Faculty of The New York Film Academy

FACULTY

JERRY SHERLOCK
President and Founder

Executive Producer, Hunt for Red October. Independent producer: Universal, EMI, Disney, Tristar, NBC, Paramount, United Artists. Produced Lolita on Broadway with Donald Sutherland.

MICHAEL J. YOUNG
Provost,
Director of Education

BA, Harvard University, magna cum laude; MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. Student Academy Award finalist. Award-winning film McJew screened at festivals internationally, including Oberhausen, Cinema Du Reel, Clermont-Ferrand, Tel-Aviv, Ann Arbor, et al. NEA grant. Scorsese post-production award. Founding faculty of NYFA.

DAVID KLEIN
Senior Director

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of Arts. BS, Tufts University, magna cum laude. Awarded Tisch Excellence in Producing Award. Winner of Warner Bros. Production Award for To Dye For. Wrote and directed numerous other projects including the award-winning short film Gone With the Moon.

ELLI VENTOURAS
Academic Dean

MFA, Parsons School of Design. M.A., New York Institute of Technology - summa cum laude. Award winning film Voices screened internationally at Golden Gate Documentary Film Festival in San Francisco, Miami Short Film Festival, Barcelona Short Film Festival, and Festival Du Cinema de Bruxelles. Voices was also Semifinalist at Boston Motion Picture Awards.

DR. BOB ARNOT
Dean of International Education
Film, Documentary, Journalism,
Photography

B.A. Dartmouth College; M.D. McGill University, Chief Medical Editor and Special Foreign Correspondent for NBC News, Board of Directors Save the Children, UN High Commission for Refugees

Awards: Alfred I. DuPont Award- 48 Hours, Crack Street Overseas Press Club Award, NBC's coverage of Mozambique floods Emmy Award, CBS Sports Triathlon Author of seven books on health and wellness including Wear and Tear. For More on Dr. Bob Arnot Click here

DAN MACKLER
Director
at Universal Studios

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. BA, Dartmouth College. Russian film scholar, consulted on Spike Lee's 25th Hour. Director, feature film The Karaoke King

SONNY CALDERON
Academic Dean at Universal Studios

MFA in Screen and Television Writing, USC. BA in Communications, University of Michigan. As co-founder, writer, and producer at Impressionista Films, created and produced award-winning branded entertainment for clients such as Hilary Duff, Miller Beer, DKNY, Ford Motor Company, Macy's, DirecTV, and Martha Stewart.

CLAUDE KERVEN
Director
Chair, Filmmaking
New York City Campus

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. BA, University of Buffalo. Directed over 25 shorts for Saturday Night Live. Director for Afterschool Specials, Birthday Boy, Candy Store, and the David Brenner Show. Co-wrote Mortal Thoughts, starring Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Harvey Keitel.

JOHN TERREY
Chair, Filmmaking at Universal Studios

MFA in Directing, American Film Institute. Produced Panavision New Filmmaker Grant feature film, "Five Spices." Worked extensively on independent films with actors such as Rose McGowan, Sean Astin, Stacy Keach, Seymour Cassel, Moira Kelly, and Danny Wahlberg.

GLENN KALISON
Chair of
Acting for Film Program
New York City Campus

Films: Robert De Niro's The Good Shepherd, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, Mystery Team (Sundance '09); TV: Law & Order, Law & Order: CI, Mercy (NBC Pilot), Lights Out (FX), As the World Turns (CBS), Guiding Light (CBS);
Theatre: many Off-Broadway and regional productions. Chair, Acting for Film Department at New York Film Academy, MFA from UC, Irvine.

LYNDA GOODFRIEND
Acting Department Chair at Universal Studios

BFA, Southern Methodist University. Studied with Lee Strasberg. Veteran of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Series regular on "Happy Days," "Who's Watching the Kids," and "Blanksy's Beauties." Feature film roles in "Pretty Woman," "Taxi Driver," "The Front," "Beaches," and "Nothing in Common."

RON TIPPE
Chair of Producing Program
New York City Campus

Ron Tippe managed the Walt Disney Feature Animation studio in Paris, France, while producing a short Mickey Mouse film, Runaway Brain, which was nominated for an Oscar. He went on to produce the monster hit film Space Jam for Warner Bros and also served as a producer of preproduction on Shrek for Dreamworks Feature Animation. Ron was the producer on Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman for George Lucas's Industrial Light and Magic in collaboration with Universal Studios; a remake of The Incredible Mr. Limpet; and the Christopher Reeve-directed movie Everyone's Hero for Fox Animation.

LYDIA CEDRONE
Chair, Producing Program
Universal Studios

MBA, New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business and BA in Economics, Boston College. Oversaw company operations for acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann, as well as production operations for the film "Ali." At The Walt Disney Co., Trimark Pictures and Savoy Pictures, managed production spending on more than two dozen studio films. Developed and produced two feature films, including the 2009 MGM film "The Betrayed."

ERIC CONNER
Chair, Screenwriting at Universal Studios

MFA, USC School of Cinema and Television; BA in English and Communications, University of Pennsylvania. Assistant Director for Off-Broadway premiere of "The Disputation." Winner of the Sloan Award & Hamptons' Writer's Workshop for feature script "Just Enough." Production Manager of "The Cutting Edge: The Story of Cinema Editing." Currently developing TV pilot for F.A.T. Productions.

ANDREA SWIFT
Chair of
Documentary Program
New York City Campus

MFA, Columbia University. Directed, Executive Produced PBS documentary newsmagazine series, In the Life (two time Telly-winner, three-time Emmy-nominee). Writer of the original pilot, CATCH (Scriptapalooza TV Award winner). Writer, Director of the short film, Company (Raindance Best of Festival Selection). Director, Producer, Editor of the internationally-aired documentary DEAFSMITH a nuclear folktale (featured at the United Nations Earth Summit, multi-festival award winner including the Silver at the Chicago International Film Festival and 2nd prize at the American Film and Video Festival. Associate Producer of the short film The Killers (winner DGA award, Best Short Film Panorama Award at Berlin, New Directors/New Films.)

SABINE SIGHICELLI
Chair, Documentary Filmmaking at Universal Studios

MFA in Film Production, Loyola Marymount University. Her first documentary, "The Passionate Life of a Father Painter" won a Samuel Z. Arkoff award and aired on PBS/KCET in 2001. Has worked as writer, director, producer, and associate producer for NatGeo, AMC, Women Make Movies, FilmOasis, Inc., Foundation for World Arts, UCLA Intercultural Center, the Museum of Jewish Heritage, and Home Planet Productions.

JOHN LOUGHLIN
Chair, Cinematography
New York City Campus

Cinematography and Directing fellow at AFI, MFA. Film/Video at University of Michigan, BA. Director of Photography on independent features, commercials, music videos, shorts. Writing assistant to Barry Gifford. Editor for Creative Arts.

MICHAEL PESSAH
Chair, Cinematography at Universal Studios

MFA, American Film Institute; BA, Hampshire College. DP on nine features, and many commercials. His work has been shortlisted for an Academy Award, received an LA Weekly Theater award, and has been shown on HBO, MTV, BET, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BBC, and Canal+. Michael has taught at the University level since 2005.

Brian Dilg
Chair of Photography
New York City Campus

Brian Dilg is an internationally published and collected photographer and award-winning filmmaker with over 20 years of professional teaching experience around the world. His images have been published in the New York Times, Time Out, and the Village Voice, and on book covers by Simon and Schuster, Random House and Hyperion. He has provided image retouching services to clients including Victoria's Secret, Polo Ralph Lauren, Revlon, Nike, NBC and Allure. He is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop, an Adobe Certified Instructor, and a frequently consulted authority on retouching and color management hardware and software.

His feature film directorial debut, "Auf Wiedersehen," premiered at the 2010 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival. He recently shot "The Greims" starring Wes Bentley (American Beauty), featured at the 2009 Vancouver International Film Festival. He previously served as the Technical Director of the film program and as the Director of the digital imaging program at the Maine Media Workshops. He did his graduate work in film production at New York University, where he was a full scholarship student. He has worked as director, cinematographer, and editor on over 70 other narrative, documentary, music video and commercial films.

BOBBI FABIAN
Co-Chair, Photography at Universal Studios

MA and BA in Photography, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia. Has been a teacher at college level for over 7 years. Her clients in Australia, Asia and the US include: Timex, United Airlines, Motor Trend Classic, Elle Magazine, Australian Gourmet Traveler, Penguin Books, Audi, Lexus and Westfield. Currently working on a soon-to-be published book of personal work, "RoadTrip:Home."

ISSA SHARP
Co-Chair, Photography at Universal Studios

Studied photography at Art Center in Pasadena. Her work has appeared in "Wired," "Smart Money," "Fortune," "Time," and "Los Angeles Magazine." Shot production stills for "An American Rhapsody" on location in Budapest. Known for her distinctive CD covers for Dave Alvin, Katy Moffett, Geoff Muldaur, and Chris Spedding. Is a much sought-after wedding, event, and editorial photographer.

VP BOYLE
Chair, Musical Theatre & Film Conservatory

VP Boyle is one of the most sought after Broadway audition coaches for professionals in New York City and works with actors at every level across the country to spread his irreverent approach to theatrical wellness. He wears many hats in the Broadway community on both sides of the table and is most known in the theatrical casting world for creating The Musical Theatre Forum, a professional casting workshop with every major Broadway casting agency. He is the author of Audition Freedom: The Irreverent Wellness Guide for Theatre People. He currently has three new musicals in development and is at work on his next book, Audition Juice: 100 Ways to Love Your Life as an Actor. He lives with his French Bulldog, Violet and has more professional union cards and guild affiliations than any one person should really have. Live who you are. Love what you do.

BENJAMIN MORGAN
Director of High School Programs at Universal Studios

BA, Stanford University. MFA, USC. Thesis film has appeared in festivals worldwide and on cable television. Director of Universal Studios Summer Programs for 14 years.

CORNELIA EMERSON
Chair, General Education at Universal Studios

PhD., MA., BA. in English Literature, Yale University. As Development Officer at the UCLA Film & Television Archive for 17 years, won numerous grants from NEA, NEH, California Arts Council, LA Cultural Affairs Department, the Academy, Ahmanson, Ford, Getty and Rockefeller Foundations. Served as Associate Dean at Otis College of Art and Design. Taught at Yale and Pomona Colleges.

MICHAEL BESMAN

Former production executive for Paramount, VP for Guber-Peters, and Executive VP for Sony Pictures. Supervised "Batman," "Jumanji," "Sleepless in Seattle," and "As Good as it Gets." Co-produced "Georgia Rule." Produced "About Schmidt" and "Bounce." Executive produced "Seven Years in Tibet."

LOUIS GOSSETT JR.
Acting for Film
Universal Studios

Winner of an Academy Award for his role in Officer and a Gentleman, and winner of two Emmys and two Golden Globes. Over 150 film and television acting credits, including memorable roles in A Raisin in the Sun, Iron Eagle, Toy Soldiers, and Blue Chips.

BRENDA VACCARO
Acting for Film
Universal Studios

Academy Award nominated for her role in 1975's Once is Not Enough. Nominated for 3 Tonys, 3 Golden Globes, and the Emmy Award. Her extensive film credits include starring roles in Midnight Cowboy, Capricorn One, and You Don't Know Jack. Television credits include memorable roles on The Golden Girls, Nip/Tuck, and Murder, She Wrote.

SHARON XZ JIANG
Directing, Writing, Producing

Alum of Beijing Film Academy's celebrated 5th generation,
BFA Academy of Art, San Francisco
Writer/Director/Producer,"X-Roads" US/China feature film, distribution in China, chosen for film festivals in Hawaii, Rome, Harvard University and New York. Producer, "The Wild East", documentary for Turner Broadcasting with director Philip Kaufman. Consultant/Producer for NBC Olympics coverage of 2008 Beijing Olympics. Producer/Supervisor to set up and oversee ESPN's 24-hour Mandarin channel. Vice-President of Intl Business Development, Pearson's Penguin TV, Creator/Producer of 14-episode travel/reality TV series "Beijing To London Taxi". Other credits include documentaries for NHK and NBC News, and Steven Spielbeg's “Empire of the Sun”.

PAUL WARNER
Directing

BA, Harvard University; MFA, American Film Institute. Princess Grace Award, Ashley Amulis Fellowship for directing. Feature film, Fall Time, Winner of the Cine Golden Eagle.

TASSOS RIGOPOULOS
Directing

MFA, UT Austin Writer/Director/Editor of Features, Shorts, Documentaries, TV Series, Commercials, and Corporate Videos. Student Emmy Award Winner.

MICHAEL SANDOVAL
Director of NYFA for
the Dalton Program

MFA, NYU and University of Michigan BA, Brown magna cum laude. Ang Lee Fellowship, NYU. Writer, Director of short film, The Good Son, screened in competition at Berlin.

GLYNIS RIGSBY
Acting Technique,
Scene Study

MFA Directing, Yale School of Drama. Credits include Britten's Rape of Lucretia for the Opera Project, Britannia Triumphans for the Yale Center for British Art, Naked Angels, New Dramatists, Public Theater, HERE. Member SSDC.

CRICKETT RUMLEY
Feature Screenplay, Story Generation, Elements of Screenwriting

MFA in Film, Columbia University; BA in Latin American Studies, Rhodes College. Developed and/or pitched projects with Anonymous Content, Disney, Fox Searchlight, Imagine Entertainment, Universal Studios, and many more. Author of “Never Sit Down in a Hoopskirt.” Former Director of Development with Scriptstar Pictures.

RICHARD SHORE ASC
Director's Vision, Cinematography

Winner of three Emmies M.A. in Cinema from U.S.C. His credits include: Bang the Drum Slowly, In the American Grain Night of the Dark Shadows, The Responsive Eye, and Three Women Alone. He has also been Director of Photography on hundreds of commercials, documentaries, educational and scientific films.

SHIRA-LEE SHALIT
Acting for Film,
Directing Actors

MFA, Film, Columbia University. BFA, Drama, NYU. Student Academy Award finalist for short film, Full Cycle. Winner, Presidential Scholar of the Arts for Acting. Winner, Acting Award, National Foundation of the Arts.

PABLO BERGER
Directing

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of Arts Feature Film, Torremolinos 73%

LEA BRANDENBURG
Acting for Film

BA University of Illinois. Actor in films and theater including Julie Johnson with Lili Taylor and Earthy Possessions for HBO with Susan Sarandon.

LIZ FOLEY
Producing

MFA Columbia University with Honors. BA Smith College Director, Writer and or Producer of numerous film and television productions including Funny Peculiar, Ode to Joy, and The It Factor.

CAROL MAYES
Directing

MFA, AFI; BA, Princeton University Writer/Director of award winning films including, Commitments, Rituals, and Tendrils. Student Oscar Finalist, CINE Golden Eagle Winner, Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame Award for Best Short Film.

MICHAEL UNGER
Directing

MFA, Columbia University, BA, Brown University. Writer and Director of numerous Shorts and Music Videos. Awards: "Best of the Festival" NYIIF Festival, 2001. Directed and Produced Kidz Show and Directed Off-Broadway. Editor of Documentaries and Music Videos appearing on PBS, MTV, MOMA, and THE BOX. He has just finished his latest film, GRAVITY. Program Director for NYFA workshops in Paris, London, Tokyo, Porto, and Bilbao.

MICHAEL URBAN
Screenwriting

MFA, American Film Institute Wrote the screenplay for Saved! starring Mandy Moore and Macaulay Culkin.

Randall Dottin
Directing, Screenwriting

MFA, Columbia University Writer/Director of Student Academy and DGA winning film A-Alike, Writer/Director Fox Searchlab film Lifted, Director of Sloan Feature Film Grant recipient, Indelible.

SETH MICHAEL DONSKY
Writing, Directing

MFA, Columbia University. Award Winning Feature Film Twisted (1997). Recipient of the 2002 Hallmark Development Grant for the short film Loopy.

JOSH KLAUSNER
Screenwriting

BA. NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Wrote and produced Wonderland, starring Val Kilmer and Factory Girl, starring Guy Pearce and Sienna Miller. Has also written for Lions Gate, the Weinstein Company and Warner Brothers.

LONNIE D. HALOUSKA
Entertainment Law & Business Affairs

MS, USC School of Cinema-Television; JD, Loyola University. Entertainment and telecommunications lawyer, negotiator and business manager for more than 20 years. Major studio and network background.

ALAN MYERSON

Has written feature film screenplays; directed on & off-Broadway, directed film shortlisted for Oscar shorts, directed major studio features, dozens of television movies and pilots, over 200 hours of primetime television. Nominated for Emmy, DGA, CableAce Awards. Member of DGA, WGA, AMPAS, ATAS. Has taught at USC, UC Berkeley, CSUSF, NYFA, and Maine Media Workshops.

DYLAN KIDD
Directing

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. Writer/Director, Roger Dodger, Ian's Ghost. Winner Bronze Award, Houston Worldfest. Finalist Award, USA fest. Artistic Achievement in Short Film Award Huntington Int'l Film Festival.

MATTHEW KOHNEN
Directing, Cinematography

MFA, USC. His work has been seen in film festivals such as Sundance, Slamdance, Cannes, Screamfest and various European film festivals, winning awards and garnering praise. DP on numerous commercials and TV shows. Recently directed the award-winning horror/comedy "Wasting Away."

LARRY LEAHY

MFA in Directing, New York University; BA in Screenwriting and Film Production, Antioch University. Extensive credits in television and film as writer, producre, director, editor, and script coordinator. Credits include “Spanglish,” “The Kid,” “Deep Impact,” “Monster House,” among others.

MICHAEL LAIBSON
Acting for Film

Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer of soaps including Guiding Light, Another World and As the World Turns.

HENG-TATT LIM
Directing, Cinematography

MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts. Awarded Excellence in Filmmaking at NYU's First Run Festival, 1991. Wien Scholar, Brandeis University. Worked on over fifty films.

RUSTY LEMORANDE
Producing

Executive producer, Caddyshack. Producer, the Academy-Award-winning musical, Yentl. Writer and producer for various projects at Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros, Turner and MGM for stars including Madonna, Michael Jackson and Barbra Streisand, Francis Coppola and George Lucas..

FLOYD BYARS

Graduate, Yale University. Screenwriter, producer, and novelist. Writer for the Spirit Award-nominated "Mindwalk," as well as "Making Mr. Right" and "Desperately Seeking Susan." Writer/producer on "Masterminds" and the upcoming "There Goes the Neighborhood" with William Shatner and James Caan. Writer on "Hill Street Blues" and "CSI: New York."

JOSHUA ADLER
Acting and
Screenwriting

MFA in Screenwriting, Columbia University; BA in Drama/Playwriting, Kenyon College. Winner of the Zaki Gordon Award for Screenwriting and William Goldman Fellowship in Screenwriting. Over 15 years experience instructing actors.

TONI ATTELL

Emmy-nominated actress with extensive credits in theatre, television, and film, including "Krippendorf's Tribe," "Ghost," "Beverly Hills 90210," "Picket Fences," and many more. Serves on the Academy's Blue Ribbon Panel that votes on the Emmys. Author of "Just Kidding, Stand-Up Comedy For Kids of All Ages" and "You Are What You Were, A Home Guide to Your Past Lives."

BEN MARANISS
Screenwriting

MFA University of Southern California.

DANA LUSTIG

Graduate, AFI. Directed and produced 16 films. Her latest film, Confessions of a Sociopathic Social Climber, stars Jennifer Love Hewitt. Co-produced Dancing at the Blue Iguana and Brick.

ALAN METTER
Directing

BA, University of Arizona. Student Academy Award finalist. Directed Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Back To School, and Police Academy 5: Mission To Moscow. Wrote, produced, and directed music videos for George Harrison, Donna Summer, and Chicago.

ANNA M. CIANCIULLI
Acting for Film

Editor of the Italian edition of Sanford Meisner's "On Acting" ("Sulla recitazione") Nomination - Best Actress - International Festival of Cinema and Technology. Director and Actor for dramatic presentations at: The Kitchen (BAM Event); Joyce Soho; St. Peter's Church; Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Station. Collaborations staged with Domenica Cameron-Scorsese; Kevin Bacon and Michael Bacon; Felix Cavaliere, Brian Dennehy; Roberto Benigni.

MARK SAWICKI
Production Design & Special Visual Effects

Visual FX supervisor, artist and actor. Author of the books "Filming the Fantastic" (second edition) and "Animating with Stop Motion Pro," both published by Focal Press. Has over 80 feature film credits including "Tropic Thunder," "Premonition," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and "Case 39."

ADAM NIMOY
Script to Screen, Director’s Craft, Film Aesthetics

JD, Loyola Law School; BS in Political Science, UC Berkeley. Director of television dramas, including “NYPD Blue,” “The Practice,” “Murder One,” “Ally McBeal,” and “Gilmore Girls.” Former entertainment attorney, as well as business affairs for Enigma Records and EMI America.

SOL NEGRIN ASC
Advanced Camera and
Lighting

Instructor, New York University. President, New York Cinematography Union. Some of his credits include: Robocop, Superman, Coming to America, The Kojak TV Series

MELANIE WILLIAMS ORAM
Directing, Writing

MFA, Columbia University B.A., Harvard University, cum laude Peabody Award, HBO 90-minute documentary, Dare To Compete. Emmy Award, HBO series Real Sports.

BRYAN NORTON
Directing

BA, Sarah Lawrence MFA, NYU, Tisch School of the Arts.

ROBERT PIETRI
Directing, Editing

NYU Graduate Film BFA, Carnegie-Mellon Fox Searchlab New Directors program.

REBECCA PETERS
Directing and Camera

BA, University of Westminster with high honors, Camera Credits on feature films such as Goldeneye, The Saint, Entrapment and Eyes Wide Shut.

JAMES PRICE
Meisner Technique

Indiana University; Neighborhood Playhouse; Trinity Rep Conservatory; is founding director of The Acting Studio, Inc. & Chelsea Repertory Company in New York for over 25 years. Mr. Price was a protege of Sanford Meisner. He teaches and coaches actors, acts in theatre and film, directs and produces plays in New York City.

NICK SIVAKUMARAN
Film Aesthetics, Cinematography, Digital Production

MFA in Film Production, USC School of Cinema/TV; BA in Biology and Psychology, University of Rochester. Writer, director, producer, and cinematographer on multiple short and feature length films.

ADAM SALKY
MFA Director's Craft

BFA, Emory University; MFA, Columbia University Grauate School of the Arts. Salky made his feature film directorial debut with "DARE," an official selection and Grand Jury Prize Nominee at Sundance in 2009 in the Dramatic Competition category. It stars Emmy Rossum, Zach Gilford, Rooney Mara, Alan Cumming, Ana Gasteyer, and Sandra Bernhard. Served as an advisor at Sundance Labs.

OMAR SAMAD

MFA in Directing, American Film Institute; BS in Media and Humanities, New School University. Among the top of his class at the AFI, Omar's last film, Takeo, went on to receive over 30 awards and nominations worldwide, including Best Picture, Best Director, and a Van Gogh award for best new screenwriter.

TONY SCHWARTZ
Producing

Over 20 years of experience as an assistant director for television and feature films of varying budgets. His credits include "Land of the Lost," "Firefly," "Freaks and Geeks," "Kung Pow: Enter the Fist," and "CSI: New York."

JUSTIN SEIBEL
Digital Editing I

MFA in Film Production, Chapman University; BA in Film/Video, Georgia State University. Previous experience as a freelance editor with extensive work in online content and reality television, including work for MLB.com, BRAVO, and TruTV.

IGOR TORGESON
Digital Editing, Post Production for Cinema

MFA Film, Boston University; BA Journalism, George Washington University. Freelance editor and actor in Los Angeles. Has edited for clients including the Gameshow Network, National Lampoon, McGraw-Hill Publications, Southern California Gas Company, and Cessna Aircraft. Commercial credits include campaigns for Citibank and Brighthouse Networks.

DAVID WEXLER

MFA in Cinematography, AFI. BS in Education, Eastern Connecticut State University. Award-winning cinematographer for dozens of feature films, shorts, television, and commercials. Clients include projects for Fox TV, Discovery Channel, Showtime, Pepsi, and Ford.

RON STACKER THOMPSON

Producer of "A Rage in Harlem," "Deep Cover," "The Cemetery Club," "Sister Act 2," and "Hoodlum." Has worked with talent including Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Smith, Laurence Fishburne, Ellen Burstyn, Danny Glover, Christina Ricci. Wrote and produced "America's Dream," nominated for nine Cable Ace Awards. Recently completed "Funny Valentines," with Alfre Woodard and Loretta Devine.

LINDSAY BEAMISH

MFA in Creative Writing, University of Wyoming; BA in Theatre Arts, University of California at Santa Cruz. Award-winning actress, known for roles in feature films including John Cameron Mitchell's "Shortbus." Multiple television credits, including "CSI," "Gilmore Girls," and "Six Feet Under." Extensive work in theatre, dance, and as a freelance writer.

MICHAEL BERSHAD

BA, University of Maryland. Studied with Stella Adler, David LeGrant and Michael Shurtleff. Series regular on NBC soap opera "Capitol", and also appeared in numerous films. Has worked as agent, manager, and casting director. Produced, co-wrote, and starred in "Dispatch," voted Best Overall Film at the 2011 Offshoot Film Festival. Has taught acting for 25 years in Los Angeles.

EVA GARDOS

MA, CCNY; BA, Mills College. Editing credits include "Mask," "Valley Girl," "In the Time of Butterflies," and many more. Writing and directing credits for multiple television and film projects.

KEN KRISTENSEN

MFA in Film, Columbia University. Producing and directing credits in television for MSNBC, Spike, Fox, IFC, NBC, CW, Comedy Central, and more. Film work on "Palindromes," "Superman Returns," "Quid Pro Quo," among others.

KA'RAMUU KUSH

BFA, New School University. MFA, Sarah Lawrence College. MFA, American Film Institute. Native Detroiter with extensive theatre and film background. Theatre projects include: Andrew Moodie's "The Real McCoy," Shakespeare's "Pericles," Albert Camus' "Caligula." AFI thesis film "Salvation Road" won numerous awards inclusive of DGA, Caucus Foundation, Fujifilm and was also acquired by HBO.

SAM TURICH
Acting for Film

BA Columbia University. Wrote and stared in The Box. TV appearances include Law & Order & Blind Spot on NBC.

ALONSO MAYO
Alternative Narratives: Documentary & New Media

MFA in Film Directing, American Film Institute Conservatory; BA in Film & Television, Universidad de Lima. Director, writer, and editor with work in award-winning documentaries and short films, and video games.

JEFFERSON LOFTFIELD

MFA in Film and Video Production, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; BA in English/Media Production, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Working as a cinematographer and camera operator, Jefferson has worked on a myriad of projects form "House, M.D.," to operating on the indie hit "Junebug." He has lensed projects from commercials to web series to feature films.

GREG MARCKS

MFA in Film and Television Production, Florida State University; BA in Creative Writing, Carnegie Mellon University. Over a decade of motion picture production experience, including directing credits on "11:14," released by New Line Cinema, and "Echelon Conspiracy," released by Paramount Pictures. Spent nine years as president of Ideology Pictures.

JUSTIN WOLSKE
Film Craft, Film Production

MFA Production/Directing, UCLA; BA, Indiana University. Freelance line producer overseeing logistics and budgetary issues for clients including MTV New Media, Bigfoot Studios, Fox New Media, Mandalay Entertainment Group and the University of California. Producer of numerous short films including “Parthenabe,” winner of 2007 Student Emmy.

JEANNE LASALA
Voice, Movement, Ballroom Dance

Jeanne is the Executive Director and a founding member of Coyote REP. Acting credits include TV: All My Children, The Guiding Light, Sex and the City, THEATRE: Spoiled Bea, The Naked Eye Planets, Deception (Coyote REP), No End of Blame (PTP NYC), Camille, Private Lives (Olney Theatre). Member; AEA, AFTRA.

ANDREA CABAN
Acting for Film

MFA, UC Irvine. Winner, NY Innovative Theatre Award Outstanding Solo Performance for her show, You Got Questions? I Got Answers! (Best Short Script and Performance Art Noms). Medici grant recipient for study of Balinese art and culture.

DONNETTA LAVINIA GRAYS
Acting for Film

MFA: UC, Irvine. BA: College of Charleston. Television/Film credits include The Sopranos, Law and Order: CI, Law and Order: SVU (4 year recurring role) and Darren Aronofsky's The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke. Theater credits include Broadway (Well) and numerous Off-Broadway and Regional Theater productions. National on-camera and voice over commercial work for Coca-Cola, Value-City, Nickelodeon, BET and others. Founding member of Coyote REP Theatre Company.

DAVID BROOKS
Scene Study, Monologues

Brooks has been an actor for thirty years, working on Broadway as well as in in film and television, shooting on locations around the world. He has been a professional life coach for ten years and a teacher on and off for thirty years.

GAIL BRYSON
Text Analysis, Acting Technique, Scene Study

BA in Acting, UCLA; Grad school work in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University; Conservatory training, American Conservatory Theatre and South Coast Reparatory Theatre. Bryson received advanced Meisner training with Edward Kaye Martin in LA and NYC, and Shakespeare training with Deborah Strang at Noise Within Theatre in Los Angeles.

CHRISTOPHER CASS

BA in Theatre, University of Georgia. NY and LA credits include "Rounding Third," "Jerusalem," "Gaining Ground," "RFK" (Off-B'way), "Sleepwalk," "Born in the RSA," "Much Ado" (Central Park), "Henry V" (Off-B'way) and "Macbeth." Television credits include: "ER," "Like Family," "Tucker," "Fired Up," "Cedric the Entertainer," "Night Court," and many more.

AMY CHAFFEE
Accent Reduction

BFA, NYU Tisch School of the Arts; MFA, USD/Old Globe Theatre. In-demand dialect and accent coach for Victory Theatre, multiple plays, television shows and pilots, and feature films.

MARY COBB

BA in Theatre Arts, San Diego State University. Actress known for her multiple roles with The Actors Studio, Uprising Theatre Company, The Los Angeles Women's Shakespeare Company and others, as well as her roles in film. Member of SAG and AEA for over 30 years.

ANASTASIA COON

MFA in Acting, University of Texas, Austin; BFA in Communications/Acting, Chapman University. Theatre and movement instructor at USC, UCLA, Glendale College, Pasadena Playhouse, UT Austin, and many more.

MARIA DEL BAGNO

A graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Maria Del Bagno has been a dance instructor in Los Angeles for over 25 years, including at Moro Landis Studios, Millennium Dance Complex, and Dance Arts Academy. She apprenticed under renowned master choreographer, Jaime Rogers, and the "Father of Jazz Dance," Luigi. Named one of L.A.'s top choreographers by L.A. Jazz Dance Foundation.

DEBRA
DRAGOTTO-PARKER
Acting Technique, Text Analysis, Writing for Actors

MFA in Screenwriting, UCLA; BFA in Drama; Hofstra University. Industry leader in reality television, with experience in directing, writing, casting, producing, and consulting in English and Spanish-language television.

JAMIE ELVEY

MFA in Acting, University of California, Irvine; BFA in Acting, University of Buffalo. Acting experience in multiple films, as well as principal roles in theatre festivals worldwide.

LOUIS FANTASIA
Shakespeare,
Adv. Scene Study

BA, Georgetown; MFA, CalArts. Has directed more than 150 plays and operas worldwide. Director of the London Globe's "Teaching Shakespeare Through Performance" from 1997 to 2002. Currently director of "Shakespeare at the Huntington" at the Huntington Library in San Marino. Also served as president of Deep Springs College.

SCOTT FERRARA
Acting Technique, Shakespeare,
Text Analysis, Playwrights/Screenwriters

BS in Theatre Arts, University of Pittsburgh; MFA in Acting, University of San Diego. Ferrara has a background including over 25 professional productions in regional theatre, as well as on and off Broadway.

CLIFF WEISSMAN
Acting for Directors, Acting Technique

BA in Theatre, Brooklyn College. Professional actor with guest star and recurring roles on “NCIS,” “CSI: NY,” “Criminal Minds,” “24,” “Beverly Hills 90210,” and more. Acting and instructor and audition coach for over 25 years.

MARIA GOBETTI
Acting Technique,
Scene Study, Meisner

MA and BA in Theatre, UCLA. Artistic Co-Director at The Victory Theatre Center, with over 80 directing credits. Member of DGA, SAG, AFTRA, AEA. Multiple acting credits in episodic television.

RUPERT HITZIG

Graduate of Harvard College. Produced and/or directed several theatrical features, including "The Last Dragon," "Jaws 3-D," "Electra-Glide in Blue," and "Wolfen," starring Albert Finney. President of King-Hitzig Productions with Alan King. Numerous credits on television series, television movies, and reality shows, as well as documentary work.

TRAVIS HOLDER
Text Analysis, Playwrights/Screenwriters

Training at Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, Goodman Theatre at University of Chicago. Theatre critic for Back Stage West and Entertainment Today. Actor in award-winning theatre roles nationally, as well as feature films.

JACK HUANG

MA in Commercial Music, California State University at Los Angeles; BM in Classical Violin Performance, UCI; Certificate in Film Scoring, UCLA. He was the teenage martial arts champion in nunchucks in Taiwan, the Taiwan government-selected martial artist for the US performance team of 1983, and then, the World Cup Middle Weight Champion at the 1987 Los Angeles Open. After three years of working for Sho Kosugi in Japan, Jack began teaching tai chi, wing chun, and kung fu.

MICHAELA KELLY HUGHES

Hughes started her professional career as a child actress in the film "Hellfighters" with John Wayne and in several plays at Houston's Alley Theatre. Professional dancer with the Houston Ballet, Feld Ballet (principal) and American Ballet Theatre (soloist). Extensive credits on Broadway, in television, music videos, and film.

HEIDI TOKHEIM
Acting for Film

Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts (PCPA Theaterfest), Neighborhood Playhouse, B.A. Whitman College. Actor and writer. Numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits.

JOHN HENRY RICHARDSON
Acting for Film, Text Analysis, The Actor & The Lens

AA, Pasadena Playhouse College of Dramatic Arts; UCLA. Acting credits in over 100 films, 80 TV shows, 90 plays. Directing credits in 9 films, 12 TV shows, 40 plays, 100 commercials.

ALAN MURAOKA

Production designer and art director for television and Academy-Award winning films, including "Ghost World," "Passenger 57," "Little Miss Sunshine," "NYPD Blue."

RON MOSKOVITZ
Feature Screenplay

BA in Economics and Environmental Studies, Williams College; MFA in Cinema-Television Production, University of Southern California. Winner of the Nicholl Fellowship in 2005. Writer of many feature films including "Oceanus Rex" for National Geographic.

JAMES ROWE
Advanced Approaches to Directing, Feature Script Development

MFA in Directing, American Film Institute; BA in Communications, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Writing and directing credits in television, feature and short films. Festival selections at LA Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, and many more.

ARDEN KAYWIN
Speech, Singing for Actors

MFA in Music in Vocal Performance, Manhattan School of Music; BFA of Music in Vocal Performance, Oberlin Conservatory. Kaywin is a Los Angeles-based voice teacher and vocal producer. She produces vocals for recording artists from major labels (Radio Killa/Interscope/MySpace Records) to indie artists (ZVision Records, PEGA Records) to young 'tween artists (Kidz Bop).

SUZANNE KENT
Scene Study, Comedy & Improvisation, Monologues, Voice

Series regular on "Pee-wee's Playhouse," "St. Elsewhere," "The Garry Shandling Show," and "Brotherly Love." Voice actor on "Rugrats," "The Wild Thornberrys," and "Rocket Power." Over 30 acting credits in feature films, including "Middle Men," "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid," "Nuts," "The Boost," and "History of the World: Part I."

VALORIE HUBBARD
Scene Study, Text Analysis, Monologues, Business of Acting

Hubbard is an accomplished actress of stage, film, and television. Recent credits include “Glee,” “True Blood,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Resident Evil: Extinction,” and Chris Weitz’s film, “A Better Life.”

RICK KOSTENICK

Kostenick is a former talent agent and A&R representative for music acts. He currently focuses on production of motion pictures and television.

JEREMY LELLIOT
Scene Study,
Text Analysis, Tech, Voice/Movement, Chekov, Shakespeare

MFA in Acting, California State University, Fullerton. Artistic Director, Coeurage Theatre Company. Jeremy has amassed credits in film, television, and theatre since the age of 9, including a recurring role on "7th Heaven," Francis Coppola's feature "Jack," and the original Los Angeles cast of Broadway's "Beauty and the Beast."

KENNETH LERNER

BA, Brooklyn College. Appearances on over 40 films and 100 television shows, including "The Mentalist," "NCIS," "In Plain Sight," "Two and a Half Men," "Desperate Housewives," "Castle," "Weeds," "CSI," "Without a Trace" and "Buffy The Vampire Slayer." Starred in productions at Pasadena Playhouse, Falcon Theatre, and Off-Broadway.

ROBERT LIPTON
Tech, Scene Study, Text Analysis, Monologues, Method Acting for Film

Trained with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg, graduated Neighborhood Playhouse program. SAG/AFTRA member. Over a dozen feature film roles, extensive stage experience, and multiple television appearances, including "Judging Amy," "The Practice," and "The X-Files." Recurring roles on "One Life to Live," "The Young and the Restless," and 6 years on "As the World Turns."

DENIS MCCOURT
Acting Technique, Text Analysis, Playwrights/Screenwriters

MFA in Acting, University of Florida; BA in Acting, University of South Florida. Actor in dozens of plays and musicals, as well as film, television, and commercials. Co-Artistic Director for Long Beach Shakespeare Company.

MELANIE ASHLEY
Scene Study, Monologues

MFA, University of North Carolina.

BELA GRUSHKA
Acting for Film

Studio-Uta Hagen, National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts - PARIS. She has directed many plays in Paris and acted in numerous American and European films and television shows, including "2 Days in Paris", performing with Martin Sheen, James Gandolfini, Sam Waterston, David Straithairn, Jean Reno, Lee Remick.

MARK DEVENDORF
New Media, Advanced Pitching Workshop

MA in Film, Television and New Media, San Diego State University; BA in Film and Television, University of California, Santa Cruz. Worked for Roger Corman's New Horizon and produced "Piranha." Sketch comic with the Groundlings and ACME Comedy Theatre. Has made dozens of award-winning films and documentaries, including "Cassandra," nominated for a Student Academy Award.

MARSHALL LEWY

MFA, Columbia University. Wrote and directed his debut feature film, Blue State, starring Academy Award winner Anna Paquin and Breckin Meyer. Blue State premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, and is distributed worldwide by MGM.

MICHAEL R. MILLER

A.C.E. Edited Miller's Crossing, Raising Arizona, Ghost World, and Patty Hearst. Assistant editor for Woody Allen on Manhattan and Stardust Memories.

LEAH KEITH

BA in English, Barnard College/Columbia University. Former Director of Development for Disney. Former Senior Development and Production Executive for Dreamworks, SKG. Independent film and television producer.

DENISE CARLSON
Producing, Emphasis in Cinematography

MA, Ryokan College; BA, Rollins College. Former Director of Original Movies at Disney Channel, responsible for development and production of 47 television movies, including "High School Musical." Currently an executive producer on "The Schwa Was Here," "Deadline" and "Floating Bridge" and is developing the television series "Fast Friends" with Simmons Lathan Media Group.

TOM HAMMOCK
Production Design

MFA in Production Design, American Film Institute; BA, University of California, Berkeley. Production designer of 12 feature films, including “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” (purchased by The Weinstein Company) and 5 television pilots.

CLAY EPSTEIN
Finance, Marketing & Distribution

BA, California State University at Northridge. Currently serves as Vice President of Sales and Acquisitions at The Little Film Company, a worldwide film sales and marketing firm that also theatrically distributes, finances and executive produces independent motion pictures.

DAVID O'LEARY
Screenwriting for Producers

BA, Vassar College. Worked as Director of Development for Valhalla Motion Pictures and freelance story analyst for producer Joel Silver.

ANDREW ZINNES
Documentary Filmmaking

MFA in Film, American University; BA, George Washington University. Producer on television series "Operation Repo" and numerous documentary features. Author of The Documentary Filmmakers Handbook.

JERRY SHANDY
Writing for Television, Writing the Feature Film

MFA in Screenwriting, USC; BA in Film Studies, University of Utah. Content analyst with Netflix. Story analyst with Village Roadshow Pictures and Alcon Entertaiment. Pilots in development with Stark Productions, USA Network, and Fox Studios. Current writer for TNT's "Perception" with Rachael Leigh Cook.

PAUL LINGAS
Critical Film Studies, Cinema Studies

MFA in Film Production, USC; BA in Spanish and English, University of Oregon. Freelance journalist. Writing and directing credits for dozens of short and feature films.

JASON ROBINSON
Producing, Directing

MFA in Film and Video Production, University of Southern California. Thesis film "Susanna" was an official selection at numerous film festivals, including the Palm Springs and Seattle Film Festivals. Feature film "Here We Go Again" was an official selection of the Sundance Film Festival. Producing "Two Million Stupid Women", currently in development.

ADAM MOORE
Business of Screenwriting, Writing the Feature Film Screenplay

MFA in Screenwriting, American Film Institute Conservatory; BFA in Cinema Studies & Dramatic Writing. Lead writing credits for multiple video games for release on Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3. Wrote script for graphic novel "Vendor" for Viper Comics, currently being developed into a video game. Currently writing screenplays for Dark Days and Hellsgate.

GREGORY CARTER

Attended Curry College and Northeastern University. Former assistant for Christopher Keane at The Boston Film & Video Foundation, Dov Simens, and Charles Burnett ("To Sleep with Anger"). Has taught at the Art Institute of Atlanta. Currently post-production producer for Zero Management.

TOMMY MADDOX-UPSHAW

MFA in Cinematography, AFI. Photographed many feature films for studios such as Sony Screen Gems, Marvel, and Fox Searchlight. He has worked as a camera operator for some of the top cinematographers in Hollywood. His credits include "Iron Man 2," "Hustle and Flow," and "Miracle at St. Anna."

TIM NUTTALL

MFA, American Film Institute; BFA, New York University. An award-winning cinematographer with several features and numerous shorts under his belt including the film festival hit Thule, starring Scott Eastwood and Chris Marquette, and Blackbird, starring screen legend Alex Rocco. Commercials for companies like Citibank, CMT, and MasterCard.

THOMAS RICHTER

Has directed award-winning commercials and shorts all over the world. In 2004, The Call won the John Sayles Award at the Westcliffe Film Festival. Directed the pilot for Iris Expanding for Fox in 2008, and the pilot for G-Block in 2009. His textbook on commercial directing is used in universities and film schools nationwide.

PHILIP SCHWARTZ
Fundamentals of Lighting, Advanced Stage Lighting

Director of Photography since 1988. Credits include fourteen independent features, 30-second units for features and television, and more than one hundred shorts, commercials, videos, documentaries and industrials. Camera operator on Journey to the Center of the Earth 3-D, Twister, The Net, Zeus and Roxanne, and Toys. Also teaches cinematography at USC School of Cinematic Arts.

JEFFREY SILJENBERG
CInematography

MFA in Cinematography, American Film Institute. Cinematographer on half dozen features including "ICP: Big Money Rustlas." Local 728 set lighting technician and gaffer on shows such as "Chuck" and "Celebrity Rehab," along with a variety of other features and commercials.

NICK SIVAKUMARAN
Film Aesthetics, Cinematography, Digital Production

MFA in Film Production, USC School of Cinema/TV; BA in Biology and Psychology, University of Rochester. Writer, director, producer, and cinematographer on multiple short and feature length films.

MIKE WILLIAMSON

MFA in Cinematography, AFI. Award-winning cinematographer living in Los Angeles. Shot four independent feature films, including Bilal's Stand, which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Recently shot 30 Days of Night: Dust to Dust for Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, a mini-series that played to critical acclaim on television and the web.

WENDY APPLE
Alternative Narratives: Documentary & New Media

BFA, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Experience as producer, director, actress, and editor in film and television, including "Hard Rain" with Bob Dylan, "Appearing Nightly" with Lily Tomlin, "Don't Drop the Ball" with Kenny Loggins, and many more.

DAVID GARRETT
Documentary Filmmaking

Wrote feature films for Dreamworks, Universal and Paramount. Co-wrote "Foreign Exchange" for MTV Films and the musical comedy "Do That To Me One More Time" for Touchstone. Garrett co-wrote "Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo," "First Pet," and "Corky Romano." Has also produced pilots, series & specials for ABC, NBC, CBS, UPN, MTV, USA, Comedy Central, Showtime and Fox.

PETRA HAFFTER
Alternative Narratives: Documentary & New Media

Haffter is an award-winning writer, director, and producer of more than 80 films. She specializes in mysteries, crimes and coming-of-age films, as well as travel and essay documentaries. Petra is currently working on a series, "The Colors Of The Deserts." If she isn't shooting she is teaching at film schools, nationally and internationally.

STEPHANIE HUBBARD
Documentary Filmmaking

Award-winning documentary film editor, producer, and director. Her work has been featured on Court TV, PBS and the History Channel, and screened at Sundance, Cannes, and festivals around the globe. Has taught documentary workshops since 2008. Her feature documentary, "Bible Storyland" will be premiering this fall, and is her documentary directorial debut.

ANDREW SHEARER
Digital Editing, Film Post Production

His script for "Holy Irresistable" won the Nicholl Fellowship in 2007. Andrew's short film, "Son Up," won seven awards on the festival circuit, and made the regionals for the Student Academy Awards. Optioned a feature screenplay, and has developed several projects with production companies such as Benderspink and Mandalay Pictures. He has also written for SCRIPT magazine.

DAVID SONNENSCHEIN
Documentary Filmmaking

Trained in classical music, feature film directing (USC) and neuroscience (UCSD), David teaches sound design through webinars and international lectures. His book "Sound Design: The Expressive Power of Music, Voice and Sound Effects in Cinema" has become a standard text in film schools worldwide, and has been translated into Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

JASON AMOS

MFA in Creative Writing, Sarah Lawrence College; BA in Radio, Television, and Film Production, University of North Texas. Previous experience as freelance journalist, as well as extensive work in feature films and television, including "Big Brother," "The Steve Harvey Show," "Cedric the Coach," "One Man Army," and more.

DEMIAN BARBA
Camera

NYFA Graduate, 2001. Got his first job on a film set at the age of 16. Has work as a cinematographer in the US, México, Algeria, Taiwan, and Turkey. He has shot numerous short films, a handful of commercials and music videos, and three features with theatrical release: "Kelebek" (Turkey, 2009), "Amar No Es Querer" (México, 2011), and "72.Kogus" (Turkey, 2011).

DAVID BENULLO

BA, New York University. Screenwriting and directing credits include Lifetime Network's "Home Invasion," "Around the World in 80 Days" for Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media, and USA Network's "The Dead Zone."

RYAN BOONE
Editing and Post Production

BFA in Writing and Directing, Chapman University. Started a production company and produced/edited dozens of national commercial and corporate projects, including national and international commercial spots for DirecTV and CAAF Foundation. Graphic design, motion graphics, and audio production round out this professional portfolio.

ERIN E. CASSIDY
Acting for Directors

Director and writer of the award-winning feature film, "We are the Mods." Named by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the New Faces of Independent Film and has directed and produced short films commissioned by Nokia and National Endowment of the Arts. Has directed for CBS, and produced for MTV and numerous commercials.

DAVID D'ANDRADE
Drawing

BFA and MFA in Painting, San Francisco Art Institute. An award-winning artists who has been featured in exhibitions nationwide.

STEVEN S. DEICHEN

BA in Film and Digital Media, UC Santa Cruz; MFA in Film Production, USC School of Cinematic Arts. Deichen is a current production sound mixer and sound designer for independent shorts, features, television, and corporate clients.

MICHAEL FIMOGNARI

His award-winning films have premiered at notable festivals including Berlin, Sundance, Toronto, Tribeca, and the renowned Camerimage Cinematography Festival in Poland. His feature credits include "Beautiful Boy" with Michael Sheen and Maria Bello, "Black Irish" with Brendan Gleeson and Melissa Leo, "Dare" with Emmy Rossum and Alan Cumming, and Arvin Chen's "Au Revoir Taipei."

KELLY GARDNER
Directing, Workshops

MFA in Film Directing, California Institute of the Arts; BA in Dramatic Arts, UNC Chapel Hill. A director with experience in film, television, and live theater. Selected as an "Up and Coming Director" by Fox Movie Channel.

ARSHIA HAQ
Editing, Workshops

MFA in Film and Video, California Institute of the Arts; BA in Comparative Literature with Spanish minor, Northwestern University. Her editing credits include promos for AMC's "The Walking Dead," the History Channel, and MTV, with film screenings at Toronto International Film Festival and New York's Museum of Modern Art.

SHARRI HEFNER

Award-winning Southern California-based writer, producer, and story consultant. Received her MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and graduated summa cum laude from California State University, Long Beach.

ARTHUR HELTERBRAN JR.

BA in Radio, Television, and Film, University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh; MFA in Film Direction, California Institute of the Arts. Multiple lead actor credits in film and stage. Director of award-winning feature films.

KENNETH JOHNSON

Writer, Director, Producer. Creator of "V," "The Incredible Hulk," "Alien Nation," "The Bionic Woman," and other Emmy Award-winning shows. Director of numerous TV movies and feature films, including "Short Circuit 2" and "Steel." Winner of the prestigious Viewers for Quality Television Award, multiple Saturn Awards, and The Sci-Fi Universe Life Achievement Award.

MATT KOHNEN

MFA in Film Production, USC; BA in Theatre/Playwriting, University of California, Irvine. Director and writer of feature film "Wasting Away," winner of awards at 6 festivals worldwide. Director of multiple short films with Academy Award-winning producer Rob Fried.

IGOR KOVACEVICH

MFA in Film Directing/Producing, Ohio University School of Film. Produced "Downloading Nancy," starring Maria Bello and Jason Patric, which premiered at Sundance. Bello was nominated for Best Female Lead at the Independent Spirit Awards in March 2010. Worked at Focus Features/Universal in feature acquisitions and development.

CHRISTOPHE NASSIF
Sound

BS in Industrial & System Engineering and MFA in Cinema-Television Production, University of Southern California. An award-winning filmmaker with extensive credits in on-set and post-production sound.

DAVID NELSON
Directing

MFA in Film and Television, USC; BA in Dramatic Arts, Tufts University. A writer/director with experience in film, television, and live theater. His credits include directing episodes of "That's So Raven" and "Phil of the Future."

DAVID NEWMAN

BS, Broadcasting/Film, Boston University. Entertainment professional with over a decade of experience writing, producing, and directing television series. Over fifteen years of experience as assistant director. Feature film writer.

JACK PEREZ

BFA in Film & Television, New York University. Writing and directing credits on feature films and television, including "Temptation Island," "Last Comic Standing," "Xena: Warrior Princess," and projects for SyFy Network and Oprah Winfrey Network.

TOM PROVOST
Directing

BFA in Film Production and Criticism & English, University of Texas at Austin. An experienced writer, director and editor with credits in television and feature films. Writer of "Under Suspicion" starring Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman. Wrote and directed the Lionsgate release, "The Presence."

KEVIN RICHEY
Camera, Workshops

MFA in Radio/TV/Film, Northwestern University; BA in Critical Studies of Film and Television, University of Alabama. Taught at Northwestern University and Chicago's DePaul University before moving to Los Angeles. He currently works as a commercial cinematographer in the U.S. and abroad for clients such as Ford, Bank of America, and McDonald's.

FRANK ANGONES
Television Writing for Producers

MFA in Film, Columbia University; BA, Columbia College. Writer of an animated pilot optioned for the Spike Network and a half-hour original pilot option by Aid+Abet Productions. Currently developing an hour-long original pilot for Warner Brothers.

DAVAH AVENA
Television Writing for Producers

MFA in Cinema/Television Producing, USC; BA in Visual Arts, Evergreen State College. Awarded Telemundo, Lloyd and Pickford scholarships. Winner of the Nickelodeon Television Writing Fellowship. Wrote for two seasons on the CBS/Paramount show "Medium." Currently developing a sitcom with George Lopez for a children's network.

DAVID BRESENHAM
Reality Television Producing

MFA in Cinema/Television Producing, USC; JD, Harvard Law School; BA, Wofford College. Producer of multiple reality television series, including "BioRecon," "Keeping Up With The Kardashians," "The Simple Life," "Run's House," "Big Brother 6," "Dr. Phil," and "Real World/Road Rules Challenge."

DAVID BRIND
Screenwriting for Producers

MFA in Screenwriting, Columbia University and BA in Theater Studies, Yale University. Wrote feature film "DARE," which premiered at Sundance in 2009 as a Grand Jury Prize Nominee. Current projects include the screenplay adaptation of the novel "Leverage" for Academy-Award winning producer Stanley Jaffe and producer Dan Rissner (School Ties, Gone Baby Gone).

PAUL BROWN

Writer and producer of numerous television shows, including The X-Files, Quantum Leap, Twilight Zone, Enterprise, and Star Trek: Voyager. Three-time Emmy Award nominee.

JAIME BURKE
Producers Craft, Finance, Marketing, and Distribution

MFA, Peter Stark Program at USC; BA, Tufts University. Producer credits include "Greetings From Jerry," "Everyone Wants to be Italian," and "Unrest." Former Head of Story Department at Huntsman Entertainment and former Junior Story Executive at Twentieth Century Fox.

WES CARDINO
Cinematography for Producers

MFA in Cinematography, AFI; BA, Purchase College, SUNY. Director of Photography on more than 30 shorts, including the award-winning "The Escape." Second Unit Director of Photography on the feature film "Remains."

DENISE CARLSON
Producing, Emphasis in Cinematography

MA, Ryokan College; BA, Rollins College. Former Director of Original Movies at Disney Channel, responsible for development and production of 47 television movies, including "High School Musical." Currently an executive producer on "The Schwa Was Here," "Deadline" and "Floating Bridge" and is developing the television series "Fast Friends" with Simmons Lathan Media Group.

NATHAN CHITAYAT
Producing and Directing

MFA in Production/Directing, UCLA; BBA, Schulich School of Business. Winner of two MPAA Awards and the Edie and Lew Wasserman Filmmaker's Fellowship. Writer/Director of numerous short films, and director of upcoming web series "Funemployment."

MARIE COLABELLI
Producing

MFA in Producing, American Film Institute. Production credits on television shows for KCET Television, Showtime, FX Network, HBO and The Discovery Channel. Worked in development at 19 Entertainment and is currently developing three feature films.

CHARLEY DANE
Television Writing for Producers

MFA in Dramatic Writing, New York University's Tisch School of the Arts; BA, Georgetown University. Winner of the ABC/Disney TV Fellowship. Quarter-finalist for the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting. Writing credits include "Kyle XY" and "Legend of the Seeker."

BRENDAN DAVIS
Producing and Filmmaking

BA in Film, Georgia State University. Has earned technical and creative credits on over 50 feature films and TV series. Has been a producer on award-winning features "Deadgirl" and "Life With Fiona," co-created several active reality television properties, and directed and/or produced music videos for artists, including Pop Evil, Amusement Parks On Fire, and Roms. Founder and CEO of Tangible Entertainment, former COO of entertainment PR firm Luthier Society, Inc.

JENNA EDWARDS
Producers Craft

BA, Minnesota State University. Co-founder of Mattoid Entertainment, a production and distribution company. Producer of "April Showers" and "In The Darkness," the first feature narrative to premiere on Hulu.

ADAM FINER
Finance, Marketing & Distribution, New Media, Branding and Marketing

BS, University of Phoenix. Served as Director of Market Research at Universal Pictures. Co-founder of Arpil Entertainment, a literary management and production company. Consults individuals in career planning, as well as working with content creators, writers, directors, producers, and studio executives to design marketing plans, and business and branding strategies.

RAF GREEN
Screenwriting for Producers

BA in Theater Arts, Brown University. Writer for television shows on ABC and Hallmark, including "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Legend of the Seeker." Currently has a script in development at Michael Mann's Forward Pass.

MITCHELL GUTMAN
Developing the Feature Business Plan & TV Show Bible

MFA in Film Production, Columbia University; BA, University of California, Berkeley. Currently serves as Director of Development at Little Engine Productions. Worked in production on several television shows, including "Law & Order" and "Human Giant." Read and analyzed scripts for Happy Madison and Tribeca Films.

GREG HEMSTREET
Entertainment Accounting

BS in Business Administration, USC. Currently serves as Senior Director of Production Finance at Universal Pictures. Production accountant credits on numerous films including "Walk Hard," "State of Play," "The Prestige," "Murder by Numbers," and "Skeleton Key."

SHARON HOFFMAN
Introduction to Screenwriting

MFA in Screenwriting, American Film Institute; JD, Cornell Law School; BA, University of Pennsylvania. Warner Brothers Television Writing program alumnus and script reader for Universal, Focus Features and Double Feature Films. Sold script to Focus Features and pilot to CBS Television.

LOU HOWE
Directing for Producers

MFA in Directing, American Film Institute; BA in Visual and Environmental Studies, Harvard University. Writer/Director of numerous short films. Worked as a Story Analyst for Miramax, and Assistant to Producer Christine Vachon at Killer Films.

RICHARD JEFFERSON
Entertainment Law and Business Affairs

JD, Southwestern University School of Law and BS in Industrial Systems Engineering, Ohio State University. Entertainment attorney for more than a decade. Worked for Virgin Records and currently a partner at METAL Law Group.

SHAUN KADLEC
Producing Documentaries & News

BA, Carleton College. Director/Producer of numerous documentaries, including "We Are The Center" and "Power to Heal."

BEN KRUGER
Screenwriting for Producers

BA, Brown University. Writing credits include ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" and the hit YouTube web series "Lonelygirl15." Sold scripts to Paramount Pictures, Industry Entertainment, and Blue Magic Films.

DIANA LESMEZ
Pitching

MFA in Theater, Film & Television, UCLA; BA, Wheeling Jesuit University. Producing credits include "Culture Clash In America," directed by Emilio Estevez, and "Letting Go of God," which premiered on Showtime in December 2009. Has worked in development and production for more than 15 years.

JONATHAN LONDON
Commercials, Webisodes and Music Videos, New Media and Branding

MFA in Directing, Columbia University; BA, University of Pennsylvania. Producer and director of numerous webisodes, music videos, and commercials for Fox Studios, Nickelodeon, and Coca Cola. Weekly co-host for popular podcast and website at Geekscape.net.

DARIA MATZA
Producing Documentaries

MA in Film, Television, and New Media, San Diego State University; BS in Broadcast Journalism, California Polytechnic State University. Worked in production at MSNBC and PBS. Producer of five feature length documentaries, including "Talking Peace," which aired on KPBS.

STEPHEN MIELE
Entertainment Law, Business Affairs

JD, Glendale University College of Law; BA, State University of New York, Albany. A practicing lawyer for more than 25 years, with clients including songwriters, musicians, actors, business and personal managers, producing companies, banking institutions and manufacturers. Appointed and acted as judge pro tem for the Los Angeles Superior Courts.

MATTHEW MISHORY
Directing for Producers

JD, Loyola Law School; BA, University of California, Santa Barbara. Founding member of Iconoclastic Features and director of four narrative feature films and numerous shorts that have premiered at major film festivals in London, New York, Reykjavik, Toronto and Sao Paulo.

SEAN MULLIN
Producing

MFA in Filmmaking, Columbia University; BS, The U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Writer/director/producer; Short film "Sadiq" was nominated for an MTV Movie Award. Hired to write screenplays for Oscar-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin as well as pop star Britney Spears. Writer/producer on commercials for award-winning Smuggler Productions.

SEAN O'BRIEN
Directing for Producers

MFA in Film Production/Directing, Chapman University; BA, Ohio State University. Director of 5 short films, including the award-winning "Semi-Dead." Writer of 11 feature films and 12 shorts.

ODIN SHAFER
Developing the Feature Film Treatment

MFA in Cinema and Television, USC; BFA in Animation, University of the Arts. Writer's assistant to Joel Cohen ("Toy Story," "Toy Story 2") and semi-finalist for 2008 Nicholl Fellowship. Worked on shows for FX and AMC and has two feature-length screenplays in development.

ERICA SHELTON
Television Writing for Producers

MFA in Screenwriting, USC; BS, Northwestern University. Winner of the Fox Writers Initiative Fellowship. Television writing and producing credits include "CSI: New York," "Cold Case," "Hawthorne," and "Covert Affairs."

CHRISTINE SHIN

MFA in Film and TV Production, USC School of Cinematic Arts; BA in Communication Arts and English Literature, UW-Madison. Her films have been invited to nearly 50 festivals worldwide and received numerous awards such as Cine Golden Eagle Award and Worldfest Houston Gold Remi Award. Selected as a national finalist for Coca Cola Refreshing Filmmakers Award and received a fellowship from Filmmaker's Development Lab by Korean Film Council.

ANNA SIRI
Television Producing, Developing the TV Pilot Treatment

BS, Northwestern University. Freelance script consultant and judge for the Slamdance Screenwriting Competition.

ED TIMPE
Cinematography

MFA in Cinematography, Chapman University; BS, Indiana University. Director of Photography on numerous shorts and worked in production for "The George Lopez Show" and "Cha$e."

BRIAN UDOVICH
Pitching for Producers, Developing the Pitch

MFA in Producing, American Film Institute; BA, Illinois Wesleyan University. Co-Founder, Rough & Tumble Films. Producer, "A Necessary Death," winner of the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Feature at AFI Fest 2008. Co-Producer, "The Wackness," winner of Audience Award at Sundance in 2008. Co-Producer, "All The Boys Love Mandy Lane," purchased by The Weinstein Company.

IAN VALENTINE
Reality Television Producing

MFA in Film Production, UCLA; MBA, Stanford University; BA, Antioch College. Producer on television series "Fanarchy" and "Alien Siege." Has 15 years experience as a literary agent at International Creative Management. Worked in television programming for Universal Television, ABC Productions, and USA Networks.

RACHEL VINE
Producing

MFA in Producing, Columbia University; BFA in Dramatic Writing, New York University. Producer of numerous commercials, music videos, short films and branded content pieces. Worked in development at Fine Line Features, and as a reader for the Columbia University Film Festival. Co-Producer of "La Corte Del Juez Pena," a television series on Telemundo.

DEIDRE GOODWIN
Jazz & Theatre Dance

Deidre Goodwin has been in eight Broadway shows. Shows include A Chorus Line (Sheila Bryant), Chicago (Velma Kelly), Nine (Our Lady of the Spa), The Boys from Syracuse, Jesus Christ Superstar (Soul Girl) and The Rocky Horror Show. She also appeared in the original productions of Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life and created therole of Velma in Never Gonna Dance. Films include the Oscar winning Chicago as Merry Murderess June, Half Nelson and Across the Universe. Upcoming films include It's Complicated, Fair Game and Rabbit Hole. She is currently featured in the film Every Little Step that documents the history of the musical A Chorus Line and the audition process for the 2006 revival. She appeared as DeBORah, winner of the MILF Island episode of 30 Rock. Television credits include Law & Order SVU, Rescue Me, Life on Mars, Dancing with the Stars, Conan O'Brien and more.

MICHELLE POTTERF
Jazz & Theatre Dance

Michelle earned a BFA in Dance from Missouri State University. She recently completed a 9-year run in Chicago the Musical on Broadway as Go-to-Hell Kitty and the understudy for Roxie Hart. She was also chosen to work side by side with Ann Reinking as the Dance Captain for Chicago. Michelle has also had the privilege of constructing and overseeing a special one night performance by the incredible Chita Rivera at the Hotel Pierre. For over 15 years, Michelle has danced professionally in Musical Theater in such productions as Crazy For You (International tour), The Will Rogers Follies (National Tour), Beauty and the Beast (Walt Disney World.) She has been a featured dancer in the new Stepford Wives movie, and many TV and film appearances. Currently, Michelle is also teaching dance in the NYC Public school system through The National Dance Institute under the direction of the legendary Jacques d'Amboise.

ERICK BUCKLEY
Voice

Erick will be returning to Broadway in the spring 2010 with The Addams Family. He was the first person in the world to perform both the roles of Marius and Jean Valjean in the Broadway production of Les Miserables. He has appeared nationally and on Broadway as Dave in The Full Monty, Piangi in The Phantom of the Opera, Gangster #1 in Kiss Me, Kate and Roger in Grease!. He has appeared at theaters around the country as Frederic in Pirates of Penzance, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls and the Padre in Man of La Mancha.. He has also toured as a featured soloist in concerts from Tampa to Tokyo and Barbados to Berlin. Erick has been teaching voice at NYU Tisch School for the Arts and The Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute.

ANDREW GERLE
Music Theory

Andrew Gerle is an award-winning composer and pianist whose works for the theater have earned him three Richard Rodgers Awards, a Jonathan Larson Award, and the Burton Lane Fellowship from the Theater Hall of Fame. With lyricist Eddie Sugarman, he wrote the musical MEET JOHN DOE, which had its world premiere at the Ford's Theatre in DC in 2007 and was nominated for seven Helen Hayes Awards. He has been a Fellow at the MacDowell Artists' Colony and a writer-in-residence at the Ucross Foundation and the Eugene O'Neill Musical Theater Conference. As a musical director, he has accompanied such artists as John Raitt, Kitty Carlisle, Jennifer Holliday, Leslie Uggams, Michael Rupert and Mary Testa, and has conducted Off-Broadway, regional and touring productions around the country. He is currently visiting lecturer in musical theater composition at Yale University.

DENIS LAMBERT
Ballet & Jazz

Denis appeared on Broadway as Roy in A Chorus Line (Al, Bobby, Greg, Mike u/s perf.) and originated the role of Greg in the revival's First National Tour. He appeared in The Producers (Toronto, First National US Tour and Los Angeles with Jason Alexander and Martin Short. Off-Broadway: Zorba (York Theatre), Finian's Rainbow (City Center Encores!). Regional: Carnival! (Kennedy Center) Hello, Dolly! (Paper Mill Playhouse) and White Christmas (Ordway Center). A proud Canadian, his credits north of the border include Anne of Green Gables, Emily, West Side Story and My Fair Lady. Film: Coming Home. Most recently, Denis starred in Christopher Shinn's Dying City at the TBG Theatre. He is the co-founder of OceanPeak Productions and received his BFA in Musical Theatre from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Upcoming: Picasso at the Lapin Agile, Syracuse Stage.

KRISTY CATES
Musical Theatre Performance

Kristy Cates starred as Elphaba in the first National Tour and Chicago productions of Wicked after being a part of the original Broadway cast. Off Broadway: Jerry Springer the Opera at Carnegie Hall, Click Clack Moo at the Lucille Lortel, Boobs! The Music of Ruth Wallis at the Triad, Princess Ida for NY Gilbert and Sullivan Players. Regional: The World Premier of Unbeatable (Phoenix Theatre/Houston Stages) Stephen Schwartz's Snapshots (Human Race Theatre), St. Louis MUNY, The Lucille Lortel White Barn Theatre , North Bay Opera, The Playhouse on the Green, The Eugene O'Neill Conference and the NY Fringe Festival in the upcoming – For the Love of Christ! She is a proud National Anthem soloist for several Professional sports teams and is also professional voice-over artist. BFA: Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music where she was the first recipient of the Laurie Beechman Scholarship Award.

KIM STERN
Vocal Technique

Kim Stern has taught voice lessons and classes to individuals and groups around the world. Kim's students have been seen working on Broadway, National Tours, Off-Broadway, Regionally and as recording artists. She began her study of the voice as a young professional and received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College and continued her development of technique through extensive work with other accredited professionals and personal exploration. Kim has been working professionally since age five. She has performed on Broadway, on National tours, in film and television and has done commercial and voiceover work. She has also sung at Carnegie Hall with Bruce Springsteen and in world concert, Live-Aid. Other career highlights include working with legends such as Hal Prince, Jule Styne, Comden & Green, Martha Raye, Martin Charnin and Danny Kaye

TIM SMITH
Jazz, Tap & Theatre Dance

Timothy Smith graduated James Madison University with a B.S. in Telecommunications Television and Radio Broadcasting. He has been performing on Broadway for the past 12 years. Timothy has been part of 6 original Broadway companies; two of which hold Grammy Awards. His credits include: Grease, Annie Get Your Gun w/ Bernadette Peters, Elton John's Aida, Dream, Brooklyn and the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity, in which Timothy played opposite Christina Applegate. He was last seen in the Broadway hit Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Timothy was cast as Leonard in Motel Films' feature film Philene Says Sorry, which won awards in both the Nederlands and Berlin Film festivals. Additionally he has developed television and film for Sony Pictures Television and is the co-creator of an exciting new play, Mother of Mine by Erin Leigh Peck, which will go into production in the Spring 2010.

JENN COLELLA
Musical Theatre Performance

Jenn Colella has starred on Broadway in High Fidelity and Urban Cowboy (Outer Critics Circle Award nomination, Outstanding Leading Actress). Off-Broadway, she played the title role in Beebo Brinker Chronicles (Lily Tomlin-producer). Other Off-Broadway credits include the improvisation show Don't Quit Your Night Job, and Slut. Favorite regional credits: Georgie Bukatinsky, The Full Monty (Paper Mill-with Elaine Stritch), Annie Oakley, Annie Get Your Gun (PCLO), Cleo, The Times, They Are A-Changin' (Old Globe), Peter Pan, Peter Pan (Sondheim PAC), Daisy Hilton, Sideshow (Kennedy Center). Television: Can You Tell, Cashmere Mafia, and Rescue Me. Film: Lay It Down For Good, Uncertainty. Before journeying to NYC in 2003, she was a comedienne at the world famous Laugh Factory and at The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Jenn holds an MFA in Acting from UC Irvine.

STEPHANIE KURTZUBA
Performance Lab

Stephanie Kurtzuba is a Broadway performer, Musical Theatre coach and full time mom living and working in NYC. Currently she appears as Lesley in the Tony nominated original cast of Billy Elliot. She has also been in the original Broadway casts of The Boy From Oz (starring Hugh Jackman) and Mary Poppins. She's appeared Off Broadway in the critically acclaimed productions of Bat Boy, Newsical, and A Mother, A Daughter And A Gun starring Olympia Dukakis. Her regional credits include venues such as The Alley Theatre, The Goodspeed Opera House and Northshore Music Theatre. She has appeared on film in Sam Mendes' Away We Go, Flushed, Knots, and Parting Words; for which she received best actress nominations at the Hoboken and Long Island Film Festivals. Television work includes Love, Sex and Lies (Lifetime Television), Related, Law & Order and Num3ers.

LISA MANDEL
Jazz & Theatre Dance

Lisa Mandel is a native Nevadan and began her theatrical studies as a charter member at one of the nationally renown youth theatres in America, The Rainbow Company. Lisa proudly held the coveted title of "Miss Arizona" for the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City. Favorite credits include The Will Rogers Follies starring Keith Carradine, Barry Manilow's Copacabana and the global smash hit, Mamma Mia! starring as dynamo,"Tanya". She made her Broadway debut in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard, understudied the role of "Ulla" in The Producers and portrayed the evil (misunderstood) nurse, Hilda Schmitt on As the World Turns. She has taught many Universities across the United States and Canada including Vermont's, Northern Stage Theatre Company and past director on the National Board for the University of Arizona's Alumni Association.

MICHOLE BIANCOSINO
Acting

Michole Biancosino is a Meisner-trained actor and director. She is the co-Founder and Artistic Director of the critically-acclaimed Project Y Theatre Company in New York City. She has worked at various theatres throughout the country, including D.C.'s Source Theatre, Crossroads Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre's Youngblood Series, 59E59 Theaters, NY Fringe Festival, New Orleans' Fine Arts Center and New Orleans Fringe, Milesquare Theatre, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She was the 2007 recipient of the prestigious Sir John Gielgud Fellowship in Directing through the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. She holds an M.F.A. in Directing from Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, where she returns regularly as a Guest Artist.

ADAM LAIRD
Music Direction

Adam Laird has as much time on stage as he has at the keys with performing credits that include My Fair Lady (National Tour), Carnival! (The Kennedy Center), Anne of Green Gables (Lucille Lortel), and Plain & Fancy (The York Theatre). His musical direction includes The Last Five Years (Cincinnati Conservatory), I'm Just Over Here Selling It! (The Triad NYC), and Nab-A-Date: The World's First Dating Musical (Reprise Room). Asst. Music Direction: Carousel (Barrington Stages), 42nd Street and Funny Girl (Westchester Broadway Theatre), and The Hudsucker Proxy (Hilton Theatre Studios).

DAVE CLEMMONS
Program Advisor,
Musical Theatre

Dave Clemmons is the founder/owner of Dave Clemmons Casting, currently casting the new Frank Wildhorn musical Wonderland, 101 Dalmatians (dir Jerry Zaks) and the national tour of The Wizard of Oz. Dave Clemmons Casting has cast Broadway shows including Ring of Fire, In My Life, The Boy From Oz, Dracula, The Civil War, Brooklyn, and Cinderella starring Eartha Kitt. Off-Broadway: Bare, Bat Boy, Altar Boyz, Zanna Don't!, the 2000 revival of Godspell and the National Tours of Cinderella, Evita, Millie, Cats, Fosse, Jekyll & Hyde, Chicago, Joseph and Saturday Night Fever, and Moving Out. Dave Clemmons is also casting director and artistic associate for Casa Manana Theatre in Ft. Worth. He began his career as a performer in Broadway roles in Les Miserables (Valjean), The Civil War, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll and Hyde and Whistle Down the Wind.

LANRE OLABISI
Screenwriting, Directing

BA University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor; MFA City College of New York. Writer/Director of the award winning feature film August the First, which screened at 30 film festivals around the world, including The South By Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) and The Karlovy Vary Film Festival. The latest award winning screenplay, Highway to Nowhere has been optioned and is currently in development.

IAN LIBERTO
Ballet, Jazz & Tap

National Tours: Bobby in A Chorus Line, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Jimmy u/s). Trained with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance (Chicago). BFA in Musical Theatre from Milliken University.

DJ SALISBURY
Musical Theatre Performance

Broadway/National Tours: The Will Rogers Follies, Grease! As director/choreographer DJ has worked nationwide for theaters that include Paper Mill Playhouse, Lyric Theater of Oklahoma, West Virginia Public, Dallas Summer Musicals, TOTS-Atlanta, Sacramento Music Circus, Gateway Playhouse NY, Bristol Riverside Theatre.

THOM CHRISTOPHER WARREN
History of Musical Theatre

Broadway: The Lion King (Ed), Once Upon A Mattress. National Tours: The Lion King (Zazu), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Copacabana, Barry Manilow's Harmony.

LENA GILBERT
Ballet & Modern Dance

New York dance venues include Joyce SoHo, Joe's Pub and Aaron Davis Hall. Her choreography has been seen in dance festivals from Seattle to Lithuania as well as in theater, film, art museums and industrials. MFA in dance from New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

AUTUMN HURLBERT
Musical Theatre Performance

Broadway: Legally Blonde. National Tours: Little Women, 101 Dalmations. TV: Legally Blond: The Search for Elle Woods (MTV), Guiding Light. BA in Musical Theatre from University of Northern Colorado.

WYSANDRIA WOOLSEY
Voice

Broadway Credits: Parade, Beauty and the Beast, Aspects of Love, Phantom of the Opera, Chess. National Tours: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Song & Dance, Cats (Grizabella), Whistle Down The Wind, On The 20th Century, Zorba

AARON GALLIGAN-STIERLE
Acting

Broadway: Ragtime, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. International/National Tours: Cinderella with Lea Salonga. 3 Seasons at Utah Shakespearean Festival. BFA in Acting from Shenandoah University, MFA in Acting from Penn State

BILL STOUT
Animation

Bill Stout earned his MFA in computer animation from The School of Visual Arts and his interdisciplinary BFA in Literature and Theater from Reed College. His credits include making McGruff the crime dog 3D and animating for Disney's Little Einsteins.

LISA MILINAZZO
Directing Actors &
Acting for Directors

Lisa Milinazzo (Director/Playwright, Theatre, Film): Nominated for 2 L.A. Weekly Awards. Her short film "The Query," played at 2007 Cannes Film Festival, New Filmmakers-New York and Garden State Film Festival. Directed Theatrical premieres of Eve Ensler, Alexandra Gersten-Vasillaros and George F. Walker. New York & Regional Theatre Directing credits include: Origin Theatre Company, Capital Repertory, HB Playwright's Foundation (w/ Amy Wright), Home for Contemporary Art, Rattlestick, Alice's Fourth Floor, HERE; Fleetwood Stage, Schoolhouse, Axial and Saint Genesius (L.A.). Actress/director with The Actors' Space Acting Company, 7 years. Adapted and directed Chekhov's The Black Monk, (w/ Tony Award Nominee, Marin Ireland) Chekhov Festival, NYC. Guest director for the Repertory Company of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Teaches the Directors & Actors Lab in Manhattan. Adjunct professor, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Performance/lectures: Poland, Canada and several universities in the U.S. Recipient Van Ameringen Grant, Rehabilitation Services Grant; NYU Tisch Grant. Vice President Wren Court Films Production Company. M.A. & B.F.A., New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.

GREG LEVINS
Acting for Film

Greg Levins' professional background includes casting, writing and directing. As a casting associate, he has helped cast hundreds of commercials, films, plays and readings for notable directors such as Spike Lee, the late Ted Demme, Tony Kaye and Howard Davies. Previous employers include Jerry Beaver and Associates, Kipperman Casting and Avy Kaufman Casting.

As a writer, Greg has written two feature screenplays, Bittersweet, and Nobody's Hero. The former became Greg's directorial debut while the latter placed within the top 10% for the Academy of Arts and Motion Pictures Nicholl's Fellowship Award.

Directorially, Greg has helmed two feature films; Bittersweet and The Immaculate Misconception, a commercial for Pookie cosmetics, whose ad campaign won him a Telly Award, an Industrial for Colt Defense and a Music Video for the band, Psychostasia.

Greg is currently in development on two independent feature films. He is an Acting for Film instructor at the New York Film Academy.

BART MASTRONARDI
Cinematography

BA, Hunter College, Film Studies. Cinematographer of commercials and numerous short films along with feature films: The Blood Shed; Crossed; Gallery of Fear: Far Cry From Home and By Her Hand; documentary for Bravo TV Unlocking The Hope, Vidal Sasson; and Shear Genius Season 1 casting NYC. Bart is also the director, cinematographer, writer and producer of the horror feature film Vindication, which is released by RSquared Films.

THOMAS BARNES
Directing, Producing

Director Thomas Barnes' life and career has spanned several continents and multiple genres. Educated in UK, he got his professional start in London before moving to Hong Kong and then USA where he is now based.

His work includes TV commercials, music videos, narrative films and television. As Senior Producer, he was one of the core production team to set up MTV Asia where he made shows with artists such as Radiohead, Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams.

After six years at MTV, he launched his music video and TV commercial career and directed clips for top Asian stars like Andy Lau and Faye Wong, & international artists like Rod Stewart and Disney's Keke Palmer. His TV commercials for US and Asian market include Coke, M&M and Chrysler.

His short films - such as 'Whales' and 'Pork Chop' - continue to screen internationally at dozens of film festivals such as Clermont Ferrand France, Los Angeles International Shorts, and San Francisco International Asian.

During this eclectic professional adventure, he discovered a passion for teaching and mentoring the next generation of filmmakers. Since 2007 he has taught a range of courses at NYFA.

MARIO PINZON
Editing

Award-winning writer/director/editor of features, shorts and corporate videos.

PIERO BASSO, AIC
Director of Photography

Born in northern Italy, Piero received his Laurea di Dottore in Cinema and Art Studies from the University of Turin. Currently working on the documentary Life after Wall Street and preparing the feature film Seven Acts of Mercy, he has photographed thus far three feature films and numerous short films and documentaries that have won Festival Awards around the world, including Oberhausen, Edinburgh, Turin and Huesca. Some of his work has also received nominations at the European Film Awards and at the David di Donatello. The strongest characteristics of Piero's work are his eloquent fusion of lighting and perspective connected with a deep understanding of the moviemaking process and great capacity for adaptation, artistically to pratically amid varied and demanding conditions. After living in Turin and Rome for much of his professional career, in 2008 Piero relocated to New York City where he lives with his wife and daughter.

SHAWN SULLIVAN
Post Production Supervisor

Shawn Sullivan - BA, California State University Northridge. Shawn worked as an Instructor of Final Cut Pro for Apple Inc. He has worked in Post Production on the feature films such as The Playaz Court &
Teddy Bears Picnic.

PETER HOBBS
Screenwriting

Peter Hobbs is a director, producer, writer and cinematographer who has written over twenty feature screenplays, and written and directed two features and numerous shorts, including the award-winning "Pills," which debuted at the Palm Springs International Short Film Festival. He has been a quarterfinalist in the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting Competition (sponsored by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) three times, and a semifinalist in the America's Best Screenplay contest (sponsored by The Writers Foundation.) He is the writer and director of the feature film "Bridge of Names," currently in post-production, featuring actor Rip Torn; and the writer/director of soon-to-be-released web series "Rachel Bites." He has several scripts in development, including the cop-thriller "Damage," currently at Universal Pictures.

NICK HUSTON
Sound

Nick Huston is a co-founder of the New York City based production company Rosetta Films. From 2003 to 2007 Nick managed Gotham Sound and Communications one of the largest production sound sales and rental facility in the US. During his time at Gotham, Nick worked on various projects as a technical consultant including THE DEPARTED, THE PRODUCERS, PRARIE HOME COMPANION, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, SEX AND THE CITY, LAW AND ORDER, WIFE SWAP, and PROJECT RUNWAY among others. Since then Nick has worked a production office coordinator for (UNTITLED) and FAR FROM FAMILY. Nick has also produced several short films including STOLEN LIVES (Producer) which won the audience award for best short at the 2005 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival and was nominated for best short and best actress over all at the 2005 Latino Imagen Awards. In addition, Nick has strong technical background with five years experience in television production.

Nick produced the 2009 Sundance Selection feature film ONCE MORE WITH FEELING staring Chazz Palminteri, Drea de Matteo, and Linda Fiorentino, directed by Jeff Lipsky and Executive Produced by Ed Carroll.

In 2009, Nick produced WEAKNESS, starring Bobby Cannavale and Danielle Pannabaker, and the family film WIND JAMMERS. Both of these films will be premiering in 2010.

GLYNIS RIGSBY
Scene Study,
Text Analysis

Fox Foundation Fellow. Former Artistic Associate, American Conservatory Theater. Directing credits include New School for Drama, Yale Center for British Art, Naked Angels, New Dramatists. MFA, Yale School of Drama.

NORMAN B. SCHWARTZ
Directing Actors,
Acting for Film

Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, founding artistic director of the Santa Barbara Actors Theater in California, he studied acting with Sanford Meisner, directing with Haig Manoogian. He teaches acting, writing and directing for NYFA in New York, Hungary, Spain, Italy and Abu Dhabi.

VICTOR VERHAEGHE
Meisner Technique,
Acting for Film

Recurring role of Ward Boss Damien Fleming in HBO series "Boardwalk Empire", starring Steve Buscemi and produced by Martin Scorcese. He has appeared in several other television shows, including the Law & Orders (nine times).

MISTI B. WILLS
Speech

Member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and holds an MA in Theater Education. Directing credits include Off-Broadway: In Search of Euphoria at New World Stages, Off-Off Broadway: Songs for a New World, A Thing of Beauty, Afterlight, and The Imaginary Invalid. Acting credits include Sex and the City the Movie.

THOM RIVERA
Scene Study

Theatre - Roundabout, MTC, Acting Company, Culture Project, Working Theater & EST. Oregon Shakespeare, Yale Repertory, Berkshire Theatre Festival, Denver Center, South Coast Repertory, Mark Taper, Dallas Theater Center, St. Louis Repertory, Cincinnati Playhouse, Triad Stage, Colorado Shakespeare, Bilingual Foundation of the Arts. TV - Law & Order: Prime & CI, As the World Turns

DAVID VANDO
Shakespeare

Scholarship student at Columbia University, BS Contemporary Literature, MFA Playwriting, Folger Library Fellowship in Shakespearean Studies recipient, Forest Robert’s International Playwriting Prize winner, whose theatre works have been performed in Europe as well as America. Published works include, THE MASK AND THE MIRROR, an anthology of three plays, and SHAKESPEARE FOR THE 21st CENTURY going into its second edition.

REBECCA TOURINO
Speech, Scene Study

BA, UC Berkeley; MFA, UC Irvine; graduate, Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts. Regional theater includes PCPATheaterfest, Texas Shakespeare Festival, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts (SF). Writer, The Naked Eye Planets, Quickening, What She Means. Tourino's plays have been produced in New York and Los Angeles. Founding member, Coyote REP.

LESTER THOMAS SHANE
Speech

Carnegie-Mellon University, Edith Skinner, Larry Carra, Fran Bennett; Directed over fifty productions in New York and Regional Theatre including Artistic Director, Shakespeare at the Met, Jacksonville, FL. Screenwriter: Tyrone Power, Carmern Miranda, James Brown (A&E, Biography), Nazis and the Occult (Discovery) Fox: The First 50 Years (AMC). Author/performer of the award-winning one man show, Mortal Coil. Member: AEA, SAG, AFTRA, VASTA

PETER ALLEN STONE
Voice, Movement

MFA, American Conservatory Theater. Television Credits: The Guiding Light, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, All My Children and numerous commercials. Theater Credits: Actors Theatre of Louisville, American Conservatory Theater, Humana Festival (Sarah Ruhl and Rebecca Gilman), Portland Stage, Ontological Theater, Classic Stage Co. (with Michael Stuhlbarg)

JEREMY DOBRISH
Stage to Screen

OFF BROADWAY: SIGNS OF LIFE (Amas), JUDAS AND ME (NYMF), SPAIN (MCC), ELECTION DAY (Second Stage). REGIONAL: Barrington Stage, Goodspeed, Hangar, North Shore, NY Stage and Film, O’Neill, Village. Jeremy has served as an Artistic Associate at Second Stage, and was the Artistic Director of adobe theatre company for 13 years.

KEVIN LAIBSON
Improvisation

Artistic Director of Full Circle Theatre Company. Theatre Curator for The Tank. Performs weekly with the National Comedy Theatre's New York improv team. Directing credits include the Off-Broadway debut of Unaccustomed to my Name, experimental improv troupe Skyscraper National Park, and award-winning twoprov team Rebecca AND Ron. Producer, Public Domain Monthly Theater Series. Studied with Paul Sills, George Morrison, and Mike Nichols.

JEN NAILS
Text Analysis, Improvisation

BFA in Theater from CU Boulder and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School University. As an actor, she's performed comedy all over the US and at festivals in Zimbabwe, Canada, the Netherlands, and Scotland, and has appeared in dozens of television commercials. As a writer, she's worked for Nickelodeon, the Oxygen Network, and Time Out New York Kids. Her first novel, Next to Mexico, was published in the fall of 2008.

DAMON SHALIT
Acting Technique,
Scene Study

Damon works professionally as an actor, producer, director, and writer. He has worked with Dennis Hopper, Theresa Rebeck, Sally Kirkland, David Carradine, Shelley Winters, Daphne Zuniga, Joanna Garcia, Leigh -Taylor-Young, Renee Taylor, Robert Walden, and others. He studied with acclaimed acting teacher Larry Moss for many years.

HEIDI TOKHEIM
Monologues, Voice, Movement

Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, Neighborhood Playhouse, B.A. Whitman College in Theatre. Numerous Off-Broadway and regional theatre credits, including A Noise Within, PCPA Theaterfest, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare, and has worked on feature films, voice-overs and commercials. Nominated for a Robby Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy in Los Angeles. Acclaimed one-person show called Stella by Starlight performed throughout NYC and CA.

NICOLAS KANE LANDRY
Meisner

Studies with Jeff Goldblum, and Martin Barter. TV credits include DAYS OF OUR LIVES, GUIDING LIGHT, AS THE WORLD TURNS, GENERAL HOSPITAL and the Showtime series, RUDE AWAKENING starring Lynn Redgrave. National commercials, independent feature films, including HOBOKEN LOU which was nominated for the 2002 b-movie award.

MIKE YAHN
Combat for Film

Fight Director Theater: Playwrights Horizons Theatre, Theater for a New Audience, NY Fringe Festival, etc. Assistant Fight Director (Broadway): Spring Awakening the Musical, Speed the Plow, Lieutenant of Inishmore. Stunt credits include commercials, music videos, films, comic books, and recently, doubling Mark Strong in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr.

LINDA SLADE
Acting For Film

Slade is a voice and professional life coach, actress, director and producer. She is the artist director for ModernEyes Productions and runs the Voice and Communication Consultancy in Los Angeles.

ANTHONY MONTES
Meisner, Scene Study

Montes has been teaching acting since forming The Artist Theatre Group in 1987. Anthony has studied with Sanford Meisner, Charlie Laughton, Shelly Winters, Susan Peretz, and Bob Carnegie. He has produced over 90 plays, directed numerous plays, and acted in over 60.

JOE ALICASTRO
Broadcast Journalism

Joe Alicastro is a 30-year veteran producer of NBC News. He most recently served as a Special Events Producer for the network's extensive political coverage and from 2003 through 2007 was the lead producer for four Democratic Presidential Candidates Debates, two Presidential Debates and the Republican Convention at Madison Square Garden.

As one of the producers providing the front line defense for all breaking news on the NBC Network, Alicastro was involved in hundreds of Special Reports including, the Columbia Shuttle Disaster, the War in Iraq, the Terrorist attacks in London, the Northeast Blackout, Hurricane Katrina, the Deaths of Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, President Reagan, President Ford and Pope John Paul II.

As the NBC Rome Bureau Chief, Alicastro travelled extensively around the globe covering breaking news, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the breakup of the Soviet Union, Afghanistan, the Gulf War and the Liberation of Kuwait.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Broadcasting and Film from Boston University, Alicastro joined NBC News in 1978. As a field producer he produced hundreds of stories in all formats: hard news, feature segments, magazine pieces and documentaries.

A seven time Emmy nominee, Alicastro has been honored with three News and Documentary Emmy awards and a Commendation Award from American Women in Radio and Television.

Joe Alicastro is currently Senior Producer and Associate Director of Vision Project (www.visionproject.org) and recently acted as Broadcast Producer for a Special Events program for National Geographic Television.

He joined the faculty of Sacred Heart University as an Adjunct Professor in the fall of 2009 and has been teaching Broadcast and Digital Journalism at the New York Film Academy since the summer of 2008.

GEORGE MCGRATH
Comedy & Improvisation, Acting for the Camera, Voice

McGrath is an actor, writer, producer, and songwriter. He has been Emmy-nominated four times for writing and producing, and is the recipient of a GLAAD Award for "Tracey Takes On" and the TV Theme Song Hall of Fame Award for the theme song from "Pee-wee's Playhouse."

FRANCINE MICHELLE
Acting Technique,
Scene Study, Film Craft

Michelle is an award-winning writer/director. She freelance directs music videos, reality projects, and corporate videos, as well as narrative projects with artists such as Ice T, Brian Krause ("Charmed"), Robert Maschio ("Scrubs"), Kim Rhodes ("Suite Life of Zach and Cody") and Bart Johnson ("High School Musical").

ANNE MOORE
Meisner

BA, Fordham University at Lincoln Center. Moore is an actress/director/producer who studied Meisner at William Esper Studio in New York City. Her credits include "Grey's Anatomy," "Sex in the City," "Law & Order," and "Good Intentions," and numerous off-Broadway and sketch comedy credits. Award-winning documentary filmmaker with her short Czech Daze.

COREY PEPPER
Comedy & Improv,
Sketch Comedy

BA, SUNY at Binghamton. Founding member of National Lampoon Players, studying improv with Chris Barnes and Michael Haggarty. Graduate of Warner Bros. Comedy Writers program. Thirty years experience as actor, writer, comic and teacher. Has appeared in such projects as "Studs Lonigan" for NBC, and "The Quickening" for A&E.

DAVID ROBINETTE
Acting Technique, Acting for Film, Monologues

BA in English/Creative Writing, Hunter College; MA Performance Theory/Playwriting, California State University, Northridge. Television actor with appearances on "The Young and the Restless," "Law & Order," "As the World Turns," and "All My Children." Film role in "Cry Funny Happy," Official Selection at Sundance.

YOLANDA SANDERS
Speech, Voice & Movement

BA in Communications, Howard University; MFA in Acting, UCLA. Some of her work includes the national one-person show, "Faces of America," Voice of America's popular radio drama "Pay Day," as well as other numerous radio dramas, documentaries, and PSA's.

MATT SARNOFF

BFA, Cooper Union School of Art; MFA, NYU Tisch School of Film and Television. As a young artist, Matt was featured in the New York Daily News, and interviewed on Good Morning America. Developed projects for Fuqua Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Directed and starred in Nervosa, and directed and co-produced the television pilot Good As Gold.

GILBERT SHILTON

Forty-year veteran writer, producer, and director with over 40 television directing credits, including Beverly Hills: 90210, Law & Order, Quantum Leap, Knight Rider, and Magnum, P.I. His guest lecturing efforts has taken him to Canada, France, Russia, and throughout the United States.

SUANNE SPOKE

BFA in Theatre, Penn State. Member SAG, AFTRA, AEA. Multiple theatrical actor and producer credits, including 3 Ovation Award wins for Best Performance by an Actress. Guest starring roles on "ER," "Scrubs," "Gilmore Girls," and more.

NICK STABILE
Scene Study, Business of Acting, Text Analysis, Monologues

MFA, National Theatre Conservatory; BFA, Colorado State University. Film roles include "Bride of Chucky," "Sheltered," "Redeemer," "Telling of the Shoes," "Descendant." TV credits include "Sunset Beach" and "Saints and Sinners," with recurring roles on "Popular," "Step by Step," "Half and Half," "Passions," "Days of Our Lives."

JERRI TUBBS
Speech, Voice & Movement, Yoga for Actors

MFA in Acting, UCLA; BA Theatre Arts, San Jose State University. Nearly 30 years experience as public speaker and performer on stage, in television, and film. Instructing experience at UCLA, Signature Entertainment, and FIDM.

YOSHIE TANIGUCHI

BA in Physical Education, Tokyo University of Woman Physical Education; Conservatory, Sho Kosugi Hollywood School. Instructor of Tai Chi and Japanese swordsmanship. Assistant to martial arts master Jack C. Huang.

ELISSA WEINZIMMER
Voice and Movement

Graduate of USC. Member of VASTA, SDC, and Directors Lab West. Holistic voice and yoga coach. Works with performers and professionals throughout Los Angeles. As a director, she has worked with Center Theatre Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Elephant Stages, Odyssey, and Theatre @ Boston Court.

ALAN WOOLF
Scene Study, Text Analysis, Monologues

MFA, NYA; BA in English, University of Rhode Island. Acted in over 175 theatrical productions. TV appearances include "Airwolf," "The Medium," "The Practice," "Dragnet, L.A.," and "Melrose Place." Features include "Air Force One," "The Rat Pack," John Grisham's "The Rainmaker," "Smithereens." Past president and board of directors of both Actors Alley Repertory and Theatre East.

DAN RENKIN
Fight Director

DAN RENKIN (Fight Director) UC Irvine, Grotowski Workshop, Circle in the Square. Film/TV: Stunt coordinator, AS THE WORLD TURNS (CBS), DOORS, PARALYSIS, assistant stunt coordinator, SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER (Paramount Pictures), ASYLUM SEEKERS. Pummeled on national television by CONAN O'BRIEN. Theatre: COUNT TO TEN (NYMF), ROMEO AND JULIET, MACBETH, HENRY IV, THE GOLDMAN PROJECT (Penguin Rep), CARMEN (Connecticut Opera), STRAY DOG HEARTS (Velocity Theatre Company, award-nominated fight choreography), ALFRED KINSEY: A LOVE STORY (Michael Weller Theatre) BALM IN GILEAD (Strasberg Institute) and PILGRIMS (NYC & Edinburgh). He has coached principals at the Metropolitan Opera, and appeared in their CARMEN, OTELLO and THE NOSE. Assistant Fight Director, Broadway's CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and Off-Broadway's EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL.

LYNNE BOYARSKY
Feature Seminar, Advanced Character Development

MA in Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology; BA in Psychology and Liberal Studies, Antioch University West. Staff writer on "LaVerne & Shirley" and "Welcome Back, Kotter." Development executive with Jonathan Kaplan Productions. Creative Executive with Columbia Pictures. Head of Creative Affairs with Martin Ransohoff Productions. Senior VP of Development with Simian Films.

NUNZIO DEFILIPPIS
Elements of Screenwriting, Advanced Story Generation

MFA in Cinema & Television, USC; BS in Psychology, Vassar College. Has sold stories to HBO and Oxygen, and worked as co-producer on Arli$$. Author of dozens of graphic novels, comic books, and trade paperbacks.

DAVID W. GLICKSMAN

MFA, American Film Institute; BFA, Tufts University. Writer of "The Passage of Mrs. Calabash," winner of numerous international awards. Glicksman currently has a WWII drama in development, 'Cannon Fodder,' and is repped by the Bohrman Agency.

ERIC NELSON

MFA in Screenwriting, American Film Institute; BA in Communications, San Diego State University. Feature film writer on projects with Smart Entertainment, Underground Entertainment, and Nickelodeon. Writer on multiple scripted and reality television projects.

SAVAS ALATIS
Cinematography

Graduate SVA BFA, Producer, Assistant Camera, 12, feature films, 500 TV Commercials, numerous Documentaries and Music Videos. DP Cinematographer, Commercials, Documentaries, and Short Films. Currently Chair of Cinematography NYFA

WILLIAM HOWARD

BA in Photography and Fine Arts, Art Center College of Design. Advertising and documentary photographer based in Los Angeles. In his 16 year career he has worked for many clients around the world. He is fascinated by Mexico, speaks fluent Spanish, and enjoys teaching English as a Second Language classes on a part time basis.

DAVID JAKLE

David is a celebrity and fashion photographer who shoots for many editorial and advertising clients nationally. Published two celebrity portrait books that have raised over a half million dollars for the Susan G. Komen "Race for the Cure."

KATHLEEN MCLAUGHLIN

MFA, Virginia Commonwealth University. Recipient of the Fulbright Senior Scholarship, IREX IARO Grant (NEH), and a Houston Center for Photography Fellowship. Her images have appeared in PDN, LensWork, Rangefinder, B&W Magazine, and The Times Saturday Magazine (UK) and permanent collections at MOPA San Diego, Western Virginia Museum of Art, and the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.

GEORGE SIMIAN

A leading corporate advertising photographer, George has illustrated over 200 annual reports over the past 25 years. His teaching has been recognized by UCLA Extension and PDN. Every summer, he leads photography workshops in Bali. A life-long advocate for professional photographers, he serves as National Treasurer of the APA.

LEE WHITE

BFA in Photography, Art Center College of Design. Has shot on five continents for clients including Microsoft, AT&T, Xerox, VISA, Disney, and 3M, 20th Century Fox, and Paramount. He is a sought-after authority on HDSLR video and multimedia production, and holds lectures and workshops nationally for professional photographers and students.

CHARLES AUSTIN

Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership, Pepperdine; MA in Broadcast Communication Arts, SFSU; BA in Sociology, CCNY. Instructor at Chapman University, Phillips Graduate Institute, an Art Institute of California. Has presented papers to National Association of Women MBAs, Association for Business Communication, and National Council for Workforce Education.

BRIAN BEERY
Public Speaking

MFA Screenwriting, AFI. BA Theater Arts, UCSC. Vested member of SAG. Rewrote scripts based on recommendations from Oscar-nominated filmmakers. Winner, Kodak 35mm Award for "Speed Dating" and George Mayr Award for Excellence in Screenwriting. Recommended "Sideways" to Alexander Payne. Has worked on both sides of development, listening to and giving film pitches.

MEGAN BREEN

MFA in Dramatic Writing, USC School of Theatre; BFA in Dramturgy/Criticism, DePaul University. Writer of over a dozen plays, as well as television and feature length films.

KIM IANNONE

MS, Information Technology, CSU Fullerton; MS, Urban Affairs and Policy Analysis, Southern Illinois University; BA in Psychology, UC Santa Barbara. Instructing experience at FIDM, DM, CSU Northridge, CSU Channel Islands, UCLA, Moscow State University, Beijing University, and many more.

CHERYL IMMEL
Physical and Mental Wellness

MA in Education, University of Phoenix; PACT Advisor, USC; CT Credential, CSUN; BS, Chapman University; CA Registered Nurse, Dir. of Operations, Serex Int'l; FDA Advisory/AIDS Project. Taught Health Science and Anatomy/Physiology at Burbank High School; Assistant Band Director at BHS. Plays the flute in LAVC Wind Ensemble.

DORIS KAUFMAN

BA in Economics, George Washington University; MS in Exercise Physiology, California State University Fullerton. Lecturer and instructional experience includes positions at Santa Monica College, Los Angeles Pierce College, Los Angeles City College, CSU Los Angeles, and CSU Fullerton.

ELIJAH LEVY

PhD, California School of Professional Psychology. Author of "Searching for More in the Second Half of Life," a well as handbooks on the American cultural experience, comparative world religions, creating cultural harmony, and the philosophical and cultural foundations of herosim.

MATTEO NURIZZO

MS in Industrial Design and Fashion Management, University of Politecnico di Milano. Freelance product designer, fashion designer, graphic designer, photographer, and illustrator. Design credits include work with Castiglioni, Opel, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, and Lancia.

MELVIN SANCHEZ

PhD in Philosophy, UC Irvine; MA in Philosophy, CSU Long Beach; BA in Philosophy, Pepperdine University. Philosophy instructor with experience teaching at Pepperdine University, UC Irvine, CSU Long Beach, Chapman University, among others.

RAJIV UTTAMCHANDANI

MS in Physics and Astrophysics, CSU Northridge. Renowned guest lecturer and author of publications on engineering, mechanics, and nanotechnology. Teaching experience at Santa Monica College.

BRENDA VARDA
Literature and Writing

BA in Theatre & Journalism, U of M; MA in Clinical Psychology, Antioch University; MFA in Creative Writing, UC Riverside. Playwright with 20 shows produced in Los Angeles. Composer and songwriter with experience in commercials, voice acting, and theatre.

STEVE WEESE

BS in Computer Science, George Mason University; MS in Computer Information Technology, Regis University. Instructor and computer contractor for Anthem College, Duke Ellington School of the Arts, ECPI College of Technology, and Stratford University.

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