the summer of 2005, this film took in $8 million dollars which placed it at #7 in the “Top Ten All Time Box Office Documentary” films list. MAD HOT BALLROOM enjoyed a theatrical run of over 24 weeks in theatres - a feat unheard of for documentary films.
Prior to MAD HOT BALLROOM, Agrelo worked on dramatic shorts (recently SMASH THE KITTY), fund raising films, and has developed interactive museum installations. Another non-fiction past work for Agrelo is THE ORBIS STORY, a short film about an international humanitarian project. She continues her research and filming on a very personal project entitled US AND THEM. This film is a documentary feature about her divided family and their contrasting truths and political beliefs. It is being filmed in both the United States and Cuba.
Future projects include PECK, a feature film about a teenage boy and his journey for self-realization. PECK is scheduled to shoot in the summer of 2006.
MAD HOT BALLROOM allowed Agrelo to connect with an amazing group of talented Latino-American kids underscoring her own cultural pride as a Cuban American raised in New York City making a living as an artist. She lives with her boyfriend, filmmaker Brian David Cange and their two cats in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Back to top
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Sergio Agúero
Sergio Agúero was Executive Producer of the acclaimed Alfonso Cuaron film, Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN. A former senior executive at Trimark, his credits also include LET THE DEVIL WEAR BLACK and PRINCESAS. Along with Mexican entrepreneur/producer Jorge Vergara, he formed Apuesta Pictures to produce mainstream film and TV productions with a Latino sensibility. Currently, he is in pre-production on MOSTLY MARTHA with director Scott Hicks (SHINE).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Maria Agui Carter
Maria Agui Carter is an independent filmmaker, founder of Iguana Films, and member of the Boston-based Filmmaker’s Collaborative. Over a dozen of Carter’s long-form documentaries have aired on PBS. A native of Ecuador and a 1987 graduate of Harvard where she studied filmmaking and anthropology, Carter started in television producing for the WGBH Latino documentary series La Plaza. She moved to the National Productions department of WGBH to produce for the prime-time PBS series CULTURE SHOCK, a historical four hour mini-series on the relationship between art, morality, and society, nominated for best series by the International Documentary Association. She has since produced other documentaries for PBS, including Rumble Over West Side Story, and Tango: Duel and Dance.
Carter has extensive experience shooting in Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain, Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic. She has completed several dozen shorts in Spanish for the educational market distributed by Heinle and Heinle and Prentiss Hall. She has been a Harvard University Warren Fellow in American Studies, and a Rockefeller Fellow at Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies. She is currently in production on REBEL, a film about a woman, a myth, and the politics of national memory. REBEL is supported by grants from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and Latino Public Broadcasting.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jorge Aguirre
Jorge Aguirre was Executive Producer and head writer for SíTV’s “Circumsized Cinema,” a comedy series in which Mexican B-movies were given an extreme makeover. He wrote Nickelodeon’s “Go Diego! Go!” Previously, he directed the PBS national series, “History Detectives.” In 2002, Aguirre was commissioned by Latino Public Broadcasting to produce the interstitial, “Is My Neighbor Latino?” which won the Diversity Award at the Media That Matters Film Festival. His short films have been featured at the Guggenheim Museum, Smithsonian Institute, the Sundance Channel and other public venues. In 2001, he was awarded a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Luis Aira
Director Luis Aira's credits include Coca Cola, Sprite, Carl's Jr., Sears, Ikea, and John Kerry for President and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. He's honored with Clio, Addy, Belding and Latino Marketing Awards.
Film & Screenplay Credits: Chapter X, Best Experimental Film Award, L.A. International Film Expo, Girl in 3D, Cinemavault Releasing, Best Feature Award Indiefest Chicago, Best Thriller NYIIFV Festival. Somewhere an IFFF Screenplay Winner, Kemosabe a Cinequest Screenplay Competition Finalist. Aira's production company Ofrenda, Inc. produces features, commercials, music videos and television.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Cruz Angeles
Cruz Angeles is an NYU film graduate and winner of the 2006 Sundance/NHK Filmmakers Award. He was selected as a fellow for the 2005 Sundance Institute Screenwriter’s and Filmmaker’s Lab with his feature script, DON'T LET ME DROWN. In 2001, Cruz won a Director’s Guild of America Award for Best Latino Student Filmmaker for his short ABUELA'S REVOLT. He is currently in post-production on, THE NEGATIVE, a short psychological thriller based on the folklore that photographs steal your soul.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Sergio Arau
Born in Mexico City, celebrated filmmaker, artist and musician, Sergio Arau was the writer/producer/director of the hit feature film A Day Without a Mexican.
The controversial film was the subject of national media attention for both its topic and provocative marketing campaign. A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN was theatrically released and audience acceptance exceeded expectations in the box office. ADWAM went on to become 2004’s number 1 box office hit in Mexico, and has sold 500,000 DVD's in the US.
A recognized visual artist and political cartoonist, Sergio won the Coral De Plata award in Havana with his animated short “El Muro”(2001.)
In 1983, Sergio formed Botellita De Jerez, a group that fused humor and traditional Mexican music with rock'n'roll. He is presently working on Plan B - a mockumentary based on his group considered the precursor of the “Rock-en' Español” movement.
In 1998, Sergio won the MTV Award for directing Café Tacuba's “Alarmala De Tos”. Sergio received his MFA in Film Studies at CUEC in Mexico City.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Yareli Arizmendi
Actor-Writer-Producer, Yareli Arizmendi recently finished work on the upcoming Richard Linklater film based on the book FAST FOOD NATION.
In 2004, Yareli co-wrote the screenplay A DAY WITHOUT A MEXICAN with her director/musician husband Sergio Arau (and Sergio Guerrero), and played the lead role of “Lila Rodriguez”. Audience acceptance exceeded expectations in the box office and in the word-of-mouth that followed. ADWAM went on to become a DVD rental-dream, bringing in 12.9 million dollars in the first month and half of its US release.
Well known for her role as "Rosaura" in Alfonso Arau’s LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE, Yareli has regularly works on American films and TV. Recent guest star appearances include HOUSE, LAX, 24, SIX FEET UNDER, THE AGENCY, THREAT MATRIX, NOTHING SACRED, and NYPD BLUE.Her one-woman show -- NOSTALGIA MALDITA: 1-900-MEXICO, was featured on PBS’ Heritage series.
Born in Mexico City, Yareli has resided in California since 1983. She received her BA in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego and her MFA in Theater Arts from the same institution.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Vanessa Arteaga
As Senior Programming & Production Executive for Wellspring, Vanessa Arteaga heads the companies’ co-production projects, thereby securing programming for distribution through all of Wellspring’s major channels.
Ms. Arteaga has been involved in spearheading and managing various co-productions, including as of late, the groundbreaking feature-length documentary film Tarnation. The film has received worldwide acclaim, picking up several awards in the past year including Best Documentary by the National Society of Film Critics; Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival; the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival, and the Emerging Filmmaker Award by the International Documentary Association. It was also nominated for Best Documentary of the year for both the IFP Gotham Awards and the IFP Spirit Awards.
Prior projects have included Devil’s Playground and Fashion Victim: The Killing of Gianni Versace for Cinemax, Mama Africa for PBS, Muddy Waters: Can’t Be Satisfied for American Masters, Who is Alan Smithee? for AMC, and several pledge programs for PBS.
WELLSPRING licenses, distributes, and co-produces programming worldwide for the television, home video, theatrical, online, and consumer markets. Ms. Arteaga has been with Wellspring for seven years in various production and programming capacities. Prior to joining Wellspring, she was positioned at CBS News Productions working on the acclaimed A&E Biography series, and 20th Century with Mike Wallace.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Marilyn R. Atlas
Marilyn R. Atlas is an award-winning producer and personal manager in the worlds of film, television, and live theater. She produced REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES, the West Coast theater premiers of GOD BLESS YOU MR. ROSEWATER and TO GILLIAN ON HER 37TH BIRTHDAY, and was casting director of THE WIZ. She is a founding member of Women in Films Luminas Committee, which supports the portrayal of women in non-stereotypical roles in film and television. Along with Dorothy Lyman, Marilyn founded ADT, a director's theater.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandra Avila
Sandra Avila, Coordinator, Original Programming, Showtime Networks Inc., is responsible for the supervision of Showtime’s Annual Latino Filmmaker Showcase, collaborating with the winner to produce a short, funded by grant money, that has its premiere on Showtime. She has worked on a number of series throughout her tenure at Showtime Networks, including “Resurrection Blvd.,” “Street Time,” “Queer As Folk,” and “Penn & Teller.” Avila received a BA from St. Mary’s University and a Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Orlando Bagwell
Orlando Bagwell joined the Ford Foundation in February 2004 as the new Media Production Program Officer in the Media, Arts and Culture unit, in the Knowledge, Creativity and Freedom Program. Orlando has a distinguished career of over 25 years as an independent filmmaker and producer. His long list of achievements includes 4 Emmy Awards and numerous Emmy nominations, 3 George Peabody Awards, and the 1994 New York Film Festival Grand Prize, among many others. He was one of the lead producers/directors of Blackside, Inc., and its award-winning series, "Eyes on the Prize,” and was Executive Vice President in charge of production for this pre-eminent film company from 1991-94.
Since 1989 he has been President/Filmmaker of Roja Productions, Inc. As Executive Producer/Filmmaker at WGBH Educational Foundation during 1995-2000, he supervised all aspects of the multi-part historical documentary series "Africans in America" for PBS national Broadcast and the attendant national educational and community outreach programs; he has produced and represented a number of documentary television series and single programs for national PBS distribution. Orlando has also curated visual exhibits for the national Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., and the Simon Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in film and a Masters degree in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gabriel J. Baptiste
Gabriel J. Baptiste joined Telemundo Cable Group as the Senior Director Program Scheduling to oversee the retargeting of mun2 programming, relaunch Telemundo Internacional as an all-Spanish network for Latin America, and launch/develop Telemundo Puerto Rico for U.S. Hispanic audiences. He is the former Director of Television/Executive Producer at Zeal Television USA in Miami Beach, FL, and has over 13 years in multiple management positions related to production and cable programming. Baptiste launched his career in radio over three decades ago in Caracas, Venezuela.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Luis Barreto
Luis’ interest in production started as a junior high-school kid roaming the cavernous studios at NBC’s Burbank lot. It was a time when security was lax and Johnny Carson, Flip Wilson and Rowan & Martin ruled the peacock network.
After a short and glorious tour in the US Army, Greenpeace called with a job offer to work as a “media liaison” while the environmental watchdog took on the tuna fisheries in Central America. Later came other campaigns, fighting rogue whalers in Peru, Japanese gill-netters in the Pacific and in Russia, protesting the killing of Gray whales.
After his near capture in Russia, Luis segued to a production job on Solid Gold. Yes, the one with Marilyn McCoo, Andy Gibb and those dancers. It was here that Luis met his first mentor, Louis J Horvitz who was directing the show. Mr. Horvitz encouraged Luis to pursue directing by becoming a shooter first.
After Solid Gold, Luis worked at CCI, a video equipment rental company in Hollywood. It was here that Luis learned how to shoot Betacam cameras and operate editing equipment, learning the business from the inside, hands on.
Greenpeace called again and gave Luis his first directing gig, working on documentaries in Hawaii. Eventually, Luis made the transition to broadcast TV, landing a staff-directing gig with the CBS affiliate in Honolulu. He directed newscasts, sporting events, concerts and commercials.
After returning from paradise, Luis landed a producing gig in the creative services department for Telemundo’s flagship station in LA.This led to general market producing jobs with KCAL promoting the LA Lakers, Angels and LA Kings, KABC and several independent trailer and promo houses.
Seemingly out of nowhere a friend of a friend working at Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP) called looking for a Spanish-speaking producer to head down to Mexico for MTV’s unscripted show “Road Rules.” It was a new genre and a new mentor, producer, Clay Newbill. The gig fit like a glove and so came more opportunities from this burgeoning company. Directing, casting, producing and editing, followed and best of all extensive travel.
It was Newbill who gave Luis his first shot at show producing, when he brought Mr. Barreto on as co-executive producer on ABC’s “The Mole-2,” plus both celebrity editions. Luis has produced for MTV, Fox, NBC and he was nominated for an Emmy for ABC’s “Extreme Makeover-Home Edition.” Currently Luis is producing a “hands on history” unscripted program for PBS. The eight hour series, “Texas Ranch House,” premiers May 1st through the 4th, 2006 on the Public Broadcasting Network.
Luis was born In Bogotá, Colombia and currently lives with his wife and 2 kids in Los Angeles, California.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Steve Bartz
Steve Bartz handles digital strategies for Active Voice, developing and marketing programs including The New Americans DVDs, the multimedia corporate program, The Islam Project, and the online presence for TEACH. Before Active Voice, Steve produced environmental documentaries in Latin America and California and curated international film series at Chicago’s Field Museum and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
Steve holds an M.A. in Latin American Studies from UC-Berkeley, focusing on the role of communication technologies in regional development.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kevin Benson
Kevin Benson has long been a believer in the Latino market and its buying power. He has many years in the entertainment business, specializing in music, merchandising, and licensing. He served as an executive with both New Line Cinema and Saban Entertainment, developed sponsorship and promotions for companies including BUDWEISER, COORS, JOSE CUERVO, AMERICAN AIRLINES, and PEPSI, and has established merchandising and representation programs for artists like Juanes and Shakira. Kevin is producing a filmed version of the play Latinologues.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Luca Bentivoglio
Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting
As Executive Director of Latino Public Broadcasting, Mr. Bentivoglio is responsible for the development and production of Latino Programs that provide diversity to the PBS line-up. He implements outreach and international distribution strategies to offer Latino independent producers with additional opportunities in the global market.
Mr. Bentivoglio has been a television network and production executive for over two decades and is regarded as a pioneer of U.S. Spanish-language television having worked for Univision Network, Telemundo Network and Warner Brothers International. In 1996, Mr. Bentivoglio launched the new Warner Bros. Channel in Latin America and directed the programming, marketing, and distribution efforts that made WB the #1 family channel in Latin America and Brazil.
Through his own company, Luca Bentivoglio Productions, Inc., he has produced, written and hosted more than 1,000 half-hours of network television broadcasts. As an independent producer, Mr. Bentivoglio created, wrote and produced prime-time shows for Univision and Telemundo, including the award-winning special Viva La Raza, a celebration of the richness of Latino culture in the United States. He also hosted Desde Hollywood and Cine Millonario, both long-running prime time hit series. In addition, he produced and directed several movies of the week for Telemundo, which achieved the highest ratings during the 1994 television season.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 St. Claire Bourne
St. Claire Bourne is a producer, director, and writer for his business Chamba Mediaworks, Inc., including some 45 film productions, specializing in the exploration of African life both in the United States and internationally. He directed PAUL ROBESON: HERE I STAND! after producing a feature-length documentary HALF PAST AUTUMN: THE LIFE AND WORKS OF GORDON PARKS. Bourne has taught film courses at Cornell University, CCNY-Queens College, UCLA's Film Department, and Yale University.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Peter Broderick
Peter Broderick is President of Paradigm Consulting, which specializes in cutting-edge distribution techniques and provides strategic consulting services to filmmakers and media companies.
Broderick was President of Next Wave Films, which helped launch the careers of filmmakers (such as Christopher Nolan) from the U.S. and abroad. It financed digital features through its production arm--Agenda 2000.
Broderick played a key role in the growth of the ultra-low budget feature movement. A leading advocate of digital moviemaking, Broderick gave presentations on digital production at Cannes, Sundance, and Berlin. He has written articles for Scientific American, The New York Times, and The Economist. He is a graduate of Brown, Cambridge University, and Yale Law School.
Now focused on the revolution in independent distribution, Broderick has given keynotes on the subject internationally and published a seminal article, “Maximizing Distribution.” As Program Co-Director, he helped organize DigiMart, the first Global Digital Distribution Summit, which brought together leaders of the digital revolution from around the world.
In 2004, he launched http://www.filmstoseebeforeyouvote.org to harness the power of film to impact elections. Most recently, he executive produced SIR! NO SIR!, a feature documentary about the GI movement against the war in Vietnam (Audience Award winner, Los Angeles Film Festival).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Nicole Brown
Nicole Brown is a development executive at Marc Platt Productions (LEGALLY BLONDE 1 + 2, EMPIRE FALLS, WICKED), with a first-look deal at Universal Studios. An associate producer on HONEY, Nicole is currently developing projects such as NAPPILY EVER AFTER, COMPOSITIONS IN BLACK AND WHITE by Jose Rivera, THE UNTITLED MARLA RUZICA PROJECT with Kirsten Dunst, LOVE IN THE DRIEST SEASON, THE BOOK OF LEO, and the Dusty Springfield biopic: SAY YOU LOVE ME. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nicole began her career as an intern at Miramax in New York.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ciara Byrne
Ciara Byrne is the Executive Director of Lion Television USA, working to promote the London-based company with shows for US channels. She has a background in program creation and development for television, including Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, Fox, E!, TLC, Animal Planet, and others. After graduating from University College in Dublin with a Masters in Drama, she got her start in television as a researcher for BBC in Washington, DC.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deborah Calla
Deborah Calla is a veteran of film, television, and commercial production. Her company develops and produces programming with a Latino sensibility. Having worked extensively in the US and Brazil, Deborah provides production services to producers and production companies. Her feature credits include DREAM HOUSE and LOST ZWEIG, CARNIVALE IN RIO-2004, CARNIVALE IN RIO-2003. She serves as chair of the PGA diversity development program that will take applications in spring 2006.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Colin Callender
Colin Callender is president, HBO Films, responsible for overseeing the development and production of all films, theatrical and for the network including Award-winning EMPIRE FALLS, ANGELS IN AMERICA and LAKAWANNA BLUES. He had been head of HBO NYC Productions as senior vice president and then as executive vice president, having originally joined HBO as executive producer, HBO Showcase. He won an Emmy® Award for his work as producer of “The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby,” and has received numerous other awards for his work as a writer. Callender holds a BA with Honors in Philosophy and Politics from the University of East Anglia.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julio Caro
Julio Caro is a producer of motion pictures. His next film is EL CANTANTE directed by Leon Ichaso, telling the life story of Hector Lavoe who started the salsa movement in 1975 and brought it to the United States. He is also in production on IT’S UNDER MY SKIN, the feature debut of actor Mike Cerrone. Both films are due for release in 2006. Julio also produced Tarsem Singh’s new film THE FALL this year, after his collaboration with Singh on THE CELL, which starred Jennifer López.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michelle Coe
Michelle has worked in the worlds of independent film and theatre for more than 10 years, including production, distribution, and artist support services. She is currently Production Assistance Program Administrator for Women Make Movies, a media arts organization which facilitates the production, promotion, distribution and exhibition of independent films by and about women. She oversees fiscal sponsorship for nearly 200 projects in various stages of production as well as implements career and project development programs for women filmmakers.
Prior to Women Make Movies, Michelle worked as Marketing Associate with First Run/Icarus Films, a leading distributor of documentaries, and Program Director of the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), where she produced events and developed programs for artists nationwide. She has served on numerous screening committees and evaluation juries (including P.O.V, the National Black Programming Consortium, and Global Film Initiative), and has presented programs at the industry’s leading film festivals, including Sundance and South By Southwest. Michelle has also been a part of independent film production (Everyday People; Bigger Than Life: Toots Shor; Cosmopolitan) and theatre production (Sara Moore’s Show Ho; You Again: A Musical About Cloning). Originally from Minneapolis, she began her career as Membership/Education Director for Independent Feature Project/Minnesota (IFP/MN), where she administered the McKnight Fellowship for Screenwriters.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Aaton Cohen-Sitt
Aaton Cohen-Sitt is currently the Managing Partner of Jungle Software, makers of Gorilla, Film Production Software for Independent Filmmakers. He has written several feature-length screenplays and directed the award-winning short, "Dr. Ded Bug", which Roger Ebert reviewed as “brief and brilliant”. His feature-length film debut, "Interviewing Norman", a comedy about a documentary filmmaker obsessed with the devil, was the driving force for creating Gorilla, software specifically geared towards the independent filmmaker. Aaton gives seminars on independent filmmaking at The Apple Stores, film schools, and various film festivals.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Juan Carlos Coto
Juan Carlos Coto is a consulting producer on the ABC drama INVASION. For HBO, he is co-writing and executive producing ENRIQUE'S JOURNEY, a miniseries about illegal immigration. Coto was consultant on the Emmy-winning HBO film, FOR LOVE OR COUNTRY: THE ARTURO SANDOVAL STORY. Further credits include THE PRETENDER, THE DEAD ZONE and NCIS. He has created several pilots and developed the series MORTAL KOMBAT: CONQUEST. A former computer game designer, Coto was also a staff writer for The Miami Herald.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jeff Cree
Jeff Cree is the Acquisition Systems Specialist for Sony and has spent more time in the HD trenches than anyone we know. Jeff is widely considered to be one of the leading authorities on the Sony F900 and any DPs who have an HD project in their future would be well advised to attend one of his highly popular seminars. As Jeff points out, "There are essentially two techniques to using the F900 in a film type environment. One is having a remote control station (Video Village) with a remote operator/engineer who works with the DP and actually controls or paints the image as it is recorded. The other technique is to preset the camera to a conservative profile and then just light and operate using that setting as you would a film stock."
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Daniel Crowe
In his role as president, Daniel Crowe defines the strategic direction and oversees the daily operations of LATV. After spending years in the Hispanic media industry, Crowe envisioned a network entirely dedicated to serving the interests and preferences of U.S. Latino youth and young adults – a rapidly growing but largely underserved demographic. Working closely with founder Walter Ulloa and a team of dedicated young Latinos, Crowe helped make that dream a reality with the launch of LATV in January, 2001.
Crowe began his broadcast career more than 20 years ago at the Spanish International Network (SIN), now Univision, and went on to hold various management positions at Univision, Telemundo and Galavision. In addition to his background in television, Crowe also brings experience in the worlds of the Internet and radio. He helped launch Internet Mercado, a Spanish-language e-commerce Website. And…In 1995, Crowe started the first major market Spanish Rock Station, Ritmo 98.3 in Los Angeles,( whose format was taken over by Entravision and became today’s La Super Estrella) and served as an owner and general manager until its sale to Cox Communications in 1997.
Crowe holds bachelor degrees in Spanish and Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Angel David
Angel David’s Film credits include THE CROW, KISS OF DEATH, TED'S MBA, TWO GIRLS AND A GUY, THE CITIZEN, CITY HALL, A JERSEY TALE, SEARCH AND DESTROY, THE SUBSTITUTE 2, and GI JANE, among others.
Television credits include: Several appearances on Law and Order, Third Watch, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, New York News, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Another World, Janek: The Wallflower Murders, a recurring role on One Life to Live, and the Dick Wolf Pilot Conviction.
Angel has directed numerous plays, and has written and will direct a short SCAR TISSUE. He is a Producers Academy Alum, and last year returned as a mentor.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Northrop Davis
Northrop Davis is a professional screenwriter, commercial director, and teacher/lecturer on screenwriting and film. He has sold three studio projects, and has written and directed commercials for over five years. He found and pitched the Battle Angel Alita Manga series to Twentieth Century Fox; it was subsequently acquired for James Cameron who is in production on the vfx-heavy film franchise (project title: BATTLE ANGEL).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Margarita De la Vega-Hurtado
Margarita De la Vega-Hurtado, Ph.D., Executive Director of The Flaherty/ International Film Seminars. Ms. De la Vega-Hurtado is a widely recognized film scholar and curator, that began as a film ciritc in Bogota, Colombia for newspapers and television. She holds a doctorate in American Culture, with an emphasis in Film Studies. Dr. de la Vega-Hurtado was a lecturer in American Cuture and in film studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she directed the Program in Latino Studies. She was also a visiting Faculty at the University of California-Santa Cruz. She has curated and presented program s in Latin American and Latino Cinema, on Louis Malle, and on documentary.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ricardo de Montreuil
Ricardo de Montreuil is the Creative Director of On Air Promos and Off Air for mun2 television. Prior to joining Telemundo, de Montreuil served as Senior Art Director at MTV Networks Latin America, and has directed music videos and TV commercials, including spots for Coca-Cola, Mc Donald’s and MTV, winning several awards for his achievements in creative and art direction. He has just completed his first feature film, LA MUJER DE MI HERMANO” (MY BROTHER’S WIFE), which has been acquired by Twentieth Century Fox and was released in September 2005.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Ricardo Del Rio
Since year 2000 Ricardo Del Río has co-produced/line produced 8 U.S. feature films including “The Mexican” for Dreamworks, “The Matador” for the Stratus Company and most recently “Nacho Libre” for Paramount Pictures; during this time he has also supervised the Mexico Units of films such as “Kill Bill” and “The Cave” through his company Art In Motion – Mexico.
His experience dates back to 1992 starting as Production Assistant working his way up in American feature films as Production Coordinator, Production Supervisor, Unit Production Manager, and on films like “Once Upon a Time in Mexico” and “Borderland”, as First Assistant Director; he has also Directed the 2nd Unit on several films including “Vampires – Los Muertos”, “Deadly Swarm” and “Wild World”.
Although specialized in American features shot in México, Ricardo Del Río has also written and produced over 10 Mexican Feature Films.
A co-founder of the National Film Commission – México and the Puerto Vallarta Film Commission, Ricardo Del Río has worked closely with the Mexican Unions and Government Institutions to help develop a reliable film industry in México that can provide quality services to any production regardless of nationality, complexity or budget size.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Lourdes Diaz
Lourdes Diaz leads VOY Pictures' efforts in acquiring, developing and packaging films in theUnited States, Latin America andSpain. Diaz has more than 12 years of experience in management and production. Most recently, she was the founder and President of Agua Entertainment, where she developed and produced films for theatrical and television distribution as well as managed writers and directors. Agua Entertainment Group had an overhead deal with Catch 23 Entertainment. There Diaz oversaw and consulted on a development and production slate that includes: Edge of Darkness a co-production with the BBC; The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing, a co-production with Odd Lot Entertainment, presently casting for Warner Independent Pictures, with Mark Klein directing; and Mrs. Darwin, a co-production with The Film Council to be directed by Mike Newell. In addition, this fall she served as Executive Producer for James Patterson's Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas, a telefilm for CBS.
From 1999 to 2003, Diaz served as head of Development and Production of Green Moon Productions, Antonio Banderas' and Melanie Griffith's company. She was responsible for the development and production of studio and independent films, and television series and telefilms. Diaz served as Co-Executive Producer on ImaginingArgentina(Universal/Arenas), Co-Produced …And Starring Pancho Villa (HBO) as well as partner and producer on the upcomingSan Antonio(Fox Searchlight), Killing Pablo (Paramount/DreamWorks) and Infidel (Miramax).Diaz also developed and managed multi-year deals between Green Moon and Telemundo, Warner Bros., Columbia/TriStar Television, and HBO. Previously, Diaz was Senior Vice President of Development and Production at MPCA from 1997 to 1999, where she developed studio films, independent productions and television movies.
From 1993 to 1997, Diaz was at ICM, where she was an agent for the independent packaging division in their International Department, sourcing, managing and placing writers, directors and actors from their affiliate offices worldwide. While at ICM, she oversaw motion picture packaging and financing, as well as represented finished foreign films for distribution and remake, resulting in her expertise in cultural and financial co-productions. Diaz worked with and represented over 50 international writers and directors, including Roman Polanski, Alex de la Iglesias, Marcelo Pinyero, Mira Nair, Fernando Trueba, Hector Babenco, Julie Davis and the late Director Krzysztof Kieslowski.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Carmen M. DiRienzo
Carmen M. DiRienzo is Vice President and Managing Director, Corporate Affairs at Thirteen/WNET New York, the nation’s flagship public broadcasting station. Her responsibilities include corporate business ventures, interactive and broadband, human resources, and labor relations. Some highlights of Ms. DiRienzo’s tenure in this role include creation of Thirteen’s first cable-only program service, relocation to a state-of-the-art digital facility, cable carriage for Thirteen’s digital channels, and merger with WLIW21. In the interactive and broadband arena, under Ms. DiRienzo’s direction, Thirteen Online has doubled its monthly visitors to over 300,000, and won many major awards, including the prestigious Japan Prize and Perelli international awards. Human resource practices and labor contracts have been designed to empower the Thirteen team to exercise its extraordinary creativity in service of the company’s mission.
Ms. DiRienzo serves on the Board of PBS National Datacast, Inc., a commercial subsidiary of the Public Broadcasting Service, and also represents Thirteen in a variety of industry membership organizations, including the Metropolitan Television Alliance, the Public Television Major Markets Group and the Affinity Coalition Group. In addition, Ms. DiRienzo is Vice Chair of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council..
Prior to joining the Thirteen, Ms. DiRienzo was an attorney in private practice, specializing in labor and employment law, primarily for broadcast and entertainment industry clients, including Thirteen and PBS. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and obtained her juris doctorate from the George Washington University National Law Center.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marcos Efron
Marcos Efron is a producer, writer, editor and director of the 11-minute short film COMMON PRACTICE, that just premiered at the Sundance 2006 Film Festival, LALIFF and Santa Barbara Film Festival. He also wrote and directed JERRY V. DEATH. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and raised in Houston, Texas, he worked as an investment banker in New York and Miami. Marcos has directed music videos for a variety of artists, both independent and signed.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Val Elustondo
Val Elustondo is Manager, Development at MTV Production Development, overseeing "Run's House" as well as a new dating series, "The X Effect." A graduate of New York University, she ended up in LA with Warner Bros. Feature Films Casting Administration and Touchstone Television/ABC Network Casting. She then worked with Telepictures Productions, helping to launch daytime programming such as "The Caroline Rhea Show," "Ellen Degeneres Show," and the short lived "Sharon Osbourne Show." She also worked on a couple of their long running series, Judge Mathis and Change of Heart.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ramón Escobar
Ramón Escobar is Senior Executive Vice President, Network Entertainment at Telemundo, after serving as Executive Vice President Programming and Production and as Senior Vice President of News, Creative Services and Local Programming for Telemundo Television Stations. Escobar got his start on Spanish-language Television as a Sports Producer at WXTV/Channel 41, Univision's owned and operated station in New York in 1991. He then became Executive Producer of WNJU/Channel 47, Telemundo's owned and operated station in New York in 1993.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Maria Escobedo
Long-time NALIP member Maria Escobedo, who received the prestigious 2005 Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship, has recently been staffed on the ABC TV series GREY'S ANATOMY. Maria also wrote and directed the indie feature film, RUM AND COKE, a romantic comedy. Maria has also received funding by Latino Public Broadcasting to write and direct LA COCINA: Stories from the Kitchen, a one-hour drama for Public Television.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Moctesuma Esparza
Moctesuma Esparza, award-winning filmmaker, producer, entertainment executive and entrepreneur is well known for his contribution to the movie industry and his commitment to providing access and opportunities for Latinos in Hollywood. A partner in the highly successful Esparza-Katz Productions, he has worked with stars such as Robert Redford, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Smits, Martin Sheen and Halle Berry. Most recently, he produced WALKOUT, an upcoming HBO film based on the true life events of the 1968 Walkouts that happened at five East Los Angeles High Schools. The films stars Alexa Vega, Michael Pena and Efren Ramirez. Additional Production credits include: SELENA, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE; GETTYSBURG; CISCO KID; THE PRICE OF GLORY; SELMA, LORD SELMA; THE BALLAD OF GREGORIO CORTEZ; and THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR. He has won over 200 awards, including an Emmy for CINCO VIDAS and an Academy Award nomination for AGUEDA MARTINEZ - OUR PEOPLE, OUR COUNTRY.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Esparza has not forgotten his humble beginnings and is dedicated to giving back to his community. Esparza’s father, Francisco, came to the United States in 1918 during the Mexican Revolution from Jalisco, Mexico. He worked as a farm worker and railroad hand from Texas to Utah to California where he settled in Los Angeles. Esparza grew up with a strong sense of social justice and remembers the education, principles and values he learned from his father, and incorporated them in his lessons for his own children and all American Latino youth.
As a UCLA student in the late 1960’s, Moctesuma Esparza played an active role in the student youth movement. He was a founder of MECHA, and leader in the famous Chicano Student Walkouts of 1968 for which he and 12 others were arrested. He was also present with a film crew at the August 1970 National Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War. The footage he shot there eventually was incorporated into the film Requiem 29.
For more than thirty years, Esparza has maintained his commitment to the Latino Community from his first ONLY ONCE IN A LIFETIME (1979) to one of his best-known films, SELENA (1997).
But there is another side to this remarkable Latino producer. As an entrepreneur he acquired the franchise for the first all Latino owned cable company, Buenavision Cable TV in East L.A., which he built and operated. Moctesuma learned early on the business of art, he explains “I learned that a movie has to be made for a market, and film is truly a marriage of Art and Commerce”. Today, in addition to producing films he has also established a chain of movie theatre complexes, called Maya Cinemas.
A life long entrepreneur and businessman, Mr. Esparza served as Chair of the Board of the New America Alliance Institute from 2000-2003, an organization of American Latino business leaders united to promote the economic advancement of the Latino Community in America from 2000. New America Alliance is organized on the principle that American Latino businesspersons have a special responsibility to lead the process of building the forms of capital most crucial to Latino progress – economic capital, political capital, human capital and the practice of philanthropy.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Robert Faber
Mr. Faber was born with an entrepreneur's spirit and was raised in Boston, Massachusetts. He holds a degree in Electronic Engineering and has worked in numerous electronics, technical and engineering capacities throughout the past 30 years, including several top corporations such as Lockheed Corporation, Spacelabs, Inc., Loral EOS, Ocean Technology, Inc. and Instrumentation Laboratory, Inc.
A keen interest in filmmaking brought Mr. Faber to Los Angeles where he immediately embarked on a career in the production of industrial films and commercials. As a video producer, he was constantly approached by clients asking him if he had any film clips on his demo tape. It was during these situations that he began to realize the revered stature of film over video in the entertainment industry.
Combining his fascination with filmmaking and his engineering background, Mr. Faber began research and development on a process that would ultimately result in the creation of FILMLOOK. In 1986, Mr. Faber began paying particular attention to the qualities of telecined film that differentiate it from ordinary video. The concept of isolating those elements, then designing a process that would make the film simulation process available to video producers everywhere, became an important goal for the filmmaker-engineer.
Mr. Faber started on the actual design for FILMLOOK in late 1987, and began building the prototype in the spring of 1988. With the help of his partner, Anna Cordova, and their friends, the FILMLOOK process was unveiled to the entertainment industry at an open house presentation held at the Sheraton Universal Hotel (formerly the Registry Hotel) in Universal City in January 1989. The response was overwhelmingly favorable and FILMLOOK was on its way.
FILMLOOK has been the perfect outlet for Mr. Faber's natural tendency for invention. As a former flight instructor, Mr. Faber literally "takes off" with his innovative ideas and flies his single engine plane everywhere from sales meetings in FILMLOOK's Canadian office to his native Boston. As a past marathon competitor, he tries to run as often as his hectic schedule permits. Ms. Cordova describes him as not only a captivating inventor, but "a man with a great sense of humor."
Robert Faber currently resides in the San Fernando Valley in Southern California.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Ferrari
Raised in New York, now stationed in South Florida, Alex Ferrari has become one of region's most sought after directors/editors/post supervisors. Alex has edited two feature films as well as editing & post supervising over 300 commercials, promos, film trailers & short films.
After all the amazing support and attention his directorial break-through project "B R O K E N" (http://www.whatisbroken.com) has received, he decided to open "Numb Robot" a visual effects house that targets the independent film community. (http://www.numbrobot.com)
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Evy Ledesma Galán
Evy Ledesma Galán is vice-president of Galán Inc., an award-winning Austin, Texas, based tv/film production company specializing in documentary film production. Past productions include CHICANO! HISTORY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENTt, SONGS OF THE HOMELAND, THE FORGOTTEN AMERICANS, ACCORDIAN DREAMS, and most recently the PBS six episode series VISIONES: LATINO ART & CULTURE. Currently, Galán Inc. is in post production on a music documentary feature: LOS LONELY BOYS COTTONFIELDS AND CROSSROADS. Ledesma Galán also founded the twelve-year-old CineSol Latino Film Festival, a festival serving the Texas/Mexico border communities of the Rio Grande Valley, serving as its director for ten years.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Nely Galán
Nely Galán, creator, executive producer, and resident life coach of Fox’s new hit reality series, THE SWAN, is regarded as one of the entertainment industry’s most dynamic and successful creative executives. Inspired by her own real-life “Swan” success story, Galán was determined to help women around the world realize their dreams. In its debut, over 9 million viewers were riveted each week to the dramatic transformation and awakening of eighteen self-proclaimed “ugly ducklings” on THE SWAN. During its first season, THE SWAN ranked #1 in its competitive time period and over 10 million people tuned-in to witness the crowning of the ultimate Swan on America’s top pageant. In just six months, THE SWAN’s life-transforming self-growth message has become a sensation leading to several multimedia incarnations including a book (The Swan Curriculum) by Galán, licensing and merchandising deals, and format sales around the world. THE SWAN Season 1 and 2 aired on Fox.
Nely Galán’s accomplished career has spanned the gamut from launching television channels in Latin America to serving as President of Telemundo, and from creating local Spanish-language programming to being the only executive producer in television creating and producing an impressive slate of over 500 hours of reality and fiction programming for both Spanish and English language networks around the world. In a meteoric rise, her sphere of influence has canvassed media conglomerates such as Sony, Time Warner and News Corp. From the beginning, Galán has dedicated her career to bridging the cultural gap between Latin cultures and mainstream American media. Her mission endures today as she continues to create and produce relevant, aspirational, branded multimedia content targeting female and urban audiences through a variety of television, film, and publishing projects.
Galan is the first producer to produce a Telenovela both in Spanish and English in a joint venture with power house Mexican conglomerate Televisa and 20th Century Fox.
Her career in television began when she caught the attention of Norman Lear and Jerry Perenchio. They recruited her to manage the Spanish-language television station WNJU-TV – Telemundo’s flagship station – in Linden, N.J. At age 22, Galán became the youngest television station manager in the United States.
After her run at WNJU, Galán segued to work with Time Warner, which offered her a new opportunity to fulfill her goals. Working with one of their cable networks, HBO, she co-created the production company Tropix, charged with putting Latino faces on American television. Among her credits with Tropix, Galán produced a series of comedy specials called “Loco Slam.” In 1994, Nely found a common bond with News Corp. and Fox, which wanted to target the Latin American-U.S. market, and pacted with her newly-formed GALAN Entertainment to produce English and Spanish-language television programming for audiences in the United States and Latin America, as well as bi-lingual multi-media. Her credits for GALAN include producing the telenovela “Empire” and the Bravo Awards. As a creative force, she was instrumental in award-winning efforts for the launching and branding of the Fox Latin American Channel, Fox Kids Network in Latin America, and Fox Sports Americas.
GALAN became independent in 1996, with its realm extending to other entertainment entities, launching the MGM cable networks in Brazil, the Sony/Teleuno cable network in Latin America and Telemundo for Sony and TCI. In 1998, Galán’s career came full circle when she was named president of entertainment for Telemundo. During her time as a Telemundo executive, Galán struck first-ever television deals with talent such as Ricky Martin, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas, and Paul Rodriguez as well as initiating co-branding efforts with MTV and Nickelodeon. Perhaps most notably during her tenure there, she directed her vision to bring unprecedented programming to the U.S. with the first-ever Spanish-language sitcoms “Solo en America” and “Los Beltran,” as well as the pioneering talk show featuring a priest as host, “Padre Alberto.”
In 2000, Galán entered an exclusive two-year Spanish-language development and production deal with Telemundo with a multi-series commitment that encompassed comedy, drama and reality genres. Under this deal, Galán served as executive producer for “Los Beltran,” “Padre Alberto” and “Viva Vegas.” In addition to being the primary program supplier for Telemundo, the company also served as the creative agency for all of Telemundo’s marketing activities.
GALAN Entertainment is currently under a first-look deal with NBC/Telemundo. In 2003, Galán created the hit reality telenovela series for Telemundo, “La Cenicienta” (Cinderella). The stripped show was a break-out hit for Telemundo and lead to the development of “La Cenicienta 2” as well as the male version, “El Principe Azul” ( The Blue-blooded Prince), which are scheduled to air in 2005.
GALAN Entertainment’s slate of projects includes reality and fiction shows as well as feature films, targeting a mainstream, multi-ethnic audience with clients such as HBO, the Fox Network, and NBC/Telemundo.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Alexis García
Alexis Garcia is an associate in the Entertainment & Media Group in the firm Sheppard Mullin's Century City office.
Mr. Garcia primarily counsels entertainment industry clients, both at the studio and independent level, in the development, production, financing and distribution of motion picture and television content. In this capacity, he has negotiated numerous writer, director, actor and producer agreements on various film productions, both on the institutional and talent side. He is also a member of the firm's Hispanic/Latino Business Group, representing entertainment/media clients targeting U.S. Latino audiences and/or involved in film production in Latin America, whether focusing on English or Spanish content.
Mr. Garcia earned his J.D. in 2002 from UCLA School of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Entertainment Law Review, Business Editor of the UCLA Law Review, and Coordinating Editor of the Chicano-Latino Law Review. He is the author of "Finding the Unobstructed Window for Internet Film Viewing," 9 UCLA ENT. L. REV. 243 (2002), "Digital Videorecorders May Not Meet 'SONY' Fair Use Test," Focus Column, The Daily Journal Feb 19, 2002, and "The Iberia Criteria: Co-Productions between Spain and Latin American Countries," which appeared in the Hispanic/Latino Business Group's inaugural newsletter, Enfoque Latino (Feb. 2005). Mr. Garcia was also recently featured in the Univision.com article "El cine en america latina: Una buena opcion para los hispanos." (available at http://www.univision.com/content/content.jhtml?cid=515673).
Mr. Garcia is also a board member of the East L.A. Classic Theatre, a non-profit aimed at providing comprehensive literacy training and engaging, relevant theatre experiences to disadvantaged youth and minority communities in the promotion of cultural inclusion and academic excellence.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julissa García
Julissa García specializes in representing Latino clients within the Motion Picture and Television Departments at the William Morris Agency. She is the liaison between the Beverly Hills and Miami offices. She began her career as a WMA trainee, and has since worked with such clients as Kirsten Dunst, Mandy Moore, Scott Foley, and Joshua Jackson. Born and raised in Miami, Ms. García is a graduate of Florida State University.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Michael García
Michael Garcia is the Vice President of HBO Entertainment. He is responsible for Drama Series Development and Current Programming on such shows as The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, The Wire, Carnivale, Deadwood and the upcoming series Big Love. Michael was formerly the Director of Development for Industry Entertainment’s Television Division. While at Industry, he developed primetime comedies and dramas, as well as reality and cable programming. Prior to joining Industry Entertainment, Garcia worked in Comedy Development at 20th Century Fox TV where he was an Executive Assistant. He is a graduate of Yale University with a B.A. in Economics.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rafael García
Rafael Garcia is Director, Development and Original Programming at Nickelodeon. He has worked on numerous projects for Nickelodeon including "Pelswick," "The Kid's Choice Awards." and "The Nick Cannon Show.” He also served as Executive in Charge of Production for Nick's "In Concert on TEENick" music series, as well as the Nick Video Picks. Along with being the East coast point person for original pitches, Rafael continues to develop and oversee the production of numerous properties in both live action and animation.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rodrigo García
Rodrigo Garcia grew up in Mexico City and attended the American Film Institute. His credits as director of photography include DANZON (dir. By Maria Novaro), MI VIDA LOCA (dir. by Allison Anders) and GIA (dir. by Michael Cristofer). His first feature film as writer and director was THINGS YOU CAN TELL JUST BY LOOKING AT HER. Other projects include TEN TINY LOVE STORIES, FATHERS AND SONS and NINE LIVES, the pilots of the HBO series CARNIVALE and the upcoming BIG LOVE, as well as episodes of SIX FEET UNDER and THE SOPRANOS.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belinda Gardea
Born in El Paso, Texas, Belinda Gardea moved to Los Angeles in order to attend USC’s School of Cinema/Television. Upon graduating from USC, Belinda worked in the entertainment industry in various roles ranging from Assistant to Director to Assistant Film Editor.
After working as a Casting Assistant on BOUND BY HONOR (Hollywood Pictures), Ms. Gardea continued working in casting on many projects in both film and television. Projects as Casting Associate include: Most recently, NACHO LIBRE (Paramount/Nickelodeon Movies), GHOSTRIDER (Sony), HAPPY FEET (Warner Bros.), SWORDFISH (Warner Bros.), RESURRECTION BLVD. (Showtime/Viacom), WAKIN’ UP IN RENO (Miramax), IN TOO DEEP (Miramax), Location Casting for DESPERADO (Columbia/Sony), C-16 (ABC), and ROSEANNE (ABC).
Projects as a Casting Assistant include: DRACULA: DEAD AND LOVING IT (Castle Rock), RICHIE RICH (Warner Bros.), and THE PRICE OF LOVE (Fox Broadcasting).
One of her first opportunities to act as Casting Director on her own project came when Mathew Greenfield and Miguel Arteta came to her with STAR MAPS. Even with the severe limitations of a very low budget, she realized, first-hand, her love for independent films. Working by day as an associate casting director, she held casting sessions in the evenings and on weekends for STAR MAPS (Fox Searchlight). Since then, she has cast many films, including HOW THE GARCIA GIRLS SPENT THEIR SUMMER (Loosely Based Pictures), LA Casting for GOAL! (Buena Vista International), an extensive casting search for the role of 'Chanchito' in NACHO LIBRE, QUALITY OF LIFE (Summershines Productions), and LIVING THE LIFE (a.k.a. PARTY GIRLS, Richard and Esther Shapiro Productions). Television projects include AMERICAN FAMILY (El Norte Productions), the four-part series for ITVS and PBS, entitled FOTO-NOVELAS (1998 Alma Award for Outstanding Cast) and TAINA (Nickelodeon) in its second season.
She has also been working with Meridian Pictures Entertainment on a slate of features and television projects, including CARMEN’S PEARL, JEENEY RAY and FAUSTO’S ROAD.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Yvonne Gomez
Born and raised in Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Valley, Yvonne Gomez has always had a passion for the arts and a particular affinity for music. She has worked for more than a dozen years in the music industry beginning her career in 1989 when she founded an organization called “Club Rock En Español” æ a grass roots company created to promote Latin Rock to the Latin-American youth in Los Angeles. CREE eventually grew into becoming the leading organization that record companies, artist managers and even the groups themselves, came to for help in promoting their music.
Besides her attempts at being a Latin Rock entrepreneur, Yvonne’s first “official” foray into the music business was in 1992 at EMI Latin under the direction of Jose Behar, where she spent a few years working in every possible department including Marketing, Promotions, Merchandising, and Production among others. “At that phase of my career I just wanted to get my hands on anything I could” stated Yvonne. “it was incredible training ground!”
For the years following EMI, her career went on what she calls “auto pilot”. She quickly found work as a tour publicist/road manager for some of the top Latin Rock acts including Caifanes, Maldita Vecindad, La Castañeda, and Miguel Mateos. After a few years on the road, she continued in the field of music publicity and eventually landed a steady gig at the legendary Rhino Records label where she handled national publicity for the Urban, Latin, Jazz and Rock releases and in the process had the opportunity to work with some of her musical heroes including The Ramones, Los Lobos, Devo, The Sugarhill Gang, Mongo Santamaria and Kurtis Blow, among others.
While working at Rhino, she attended a rock show for a new Argentine band, and ran into an old friend Gustavo Santaolalla who had been the producer for most of the Latin Rock acts she had toured with. Santaolalla had founded a very successful Latin Rock label Surco, and he soon offered her a position as the Label Manager of his joint venture with Universal Music Latin America, which was the home to artists Molotov, Juanes, Orishas, Bersuit Vergarabat, El Otro Yo, and Erica Garcia. Of course, she jumped at the chance and soon realized that she would be involved in much more than just the label. Besides her duties overseeing the day-to-day activities of Surco, she was also given the opportunity to be involved in coordinating the activities of label founder/producer/artist Gustavo Santaolalla, which included the productions of artists including Café Tacuba and The Kronos Quartet as well as his work as a film composer and solo artist. “It was an incredible experience to be surrounded by so much talent on a daily basis,” comments Yvonne about her time at Surco. “Working so closely with Gustavo helped me to hone my ear for music by learning from the master. He is truly a renaissance man – producer, composer, film scorer, musician – he can do it all! It was an experience I will never forget.”
Yvonne now heads of the Latin Department at Peermusic, the world’s largest independent music publisher and has done so since 2003. She is responsible for overseeing the work of a plethora of immensely talented songwriters/performers including multiple Grammy winner Juanes, Micky Huidobro of Molotov, Fobia, Plastilina Mosh, Coti Sorokin, Facundo Monty and Los Pinguos, among others. In addition to nurturing the careers of these artists, Yvonne is also responsible for finding and signing new songwriters in all areas of the Latin music genre including Pop, Tropical, Regional Mexican, and Latin Alternative and also has recently added to her duties the supervision of the creative activities of peermusic’s office in Mexico City.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at peer and am looking forward to a long career with them,” stated Yvonne. “I have learned so much about Music Publishing from the peermusic President, Kathy Spanberger, who is an expert in the field and a powerful female role model. I have been very fortunate to have worked with great mentors and I am thrilled to have added Kathy to that list.”
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Julian Gonzalez
Born in Bakersfield, California, Joseph Julian Gonzalez is a veteran composer with a multitude of credits that include the features CURDLED, PRICE OF GLORY, the television series Resurrection Blvd., Britney Spears’ music video “Oops, I Did It Again,” and Hector Galán’s multiple award-winning CHICANO: THE HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. The documentary he recently scored, COWBOY DEL AMOR, received nominations by the International Documentary Association and the Writer’s Guild of America. His concert piece, Misa Azteca, will be performed at the Sydney Opera House this summer.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rick Gonzalez
Rick Gonzalez was born on June 30th 1979, in New York City and raised in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. He attended the "Fame" High School of performing arts where he studied Acting. Graduating in 1997 to pursue a career, Rick briefly worked in New York and later moved to Los Angeles to continue work. After two years of being in LA, Rick landed a role in the Disney film THE ROOKIE opposite Dennis Quaid. Rick is now currently working on other projects set to be due out in the near future.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Daniel D. Gregoire
Daniel D. Gregoire started out as a production artist on TitanAE and pre-viz artist on Moulin Rouge and Behind Enemy Lines. After that, he worked at Lucasfilm Ltd. / JAKFilms where he supervised pre-viz on STAR WARS: EPISODE II and STAR WARS: EPISODE III and also co-directed final effects shots for THX 1138: George Lucas Director's Cut. Since then, he started his own production company, Halon Entertainment (www.halonentertainment.com), which focuses on bringing entertainment to the digital level. His first client was Director Steven Spielberg who realized the value of pre-viz for WAR OF THE WORLDS. In his spare time, Dan loves photography.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Evangeline Griego
Ms. Griego is an award winning independent documentary producer/director who has been working in film for the past 18 years. Her company, About Time Productions, produced the documentary, Paño Arte: Images from Inside and Border Visions/Visiones Fronterizos . Most recently she produced the feature documentary, Rosa’s Boys. Currently she’s in production on the feature documentary God Willing about a bible-based nomadic cult.
As Segment Co-Producer, she completed THE NEW AMERICANS, a Kartemquin Films’ PBS multi-part series due to air in March, 2004. As Line Producer she is in post -production on The Journey Home, a PBS multi part series also due to air in the Spring 2004. Her extensive production management and line producing experience includes short and feature films, music videos, and public service announcements. She has produced for the J. Paul Getty Trust, and worked with The Walt Disney Company, Faction Films, Morgan Creek Productions and MGM Studios. She has worked with OUTFEST as the Festival Manager and is the Co-Founder of the Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles. She serves on the board of directors for NALIP, The National Association of Latino Independent Producers, and OUTFEST Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian film festival.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Javier Grillo-Marxuach
Javier Grillo-Marxuach is a writer and supervising producer on the Emmy-, Writers Guild, and Golden Globe-award-winning series “Lost.” He is also writer and creator of Viper Comics' hot new title The Middleman. Javier began his career in television as a Primetime Series executive at NBC. He has subsequently written and produced series such as “Boomtown,” “The Pretender,” “Charmed,” “The Chronicle,” “seaQuest” and “Jake 2.0.” He has sold pilots to NBC, The WB and The Sci-Fi Channel, written comic books for both Marvel and DC, directed a short film, and created several works for the stage.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Margaret Guerra-Rogers
Margaret Guerra-Rogers is a music supervisor, working most recently on TORTILLA HEAVEN and REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES. She was also the soundtrack for REAL WOMEN, and wrote two of the songs for director Patricia Cordoso. She and also served as music supervisor on Moctesuma Esparza’s PRICE OF GLORY, and participated in the 2005 Latino Producers Academy™ as a music mentor.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Aurora Guerrero
Aurora was born and raised in San Francisco Bay Area by Mexican immigrant parents. She received her B.A. in Psychology and Chicano Studies from UC Berkeley, then obtained an MFA in film directing at Cal Arts. Since, Aurora has directed award winning short films, including Pura Lengua (2005 Sundance Film Festival) and Viernes Girl (winner of the 2005 HBO/NYILFF short film competition). Based on the strength of her first feature length script, Mosquita Y Mari, Aurora was awarded the 2005 Sundance Ford Fellowship, 2005 Paul Robeson Development Grant, and selected to participate in the Hedgebrook Writers-in-Residency program. Her accomplishments as an emerging writer/director also gained her admission into Film Independent‘s Project:Involve program.
Aurora assisted director Patricia Cardoso on her debut feature Real Women Have Curves which won the Audience Award at Sundance in 2002. She co-founded Los Angeles based Womyn Image Makers (WIM) and is a filmmaking member of Chica Luna Productions, INC.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jason Gurvitz
Jason Gurvitz is a producer, and founder of Green Dog Films. From the documentary INTERNAL EXILE to the thriller THE UNGODLY, and the Johnnie Walker/LaTV “Make an Impact” concert featuring international music, art and fashion, for the Juarez rape crisis center Casa Amiga and Amazon Watch, Green Dog Film’s music and film projects are primarily international co-productions. Upcoming: TLATELOLCO: MEXICO ‘68, directed by Hugo Rodríguez (NICOTINA), starring Ryan Phillipe, John Leguizamo and Vanessa Bauche (AMORRES PERROS). Jason speaks Spanish and Portuguese.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
James J. Gutierrez
James J. Gutierrez is a reality television writer, director, and producer. He started out in television as a page for the “Jenny Jones Show,” going on to make his name as Field Director with “Blind Date.” He has written and produced for MTV, E!, A&E, and with NBC's “Meet My Folks” and ABC's “The Mole.” In 2002, he was put in charge of the Spice Network for Playboy Television where he oversaw all original programming. Gutierrez is currently a member of the WGA's Reality Organization Committee.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shelli Hall
Shelli Hall is the Director of the Tucson Film Office where she and her staff offer free location scouting assistance and liaison services for filmmakers who want to shoot in Southern Arizona. She was instrumental in the push for the new Arizona motion picture tax incentives. A longtime NALIP supporter, the Tucson Film Office is a proud sponsor of its Latino Producers Academy which has taken place in Tucson for the last 3 years. Shelli is also a founder and organizer of Puro Mexicano: Tucson Film Festival which made it’s debut November 4 – 6, 2005.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Madelyn Hammond
Madelyn Hammond recently founded MHA which specializes in entertainment marketing and branding for clients in the entertainment industry.
Formerly, as Associate Publisher of Variety, Hammond was responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies for Variety’s suite of products: Weekly Variety, Daily Variety and Variety.com.
Hammond oversaw all aspects of marketing, advertising and branding initiatives for the Variety family of publications, as well as sponsorships, publicity, promotions and special events.
Hammond was also the publisher of Vlife, the monthly consumer lifestyle and media publication. She oversaw all sales, marketing and branding efforts for the magazine.
Previously, Hammond served as the Vice President of Marketing for Sony Pictures Consumer Products Division.
Prior to Sony, Hammond held various posts in the entertainment industry, including Vice-President of Marketing and Distribution at MGM/UA, Director of Worldwide Marketing for Turner Pictures and Director of Marketing for AMC Theatres. Hammond’s first job was with The Coca-Cola Company.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Haro
Danny Haro is a director, producer, actor, former civil rights attorney and paramedic with the Los Angeles City Fire Department. His television producing credits include “Lives in Hazard” for NBC and IT AIN'T LOVE for HBO/Cinemax. He is a co-founder of Higher Ground Entertainment, which produced PANCHO GONZALEZ: THE LATINO LEGEND OF TENNIS, on which he has made his documentary directorial debut. He executive produced the plays Veteranos: A Legacy of Valor and The Last Angry Brown Hat.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Christy Haubegger
Christy Haubegger founded Latina magazine in 1996 following her graduation from Stanford Law School. It was in a business course there that Haubegger conceived of and developed a business plan for a groundbreaking magazine that would showcase fashion, beauty, lifestyle and empowerment for Hispanic women.
After receiving her law degree, she pursued her plan for the magazine. She ultimately partnered with Essence Communications and the company became a major investor in Latina. The magazine debuted as a quarterly in 1996, with rising star Jennifer Lopez on its first cover.
Latina grew to monthly publication just a year after its launch with Haubegger serving as its publisher, president and then CEO until 2001. In that post, she oversaw a staff of more than 50 and focused on the business management of the magazine, including advertising sales and corporate marketing.
Since its inception, Latina has become the leading publication for U.S. Hispanic women with a monthly circulation of 400,000. Latina has been named Best Magazine by Advertising Age and was featured on the Adweek Hot List two years in a row (2000 and 2001). Latina has also extended its brand into other media. In 2001, Christy oversaw the publication of Latina Beauty (Hyperion), a comprehensive beauty and wellness guidebook for Hispanic women. Haubegger now serves as a member of the Board of Latina Media Ventures (Latina's parent company) where she focuses on strategic initiatives for the company.
Christy moved into the world of entertainment in 2002, hoping to expand the presence and stories of Latinos in television and motion pictures as she had done in the magazine world. She served as Associate Producer on "Chasing Papi," a romantic comedy from 20th Century Fox with a Hispanic theme/cast, which was released in May 2003. She was Executive Producer of Oscar-winner James L. Brooks’ romantic comedy, “Spanglish” starring Paz Vega, Adam Sandler and Téa Leoni, released by Columbia Pictures in December 2004. She now works with Creative Artists Agency (CAA), providing insights on ethnic markets to CAA’s motion picture, music, marketing and television clients.
A pioneer for Latinas, Haubegger is a popular speaker and the recipient of numerous awards and media recognition for her achievements. In 2001, Newsweek named her one of the "Women of the New Century" and Advertising Age has called her a "Woman to Watch." The Ms. Foundation has chosen her as one of the Top 10 Role Models of the Year. Haubegger was also the youngest woman to be inducted into the American Advertising Federation's Advertising Hall of Achievement, in recognition of her success in raising the profile of the Hispanic market. She has been profiled and interviewed by numerous, diverse media outlets including CNN, NBC Nightly News and the Today Show.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Haubegger is the Mexican-American daughter of adoptive parents. She received her BA in Philosophy from the University of Texas at Austin and her law degree from Stanford Law School where she was President of her class. A volunteer for various civic, social and political organizations, Haubegger is a member of the board of the New America Alliance, a Latino business leadership group and Management Leadership for Tomorrow, an organization that works to increase the number of minority MBA candidates at the nation's top business schools.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Bel Hernández
Bel Hernández is co-founder and publisher of Latin Heat Magazine and Latin Heat Online. She has been in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years, first as an actress and as a writer and publisher. Ms. Hernández has been recognized for her journalistic endeavors, and is co-founder, along with Elia Esparza, of the Latino Entertainment Media Institute (LEMI), a non-profit organization that helps minorities with education, training and advancement in the film and TV industry.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Whit Higgins
Whit Higgins is manager of development and co-production for the National Geographic Channel (NGC), and serves as one of the network’s main points of contact for the production community. Charged with developing over 300 hours of original programming, Higgins works to identify producers, international broadcasters and distributors to expand NGC’s dynamic and compelling range of content, both with original productions, co-financing and acquisitions. Higgins has worked on top-rated NGC series including “Seconds from Disaster” and “MegaStructures,” both currently in their second seasons, plus played a key role in the upcoming special “Blackbeard,” premiering this March.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Warrington Hudlin
Warrington Hudlin is the Founder & Chief of dvRepublic.org and the President of the Black Filmmaker Foundation (BFF). Warrington Hudlin has built a distinguished career as a pioneering black filmmaker, organizer, and curator. Hudlin is the recipient of the Trailblazer Award from the Hip Hop Association and the Melvin Van Peebles Trailblazer Award from the American Black Film Festival. Savoy Magazine listed Warrington Hudlin as one of the top 100 most influential blacks in America.
Warrington Hudlin is best known as the producer of popular feature films, HOUSE PARTY, BOOMERANG, and BEBE KIDS and the award winning HBO special, COSMIC SLOP. Warrington Hudlin?s most recent work was as the host/producer of the Starz cable television special, UNSTOPPABLE, which featured a dialogue between Hudlin and the legendary pioneers of African America cinema, Melvin Van Pebbles, Gordon Parks, and the late Ossie Davis. Hudlin is currently producing TV and Interactive New Media projects for BET and the N Channel.
Hudlin serves as the Executive Producer of the BFF Lab (the Black Filmmaker Foundation's incubator of multi-cultural, socially concerned, entertainment driven, digital films), where with funding from the Ford Foundation, he has commissioned films by a new generation of filmmakers of color. The BFF Lab?s most recent production, a online interactive narrative entitled, WEAPONS OF MISDIRECTION, was funded by the Nathan Cummings Foundation and won a 2005 Webby Award as best political website.
Warrington Hudlin's success in identifying and developing new talent in the BFF Lab led to a MTV networks contract to assist with their diversity outreach in the launch of the Spike TV channel. Hudlin designed and is currently administering similar labs for Time Warner, The N Channel (MTV Networks), and the VOOM HD channels at Rainbow Media.
Warrington Hudlin is the guest film curator and member of the board of trustees of the Museum of Moving Image in NYC. At the Museum, Hudlin curates two monthly film series: Fist & Sword: Martial Arts Films and Black Light: Films from the African Diaspora. Hudlin has programmed film festivals and series in Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. He co-founded and curated the Acapulco Black Film Festival, which was held in Mexico from 1997 to 2001.
Hudlin is a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and serves on the advisory board of the Tribeca Film Institute's All Access Program, Asian Cinevision, the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE), Imagenation Film Festival, and the national advisory board of the Intel Computer Clubhouse.
Warrington Hudlin is a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, and a graduate of Yale University.
Warrington Hudlin credits his ancestors for the foundation on which his accomplishments are built. His father, Warrington Hudlin Sr., built a successful insurance brokerage and became one of the first African Americans to represent a major insurance company. His grandfather, Edward Hudlin, was a jockey who, following his return from France after World War I, became a stone mason and contractor known for building "rubblestone" houses. His great-grandfather, Richard Hudlin, was a journalist, actor, and the third African American in history to establish a motion picture company. His great-great-grandfather, Peter Hudlin, escaped from a slave plantation in Virginia, married an indigenous woman from the Cherokee Nation, and became a leader in the US anti-slavery movement know as the Underground Railroad.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Natalie D. Jáquez
As both department coordinator and executive assistant to Andrea Wong, executive vice president, Alternative Programming, Specials and Late Night, ABC Entertainment, Natalie D. Jáquez works under Ms. Wong’s leadership to contribute to the development of alternative series and specials programming. Most recently, she has worked on the U.K. turned stateside phenomenon, “Dancing with the Stars,” the most talked-about and highest rated new show of summer 2005.
Ms. Jáquez has also worked on Emmy winner “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” “The Bachelor” & ”The Bachelorette,” “Supernanny,” and “Wife Swap.” On the specials front, she has been involved with such events as the “Academy Awards,” and the “American Music Awards,” and she has contributed to the late night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
Prior to her tenure at ABC, Ms. Jáquez assisted Mark Itkin, executive vice president & Co-Worldwide Head of Television at the William Morris Agency. Under Mr. Itkin, Ms. Jáquez had the opportunity to work with such clients as Bunim Murray (“Real World”), Endemol (“Fear Factor”), FremantleMedia (“American Idol”), and Vin Di Bona Productions (“America’s Funniest Videos”) among many others.
Born and raised in El Paso, TX, Ms. Jáquez relocated from her native Southwest bordertown to Los Angeles, CA to attend the University of Southern California. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the Annenberg School of Communication in 1999.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Laurie Kahn-Leavitt
Laurie Kahn-Leavitt (Director/producer/writer) is the founder and CEO of the independent, non-profit film company Filmmakers Collaborative/Blueberry Hill Productions. She is also currently a resident scholar at Brandeis University's Women's Studies Research Center. Kahn-Leavitt's most recent film is TUPPERWARE! which won the 2005 George Foster Peabody Award and the 2004 Banff Festival Rockie prize for best history/biography film; it was also nominated for the prime time Emmy for best direction of a non-fiction program; it has been shown at film festivals all over the world, on PBS's series American Experience (the 2004 premiere got the highest ratings for the series that year), and on television networks in more than a dozen countries.
Before making TUPPERWARE!, Kahn-Leavitt made A Midwife?s Tale, based on an18th century diary and Laurel Ulrich's Pulitzer Prize-winning book. Kahn-Leavitt's film was the opening show of the 10th season of the PBS series American Experience in 1998. It won numerous awards at film festivals, as well as a national Emmy for outstanding non-fiction as part of American Experience's 10th season. The film is now used in classrooms internationally in courses on women?s history, medical history, early American history, obstetrics, and midwifery.
Kahn-Leavitt also conceived of and produced an ambitious and innovative website, DoHistory.org, that immerses its users in the process of piecing together the life of an "ordinary" person in the past. The website has won prizes for both its design and its content since its launch in 2000.
Kahn-Leavitt's independent film company, Blueberry Hill Productions, was founded in 1992. During the 1980s and early 1990s, she worked on many documentary series, including The American Experience (Senior Associate Producer), Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years 1954-1965 (Senior Researcher), and Frontline Special Report: Crisis in Central America (Assistant Producer). Before working in film, she worked in radio for NPR's evening news program All Things Considered. She has also edited books for MIT Press, written film reviews for the Times Literary Supplement and Time Out, and taught philosophy at Harvard and Tufts.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scott R. Kardel
Scott R. Kardel is counsel for the Writers Guild of America, East. His primary areas of responsibility include administration of the Guild’s Public Television Freelance agreement, the staff newswriter agreement with ABC, and the promotion writers agreement with NBC. He is also responsible for the Guild’s diversity initiatives to create opportunities for traditionally underrepresented writers in the industry. He served on the executive committee of NALIP-NY in 2005 and has been a labor attorney for 13 years.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charles King
Charles King is a senior packaging agent at the William Morris Agency. Six years ago, without fanfare of headlines in the trades, Charles King became the first black person in the 101-year history of WMA to move up through the ranks and become an agent in the film and TV department. King introduced the studio world to multi-hyphenate Tyler Perry whose film DIARY OF A MAD BLACK WOMAN opened at $22.7 million. King also represents directors Tim Story (FANTASTIC FOUR) and Craig Brewer (HUSTLE & FLOW), as well as Outkast's Andre Benjamin (FOUR BROTHERS).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Pooja Kohli Taneja
As Managing Director of the IFP Market, Pooja Kohli Taneja is in charge of organizing the IFP Market. She oversees various logistical and communication elements of the event including organizational partnerships, outreach, marketing as well as production details like scheduling, publication execution and Filmmaker Conference programming.
She was the Festival Director for the IAAC Film Festival from 2002 to 2005. She also serves on various programming committees including AAIFF and Mira Nair’s Screenplay Lab, Maisha. Before coming to the United States in 2000, Ms. Kohli produced and directed a 13-episode documentary series on Shia Muslims.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Charles Koones
President, Variety Group; Publisher, Variety
Charles Koones is President and Publisher of The Variety Group, the worldwide leader in entertainment business information. He is responsible for the global business operations of The Variety Group, including Variety, Daily Variety, Daily Variety Gotham, V Life, Variety.com, VarietyCareers.com and Variety China.
Charles also oversees three operating divisions focused on entertainment business information. These properties are concentrated on television, home entertainment, data and marketing research, and combined with Variety, constitute the world’s largest integrated entertainment business information network.
Under Charles’ leadership, Variety products have become the market leaders in advertising pages, market share and global influence. During his tenure he has overseen the launch of Daily Variety Gotham and Variety.com in 1998, the launch of V Life in early 2003 and the launch of Variety China in 2004. Since 2001, The Variety Group has set records for revenue, growth and profit in each consecutive year.
Charles joined Variety in 1990 as a New York-based sales executive. Upon the consolidation of Daily and Weekly Variety in 1993, he moved to Los Angeles to oversee marketing and special reports for the combined operation. He was named Associate Publisher in 1995, overseeing domestic sales and marketing. In 1997, he became U.S. Publishing Director with responsibility for Variety’s domestic business operations, and in 2000 was named Publisher.
Charles is actively involved in a number of entertainment industry organizations and social causes. He is on the boards of the Museum of Television and Radio, the Motion Pictures Pioneers, the Environmental Media Association, and the Presidents Council of the University of Richmond. In addition, he is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and the AFI Third Decade Council.
Charles is a graduate of the University of Richmond. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Linda, and their two sons.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tiffany Kuzon
Tiffany Kuzon is a talent manager at Evolution Entertainment. She represents Jesse Garcia (WALKOUT), soon to be seen in the Sundance winner QUINCENIERA.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Ed Leon
As Senior Vice President of Production for the Sí TV Network, Ed Leon is a driving force behind Sí TV’s Original Programming. A creative and experienced producer for established networks like FOX, NBC, and ABC, Ed’s show credits include Creator/Executive Producer of “That’s Life”(FOX) and “IQ Kitties” for WB; Supervising Producer of “The Other Half” starring Mario Lopez, Dick Clark and Danny Bonaduce (NBC); “Gabrielle” starring Gabrielle Carteris(FOX); “George & Alana” with George Hamilton; “MTV’s Truth;” Producer of “Jones & Jury” with Star Jones, “The Montel Williams Show,” and “Good Day L.A.” His network directing credits include “Disney’s One Saturday Morning” and “The Mommies: Caryl & Marilyn.”
A member of the original management team at Sí TV, Ed is an Executive Producer of all the original programs including the music variety series “The Drop;” edgy talk shows “The Rub” and “Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner;” reality series “Urban Jungle;” comedy shows “Unacceptable Behavior,” “Inside Joke” and “Latino Laugh Festival;” and the sitcom/reality hybrid “Across The Hall.”
Ed is a member of the Director’s Guild of America, a recipient of an LA “Emmy Award,” the “Golden Mike Award” for News Excellence, and four Cable Ace Awards for producing and directing.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Dennis Leoni
Dennis E. Leoni is a writer/producer/director and the head of Patagonia House, the production company that developed and produced “Resurrection Blvd.” for Showtime Networks, in conjunction with Viacom Productions and Paramount Television.
He was born in Tucson, Arizona, attended the University of Arizona and began his career in the entertainment industry as an actor and stuntman at the famous Western movie location Old Tucson. He has appeared in such films as "Buffalo Soldiers" and "Johnny Mae Gibson, FBI" and the hit television series "Hawaii 5-O. He even robbed a bank on "Sixty Minutes" once. But it was during his time with "Hawaii 5-O" that he made the transition from in front of the camera to working primarily behind the camera. He learned production from the bottom up before writing his first screenplay, returning to the mainland and settling in Los Angeles.
In the years since, Dennis has written, produced and directed programming for the major networks and studios, including NBC, ABC, CBS, HBO, Showtime, Paramount, Disney and Columbia. His various credits include theatrical films, television movies and series such as “The Commish” with Michael Chiklis (“The Shield”) “McKenna” with Jennifer Love Hewitt (“I Know What You Did Last Summer” and “Heartbreakers”) “Raven”,“Covington Cross” and “Hull High”.
His recent work includes a pilot script titled "Black & White" about an interracial romantic relationship between police officers in Oakland, and “The Guard” a movie about the National Guard in the wake of September 11, both of which he wrote for Showtime; “Angel Of Mercy” an NBC pilot script about an international relief organization; “Almost A Woman” a PBS Masterpiece Theatre, a Peabody Award winner; and the critically acclaimed "Resurrection Blvd.” - the first and longest running drama series in the history of American television to be written, produced, directed and starring Latinos - which he created, executive produced, wrote and directed for three seasons, starring Elizabeth Pena (“Lone Star” and “Down And Out In Beverly Hills”) Tony Plana (“Primal Fear“, “J.F.K.”, “Salvador” and “The Three Amigos”) Lou Gossett, Jr. (“An Officer And A Gentleman”, “Roots” and “A Raisin In The Sun”) and Michael Delorenzo (“A Few Good Men” and “New York Undercover”). Patagonia House is now developing several projects, including a new drama series for Touchstone Television, a reality series for the Discovery Networks and a feature film titled "Pistolero."
Dennis has received the prestigious Norman Lear Writers’ Award from the Imagen Foundation. For his work on “Resurrection Blvd.” he has received several awards, including multiple Alma Awards, Imagen Awards, GLADD Awards, Golden Eagle Awards, Prism Award Commendations, aVision Award from LEMI, an Impact Award from the NHMC and the inaugural Legacy Award, which was specifically created by NAMIC to honor “Resurrection Blvd”. He has also been honored by U.S. Congressmen and women, the California Senate and State Assembly, and many private and civic organizations.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Diana Lesmez
Diana Lesmez has vast and diversified experience in most areas of the entertainment business, spanning production, development, acquisitions, distribution, physical production, film finance, and business and legal affairs. Currently, she is an independent producer and creative consultant, developing a number of film and television projects for her own company, as well as for a number of industry clients.
Most recently, Diana was the President of Production (which included Development and Acquisitions) at Arenas Entertainment, where she and Daniel Martinez (The Media Shop) produced the feature film, “Culture Clash in AmeriCCa”. She also served as post-production supervisor on “Nicotina”, “Imagining Argentina”, “The Three Wise Men”, and “Como El Gato y El Raton”. Furthermore, Diana created the English subtitles for “Nicotina” and “Como El Gato y El Raton”, as well as edited the dialogue and oversaw the English dubbing of the animated film, “The Three Wise Men.” In addition, she was also responsible for establishing and managing the development department, by organizing and developing the company’s slate of Latino-themed projects (“Macho!”, “Goal!”, and “Chupa Que Chupa”). Also, she pursued film acquisitions for theatrical and DVD/home video distribution.
Previously, Diana was a development, production, and financing consultant to industry clients, such as: Sprocketdyne (producer of the “Stuart Little” franchise), Valhalla Motion Pictures (producer of the “Terminator” franchise, as well as “Armageddon”, “Dick”, and “Hulk”), and Patriot Pictures (producer of “One Tough Cop” and financier—via Banque Paribas—of numerous films, such as “Air Force One”, “The Madness of King George”, “Killing Zoe”, and “Box of Moonlight”). Diana also produced television commercials for Adobe Entertainment and The AdMark Group, and an independent short DV, “A Song for Honest Abe”, now traveling the festival circuit.
In her tenure as Vice President of Creative Affairs at Atlantic Streamline (“The Thirteenth Floor” and “Igby Goes Down”), a self-financing film production company, Diana developed the slate of film projects. Moreover, she launched domestic distribution talks with Lions Gate for the film project, “Frailty”.
Formerly, Diana was head of development at Patriot Pictures and Banque Paribas. While these were two separate companies, she worked with Michael Mendelsohn, CEO of Patriot Pictures (a production company), and portfolio manager of the Entertainment Finance Group at Banque Paribas (a French bank that provided gap-financing for film production). Diana pursued new projects to be developed, produced, and financed by Patriot Pictures or gap-financed by Banque Paribas.
At Twentieth Century Fox, Diana worked in the legal affairs department, where she became well versed in the areas of music licensing, as well as the general language and process of theatrical and television contracts. She translated legal documents between English and Spanish and also served as interpreter in Licensing and Merchandising. Diana was promoted to Manager of Business Affairs at Canal Fox (Fox Latin American Channel), where she was responsible for all aspects of affiliate relations.
Diana Lesmez graduated with honors from Wheeling Jesuit University, in Wheeling, West Virginia, with a major in Professional Writing and a minor in Political Science. Continuing her education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Diana earned her Master’s of Arts degree in Theater, Film, and Television.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Mitch Levine
Mitch Levine is a film and stage director who co-founded Festival Consulting Group, offering consulting services and expertise to film festivals around the world. He was formerly the Executive Director and CEO of the Palm Springs International Film Festivals, and has served on the staff of the Juilliard School in New York. In addition, Levine is a former Special Representative to the United Nations Disarmament Programs.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Cynthia Lopez
Ms. López’s responsibilities for P.O.V. include marketing, branding, and strategic planning while contributing to the overall business development of the organization. In addition to her role as Vice President, Ms. López will maintain oversight of P.O.V.’s Communications and Marketing department. From 2000-2003, Cynthia López served as P.O.V.’s Director of Communications. Under her leadership, national coverage of P.O.V. documentaries in the media increased exponentially. Prior to joining P.O.V., Ms. López worked with Libraries for the Future as Advocacy Director from 1996 to 1999 and developed innovative strategies to serve some of the nations poorest libraries. Other work in the public telecommunications arena includes Acting Executive Director of Deep Dish TV Network and Executive Producer of Satellite University Network; both projects used satellite technology to distribute community and educational programming to national public, municipal and governmental access channels. Her production credits include Associate Producer of Labor at the Crossroads, an American Social History Project Production and Associate Producer of a 12-part series on Televisión Española, Madrid, Spain.
Ms. López is currently an active board member of Reel NY (a series on Thirteen/WNET of works by independent New York-based film and video artists), and the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP). She was Chair of NALIP’s Board of Directors from 2001-2003 and is credited with providing the leadership for the organization’s development in critical areas, such as organizational infrastructure, operating procedures, expanded membership, national visibility and an increase in fundraising.
Past board of directors memberships include the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers (AIVF), Third World Newsreel, The Latino Collaborative, United Nations, NGO Organizing Committee for the 1996 International Women’s Conference in Beijing, and Videazimut, an international organization dedicated to uniting progressive media alliances.
A respected voice in the field, Ms. López has been invited to speak at major conferences and institutions, such as the 1997 White House Conference on Library and Information Services Taskforce, (Little Rock, Arkansas); the 1993 Advocacy Media Conference, Benton Foundation (Washington, D.C.); the 1994 Channels for Change Conference, (Edinburgh, Scotland); and, Community Media 2000, (Cape Town, South Africa). Educational speaking engagements include Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Graduate School seminar, MIT Technology and Policy Program; Women and the Art of Multimedia at the National Museum for Women, Washington, D.C.; and, the National Association of College Broadcasters at Brown University.
Ms. López has been an advisor to the Paul Robeson Fund, the Ford Foundation’s Americans for the Arts initiative, the Rockefeller Foundation and Latino Public Broadcasting. Additionally, Ms. López is currently working on her first novel, The Glass Horse.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Josefina Lopez
Having had over 80 professional productions of her plays throughout the United States, Josefina Lopez is one of today's preeminent Chicana writers. She has written such plays as Simply Maria, Or the American Dream, Confessions of Women From East L.A., Boyle Heights, Lola Goes To Roma, Food For The Dead, Unconquered Spirits, and Real Women Have Curves. She is the co-screenwriter of the movie version of REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES, which garnered much acclaim, including at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival where the film won the "Audience Award" and a "Special Jury Award for Acting."
Josefina has a screenplay at HBO titled "Loteria for Juarez" about the mysterious murders of women in Juarez. She has written several other screenplays including: JADD Me to the Party an original comedic screenplay about three Latinas addicted to adrenaline who drive around in an Impala looking for the next distraction and Lola Goes To Roma, a mother daughter comedy that takes place in Europe, a bio-pic titled Queen Of the Rumba, and a family comedy titled No Place Like Home. Lola Goes To Roma is currently in Pre-Production.
Josefina has won several awards including a Gabriel Garcia Marquez award from L.A. Mayor in 2003. She was also recognized by the WGA by being the cover story for the December 2002/January 2003 issue of the prestigious Writers' Guild magazine "Written By," entitled "Real Writers Have Courage."
Josefina and Co-Writer George LaVoo won the "Humanitas Award for Screenwriting." She was awarded a "Screenwriting Fellowship" by the California Arts Council for 2001 and in 1988 she was recognized by California Senator Barbara Boxer as a "woman who has made history in the entertainment industry."
She has an MFA in screenwriting from the prestigious UCLA Film and Television school. Josefina was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, is happily married with one son, expecting another, and lives in Paris.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Macia
Antonio Macia is a writer and actor, soon to be a director. He wrote and co-starred in his first feature, ANNE B. REAL, in the spring of 2002, which won several awards. He followed this as artist-in-residence to the Wurlitzer Foundation, recently co-wrote the feature UP RIVER, and was hired to write a music driven spec feature for Jessy Terrero about the emerging Reggaeton scene.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Nicole Maffei
Nicole Maffei is a Graphic Designer, specializing in print and interactive media. She is the Founder and Creative Director of the full-service design studio, 368 Design, which provides branding, marketing and internet services for a broad range of clients. 368 Design creates graphic and web design solutions to support the goals of filmmakers, artists, actors, and business owners alike. Nicole graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Management Information Systems.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Luis Mandoki
Luis Mandoki is a director, producer, and writer, originally from Mexico City. He worked with Oscar Torres to depict his story of civil war in VOCES INOCENTES, and will soon be bringing forth THE WINGED BOY and ONE MORE DAY FOR HIROSHIMA. Mandoki has also directed such major studio releases as TRAPPED with Charlize Theron, ANGEL EYES with Jennifer Lopez, WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN with Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia, and MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE with Kevin Costner.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Pancho Mansfield
Executive Vice President, Original Programming, SPIKE TV
Born to a Cuban mother and Red Sox fan father, Pancho spent most of his childhood overseas. After attending NYU Film School, he began his career working on documentaries, industrials and television magazine programs in New York. Pancho later moved to Los Angeles and continued his career at The Artist’s Agency, a talent and literary agency. This was followed by a long tenure at Showtime Networks, where he developed some of the more provocative and popular projects in the company’s history, including “Hiroshima,” “Armistead Maupin’s More Tales of the City,” “Noriega,” “Stargate SG-1,” “Penn and Teller’s Bullshit,” “Red Shoe Diaries,” “Street Time,” “The Outer Limits,” “Resurrection Blvd.” and “Queer As Folk.” Pancho has recently moved over to Spike TV, heading up its brand new original programming department, where upcoming programs include the series “Blade” and the reality show “Pros vs. Joes.”
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Ethan Markowitz
Ethan Markowitz is a graduate of the Northwestern University film school and has worked as an advertisement agency producer, and as an executive for the feature film director Roland Joffé. Ethan currently travels the country presenting seminars on independent film production, and the applications of Gorilla budgeting and scheduling software for feature and documentary makers.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Sam Martin
VP, HBO Films
Sam Martin is a member of the HBO Films development team, headed by Colin Callender, president, HBO Films, and is responsible for the development of feature-length films for HBO, a division of Time Warner.
Sam recently returned from Rwanda where she screened SOMETIMES IN APRIL for more than 22,000 people at Amahoro Stadium in Kigali. Attendees included Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda. Sam was Executive-in-Charge of Production on SOMETIMES IN APRIL, a film about the 1994 Rwandan genocide, written and directed by acclaimed Haitian director Raoul Peck (LUMUMBA, MAN ON THE SHORE). Film has been selected to compete at the 2005 Berlin Film Festival and to open the Human Rights Watch Film Festival in London in March. Film premieres on HBO March 19.
After Rwanda, Sam went directly to Park City, UT where LACKAWANNA BLUES premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. LACKAWANNA BLUES, the directorial debut of Tony-winning theater director George C. Wolfe (CAROLINE OR CHANGE, ANGELS IN AMERICA, JELLY'S LAST JAM) is based on the one-man show by Ruben Santiago Hudson which Sam brought to HBO Films in 2002. LACKAWANNA BLUES premieres on HBO February 12.
Sam worked on the upcoming EMPIRE FALLS, based on Richard Russo's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, directed by Fred Schepisi and starring Paul Newman, Ed Harris and Helen Hunt. Film premieres on HBO late May 2005. Sam also worked on the upcoming MY LIFE IN IDYLWILD, a musical starring Outkast, directed by music video director Bryan Barber.
Since joining HBO Films in 2000, Sam has spearheaded a number of exciting and unconventional projects, including the NAACP Image-Award winning BOYCOTT, starring Jeffrey Wright; the English-language version of Raoul Peck's LUMUMBA; the English-language version of THE MIDDLE PASSAGE, adapted by Walter Mosley (DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS) and voiced by Academy-Award nominee Djimon Hounsou (IN AMERICA, AMISTAD); and Reggie Bythewood's DANCING IN SEPTEMBER. She also worked on Agnieszka Holland's SHOT IN THE HEART and John Leguizamo's directorial debut UNDEFEATED. She had the privilege of working with the late John Frankenheimer on his last film, PATH TO WAR as well as on the multiple-Emmy Award winner THE GATHERING STORM.
More recently, Sam initiated EVERYDAY PEOPLE, written and directed by Jim McKay (OUR SONG, GIRLSTOWN), which premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, opened the 2004 New Directors/New Films festival in New York and aired on HBO last June. Other recent projects include IRON JAWED ANGELS, starring Hilary Swank and directed by Katja von Garnier (BANDITS) which also premiered at Sundance and aired on HBO in February 2004.
Sam is a native New Yorker and began her career there as a writer and music video director. She holds an AB in English and Comparative Literature/German from Columbia College, Columbia University and attended The Brearley School. She moved to Los Angeles in 1996 with an eye towards directing features and has been represented by The William Morris Agency and The Gersh Agency for screenwriting and directing. She lives in Silverlake (Eastside!) with her boyfriend, writer/producer Jan-Bodo Bruhns. She was recently featured in Essence Magazine's profile of forty women under forty who are making their mark on the world.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jose Martinez
Mr. Martinez is an entertainment and corporate attorney based in New York and Los Angeles. He has represented writers, directors and producers in all aspects of production, finance, acquisition and distribution. He also represents film distributors, and advises on formation, financing intellectual property, acquisitions and sales of real estate, as well as trail counsel. Martinez is co-founder and general manager of Arthouse Films, a joint venture with Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures. Also a co-founder of the Santa Fe Film Festival, he is a Chicano born and raised in Los Angeles. He received a BA in political theory from UCLA and his JD from Hastings College of Law in San Francisco.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Richard Martinez
Composer Richard Martínez started his music career in his native Chicago. Coming from a family of musicians his career path was destined. He is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music in Boston and as a young keyboardist and pianist, he performed with renowned artists Carly Simon, Harry Belafonte, Blood Sweat and Tears, Betty Buckley and Gregory Hines, from which he gained a wellspring of music experience and helped attune his ear to a broad range of musical styles and expand fine creative sensibilities.
With the advent of computers in the 1980’s Martínez immersed himself in the world of electronic music and music programming which opened new creative horizons to him as a music producer. Over the last 15+ years, Martínez has also produced score with renowned Oscar-winning composer, Elliot Goldenthal, on such notable productions as FRIDA, TITUS, HEAT, BATMAN FOREVER, and many others. He has also joined Goldenthal and Julie Taymor as music director on their Broadway production of THE GREEN BIRD, and as performer and programmer in JUAN DARIEN, which received five Tony nominations.
Among Martínez’ credits as a composer — which span both the independent and studio production sectors — is the highly-celebrated THE DAYTRIPPERS, produced by Steven Soderbergh and directed by Greg Mottola, and the documentary HOWARD ZINN: YOU CAN’T BE NEUTRAL ON A MOVING TRAIN which was on the short list for an Academy Award nominations in 2005. Other credits include composition work for NALIP members Derek Velez-Partridge, director of SANGRE/BLOOD and Elvira Carrizal, writer and director of ESCAPING JUÁREZ. His broad experience dynamically crosses through many genres and his music, always evocative, is often a bridge of varied elements that include electronic blends, traditional and experimental instruments.
Martínez lives in New York and is the founder and president of Light Body Music (www.lightbodymusic.com).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Lucinda Martinez-Desir
Lucinda Martinez-Desir is director, Strategic Partnerships, for Home Box Office, responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of all network National Subscriber Acquisition Efforts as it pertains to HBO Mobile and Segment Marketing. She joined HBO in 2003.
From 2001 to 2002, Martinez-Desir was a director of Partnership Marketing for Comedy Central managing the creation of fully integrated affiliate marketing partnership programs with key MSO affiliates nationally. Prior to that, she was account director, Western Region in Los Angeles where she was responsible for all network distribution and affiliate relations functions for Comedy Central, an AOL/Time Warner & Viacom joint venture including: Regional operations, accounts, affiliate marketing and local ad sales and distribution. As one of the top producers, she was a key player in one of the industry’s most successful subscriber growth spurts for a basic cable network – from 48 million subscribers in 1998 to over 80 million by the end of 2002.
Martinez-Desir began her career with Comedy Central in 1998 and previously held the position of associate manager, Marketing for HBO National Campaigns and was instrumental in the launch of HBO en Espanol.
Prior to joining HBO, she was the Ethnic Marketing/Merchandising manager for Avon Products where she managed all elements of the marketing mix as it pertained to the U.S. Hispanic Market yielding over $7M in incremental sales in one year.
Martinez-Desir serves on The National Board of Directors for NAMIC, Inc, a national organization committed to educating, advocating and empowering for the cause of diversity in the telecommunications industry. In 1999, prior to joining the board, she served as President of NAMIC Southern California, Inc. She is a member of Women in Cable & Telecommunications (WICT) and CTAM as well as a 1996 Walter Kaitz Fellow. In addition, she serves on the Steering Committee for Cable Positive, the cable industry’s HIV and AIDS-awareness organization.
Martinez-Desir is a graduate of Columbia University.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Barbara Martinez-Jitner
Barbara Martinez Jitner is the President of El Norte Productions and is the Executive producer of the film “BORDERTOWN” starring Jennifer Lopez and Antonio Banderas.
“Bordertown” is based on Martinez-Jitner’s real life experiences in 2000, when she posed as a factory worker to uncover the dark world of grueling poverty, abuse, and ritualized murder for her critically acclaimed documentary "La Frontera/The Border.” Ms. Martinez Jitner serves as the 2nd Unit Director of “Bordertown,” as well as the Executive Producer.
Martinez Jitner is also the first Latina ever to be nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Emmy as an Executive Producer/Writer/Director of a television miniseries. “AMERICAN FAMILY– JOURNEY OF DREAMS” is the ground-breaking series which garnered critical acclaim during its two seasons at PBS.
Martinez Jitner recently wrote, produced and directed, “Behind the Mask” a documentary based on the life of Joaquin Murrieta, which stars Antonio Banderas and Jesse Borrego. “Behind the Mask” recently aired on the History Channel and is being released on DVD.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Zola B. Mashariki
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Zola B. Mashariki is currently a Director of Production at Fox Searchlight Pictures in Los Angeles. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School and a former corporate attorney at Proskauer Rose LLP in New York and Manatt, Phelps and Phillips LLP in Los Angeles. Ms. Mashariki has worked on a number of feature films, including ANTWONE FISHER, IN AMERICA, LE DIVORCE, NEVER DIE ALONE, KINSEY and THE CLEARING. She was recently featured on the cover of BLACK ENTERPRISE magazine and has also been profiled in the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine and SAVOY.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Bienvenida Matias
Ms. Matias is in production or post-production on three feature documentaries: FOR THE RECORD: GUAM IN WWII through the ITVS Lincs Program; ABRTEINDO CAMINO with the Latino Educational Media Center; and THE STATE OF THE TERRIOTRY: US-PUERTO RICO RELATIONS AT THE CROSSROADS with Frances Negron-Muntaner. She is also an instructor at Hunter College. A founding Board member of NALIP, Beni is the former NALIP coordinator and past executive director of Minneapolis-based Center for Arts Criticism. Her other documentary producing credits include EL CORAZON DE LOISAIDA. She is active in arts criticism and community activism in addition to media.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Joey Medina
Joey Medina is producer, writer, and host of SiTV’s ‘Circumsized Cinema,” and is well on his way to becoming one of the hottest Latino television personalities working today. He is one of the hosts (and producers) of “Loco Comedy Jam,” is a veteran over 20 television shows, including A&E’s “Evening at the Improv” and “The Roseanne Show,” and can also be seen in THE ORIGINAL LATIN KINGS OF COMEDY and THE DEVIL INSIDE. A Puerto Rican who was born and raised in the Bronx, Joey spent most of his teen years perfecting his boxing skills before becoming a heavy-hitter in the comedy arena. LATIN PALOOZA is his latest venture into producing a feature, and he thanks the NALIP Latino Producers Academy™ for teaching him all the (good) things he knows on this front.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ricardo Mendez Matta
Ricardo Mendez Matta moved to Los Angeles from his native Puerto Rico to attend the USC School of Cinema and Television, where he eventually completed an MFA in Film Production and completed the DGA Assistant Directors program. After directing several episodes of the series “Weird Science,” “Nash Bridges,” “Touched by an Angel”, and “The District,” Ricardo directed LADRONES Y MENTIROSOS (THIEVES AND LIARS) in 2005, an independent Spanish-language feature made in Puerto Rico. He is represented by the Diverse Talent Group.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edith Mendoza
Edy Mendoza was named Director, Comedy Series Development, CBS Entertainment, in September 2001. She reports to Wendi Trilling, Executive Vice President, Comedy, CBS Entertainment.
In her position, Mendoza is part of the team responsible for developing new CBS comedies, which have recently included TWO AND A HALF MEN, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, OUT OF PRACTICE and STILL STANDING.
Mendoza had been manager, comedy development from June 2000-Sept, 2001. She was supervisor, comedy development, from June 1998-June 2000. Mendoza joined the CBS comedy development department in September 1996 as an assistant to Trilling.
As a student at UCLA, Mendoza interned in the CBS Media Relations department from 1994-96 while earning her bachelors degree in communications.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam J. Merims
Adam J. Merims just completed principal photography on Breach. Written and directed by Billy Ray, Breach stars Chris Cooper, Ryan Philippe, and Larua Linney, filming just concluded in Toronto, Ontario and Washington, DC. Before Breach, Adam most recently executive produced Casanova. Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and starring Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller, Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons, the film was shot entirely on location in Venice, Italy. Previous to this he executive produced writer/director Richard Shepard’s The Matador, starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear, and Hope Davis on location in Mexico City, and House Of D, writer/director/actor David Duchovny’s first feature starring Robin Williams, Tea Leoni, Erykah Badu, and Anton Yelchin.
Merims produced writer/director Billy Ray’s critically acclaimed first feature Shattered Glass, starring Hayden Christensen, Peter Saarsgard, Chloe Sevigny, Steve Zahn, Rosario Dawson, and Hank Azaria. His other credits as producer include Ed Solomon’s Levity, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter and Kirsten Dunst, which opened the 2003 Sundance Festival; Love Stinks, written and directed by Jeff Franklin and starring French Stewart, Bridgette Wilson, Tyra Banks, and Bill Bellamy; and Cold Around The Heart starring David Caruso, Kelly Lynch and Stacey Dash, written and directed by John Ridley and executive produced by Oliver Stone. He was co-producer on Universal Soldier: The Return, starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, and on the HBO Premiere project Freeway starring Kiefer Sutherland and Reese Witherspoon.
From August 1993 till November 1994, Merims was Producer and Head of West Coast Operations for Nickelodeon Movies. At Nickelodeon, he was responsible for managing the start-up of a Nickelodeon features office in Los Angeles and with identifying and developing projects suitable for motion picture production in the family entertainment arena in conjunction with both Twentieth Century Fox Pictures and Paramount Pictures.
Before Nickelodeon, Merims worked as VP, Production at Lobell-Bergman Productions from April 1990 through July 1993 where he was responsible for all development at the company. During his tenure at Lobell-Bergman he served as associate producer on Andy Bergman’s Honeymoon In Vegas, starring Nicolas Cage, James Caan, and Sarah Jessica Parker; Herbert Ross’ Undercover Blues, starring Kathleen Turner and Dennis Quaid; and Andy Scheinman’s Little Big League, starring Timothy Busfield.
From 1984-89, Merims worked as a freelance producer, production manager, and assistant director. In these capacities, he was involved with a number of projects, most notably, the original mini-series Lonesome Dove. He has been a member of the Director’s Guild of America since 1986.
Merims graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Philosophy and Economics. He was also a graduate of The Collegiate School in New York City.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Cara Mertes
Cara Mertes has served as Executive Director of POV and VP of American Documentary, Inc., since 1999. During her tenure, POV films have been nominated for eight national Emmys and received five, as well as two duPont-Columbia Awards and an Academy Award nomination. Ms. Mertes has been in the independent media field since 1988 as a producer/director, programmer, writer, consultant, and presenter. She graduated with honors with a BA in English and Film from Vassar College, and is currently pursuing a MA in Film and Media Studies.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diana Mogollon
Diana Mogollon is the Vice President, Programming & Marketing for the Telemundo Network West Coast office. Diana began her career in the entertainment industry at Lifetime Television, eventually joining the team that helped launch Twentieth Century Fox’s first cable channel in Latin America. She transitioned to Galan Entertainment as their Director of Development, eventually becoming Vice President of the company. Diana has always believed in mentoring Latinos in the entertainment business and is active in recruiting interns so they can get their foot in the door.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph Mario Molina, M.D.
Joseph Mario Molina, M.D., is President and Chief Executive Officer of Molina Healthcare, Inc., and Chairman of the Board of the health care organization which he founded in 1996. He was named one of TIME Magazines 25 most influential Latinos in 2005, and is a partner in Maya Cinemas, a member of the New America Alliance. He is also chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles Academy of Arts and Enterprise charter school. Dr. Molina is also a member of the boards of the Association of Health Insurance Plans, the Aquarium of the Pacific, and Homeboy Industries.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Flavio Morales
Flavio Morales was named Vice President of Programming for mun2 television in February 2005 and is based in mun2’s new Los Angeles headquarters.
Prior to joining Telemundo, Morales served as Director of Programming and Music for LATV where he developed a reputation for creating original and authentic content that resonated with young Latinos. Morales started LATV, which is now on broadcast and cable in Southern California, and has received several Imagen Awards as well as the local Impact Award from the National Council of la Raza.
Morales is recognized throughout the industry as a leader in conceptualizing programming that truly speaks to its audience, particularly in the areas of culture and music. As someone who has been working in the bicultural arena since a teenager, he was one of the first individuals in media who had the foresight to connect with and recognize the importance of this burgeoning segment and is truly a pioneer in the bicultural space.
Before joining LATV, Morales held several positions in media, specifically in music, television, advertising, and event promotions. He was advertising giant Wieden & Kennedy’s Latino liaison for clients such as Miller Genuine Draft, Microsoft and Coke. He has worked closely with major brands including Nike and Roundtable Pizza. Morales was also a part of the winning team for AdAge’s first Hispanic Ad competition in 1999.
Morales, a Los Angeles native, began creating programming for bicultural Latinos in high school when he formed ILLEGAL interns, a local Los Angeles cult music variety show favorite, which pioneered music from artists like Caifanes, Moby, Ozomatli and Cypress Hill. The show received critical acclaim, and even had the artists’ worked displayed at The Geffen Museum of Modern Art.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Frances Negron-Muntaner
Frances Negrón-Muntaner is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and scholar. She is the recipient of Ford, Truman, Scripps Howard, Rockefeller, and Pew fellowships. She holds Masters in Visual Anthropology and Fine Arts from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Rutgers University. Ms. Negrón-Muntaner is the editor of two books, Shouting in a Whisper: Latino Poets in Philadelphia and Puerto Rican Jam: Rethinking Nationalism and Colonialism, and the author of Boricua Pop: Puerto Ricans and the Latinization of American Culture(2004). Her last book is None of the Above: Puerto Ricans and Globalization (2005). Her films have been screened throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Latin America, as well as broadcast on many public television stations. Among her award-winning films are AIDS IN THE BARRIO and BRINCANDO EL CHARCO: PORTRAIT OF A PUERTO RICAN. She is currently completing two documentaries for public television, FOR THE RECORD: GUAM AND WORLD WAR II and REGARDING VIEQUES. She is also the founder of Miami Light Project’s Filmmakers Workshop, and currently teaches at Columbia University in New York City.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Alberta Nokes
Alberta Nokes is Director of Independent Production for VisionTV. She reviews approx. 1,000 program ideas annually and commissions and executive produces documentaries and docudramas, many of which are international co-productions with broadcasters including Channel 4, France 5, BBC, History U.S. and others. Recent projects include: The Naked Archaeologist (26X30); Secret Files of the Inquisition (4X60); The Lost Gods (6X30); and Scared Sacred (1X90). Ms. Nokes has also written the documentary series First Light: Tuscany and the Dawn of the Renaissance (4X60).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Edward Olmos
Edward James Olmos is an acclaimed actor, director, and activist, who has spent the last 25 years of his professional career redefining the Hollywood stereotype of a Latino actor. Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Olmos first found acclaim on Broadway in the musical drama Zoot Suit. He recreated the role in the 1981 film adaptation, and also starred in SELENA, MI FAMILIA, BLADE RUNNER, BALLAD OF GREGORIO CORTEZ, and NBC's smash "Miami Vice." Olmos’ greatest acclaim came in playing dedicated educator Jaime Escalante in STAND AND DELIVER, for which he won the Independent Spirit Award as well as an Academy Award® nomination for Lead Actor. He directed WALKOUT for HBO in 2005.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Lupe Ontiveros
Lupe Ontiveros is a well-known stage, television and screen actress as well as a producer and Community Activist. She is best known for her comedic/dramatic role as La Nacha in the Oscar nominated film EL NORTE, for which she gained international recognition.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, she began as an extra in 1972 and soon after, launched an impressive film career as a “working actress” proudly portraying Latino mothers and maids.
Lupe’s stage work includes most notably the Los Angeles , New York , and film productions of Luis Valdez’ ZOOT SUIT, where she created the role of Dolores, the first Chicana mother on the Broadway stage. ZOOT SUIT, the play, has been recognized as an historical event on the New York Stage as A New American Play about Chicanos.
Her film credits include PICKING UP THE PIECES with Woody Allen directed by Alfonso Arau, CHUCK AND BUCK, directed by Miguel Arteta, AS GOOD AS IT GETS with Jack Nicholson, directed by James R. Brooks, THE BRAVE directed by Johnny Depp, MI FAMILIA/ SELENA, directed by Gregory Nava, Bound By Honor directed by Taylor Hackford. Other credits to include GOONIES, Storytelling, just to name a few. Lupe also starred in the HBO feature REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES directed by Patricia Cardosa.
Her countless television credits include pilots and series regular appearances such as DUDLEY with Dudley Moore, VERONICA’S CLOSET for CBS, where she was a recurring Guest Star. A series regular In GREETINGS FROM TUCSON for Warner Brothers, and she is the voice of Abuelita on the PBS animated children’s series, THE ADVENTURES OF MAYA AND MIGUEL.
As a producer, Lupe produced UNA VEZ AL ANO PARA TODA UNA VIDA, an award winning educational film in Spanish, focusing on the need for awareness regarding breast cancer in Latinas.
After graduating from Texas Woman’s University, she worked for 15 years as a Social Worker in East Los Angeles and Compton areas where she became involved as an activist on issues confronting women and education. In 2003 the Domestic Violence and Abuse of Women issue prompted her to perform The Vagina Monologues with Jane Fonda, Margo Kidder and Rosie Perez in order to raise funds for a women’s shelter facility in Florida. Lupe and her Associate Enrique Pinerua have established a Development Consultant Service to assist corporate America fund non-profit organizations providing services addressing these issues.
As a founding member of the Latino Theatre Company in Los Angeles , Lupe has dedicated her life towards affecting change in the negative image of Latinos in the entertainment industry. By creating award winning, original theatrical projects that enhance our existing cultural values and by educating theatre audiences to the Latino/Chicano experience, her company has created the first Equity Theatre non-regional theatre in the nation. Through original works, such as AUGUST 29TH, HOW ELSE AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW I’M STILL ALIVE, STONE WEDDING, LUMINARIAS, and DIMENTIA the Latino Theatre Company has been able to address past and present social/political issues from the historical events of the Chicano Movement to the present social/sexual evolution of the Latino Community.
Lupe’s work has gained the respect of her peers, as well as her community, through recognition awards for her efforts as an actress, pioneer, activist and visionary who has sought to affect change while maintaining her dignity as a woman. Among the many awards she has received are the Nosotros Golden Eagle Award, the ALMA Award and The Special Jury at The Sundance Film Festival awarded Lupe Best Dramatic Actress for her role in “REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES”. The National Board of Review awarded Lupe the Best Supporting Actress for CHUCK AND BUCK, and she was nominated Best Supporting Actress for the Independent Spirit Award. Most recently she was honored with Lifetime Achievment Award by THE NATIONAL HISPANIC MEDIA COALITION, CINEQUEST Film Festival MAVERICK AWARD also honored her as the first Latina to receive this Honor. She was also the only Latina nominated for an Emmy in 2005, for her role as Juanita Solis in Desperate Housewives.
Lupe has served as juror on feature, documentary and short subject categories in both national and international film festivals. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband Elias; has three sons Nicolas, Elias, and Alejandro. She also has two granddaughters Marissa Marie and Jessica Ana.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Roberto Orci
Photo Credit/Copyright: Christina Pompa-Kwok. Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Writers/Producers) have been partners-in-imagination since high school. Writers and executive producers on the acclaimed, award-winning television spy thriller “Alias,” Kurtzman and Orci have a string of forthcoming films on the horizon that demonstrate their love of story telling. Their produced, feature film writing credits include THE LEGEND OF ZORRO, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas, and Michael Bay's sci-fi thriller THE ISLAND, starring Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor. This May, audiences can look forward to the much-anticipated third-installment of the popular MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE series, starring Tom Cruise in the iconic role of super-agent Ethan Hunt, and TRANSFORMERS, from DreamWorks SKG and Paramount, due for release on July 4th, 2007. In addition to their writing projects, Kurtzman and Orci are producing a continually growing slate of movies for studios around town.
This powerful Hollywood pairing began during childhood. Kurtzman and Orci met in high school and became prolific co-writers of numerous adolescent screenplays. Penning adventure stories and making ambitious home movies prior to meeting each other, they soon realized the magic of their combined creativity – and began to dream of one day making Hollywood movies together. After high school as each traveled to different corners of the U.S. for college – Kurtzman to NYU, then Wesleyan and Orci to the University of Texas – they continued to write scripts in tandem over the phone lines.
After graduation, Kurtzman began working as a production assistant on the popular adventure television shows “Hercules” and “Xena: Warrior Princess” – which inspired the duo to try their hand at a sample script. This in turn led quickly to their first writing job, and within months, they ascended to become the 23-year-old head writers on the hit series, “Hercules.”
That training paid off when Kurtzman and Orci became involved in a new, risk-taking series about a female secret agent: “Alias,” starring Jennifer Garner. Part complex character drama, part stylish espionage thriller and part inventively playful sci-fi world, “Alias” became an instant addiction for millions of Americans – as well as a critically acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning hit.
Meanwhile, the two continued writing feature films, working on several scripts simultaneously. It was the breathless action and rich drama of their script for a sequel to THE MASK OF ZORRO that drew accolades from Antonio Banderas and led to the production of LEGEND OF ZORRO. Kurtzman and Orci's work on Zorro won the team new respect in the feature world. Within the industry, the writers became known for their collaborative style, great writing chops, and lighting turnaround, which earned them a coveted writing/producing deal at DreamWorks SKG.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fern Orenstein
Vice President, Casting, CBS Entertainment
Fern Orenstein was named Vice President, Casting, in 1999. She reports to Peter Golden, Executive Vice President, Talent and Casting, CBS.
In her position, Orenstein is responsible for overseeing the casting of CBS television movies and mini-series.
Orenstein has also spearheaded CBS's diversity acting workshops, a series of showcases designed to give minorities opportunities in front of and behind the camera.
Previously, Orenstein had been partnered in Glicksman-Orenstein Casting, where, with partner Susan Glicksman was involved in the casting of more than 100 movies including TOO YOUNG TO DIE, which featured Brad Pitt in his first starring role, WEST SIDE WALTZ with Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates and Liza Minelli, BILLY THE KID with Val Kilmer and THE TRUTH ABOUT JANE with Stockard Channing for Lifetime Television.
In 1999, Orenstein, Glicksman and Deidre Bowen were all nominated for an Emmy Award for their work on the CBS mini-series "Joan of Arc."
Orenstein is also the recipient of a Media Access Award for her work on "Baywatch," which she had been associated with for 11 years.
Orenstein graduated New York University with a bachelor of fine arts degree.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 David Ortiz
David is a creative executive in the feature film division of Universal Studios in Universal City, CA. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, David graduated in 1998 from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in Public Policy. He began his career in advertising, working with Leo Burnett in Chicago. He then relocated to Los Angeles in order to become a trainee in the William Morris Agency mailroom, where he quickly joined then worked in the motion picture department for two years. David spent 1.5 years as a creative exec at Warner Bros. where he supervised CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY and SYRIANA starring George Clooney & Matt Damon, amongst other projects. David returned to Universal Pictures in August of 2005 to work with his former boss and mentor, President of Production Donna Langley. He is currently supervising IDLEWILD, the feature film debut of the rap group Outkast. He sits on the Board of Directors for NALIP, Conference V and VI committees, and the Nominating committee.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Luis Ortiz
As Program Director, Ortiz oversees LPB's annual Open Call process that consists of selecting a group of readers and panelists that make the final selections of projects that are awarded grants. He also administers and executes contracts between awarded producers and LPB. Mr. Ortiz's other responsibilities include coordinating nationwide workshops offered in selected cities, theatrical screenings of LPB programs and other special events. Ortiz also oversees the production and management of LPB's bi-annual newsletter Voz and website www.lpbp.org.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page B. Ostrow
Page B. Ostrow has arranged financing and/or negotiated distribution for over 125 feature films and numerous documentaries. By 2000, she had worked for more than ten years successfully providing distributors with global sales support, licensing, and global pre-sales financing for their film projects and libraries to international buyers at all the film markets. Page created Ostrow and Company when she recognized that there was something lacking in the marketplace: someone to aggressively and effectively negotiate, market and collect royalties on behalf of independent feature filmmakers, producers and writers. Her company filled that niche.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Edwin Pagan
Edwin Pagán is a New York-based filmmaker, cinematographer, screenwriter and cultural activist with a rare blend of creative and administrative experience, including over 16-years in community organizing, organizational capacity building and initiative-based/event programming, as well as extensive production experience in the documentary and narrative film sectors.
As a filmmaker he has produced such dramatic films as Derek Velez-Partridge’s SANGRE/BLOOD, Andres Nicolini’s RENDEZVOUS, and line-produced Franc Reyes’ BEAUTY. As a Director of Photography (DP) he has lensed LOST LOVE, THE RECKONING, BROTHER (RIPFest #6), FOR THE RECORD: GUAM AND WORLD WAR II (for PBS), OUR WOMEN, OUR STRUGGLE (currently in production), and the reality TV pilot, LATINA CONFESSIONS, among others.
In 2005 he worked as conference programmer for 27th IFP Market & Conference and was responsible for curating all conference panels and speakers. He has also worked at the Bronx Council on the Arts (BCA) as an artist grants coordinator and marketing manager at the Association of Hispanic Arts (AHA).
In 1990 Edwin Pagán co-founded the Latino artist collective, PAX Theatre Community, as a means of expanding community-based arts participation in the South Bronx. He was a recipient of the 2000 BRIO Artist Fellowship Award in screenwriting for ANGELITO NEGRO (The Black Angel), and was awarded the 1998 Lo Mejor de Nuestra Comunidad (the best of our community) recognition by New York State Governor George E. Pataki and the Puerto Rican Heritage Month organizing committee (Comite Noviembre), for his work in the Puerto Rican/Latino community in the region.
He currently serves as a Board member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and is president of its New York chapter. He has served on numerous juries, selection and curatorial committees for such arts entities as the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA), NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA), New York International Latino Film Festival and prestigious Tribeca Institutes’ Tribeca All Access Connects initiative, and frequently speaks on panels related to filmmaking, particularly the expansion and integration of Latino filmmakers into the industry. In addition, he has also curated the NewLatino Filmmakers series at the renowned cinematheque, Anthology Film Archives, for the past four years. He is a representative member of the Media Coalition for Artist of Color.
His latest signature project, BRONX BURNING (as writer/producer/director), is a long-form documentary that chronicles the rise, fall and resurrection of the South Bronx. His production company, Pagan-Images, will produce the film.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Angela Palmer
As Manager of TV Program Development and Producer Relations, Angie Palmer is responsible for advancing the priorities of CPB’s TV Programming Department and building relationships in and outside of public broadcasting. Ms Palmer serves as primary liaison to the National Minority Consortia, ITVS, various industry groups and works to enhance the inclusion of diverse perspectives in the programming and production process. She is also Program Officer for several CPB funding initiatives.
Prior to joining CPB this past July, Angie was employed as Director of Partnership Development for an independent production company in Washington, DC. A cable television veteran of 18 years, Angie was part of the ground floor operations team for the cable system in Washington, DC and was employed for ten years at C-SPAN in various marketing, sales and business capacities. Immediately before her transition to public television, she served as Director of Affiliate and Community Relations/Business Development for New Urban Entertainment Television, (NUE-TV) a start-up cable venture.
Angie holds a graduate degree in Organizational Development from George Washington University in Washington, DC and an undergraduate degree in Marketing from The University of Dayton in Ohio.In her spare time, she is a freelance writer and President of an amateur performing Arts troupe in Washington, DC.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Hye-Jung Park
Hye-Jung Park is Director of Youth Channel at Manhattan Neighborhood Network. She initiated a public access project dedicated to media arts programming and production by and for young people. Previously, she was Director of Programs for eight years at the Downtown Community TV Center (DCTV), a grassroots media center. She received an M.A. from the New School for Social Research.
As a media/community activist, she has curated many community and national screenings and organized community events to address issues of labor, women, Korean Reunification and international solidarity. She has extensive experience as a board member for organizations such as Alliance for Community Media, Paul Robeson Media Fund, the National Coalition of Independent Public Broadcasters, Rainbow Korean Women’s Center, the North Star Fund, the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC), and Videazimut (an international coalition of community media organizations).
As an independent producer, she has produced “Homes Apart: Two Koreas” (PBS), “…Will Be Televised,” “The Women Outside” (PBS) and “7 train from Main Street” (Local PBS). An adjunct lecturer, she has designed and taught courses on Asian–African/American Media at New York colleges. She received grants for her community film projects from Corporation for Public Broadcasting, New York State Council on the Arts, Rockefeller Foundation, and other numerous foundations.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Michael Peña
Michael Peña is an accomplished television and film actor, appearing in the upcoming HBO release, WALKOUT. He has had recurring roles on “Felicity,” “The Shield,” “NYPD Blue,” and “ER.” His film appearances include CRASH, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, AND SUEÑO, and the upcoming WORLD TRADE CENTER. Michael is also a musician, and his band is being showcased in SXSW music festival this year.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Louis E. Perego Moreno
Louis E. Perego Moreno is an Interactive Content Producer and Educator. For the past 25 years Louis has been the President of SKYLINE FEATURES, an English and Spanish-language multimedia production and educational company focusing on trans-cultural, multicultural and youth edutainment projects. His specialty is developing documentaries for television and national distribution in schools that feature Latinos, Blacks, Urban Youth, Women, Gay & Lesbian Youth and Children with Disabilities. Louis custom tailors his content to a variety of media: television, Internet, print, radio and public venues.
In 1993 Louis founded SKYLINE COMMUNITY; a non-profit organization devoted to the issues of Latino and Black Youth and Women. In seven years as the Executive Director, he produced 70 social documentary shorts by training 1,500 youth in New York City, Newark and New Brunswick, NJ. Many of these award-winning documentary shorts counter the negative portrayals of ethnic communities and offer solutions to social, public and mental health issues. Nine documentaries aired on HBO Family. He has addressed through Speaking Engagements & Workshops over 25,000 college, secondary and junior high school students nationally.
Other production work included:
- Producer on a 30-minute documentary on incarcerated adolescents in Rikers Island with Edward James Olmos for WPIX-TV (WB11-NY). The Rikers documentary received awards from the National Association of Black Journalists for Best Reporting, the Angels Award for Community Service and the National Education Association's Parents' Choice Award.
- A 10-minute documentary for the NYC Dept. of Education on schools formerly labeled “vocational schools” and established as the new “Career & Technical Education.”
- The bilingual and bicultural promotion, along with a Los Angeles P.R. marketing firm, of HBO’s Spanish film about Cuban boatpeople entitled, “Balseros” at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. The film garnered an Academy-award nomination.
- TLC’s What Not to Wear, as Casting Producer on the 2nd season’s premiere episode.
- Initial Casting Producer for HBO on Jennifer Lopez’s first documentary, “15”.
- Casting Producer for Bridesmaids, commissioned by the British production company, Lion Television for TLC.
- Casting Producer, Field Producer and Director of Photography for Moms Go on Strike, commissioned by the British production company, Lion Television for A&E.
Fluently bilingual and bicultural, Louis was born and raised in the South Bronx of Cuban-Argentine parentage and raised within the Puerto Rican community. He is a member of La Raza, the Wellesley Centers for Women, the National Association of Latino Independent Producers, and the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of Northern Lights Alternatives (HIV/AIDS-infected children and their families), Women in Cable & Telecommunications, National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications and Young Professional Latinos for Community Empowerment. Louis is a graduate of NALIP’s 2005 Latino Producers Academy with Latina Confessions.
His work has been featured at and received awards from: The National Association of Black Journalists, World Population Film Festival Global Vision Award, Pinch Award for Hispanic Community Service and the National Education Media Network Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards, to name a few. Skyline has been featured on NPR, CBS, NBC, Fox TV, Univision, PBS, and other national radio and television stations.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Juan Carlos Perez
Juan Carlos’s first screenplay, BLIND MAN’S BLUFF, was selected for an ABC/Disney New Talent Development Grant. Prior to that, he worked as a freelance writer in New York, where he wrote in-flight cross-cultural training program scripts. Juan Carlos has done commercial projects for Yakima, Healthsport and the C. Crane Company, and has written screenplays for Stray Dog Productions and the director Andres Nicolini. His horror screenplay, GRIM TWILIGHT, has been optioned by Philtrum Films. Juan Carlos received his B.A. with high honors from Wesleyan University and did his graduate work in Medieval French and German at UC Berkeley. He is currently completing his dissertation on the influence of Arthurian romance on the myth of the American cowboy. Juan Carlos was born in Chachapoyas, Peru, raised in Ohio, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Maria Perez-Brown
Maria Perez-Brown is the creator and executive producer of Taina, a new live-action comedy series for Nickelodeon about a 15-year-old Latina caught in between two cultures, her traditional Latino family and the modern world of her school and friends.
Perez-Brown is an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry. She is the president of Dorado Entertainment, Inc., a production company she founded to create quality entertainment for both adults and children. As executive producer and creator, she launched the popular pre-school series Gullah Gullah Island, which was named one of the top 10 television shows for children by TV Guide in 1996. Under Perez-Brown's guidance, Gullah Gullah Island, which launched in fall 1994, became a top-rated Nick Jr. series and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award. The series also garnered three Parent's Choice Golden Awards, a National Association of Minorities in Cable Award and four NAACP Image Award nominations.
Perez-Brown overcame several obstacles before becoming a creative force in television. She was born in Dorado, Puerto Rico. Her mother was married by fourteen and a single parent, mother of four by the time she was 20. When Perez-Brown was accepted at Yale, her mother would have preferred for her to attend school in Connecticut with her sister, but Perez-Brown had other ideas for her future. After securing a B.A. from Yale University and a law degree from New York University, she began her career in the tax department of a large Manhattan law firm. However, her love of entertainment soon took hold and she began working on entertainment contracts in her spare time. Eventually, she made the jump to independently producing television programs on a full-time basis. One of her initial projects was Accidentally on Purpose, a pilot for Nickelodeon with Joie and Cinque Lee, followed by the well-received short film El Deseo.
Maria also served as executive in charge of production for the Nickelodeon series The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo and the network's Peabody Award-winning campaign, The Big Help, as well as producer of six episodes of the Gullah Gullah Island spin-off, Binyah Binyah.
Her personal honors include an Annual Achievement in Television Award presented by the National Hispanic Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, the New York University Award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the Latino Community and an Emmy nomination for producing Gullah Gullah Island.
Off the air, Perez-Brown has produced four Gullah, Gullah Island home videos for Sony Wonder and several CDs. She also collaborated on a series of children's books based on the series, which were published by Simon & Schuster.
In addition to Taina, Perez-Brown is currently in development on CyberChicas, a live-action/animated television series that follows the adventures of four pre-teen girls who are also superheroes. This series will launch on the internet 2001.
Perez-Brown currently resides in New Jersey with her husband, writer/producer Keith Brown.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ralf-Peter Piechowiak
Ralf-Peter Piechowiak is Writer, Executive Producer and Commissioning Editor for ZDF German Television Network, the Continent´s largest Public TV Company. Ralf has a distinguished 24-year career at ZDF´s Department of Contemporary History. He has co-developed, -written, -produced, launched or supervised the production of many highly acclaimed multiple-part, award-winning documentary series over the past few years including The Unification of Germany, Scandals, Our Century, Hitler – A Profile, Hitler´s Henchmen, Holokaust, The Century War, 100 Years, Stalin, German POW´s, Dictators, Power Couples. Ralf contributes articles for historical publications and books. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the World Congress of History Producers. More information on ZDF can be found on the company´s website www.zdf.de.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pamela Post
Pamela Post is Director, Development at Logo. She is a former partner in Dexterity Pictures, developing several independent films. She was the VP of development and production for Team Todd who produced AUSTIN POWERS 2 & 3, MEMENTO, and IDLE HANDS. The company also produced IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK 2 and BOILER ROOM (which she Associate Produced). In 2003, she also co-produced a short documentary film, KISS AND TELL, which premiered at Sundance.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dania Ramírez
Dania Ramírez is an actress, originally from the Dominican Republic. She is best known for her role as Alex in SHE HATE ME, but has also appeared in FAT ALBERT, ROMY AND MICHELLE, and in the upcoming X-MEN: THE LAST STAND directed by Brett Ratner.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Fernando Ramirez, Esq.
Mr. Ramirez is an Attorney in private practice. His work entails transactional entertainment law for individual talent and business clients in the film, television, music, and book publishing industries. He is a frequent guest panelist and lecturer at Colleges, Universities, Film Festivals and Conferences, and his legal articles are published in trade magazines including The Independent Magazine for Video and Filmmakers. Mr. Ramirez graduated from Fordham University and Brooklyn Law School. He resides in New York City with his wife and son.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rick Ramirez
Rick Ramirez is Vice President, Emerging Markets for Fox Entertainment Group where he is responsible for covering the Hispanic, Asian American, and African American markets. A native of of El Paso, Texas, he worked previously at Phil Roman Entertainment, which he joined during the company's inception in early 1999. He was Vice President, and managed development, production, and business affairs for animation and live-action projects intended for TV series, specials, and motion picture projects. In addition, Rick oversaw all aspects of deal structuring, financing and distribution. Rick has also served as a producer for Galavision, was a partner of Ron Tequila Productions, and practiced corporate law with Smith, Underwood, Carmichael & Floyd of Dallas, Texas.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Harrison Reiner
Staff Story Analyst (I.A.T.S.E.), CBS Movies of the Week and Mini-Series; Producer, LA TICLA, a romantic tragedy directed by Fernando Lebrija (shooting April 2006 in Mexico); Instructor of Screenwriting, Professional Programs, UCLA School of Film and Television; Instructor of Story Development, Entertainment Studies Program, UCLA Extension; former Visiting Adjunct Professor of Writing for Short Film, M.F.A. Directing Program, UCLA School of Film and Television; Lecturer, Organization of Black Screenwriters Writers; formerly Program Evaluator, Documentary Film, Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Visiting Lecturer, the Scottish Film Academy at Napier University (Edinburgh, Scotland); Director, Hollywood Black Film Festival Screenwriting Workshop; Co-founded the Desi Arnaz Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Screenwriting, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival; former Production Executive, Sovereign Pictures (co-distributors of Academy Award-winning motion pictures MY LEFT FOOT and CINEMA PARADISO); previously Story Editor, RKO Pictures (during filming of HAMBURGER HILL and John Sayles' EIGHT MEN OUT). Mr. Reiner has also served a story analyst for Sherry Lansing Productions in association with Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures, Warner Brothers Feature Animation, and Turner Network Television. He holds a B.F.A. from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, an M.F.A. from Columbia University School of the Arts, and a certificate from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jorge A. Reyes
Jorge A. Reyes, was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. His career sky rocketed when he wrote his first episode "Brown Like Me" for Fox's hit TV show "New York Undercover". Jorge then moved to live in New York City, writing for a women's magazine. After he decided to fulfill his dream of writing TV shows, Jorge moved to Los Angeles, California, where he became a writer for "Rescue 77", and Resurrection Blvd. Later on, he created a show on UPN called "Kevin Hill" where he served as the creator and a co-executive producer. Jorge has now moved on to creating new projects, one for cable and one for broadcast networks through Mel Gibson's TouchStone Productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Luis A. Riefkohl
Luis A. Riefkohl is the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Film Commission, Corporación de Cine de Puerto Rico. He manages the island’s film fund, that contributes up to 80% of a film’s budget to a ceiling of $1.5 million. REGGAETON and SANTO E PALO have been funded under the program, which also provides tax credits of 40% on projects shot 50% in Puerto Rico. Riefkohl is lobbying to lower the required percentage to 30%.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Angel Rivera
Angel Rivera is currently the National Director of the Department of Affirmative Action and Diversity at the Screen Actors Guild. The Department has offices and staff in the Hollywood Headquarters and New York City office.
Mr. Rivera and his Department develops, supports, and promotes programs and services design to enhance (1) career opportunities for SAG actors, stunt performers, singers, dancers, peppeteers, and voice-over performers who are in any of the federally protected groups (minority, women, performer with disabilities and performers who are 40 years of age and higher) working in primetime television, film and national commercials; (2) industry and community awareness regarding the need for more inclusiveness and diversity in the industry; (3) compliance with municipal, state and federal anti-discrimination and sexual harassment laws, the American with Disability Act, and all SAG non-discrimination and diversity contract agreements; and (4) the goals and objectives of the Guild’s National Ethnic Employment Opportunity, National Women, National Senior and National Performers with Disabilities Committees.
Under Mr. Rivera guidance, SAG has implemented programs to increase casting calls to the Department’s Diversity, Special Skills and Talent Bank; has increased the number of network and studio talent showcases including the first performers with disabilities talent showcase with CBS; and has created a series of panel discussions entitled - “Women In Hollywood”, “Reel Diversity for Dummies”, “Breaking Barriers” and “The Invisible American”. Rivera was successful in getting grants totaling over $2,500,000 from the SAG/Producer Industry Advancement Cooperative Fund to hold a series of free screening around the country of films that exemplified excellent examples of non-traditional casting, writing, directing and/or producing; and commissioned a research study on performers with disabilities. In 2003, the department reported in its annual Casting Data Report that 24.2% of all roles in 2002 went to African-American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islanders and Native American performers. This represents the largest annual share of roles by these performers in the history of the Guild and an increase from the 2001 figure of 22.1%. In 2004, the department reported that Asian-Americans performers’ share of roles increased overall which included a 21% gain in episodic television roles and Latino performers also increased their share of all film and television roles despite a decrease of 7.8% of roles for all performers.
Angel Rivera has an extensive employment history in public, non-profit, education and the private sector. Before he joined the Screen Actors Guild, Mr. Rivera was the Director of Corporate Global Diversity at the global advertising and marketing communication holding company - Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG) where he was responsible for incorporating diversity initiatives into the strategic business plan of advertising agencies such as Foote, Cone and Belding Worldwide, McCann-Erickson and public relations company such as Weber Shandwick. Before IPG, Rivera was the Manager of Global Diversity at True North Communications, Inc. where he worked with Bozell Advertising and TN Media (now Initiative).
Mr. Rivera is a member of the NAACP Image Awards Nomination Committee and the Association of American Association of Advertising Agencies' Diversity Advisory Board. He is on the Board of Advisors of RockNRelief which will hold concerts around the country to help victims of natural disasters and the TORCH program for inner-city high school students interested in advertising, media and entertainment. He has served as Chairman of the American Association of Advertising Agencies' Diversity/Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, Chairman of the Ad Club of New York's Changing Face of Advertising Committee and as a member of the American Advertising Federation's Multicultural Business Practice Leadership Council. Mr. Rivera also served on the Arts Advisory Council of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration
After graduating from Fordham University, Mr. Rivera served three New York Mayors as a Mayor’s Office Audit Analyst under Mayor Koch, a Labor/Management Facilitator and Project Planner under Dinkins, and as Special Assistant to the Fire Commissioner and Director of Employment Initiatives at the New York City Fire Department (under Giuliani) where he started the first Fire Cadet Corps program. In 1995, Mr. Rivera helped inner city students prepare for college as a Program Director at the Edwin Gould Foundation for Children’s Sponsor for Educational Opportunities (SEO) program. Later, Mr. Rivera became employed by the City University of New York where he created the first CUNY / NYPD Police Cadet Corps.
Mr. Rivera resides in Beverly Hills, CA. and New York, NY and has two children (Kaelin 10 and Sean 9).
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pamela Robinson
A premiere leader in the executive search business, and founder/owner of The Robinson Company, Pamela began her career in New York City. After two years of working for an employment agency, Pamela founded her own search firm, Carlton Management Limited, which specialized in the placement of accounting and financial professionals. Upon moving to Los Angeles in the late '70's, Pamela worked for several years for Search West before opening her own entertainment search firm in 1985. The Robinson Company places executives in all areas of the entertainment business and has a specialty in the marketing and creative services area.
Pamela sits on the board of The Geffen Playhouse, Shakespeare Festival LA, as well as being an active member of MOCA Los Angeles. Additionally she is on the advisory board of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, and Step Up Women's Entertainment Network.
Pamela is the co-author of the book “IF I DON’T DO IT NOW…CAREER MAKEOVERS FOR THE WORKING WOMAN” and writes the on-line career column for VARIETYCAREERS.COM. She resides in Santa Monica and has a married daughter and two step-children.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adam Rodríguez
Adam Rodríguez is an actor, starring in the critically acclaimed “CSI: Miami,” now going into its third season. He recently wrapped production on the feature THANKS TO GRAVITY, and has signed on to star in the AFI short film KEEPER OF THE PAST. Rodríguez also appeared in the season finale of the hit HBO series “Six Feet Under,” and will lend his voice to “Kim Possible.” Born and raised in New York, Adam dreamed of a professional baseball career.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Danny Rodriquez
Danny Rodriguez established BellaVic Entertainment in partnership with Geno Taylor and Wayne Cox, which produces and acquires feature films for U.S. distribution. Prior to forming BellaVic, Rodriguez spent two years as an independent broker, overseeing numerous deals and serving as the exclusive U.S. agent for Icon Animation. He served as vice president of Ground Zero Entertainment’s Latino division, and was VP of distribution for Diamante Films after operating Digiland 2000,a rental and production company, and 180 Degrees,a production company specializing in independent films.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Janelle Rodriquez
Janelle Rodríguez is a Senior Producer of CNN's “The Situation Room.” Previously, she was a Senior Producer of “Anderson Cooper 360” in New York. In her 6 years at CNN, she has covered almost every major story including the 9/11 attacks, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, the tsunami disaster, Hurricane Katrina, and the Presidential elections of 2000 and 2004. She began her career as an independent filmmaker, and has an M.F.A in film production from San Francisco State University.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Venus Rodriquez
Venus Rodriguez is a youth organizer and membership coordinator with Let's Get Free, the youth organizing project of Books Not Bars. Books Not Bars is the statewide campaign working to overhaul California Juvenile Justice, and this year, to close the abusive, costly CYA prisons and replace them with rehabilitation programs that work. Venus is formerly homeless, 24 years old, and of Puerto Rican descent. She has been working in the non-profit world for the last 5 years.
Venus was a Teen Mentor liaison for the YWCA?s Come Into the Sun Girls Mentorship program. At 17 she was a communication liaison between Mentors (older white women) and Mentees (Young urban girls of color).
Venus also worked for the SF DA's office Domestic Violence and Rape unit as a teen mentor. She did workshops in youth drug programs and group homes about girls in the Juvenile Justice System and how to love yourself as a young women.
Venus has also been the project director of Young Women United for Oakland. From there she was eventually hired as the assistant to the Director at Youth Media Council, a program dedicated to developing youth, particularly youth of color and low-income youth, as media activists and leaders.
Venus went on to run the Youth Of Oakland United program at PUEBLO (People united for a better Oakland). Because of her work PUEBLO succeeded in changing the terms of debate around violence and policing in Oakland.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Dolly Josette Romero
As Manager of Development for SíTV, Dolly Josette Romero contributes to the development and programming direction of the channel as the link between SíTV, producers and talent by managing new series pitches, pilot productions, and scouting talent and projects.
She was instrumental in the development and casting of SíTV’s new sketch comedy series, "Unacceptable Behavior", as she brought it from pitch to production. Other series she’s cast and/or developed include "Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner", "Chola the Urban Explora", "Urban Jungle 2", "Brian Holtzman: A Comic’s Comic", "The Drop", "Across The Hall", and interstitial series "Movie Twins". Current pilots include Carolina Bacardi’s "Heir Time", "Road Dogz", "Jammin", and " I-Candy". Dolly began working with SíTV as a producer for "The Rub".
Romero previously developed children’s programming and served as the Cultural Content Supervisor and Formative Researcher on the Peabody Award winning pre-school series for Nickelodeon, "Dora the Explorer", where she developed Dora’s Latina identity and the educational curriculum.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Elaine Romero
Elaine Romero is one of six participants in the CBS Diversity Mentorship Program for which she is shadowing Without a Trace. Through NALIP, Elaine has attended the Latino Writers’ Lab, the Latino Producers’ Academy, and Los Angeles Film School on full scholarship. Elaine has written and directed Fidelity and The Soldier. She wrote Dream Friend (also produced) and The Family Jewel, which were screened the San Diego Film Festival, CineFestival, the Arizona International Film Festival, and the 24-Hour Film Festival in Los Angeles.
An award-winning playwright and fiction writer, Elaine has had her plays Walk into the Sea, Barrio Hollywood, Secret Things, ¡Curanderas! Serpents of the Clouds, and Day of Our Dead presented at such theatres as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ford Amphitheater, Magic Theatre, Arizona Theatre Company, Women’s Project and Productions, INTAR, the Working Theatre, and the New Theatre. She has been published by Vintage Books, Samuel French, University of Iowa Press, Smith & Kraus, Heinemann Press, and has upcoming works with Playscripts and Simon and Schuster. A past Guest Artist at South Coast Repertory, Romero serves as playwright-in-Residence at the Arizona Theatre Company, managing their National Latino Playwrights Award.
Romero participated in the TCG/Pew National Theatre Artist in Residency Program, the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program for Playwrights, the Sundance Institute’s Playwright’s Retreat at the Ucross Foundation where she began Walk into the Sea, for which she received a 2005 Magic Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Science and Technology commissioning. The Zachary Scott Theatre in Austin commissioned and is producing her Alicia, a bilingual Alice in Wonderland. The Curious Theatre commissioned Elaine to write Rain of Ruin, alongside Tony Kushner, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Paula Vogel, for their War Anthology, which will be produced in March. Elaine’s work was featured in New York at the American National Theatre’s Founder’s Day Celebration, which honored August Wilson. Elaine holds her B.A. in Creative Writing from Linfield College and her MFA in Dramatic Art (playwriting) from the UC Davis. She has taught playwriting and screenwriting at the University of Arizona and Linfield College. Elaine is a National Core Member of the Playwrights Center and a member of the Dramatists Guild. Her favorite quote is “To learn how to create is to learn how to live.”
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Sara Rose
Sara Rose is Senior Vice President of Acquisitions at Picturehouse, a co-venture between New Line and HBO. Since joining, the company has acquired FACTOTUM, written and directed by Bent Hammer. Previously, she was Executive Vice President of Production and Acquisitions at United Artists where she oversaw the recent productions of ART SCHOOL CONFIDENTIAL, written by Dan Clowes and directed by Terry Zwigoff; CAPOTE written by Dan Futterman and directed by Bennett Miller; ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, written and directed by John Turturro, and THE WOODS, written by David Ross and directed by Lucky McKee. Her previous productions at United Artists are HOTEL RWANDA, SAVED, GHOST WORLD, CITY OF GHOSTS, DARK BLUE, 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE, JEEPERS CREEPERS and JEEPER CREEPERS 2, and IGBY GOES DOWN. She acquired the 2002 Golden Globe and Academy Award winner for best foreign film, NO MAN'S LAND, as well as the 2004 Golden Globe winner OSAMA, and was part of the team that acquired BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE, PERSONAL VELOCITY and PIECES OF APRIL.
Under Sara’s stewardship United Artists developed several projects, among them THE MIRACLE LIFE OF EDGAR MINT, written by Brady Udall and to be directed by Michael Cuesta, THE IRAQI PROJECT, written by Stephen Chin and ITS IT, written by David Siegel and Scott McGehee. In addition she oversaw production deals with Atlantic Streamline, Mr. Mudd, Project X, Revolution Films and Single Cell.
Prior to joining United Artists, Sara was Senior Vice President of Production and Acquisitions at Orion Pictures, where she was the production executive on ULEE'S GOLD, and acquired Academy nominated PRISONER OF THE MOUNTAIN and THEREMIN. Sara started her career in international sales with Dino De Laurentiis, selling such films as BLUE VELVET and then worked in acquisitions at DDLC, during which time the company acquired TRUTH OR DARE: IN BED WITH MADONNA and 3 NINJAS.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Louise Rosen
Louise Rosen is a media executive with over 20 years experience in the international television and film business, project development, production, and distribution. She is currently representing SO MUCH SO FAST, AL OTRO LADO, EL GENERAL, THE MUSIC INSTINCT: SCIENCE & SONG, and AMERICAN MUJAHIDEEN, and her projects in production include AMERICAN RUINS, ZERO: A GRAPHIC MEMOIR, and THE POWDER AND THE GLORY. Louise was co-producer on SIR! NO SIR!, HOLY WATER-GATE: ABUSE COVERUP IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, and on both the documentary and IMAX films about Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Fernanda Rossi
Fernanda Rossi, writer, filmmaker and story consultant, helps filmmakers craft the narrative structure of their films in all stages of the filmmaking process. She has worked on over one hundred documentaries and fiction scripts, among them Boys to Men by Hoop Dreams' co-maker Frederick Marx and the PBS broadcast documentaries The Flute Player by Jocelyn Glatzer and the theatrically-released Unscrewed by Leslie Shearing.
Along with her private consultations, she gives lectures and seminars nationwide, such as Doctoring your Doc and Trailer Mechanics. She also pens the monthly column Ask the Doc Doctor for The Independent Film & Video Monthly and is the author of the book Trailer Mechanics: A Guide to Making Your Documentary Fundraising Trailer.
Ms. Rossi has been a grant panelist for New York State Council for the Arts two consecutive years and also for the Latino Public Broadcast. She has also been a Juror for the Chicago International Film Festival in the documentary category.
Her own projects include the documentary Inventing a Girl: An Experience in Homeschooling, premiered at the Contemporary Issues Film Festival and winner of the Women’s Vision Award at the Riverrun Film Festival. Her current feature film script Picture Me! was invited to the 2005 Latin American Sundance Screenwriters Laboratory.
Her work as a story consultant, workshop leader and filmmaker has been featured in Filmmaker Magazine, New York Times and other publications. She served as Vice President of the Board of Directors of CineWomen NY, a non-profit organization that supports women filmmakers, for three years. She has a degree in Film Production from the University of Buenos Aires.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mauricio Rubinstein
Mauricio Rubinstein is originally from Mexico City. He received his film degree from West Surrey College of Art in England, moved to Amsterdam and began his career as a cinematographer.
His extensive work as a director of photography in Europe and Latin America includes WIND WITH THE GONE -winner San Sebastian Film Festival 1998, THE CROSS Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival 1997, both by director Alejandro Agresti and additional photography on BEFORE NIGHT FALLS -Critic Prize Venice Film Festival 2000, by director Julian Schnabel.
Mauricio shot John Sayles's CASA DE LOS BABYS in his native Mexico and has since worked consistently in America.
He now lives in New York. His most recent work includes Matt Mulhern's DUANE HOPWWOD (Spectrum Sundance 2005), Jeff Stanzler's SORRY HATERS, Maria Maggenti's PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS (dramatic competition Sundance 2006) and Bob Balaban's DORIS AND BERNARD.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Juan Ruiz-Anchia
Juan Ruiz Anchia is a Director of Photography who has worked on films the world over, most recently on the award-winning VOCES INNOCENTES. Born in Bilbao, Spain, he graduated from the Escuela Oficial de Cinematografia in Madrid and the American Film Institute. His AFI film, MISS LONELYHEARTS, won a prize at Cannes and was shown on PBS. His other credits include SPARTAN, CONFIDENCE, THE JUNGLE BOOK and GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jacqueline Sacerio
Jacqueline Sacerio is a member of the Production and Acquisitions team at Warner Independent Pictures. She began her career in entertainment soon after graduating from UCLA with a degree in English Literature, working for Universal Television and the executives behind “Monk” before moving to a position in film production at Fox Searchlight Pictures. At Searchlight, she worked with the team behind THE DREAMERS and SIDEWAYS before producing several short films as an intern with producer John Jacobs (ANGER MANAGEMENT). Past projects include THE MARCH OF THE PENGUINS and A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Richard Saiz
Richard Saiz became programming manager for the Independent Television Service in 1999. He oversees Open Call, the organization's principle funding initiative. In that capacity, Saiz reads and evaluates about 500 project proposals and scripts a year.
Saiz has over 30 years experience as a broadcast journalist, producer, director and writer. His documentaries have won numerous awards including the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton and "Best TV Documentary" from the San Francisco International Film Festival.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Midge Sanford
Midge Sanford heads Sanford/Pillsbury Productions with her partner, Sarah Pillsbury. They have produced ten feature films, including DESPERATELY SEEKING SUSAN, RIVER’S EDGE, EIGHT MEN OUT, IMMEDIATE FAMILY, LOVE FIELD, HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN QUILT, JOYRIDERS, THE LOVE LETTER and QUID PRO QUO (currently in post-production); and four movies for television, including the Emmy Award-winning film AND THE BAND PLAYED ON. Sanford recently produced (with Tom Barad) OPEN WINDOW, which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.
Sanford has been a speaker at film festivals around the world, including Sundance, Toronto, Vancouver and Rio de Janeiro. She has also been a panelist at conferences in Australia, Japan and Puerto Rico. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as well as the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
She received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College and taught elementary school for five years before entering the film business. Sanford first worked as a story editor and associate producer with New American Cinema, and then formed Sanford/Pillsbury Productions.
When not in production, she facilitates a weekly support group for mentally ill women in Santa Monica, California. She also works as a career and personal coach.
Sanford is married to film consultant Peter Broderick.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ray Santisteban
 Ray Santisteban has produced and directed award winning documentaries that have aired in the U.S. and internationally on public television and cable.
Some of his awards include a 1990 Student Academy Award (information category), a New York Foundation for the Arts Media Fellowship in 1993, a 1996 “Ideas in Action Award” from the National Tele-Media Alliance, and a 1996 “Faculty of the Year” award from the Chicano studies program at UW Madision. In 2005, his short film "Vincent Valdez: the Art of Boxing" won the Best San Antonio film at the San Antonio Cinefestival. He is a recipient of a 2005 Rockefeller Film and Video Fellowship.
He has explored subjects as diverse as a one hour documentary on New York Black Panther leader Dhoruba Bin Wahad - PASSIN' IT ON (1993 Student Academy Award winner, documentary category, Co-Producer) and explored the roots of Puerto Rican poetry in, NUYORICAN POETS CAFE (1994, Director, Producer, Editor). In 1994, he worked as an associate producer on the four part PBS series ¡CHICANO!: THE HISTORY OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. He recently completed directing and producing “VOICES FROM TEXAS” a one hour documentary on poetry and spoken word traditions within the Mexican-American community in Texas and was the Senior Producer of VISIONES: LATINO ART AND CULTURE IN THE U.S. a three hour PBS series nationally broadcast in Oct. 2004. In 2005, he produced two episodes of the nationally broadcast children's program "Postcards From Buster" for WGBH in Boston.
He has a BA in Film/TV Production from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leigh Savidge
A former stand-up comedian, free-lance journalist and film editor, Leigh Savidge built Xenon from an under-financed pipe dream with one program and no major customers into one of the film industry’s most successful independent distributors. Mr. Savidge has structured the company as a low-overhead boutique while building the sales and marketing infrastructure necessary for the Company to do business directly with the country’s major retail accounts, and thereby compete directly for video/DVD shelf space with Hollywood’s major studios. He directed Xenon’s 2001 documentary WELCOME TO DEATH ROW.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Emily Schweber
Emily Schweber is an independent casting director who, this year, cast two of the dramatic competition entries in the Sundance Film Festival: STEEL CITY and RIGHT AT YOUR DOOR. She worked as a casting associate on such projects as TITANIC, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, and THE GREEN MILE. Emily has worked with Gregory Nava and Barbara Martínez-Jitner on the award winning KCET series “American Family” and the upcoming film BORDERTOWN. She worked on independent films such as THE UNITED STATES OF LELAND and studio films such as SECONDHAND LIONS, and is currently working on EL CAMINO DEL DIABLO.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Angel Sepulveda
Angel Sepulveda is the Senior Programming Manager of Music and Entertainment for AOL Latino, the only bilingual Internet service provider for Hispanics in theU.S. Sepulveda is responsible for the development, implementation and launches of creative programming focusing on Latin music and entertainment.
As the Senior Programming Manager, Sepulveda manages and produces Sesiones@AOL, the exclusive live performance series which allows AOL Latino members the unique opportunity to watch their favorite artists perform in an intimate studio environment. Sesiones@AOL has featured some of today’s hottest Latin artists including Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martin, Juanes, Alejandro Sanz, Kumbia Kings and Alejandro Fernandez, among others. Additionally, Sepulveda created, produced and launched “Acceso Total” (Total Access), an exclusive behind-the-scenes entertainment program that explores the lives and homes of mega Latino entertainers including Daddy Yankee, Juan Luis Guerra, Marc Anthony, Chayanne, Kate del Castillo, Eduardo Santamarina and Victoria Ruffo.
Prior to joining AOL Latino, Sepulveda worked for Telemundo/NBC Network News in several positions including Producer and Writer for special events such as the war with Irak, 2004 Presidential Elections, Pope John Paul II 25th year Anniversary, President Ronald Reagan special coverage on his death, among many others. In 2001, he served as U.S. General Manager & Latin America Operations for Promotores Latinos,USA. In this role, Sepulveda oversaw artist publishing and record deals and also produced Live events such as A tribute to Tito Puente in 10 cities in theUSamong many more duties.
Earlier in his career Sepulveda worked for Element119, LLC inLos Angeles,CAin the role of Vice President of Music & Theatrical Division. In addition, he was a Talent and Music Executive for the Maria Conchita Alonso Show broadcasted by Telemundo.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Sepulveda graduated from Sacred Heart University in San Juan, Puerto Rico and currently lives in Northern Virginia.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Eyal Shemtov
Eyal reports directly to Chairman and Co-Founder of SíTV, Jeff Valdez. Shemtov is responsible for overseeing various areas of programming including development and acquisitions, as well as programming strategy and planning. Hecurrently wrapped the second season of the hit weekly television series "Not-So-Foreign Filmmakers Showcase.” He previously worked on VH1's signature series "Behind the Music," as Programming Manager at Fox Cable Network, as well as working at MTV and The Disney Channel.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Carmen Jean Smith
Carmen Jean Smith was named vice president, Talent Development Programs, ABC Entertainment Television Group, in September 2000. In this position she is responsible for overseeing and managing the Disney/ABC Writers Fellowship Program and Writers Breakage Initiatives; the ABC/DGA Directors Fellowship Program; the Touchstone/DGA Partnership; the Directing Assignment Initiative; the Casting Project; the Talent Development Scholarship/Grant Program for filmmakers, writers and directors; the Entertainment Associates Program; ABC/Disney Writer-Director Summer Institute in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the Institute of American Indian Arts; the American Indian National Center for Television and Film and she executive-produces the Micro-Mini Television Series Project. She also functions as a liaison with diverse creative communities around the country, non-profit arts institutions, entertainment industry guilds, colleges and universities to nurture talented, emerging writers, actors and directors.
Ms. Smith had previously served as director of HR programs and corporate community initiatives for ABC, Inc., from 1997 to 2001. In that capacity she was responsible for community relations, volunteer programs, producing in-house and live-video programs on ABC Divisions. She also worked with the United Nations and produced their launch and video programming for the International Year of the Volunteer.
Ms. Smith’s career at ABC began in 1982, when she joined WABC-TV in New York as aproduction assistant for the Emmy Award-winning public affairs program, “Like It Is.” Shortly thereafter, in 1984, she joined WABC-TV’s “The Morning Show” with Regis Philbin. Her responsibilities broadened in 1985 when she became associate producer, developing award-winning programming. She also produced numerous specials for the WABC-TV programming department, continuing those efforts until 1997. Prior to ABC, Ms. Smith worked at Metromedia Television in New York in live sports and programming from 1978-1982.
Involved with several public service organizations, Ms. Smith serves on the board of the Urban Resource Institute (one of the largest non-profit corporations in the U.S.), the Robey Theatre and Women in Film. She is a current member of the advisory board of the Urban Women’s Retreat; member of Soroptimist International of Long Beach Branch; has served on the boards of New York Special Olympics and Womencares, Inc. and the United Way Volunteer Review Panel; and she was a presenter at the United Nations’ Fourth Non-Governmental Forum on Women in Beijing, China. She has received numerous awards of recognition, including election to the Hall of Fame of the Alumni of Hunter College of the City University of New York; the Urban Resource Institute Certificate for Outstanding Leadership; the Great Seal of the State of New York for Community Service; recognition from the Doors of Hope Foundation for outstanding service to Battered Women; the World Institute of Black Communications Excellence Award to Black Audiences; she was selected as the ABC,Inc. Black Achiever in Industry for 2000; received the 2001 John D. Blodger Diversity Award and the 2003 AFTRA National American Scene Award ( Crystal Award), was a 2004 AFTRA, Actors’ Equity and SAG Diversity Honoree; received the 2004 Oneness award for promoting diversity in Television and film and received the Directors Guild of American African-American Steering committee award for outstanding efforts to elevate the stature of women and minorities in the entertainment industry; 2005 AFTRA National Scene award as Executive Producer of the ABC Entertainment Micro- Mini TV Series and the 2005 Theresa’s Haven Award from the Family Support Systems Transitional Housing Services of New York, for improving the quality of life for homeless families in New York.
A native of New York, Ms. Smith graduated from Hunter College with a degree in communication arts. She received her Masters in international administration from New York University and completed the Simmons Graduate School of Management Certificate Program for Developing Managers.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hilda L. Solis
Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis was first elected to Congress in November 2000, and is serving her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. She represents California's 32nd Congressional District, which includes portions of East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Prior to her election to Congress, she served eight years in the California state legislature. She was first elected to public office in 1985 as a member of the Rio Hondo Community College Board of Trustees. She served in the California State Assembly from 1992 to 1994, and in 1994 made history by becoming the first Latina elected to the California State Senate. As the chairwoman of the powerful Senate Industrial Relations Committee, she led the battle to increase the state's minimum wage in 1996. She also authored a record seventeen state laws aimed at combating domestic violence.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kristine Sorensen
Kristine Sorensen is a media artist and the Executive Director of In Progress, a nonprofit media arts group. She has been working in the field of media arts education since 1988 and has trained young media artists throughout the United States. She is responsible for developing and implementing Through The Eagle’s Eye, a media arts mentorship program for youth, and writing the contents of a curriculum guide in partnership with ten youth mentors. Kristine has been working with Latino migrant communities since 1996 to develop media arts workshops and multi-year programs that promote the public voices of Latino youth.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Antonio Sosa
Antonio Sosa is Vice President of Multicultural Sales for Warner Home Video (WHV). Formerly he served as Director of Special Markets for Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, managing brand marketing and specialty film acquisitions for the Fox unit and launching Cinema Latino, a collection of award-winning Spanish-language films from around the world. Prior to Fox he served as Managing Director of Internet and New Media Business Operations for Adir International, Inc., operators of La Curacao.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Lisa Strout
Lisa began her career in the film business working as a Location Manager, spending twenty years working on both coasts and overseas for such films as ROOM WITH A VIEW in Florence, Italy and FALLING DOWN with Michael Douglas.
She moved to Santa Fe in 2000 and was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson in 2004 as Director of the New Mexico Film Office.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Sharon Swart
Sharon Swart is a Senior Editor at Variety, primarily covering independent film, the “10 Directors to Watch” series, the Global Independents issue, and festival/market focuses such as Sundance and Cannes. Previously, Swart spent four years as an editor at The Hollywood Reporter, and served as a writer-producer on national newscasts for RTL4 and RTL5 Television in The Netherlands. Swart holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley, and has done graduate work in communications at the University of Amsterdam.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Gabriela Tagliavini
Gabriela Tagliavini was named Best Director at three film festivals including the New York Independent Film Festival for her feature directorial debut "The Woman Every Man Wants" aka "Perfect Lover." The director's second feature, "Ladies Night," distributed by Disney/Buena Vista was #1 movie in the box office in Mexico in 2004.
It has received key category nods for the MTV Movie Awards-Latin including: Best Actress. Tagliavini's television film, the VH1/Maverick feature "30 Days Until I'm Famous," premiered on VH1 and was executive-produced by Madonna.
The writer-director is armed with a Bachelors Degree in film directing in the Escuela Superior de cinematografia in Argentina and a Masters Degree in screenwriting from the American Film Institute (AFI). In addition to directing several short-films, commercials and television pilots, Tagliavini is also a renowned author and has two novels published. She has recently won the ABC directing fellowship.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor is Senior Editor for Program Development at WGBH Boston. He has served as writer, co-writer, or senior creative consultant on a number of individual American Experience programs, including “Surviving The Dust Bowl,” “Zoot Suit Riots,” “Fatal Flood,” “The Pill,” “Three Mile Island,” “War Letters,” and “Two Days In October.” He has also written successful proposals for other WGBH national productions, including “Inside Gorbachev’s USSR,” ExxonMobil Masterpiece Theatre’s “American Collection,” and for David Sutherland’s “The Farmer’s Wife” and “Country Boys.”
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Teitel
Robert Teitel is a producer, best known for his work on SOUL FOOD and BARBERSHOP. A native of Chicago, Robert has been associated with writer/director George Tillman, Jr. since they were students together at Columbia College. There, Teitel produced the award-winning, 30-minute student film PAULA, directed by Tillman, which won the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Award. Following that success they raised money through a group of Chicago investors (including local doctors, lawyers and even blue-collar workers) to finance their next motion picture project, SCENES FROM THE SOUL.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Miguel Tejada-Flores
Miguel Tejada-Flores is a writer and documentary filmmaker. He graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a B.A. in French Literature, subsequently living throughout Europe. His career has taken him to Paramount, MGM, 20th Century Fox, and Lorimar Motion Pictures, before he began writing scripts in a variety of genres, from horror BEYOND RE-ANIMATOR, to madcap adventure MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERY, to psychological suspense THE UNSAID, and science fiction SCREAMERS to wildly commercial REVENGE OF THE NERDS.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Rick Telles
Rick Telles is an Emmy-nominated director that began his career 25 years ago in front of the camera. After a 3 year contract on the ABC Soap “Loving”, Rick’s desire to move behind the camera became a reality on MTV’s hit show “Road Rules”. His talents as a creative producer and director helped guide that show for 7 seasons. Since then Rick has taken the helm of such hit-series as MTV”s “Fear,” USA’s 1 hour special “Last One standing,” and Endemol’s UPN “Under One Roof.”
Rick founded Brass Ring Entertainment which has produced such reality shows hits as NBC’s “Next Action Star” with Joel Silver, MTV’s “Surf Girls”, and F/X’s “Hitch Hiker Chronicles”. His recent co-creation, VH1’s smash hit “The Surreal Life”, is currently in its 6th season.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jessy Terrero
Jessy Terrero (Director) marks his feature film directorial debut with Soul Plane. Terrero’s short film, The Clinic, was chosen to screen at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and has been screened at the New York International Latino Film Festival, Urbanworld and the Los Angeles Short Film Festival. Terrero is currently in talks to develop The Clinic into a feature film. He was selected to be a participant in Fox Searchlight Pictures’ new digital production unit, Fox Searchlab, which recognizes and mentors emerging filmmakers with exciting new cinematic voices.
With his third music video, Terrero had already garnered critical acclaim and music video award nominations from MTV and Billboard Magazine for Gettin’ In The Way for Jill Scott, which Terrero followed up with the MTV buzz-worthy follow-up Long Walk.
Terrero shot his first student film on Super 8, which helped him earn an associate producer internship with the romantic comedy I Like It Like That. In 1996, he teamed up with his brother and formed T&T Casting, supervising extras casting for low-budget films.
While working as a casting agent, Terrero spent months juggling auditions between casting sessions. Terrero’s acting credits include speaking roles in Law & Order, Brooklyn South, The Sopranos as well as the first Spanish-language S.A.G. film, In Search of a Dream. In addition to all of this, Terrero made his first music video for Ghetto Concept, which was nominated for a Much Music Award in Canada.
To date, Terrero has worked with 50 Cent on Wanksta and Many Men, Nick Cannon on Your Pop Don’t Like Me, Snoop Dogg on Tell It Like It Is, Musiq Soulchild on Half Crazy Remix, The Roots on Break U Off, Mystikal on Bouncin’ Back, G Unit on Smile and I Wanna Get to Know You, Jonell featuring Method Man on Around & Around, and Syleena Johnson on I Am Your Woman, which was nominated for Billboard Magazine’s Video Music Awards Best New Adult Contemporary New Artist Clip of the Year 2001.
Terrero is managed by Robin Frank and Jalina Stewart of RFM and represented by Charles King of the William Morris Agency.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Albert Torres
Albert Torres has recently completed adapting a novel for Joel Silver and Warner Brothers Pictures. He has a number of other projects in development including the book adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk's (FIGHT CLUB) novel Survivor for director Francis Lawrence (CONSTANTINE). He is currently working with director Marc Forester (MONSTER'S BALL, FINDING NEVERLAND) on a biographic drama and an original screenplay with Mark Pellington (MOTHMAN PROPHESIES, ARLINGTON ROAD). Albert attended Loyola Marymount University with studies emphasis on film production.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Oscar Torres
Gretchen Macarthur: Photographer. Born in the rural village of Cuscatancingo, El Salvador in 1971, Oscar Torres was caught in the crossfire of the country’s 12 year civil war. Almost as dramatic as the story of his survival during the conflict, which is depicted in Innocent Voices, are the events of his escape, alone, to the United States in 1985, at thirteen. Against all odds he was eventually re-united here with his mother and three siblings.
Torres eventually entered the Latin American Studies program at the University of California at Berkeley, before dropping out and moving back to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career. His first job there was as a delivery boy for a talent agent who eventually agreed to represent him for appearances in commercials.
As an aspiring actor Torres made ends meet with those commercials, until he began to get work in theater and on television series such as ER, First Monday, Any Day Now, CSI:Miami, among others, and in independent films such as El Matadero, The Opposite of Sex, Hired Help, Hurlyburly, The Silent Cross.
Through it all, Torres worked on the screenplay for Innocent Voices, which was initially intended as an act of personal exorsism. ‘At that point’, he says, “I still saw myself primarily as an actor. I was at the Beverly Hills Playhouse taking acting classes and working it day in and day out’. It was in December of 2002 that Torres got cast in a commercial that director Luis Mandoki (When a man loves a woman; Message in a bottle; among others) was helming. He presented the script to Mandoki in ‘two minutes flat’ and six months later, they were in pre-production for Innocent Voices.
Oscar Torres is currently working on his second and third scripts, a romantic comedy and a story which he intends to also co-produce of ‘pure magic’ as he puts it.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Frida Torresblanco
Frida received her B.A. in Film & Media Studies from Mexico's Metropolitan Autonomous University, a M.A. in Communication Studies from the Complutense University of Madrid and a M.A. in Literature and Scriptwriting from Madrid’s School of Literature. She worked as assistant director on several films, documentaries, TV series and ads in Spain, Europe, the U.S. and Morocco, including MARATHON, by Carlos Saura, official film of the 1992 Olympics, CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS THE DISCOVERY with Marlon Brando, directed by John Glen, and Fernando Trueba's THE IDEAL WOMAN.
Frida then worked as production coordinator and line producer on several documentaries, including Javier Rioyo and José Luis López Linares' BUÑUEL and STORMING THE HEAVENS: THE DEATH OF LEON TROTSKI, where she also directed the 2nd unit. Frida then joined Spain's Globo Media where she produced a number of projects including the hit series COMPAÑEROS and MORE THAN FRIENDS, which she executive produced, and the documentary WENCES 100 YEARS.
Frida went on to start up Lolafilms' new television department, Lola Television, where she executive produced the award-winning program LA GRAN ILUSION and developed several projects. She also headed Lola's department of New Media. Frida was then responsible for the design, pre-production and sales of Lolafilms' international English language productions: THE DANCER UPSTAIRS by John Malcovich, RAIN by Katherine Lindberg, OFF KEY by Manuel Gómez Pereira and THE GIRL FROM RÍO by Christopher Monger. Frida was the producer of Susan Seidelman's GAUDI AFTERNOON.
From 2001 – 2004, Frida headed production for Alfonso Cuarón and Jorge Vergara’s Anhelo Productions, in their New York office. She was executive producer on Anhelo's 2005 films THE ASSASSINATION OF RICHARD NIXON by Niels Mueller and CRONICAS by Sebastian Cordero.
In 2005, she and Alfonso created their own company, Esperanto Filmoj, of which Alfonso is president and Frida runs out of New York. With Esperanto, Frida is producing upcoming projects Ciudades Desiertas, The History of Love, and The Memory of Running. Additionally, with Alfonso and filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, Frida is a partner in OMM, which is producing Pan’s Labyrinth, slated to be released later in 2006.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 John J. Valadez
John Valadez was born in Seattle, and he is the son and grandson of migrant field workers from the Yakima Valley in Washington State. He has been producing award-winning documentaries for the past fourteen years. John’s most recent feature documentary, The Last Conquistador is about a world famous artist’s quixotic quest to build the tallest statue of its kind ever created in human history, and a series of gruesome murders, which are inextricably bound with its creation. The film is being produced and directed with his partner Cristina Ibarra and is scheduled to air nationally on the PBS series POV.
John has directed several films for PBS including the landmark ITVS funded documentary Passin’ It On, about a former leader of the Black Panther Party who was falsely imprisoned for 19 years. This film won over two dozen major awards and received a national broadcast on POV. John went on to direct the first hour of the four-hour ITVS funded documentary series Making Peace about grassroots activists creating innovative ways to stop violence in their communities. The film featured Chicano writer and poet Luis Rodriguez. Valadez also directed The Divide, the first hour of the nationally broadcast four-hour PBS series entitled Matters of Race (Executive Producer Orlando Bagwell) about how racial identity shapes our everyday lives in ways both unexpected and profound.
John was a producer for the nationally broadcast PBS series Visiones: Latino Arts and Culture (Executive Producer Hector Galan), and a producer of Beyond Brown: pursuing the promise, (Executive Producers Stanley Nelson and Marcia Smith) - an hour long documentary for national broadcast on PBS for the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Brown vs. Board of Ed. The film looked at the ways in which American schools are re-segregating fifty years later. In May of 2005 John wrote, directed and produced for the nationally broadcast prime time series CNN Present. High Stakes Testing was an hour-long investigative documentary about the Bush Administration’s controversial education policies and their impact on America’s children.
In addition John is working on a disturbing film entitled The Head of Joaquin Murrieta about the lynching of Mexicans in the American West.
John has twice been a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow, is a Rockefeller Fellow, a PBS/CPB Producers Academy Fellow and currently sits on the Board of Trustees of the Robert Flaherty Film Seminar. John is a member of the National Association of Latino Independent Producers (NALIP) and is a graduate of the film program at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Judith Vecchione
Judith Vecchione works at WGBH, Boston's public television station, where she has contributed to many major documentary series, including "Nova," "American Experience," "Vietnam: A Television History," and "Frontline." She has been Executive Producer for a number of award-winning national PBS documentary series, including "Americas," "The China Trilogy," "De Gaulle and France," and "Discovering Women." She was also WGBH's Executive Producer for Martin Scorsese's multi-platform series, "The Blues."
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Paul Villadolid
Paul Villadolid is Vice President, Program Development, CMT, the executive in charge of production for the 2006 Miss America Pageant. He had been a producer on the WB comedy series "The Jamie Kennedy Experiment," and held programming positions at Walt Disney Television and at Showtime Networks. His television career includes seven Emmy Awards, including Showtime's first ever Emmy for "Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse," on which Paul supervised production.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ligiah Villalobos
After several years as a studio executive, Writer/Producer/Director Ligiah Villalobos made a transition into the independent film community with the film, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER which she co-produced in 2000. The film was an Official Selection to the 2001 Sundance Film Festival and premiered on HBO in February, 2001. It received an Emmy nomination and a Humanitas Award nomination, among others.
Born and raised in Mexico, Villalobos moved to the U.S. at the age of 11. She attended Brigham Young University where she majored in Cultural Geography and Dance with a Minor in Music.
After College, Villalobos moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She has held several positions at studios including Director, Programming for Buena Vista Productions where she oversaw all Disney television development and production in Latin America, including eight #1 rated DISNEY CLUB SHOWS in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. And, she developed a project for Disney Records called, NAVIDAD EN LAS AMERICAS (Christmas in the Americas) which included a CD that landed at #8 on Billboard’s Latin Chart, a Prime Time TV Special and a Behind the Scenes Special. Both specials aired in 18 countries around the world. She was later hired by Touchstone Television to oversee Walt Disney’s prestigious Writers Fellowship Program and Director’s Training Program.
After leaving Disney, Villalobos served as Director, Current Programming for the WB Network where she oversaw six prime time series, including the top four rated shows.
As VP, Creative Affairs at Esparza/Katz Productions, she was involved in the production of, INTRODUCING DOROTHY DANDRIDGE for HBO which won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy. She oversaw the development and is a Co-Producer on WALKOUT, an HBO film currently in post-production and the development and production of, PRICE OF GLORY for Newline Cinema.
Since becoming an independent, Villalobos has worked as a staff writer on the NBC show, ED, and has sold TV projects to NBC, Showtime and F/X. She was a Spanish-language Consultant on the feature film, SPANGLISH. And her documentary ONE WORLD has screened at the L.A. International Latino Film Festival and the Texas Film Festival.
Villalobos is currently the Head Writer on the Nickelodeon series, GO, DIEGO! GO! Which is the #1 pre-school show in the country. And she is in pre-production on BOY, IMMIGRANT, a feature film at Lions Gate, which she wrote.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Reynaldo Villalobos
Reynaldo Villalobos was born November 9, 1940 in Los Angeles, California making him second generation Los Angeleno. His mother is from Sonora, Mexico and his father was born in Los Angeles. Reys’ family moved to Inglewood, California in 1945, after World War Two when his father returned from the Navy.
Rey attended El Camino College studying Art and Design. Upon leaving college he joined the Navy and became a Photographers Mate. After being honorably discharged he had various jobs in the motion picture industry: as a Laborer, Painter and delivering camera equipment to the studios and commercial houses.
In 1970 Ted Winchester, the head of Paramount’s camera department suggested that Rey sign up for the Minority Program, which was offered by the Photographers Union Local 659. Rey became a second assistant cameraman, working on various television shows including The Odd Couple and The Brady Bunch
Rey in 1975 began to work on feature films with Director of Photography John Alonzo. He spent three years as Alonzo’s first assistant and camera operator learning many lessons, most importantly to take chances when lighting and directing.
In 1978 Rey became a Director of Photography on Urban Cowboy, a Paramount Picture starring John Travolta and Debra Winger, directed by James Bridges. Rey continues to photograph many motion pictures including 9 to 5, Risky Business, Punchline, Major League, Blame it on Rio, The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, American Me, A Bronx Tale, Desert Bloom, and Return to Paradise.
1988 Rey began directing. His first project was The Hitchhiker for HBO. Rey moved on to direct episodic television and T. V pilots, winning the directorial award from The Cowboy Hall of Fame for the best T.V Western, Conagher: starring Sam Elliot and Catherine Ross for T.N.T. 1n 1992 Rey was nominated for an Emmy for Cinematography for the Miniseries; Sinatra.
Rey now resides with his wife and three dogs in Santa Barbara, California. Rey continues to divide his time between shooting major motion pictures and directing assignments.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Meg Villarreal
Meg Villarreal is co-founder and Director General of US Independents, Inc. which provides independent producers and distributors cost-effective access to international TV/video markets such as MIPTV, MIPCOM, SunnySide of the Docs; festivals ,and seminars such as the World Congress of History Producers and the World Congress of Science Producers. US Independents takes a hands on approach that tailors advice, guidance, and networking opportunities to the individual needs of participants to the markets and meetings. US Independents also develops the SilverDocs International Conference which is part of the SilverDocs AFI/Discovery Channel Documentary Festival.
Ms. Villarreal currently serves on the Board of Directors of the World Congress of History Producers and on the International Program Advisory Board for the Banff World Television Festival 2006. She has also been a board member to the DC chapter of Women in Film and Video and served for three years on the international board of Women in Film and Television International.
Prior to the establishment of US Independents in 1996, Ms. Villarreal was Associate Director of International Activities at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. She was also part of the Programming Department at CPB. She developed and coordinated with producing/broadcasting representatives from France, Germany and Canada the documentary-based workshops ARTS IN A NEW MATRIX and DOCS IN A NEW MATRIX. A similar series of seminars was also developed with NHK. She was recently production liaison and marketing advisor to two award-winning UK indie productions from Atlantic Celtic Films (now ProbeTV), AFGHAN MASSACRE and THE NEED FOR SPEED. She has been an international consultant to broadcasting organizations in Western and Eastern Europe, Scandanavia, Canada and Brazil.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seth Willenson
Seth Willenson is a consultant and producer’s rep, a 30-year veteran of the entertainment business. Starting with New Line at its independent roots, he also held executive positions at Paramount and RCA, and now has his own consulting company specializing in distribution and marketing. His client roster includes Warner Brothers, Scholastic, Polygram, IDT, Columbia Tri Star, Melee Entertainment, Rick Schroeder, Larry Levinson Productions, and Jenkins Entertainment. Seth has worked as a producer or producer’s rep on a number of films including SHILOH, GAS FOOD LODGING, ONE FALSE MOVE, and has also worked on such properties as "The Baby Sitters Club" and "Maya and Miguel."
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jonathan Wolf
Jonathan Wolf is Executive Vice President of the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA) and Managing Director of the American Film Market (AFM). IFTA is the global trade association of independent distributors and producers of motion picture and television programming. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the organization represents and provides industry services to more than 150 member companies from 15 countries.
The American Film Market (AFM) is the world’s largest motion picture trade event. The AFM is a global marketplace where more than $800 million in motion picture and television production and distribution deals are closed annually. Participants come from more than 70 countries and include leaders in production and distribution, directors, agents, writers, lawyers, bankers, festival directors, film commissioners and trade groups.
Since his appointment in 1998, Mr. Wolf has guided the growth and repositioning of the AFM. The AFM now hosts more than 8,000 industry leaders and screens more than 500 feature films. Most recently, Mr. Wolf facilitated a strategic relationship between the AFM and the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival (AFI FEST), which has resulted in the AFM moving forward by three months - from February to November - in 2004, and the two events joining forces in marketing, sponsorship, scheduling, registration and a variety of other initiatives.
Wolf joined IFTA in August 1993 as senior vice president of business development. His primary responsibilities were to identify new revenue resources for IFTA member distribution companies to support association programs. Wolf established IFTA Collections, which now administers the international levy rights to more than 25,000 titles and has distributed over $45 million to participating members.
Before joining IFTA, Wolf spent two years as president and chief operating officer of Studio Three Film Corporation, a U.S. theatrical marketing and distribution company. From 1986 to 1990, he served as chief financial officer of New World International where he oversaw all financial aspects of the company’s $150 million international distribution operation. Prior to this, Wolf held finance positions with CBS Inc. for six years, culminating as director, finance with CBS Broadcast International in New York. Wolf began his career in 1978 with the international accounting firm of Deloitte Touche.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Jason Young
Jason Young currently serves as Director of Development in feature film production at 20th Century Fox. He has worked on such films as FAT ALBERT, REBOUND, and X MEN 3: THE LAST STAND. Prior to his post at Fox, Jason worked with producer Robert Teitel and Director George Tillman, Jr. at State Street Pictures where he helped develop the BARBERSHOP franchise at MGM. He initially trained as an assistant at Forest Whitaker’s production company, Spirit Dance Entertainment.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guillermina Zabala
Guillermina Zabala graduated from Columbia College-Hollywood with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema, and currently serves as Media Arts Director at San Antonio’s SAY Sí. She curated the 2005 CineFestival en San Antonio and has directed short films (fiction and documentary), music videos, and video installations. Her film THE HOT ROOM premiered at the 2000 Showtime Latino Filmmakers Showcase. As an editor, she worked in the award-winning documentary KORDAVISION and the feature THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF MY VERY BEST YEARS, among others.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Nicole Zein
Nicole Zein is Director of Development at CMT. She began her career at Fox Television Studios, as Manager of Development, where she developed reality and scripted series including "The Shield." Nicole also worked with MTV as Manager of Original Series Development, where she developed series with attached talents like Paula Abdul and Naomi Campbell. Before returning to MTV Networks, Nicole was Director of Development/ Alternative Series for Dick Clark Productions.
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
        |
