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Josh Stolberg (Writer/Director)
In the short time since receiving his Master of Fine Arts in Film Production from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television, Josh Stolberg has become one of Hollywood’s most sought after young writers and now makes his directorial debut with Kids In America.
After graduating from USC, Stolberg became a staff writer for John Landis' Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: the TV Show, and later wrote several episodes of Disney's So Weird and Dic Entertainment's Sabrina: the Animated Series (voiced by Melissa Joan Hart and her sister, Emily). After developing a sitcom pilot for the WB which Gilmore Girl Lauren Graham produced, Stolberg is currently writing an NBC sitcom with Dreamworks television for next season.
Currently, Stolberg has several movies in pre-production. His first script, Bad Nougat, sold to the Bubble Factory shortly after graduating. His next spec, Closers, which he co-wrote with screenwriting legend Monica Johnson (Mother, Lost in America, The Muse), was sold to Dimension in a pre-emptive million dollar sale. The script has Penelope Spheeris (Wayne's World) attached to direct and Stolberg is also attached to produce. His next script, Joe Simon: Mankind's Last Hope, sold to Comedy Central and was one of the network's first feature acquisitions. Next, Stolberg took a detour from commercial movie-making to write a cult-inspired script called The Last Rites of Steve Guttenberg. After finishing the project, Stolberg sold a new spec to New Line entitled, Good Luck Chuck. The film is being produced by Mike Karz and Tracey Edmonds. Director Mark Helfrich is attached and filming starts in late 2005.
After a seven studio bidding war, Stolberg's next spec, The Passion of the Ark, sold to Sony in a multi-million dollar deal. The script, which he co-wrote with screenwriter Bobby Florsheim, is currently being developed into the sequel to Bruce Almighty. After that, he and Bobby wrote a film at Fox about speed dating, which has The Girl Next Door director Luke Greenfield attached to helm.
Stolberg's writing slate has recently expanded to include two new high profile projects: Extra, Extra, which he and Florsheim are writing for Dreamworks, and Man-Witch, being produced by Original Films and Neil Moritz. Lastly, Stolberg co-wrote (with Pete Goldfinger) a new update to the camp horror classic Piranha which is being shot this October with director Chuck Russell.
Stolberg got his first taste of film directing at USC, where he directed his award-winning documentary, TEENAGER: a State of Confusion. Most recently, he wrapped production on a mocumentary entitled, Life Coach: The Movie, which features such actors as Jonathan Silverman, Lauren Graham, Carla Gugino, George Wendt, Andrew Shaifer, Leila Charles Leigh, Jen Jostyn, and Connie Britton.
In addition to his writing and directing, Stolberg is a professional photographer. His pieces were most recently on exhibit at the K.L. Fine Arts Gallery in Chicago and were featured on the short-lived Fox show Skin.
Andrew Shaifer (Producer/Co-Writer)
Kids in America is Andrew Shaifer's first film as a producer. Having starred in a one-act play written and directed by Josh Stolberg, where Shaifer played the role of Stolberg's alter ego, Shaifer was so inspired by the direction he received that upon being given his first producing job, he immediately enlisted the talents of Mr. Stolberg to co-write the script for Kids In America and to direct the film. In addition to playing a role in the film, Shaifer also cast many of the actors. He is currently in pre-production on Philadelphia Freedom, a film that he wrote based on one of the characters from his acclaimed one-man show We the People.
Shaifer has also served as Artistic Director for The Fountainhead Theatre Company, where he oversaw the Production of 35 plays in five years. One play, Big Al, was made into a short film for Showtime. Another, Pretty Fire, a one-woman show starring Charlayne Woodard, was moved to The Manhattan Theatre Club in New York. As Artistic Director, Shaifer also helped develop many young writers and worked closely with an Advisory Board that included Alec Baldwin, Stephen Collins, Paula Wagner, Rick Nicita, Thom Mount and Terry Kinney.
As a producer, Andrew trained under Joseph Papp at The Public Theatre, Alexander Cohen, who was responsible for over 30 Broadway shows and Tyler Gatchell and Peter Neufeld on the Broadway shows, Hurlyburly, Starlight Express, Cats and Smile. He also worked at The Williamstown Theatre Festival, The Roundabout Theatre and The Ensemble Studio Theatre.
Scott Rosenfelt (Executive Producer)
Scott Rosenfelt is one of Hollywood’s most successful independent producers. On the strength of such films as Smoke Signals, Home Alone, Mystic Pizza, Teen Wolf and Extremities, Scott has garnered international acclaim and recognition.
Home Alone is one of the highest grossing films of all time, and has generated over $1 billion worldwide. Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox, was the highest grossing independent film of 1985, while Extremities and Mystic Pizza, which launched the career of Julia Roberts, both received high critical acclaim in addition to commercial success. Rosenfelt directed Family Prayers, starring Joe Mantegna, Anne Archer and Paul Reiser, and had its world premiere at the 1993 Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.
Rosenfelt is currently in post production as executive producer on Valley of the Heart's Delight, written by Miles Murphy, directed by Tim Boxell, and starring Gabriel Mann, Pete Postlethwaite and Bruce McGill. He will then turn his attention to directing Dangerous Players in the winter of 2006.
At ShadowCatcher Entertainment, a company he co-founded in 1994, he produced Smoke Signals and The Book of Stars, as well as executive producing Getting to Know You. Smoke Signals became the second highest grossing independent film distributed in 1998. Written by highly acclaimed novelist/poet Sherman Alexie, Smoke Signals was the winner of the Audience Award and the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Miramax Films. The Book of Stars premiered at the 1999 Seattle International Film Festival and starred Mary Stuart Masterson, Jena Malone and Delroy Lindo. Getting to Know You was in the Dramatic Competition of the 1999 Sundance Film Festival as well as in the International Week of Film Critics at the Venice Film Festival. It opened at the Film Forum in New York in June, 2000 to rave reviews. Getting to Know You was directed by Lisanne Skyler, written by Lisanne Skyler and Tristine Skyler, and starred Heather Matarazzo, Zach Braff and Bebe Neuwirth.
Rosenfelt co-founded Outrider Pictures in 2000, which was a distributor and producer of independent films. He helped acquire 40 films in its first year of business, and the company has had a successful theatrical release of American Adobo, and Bartleby, starring Crispin Glover, Glenn Headley, David Paymer and Joe Piscipo. Outrider released The Business of Fancydancing, which Rosenfelt also produced. The Business of Fancydancing marked the directorial debut of Sherman Alexie, who also wrote the script. The film premiered in the American Spectrum section of the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, and was released theatrically in LA and NY in October of 2002.
Rosenfelt produced Final Draft in 2003, written and directed by Oren Goldman and Yariv Ozdoba. It has played at the 2003 Victoria International Film Festival, the 2003 Newport Beach Film Festival, and the 2003 Jerusalem Film Festival. In 2004 he produced Once Upon a Wedding, written by Reuben Gonzalez and directed by Matia Karrell, starring Esai Morales, A. Martinez and Charlotte Ayanna. He was the Executive Producer on Evergreen, written and directed by Enid Zentelis and starring Mary Kay Place, Bruce Davison, Gary Farmer and Cara Seymour. Evergreen premiered in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.
As a Producer he completed The Californians in 2005, written and directed by Jonathan Parker and starring Noah Wyle, Ileana Douglas, Keith Carradine and Cloris Leachman, as well as Lenny the Wonder Dog, written and directed by Oren Goldman and Yariv Ozdoba, starring Joe Morton, Craig Ferguson and Andy Richter. He is in development as Producer with Rhythm Hues on Mustang Sally, written by Billie Greif, to be directed by Sean McNamara.
Rosenfelt has standing memberships in the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He and Billie Greif are producing partners in their production company, i.e. Productions, Inc.
B. Billie Greif (Executive Producer)
B. Billie Greif is a writer and producing partner with Scott Rosenfelt in i.e. Productions, Inc., a production company which creates innovative programming for film and television.
Greif began her producing career with the children's television program, Zebby Zoo, and went on to work with pop superstar Marc Anthony before making her feature film producing debut with Lenny the Wonder Dog, starring Joe Morton, Craig Ferguson and Andy Richter. Immediately following that production she worked on the independent film, The Californians, starring Noah Wyle and Illeana Douglas. Greif is the Executive Producer on Valley of the Hearts Delight, which just wrapped production.
She has written three screenplays, Your Move, Whatever it Takes and Other, all of which she is also attached as Producer. She is currently writing on the screenplay of Mustang Sally, a story based on her original idea of a 17 year-old girl born to become a racecar driver with Sean McNamara (Raise your Voice) attached to direct. She is writing it for Rhythm Hues, and she is also attached as Executive Producer. She has also begun writing the script Chess Kingz, which she will also produce,
Recently, Greif has taken an interest in reality television as she developed Cinematots which is currently in development.
Guy Livneh (Director of Phorography)
Guy Livneh has photographed feature films and documentaries, advertising campaigns and music videos. He has received critical acclaim and industry accolades for his cinematography, including a Golden Lens Award for Best Cinematography in a music video. Feature film credits include Michael Blanco, Brothers in Arms, Purple Heart, Hungry Hearts, Final Draft, The Challenge and second unit work for the Academy AwardÆ winning film Monster. Livneh is also an alumnus and adjunct faculty of the American Film Institute
Stephen Readmond (Production Designer
Stephen Readmond works as Jan De Bont's Production Designer on Commercials. He has production designed commercials for Chevy, McDonalds, 21st Century and Payless Shoes. He is currently making the jump to go behind the camera directing music videos and commercials. As a director, his work can be seen in the prequel to the video game F.E.A.R. and in the upcoming music video with the group OTHAZ that will soon premiere on BET..
Franny Baldwin Benullo (Line Producer)
Franny Baldwin Benullo has line produced 15 feature films from coast to coast. She most recently line produced Rent-A-Husband with Brooke Shields and Chevy Chase. She co-produced Killing Emmett Young, starring Tim Roth and Gabriel Byrne, a film that was nominated for six DVD Premiere Awards. Show & Tell, which she co-produced, won the first-ever Blockbuster Independent Filmmaker Award and premiered on Showtime this past December.
Baldwin Benullo is currently producing the feature film The Gardener's Daughter with Sissy Spacek, William Hurt and Sarah Polley attached to star.
A graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Baldwin Benullo produced, directed and co-wrote the award-winning short film Equal Opportunity. The film has screened at multiple film festivals, including the Sundance Film Festival.
Tracy Curtis (Editor)
Tracy Curtis has been working in the world of features and television as an Editor for the past six years. Upon graduation from USC with a MFA in Cinema-Television, she quickly submerged herself into the independent feature The Godson. From there, she entered the television realm editing the Nickelodeon series Cousin Skeeter, followed by a long term contract with the Fox TV series Judging Amy. Executive Producer and Creator of Judging Amy, Barbara Hall, chose Curtis to edit the pilot of her next hit, Joan of Arcadia. The pilot was picked up and she worked on the award winning series for two seasons.
Nikoya Gonzalez (Constume Designer)
Nikoya Gonzalez's most recent works as a costume designer include Once Upon a Wedding, a romantic comedy starring Esai Morales; LADJ and Paranoid the Conscience Killer. Prior to becoming a Costume Designer, Gonzalez assisted Wendy Chuck on Bad Santa and served as a costumer on Ali, The Crew and Any Given Sunday. Television credits where Gonzalez served as key costumer include MTV's Punk'd and The Late Late Show.
Karen Meisels (Casting Director)
Making her start in casting for theatre, Karen assisted in the casting of over a dozen features including The Cable Guy, AI, In America, and Along Came Polly. Upon gaining valued experience, she is now casting director on a long list of feature titles including Simpatico (LA Casting Director), The Last Rites of Steve Guttenberg, and Twentynine Palms, starring Michael Rapaport, Rachel Leigh Cook, and Chris O’Donnell.
BC Smith (Composer)
The art of musical mÈlange came at an early age to BC Smith. By the age of 16, he was already juggling high school and formal music studies with performing in rock and punk bands on the local and national club circuit. Upon graduating, BC was enticed to Seattle as both a protÈgÈ of Stan Kenton arranger Dave Barduhn, and as a member of (Linkin Park producer) Don Gilmore's rock band. BC served double duty in both worlds burning it up in the Seattle alt music scene while completing his jazz studies and performing with Barduhn's big band at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, and the North Sea festival in Holland.
Switching his focus away from performance, BC began studying with classical composer Roupen Shakerian, and noted musicologist and avant-garde guru Jerome Gray all the while working as assistant to Ric Parashar as he produced the groundbreaking releases from Pearl Jam (their debut ldquo;10 rdquo;), Temple of the Dog, and Blind Melon.
BC's diverse exploration of music and composition drew him to the world of commercial scoring and he quickly began working with high profile national clients like Nike, Mountain Dew and Microsoft who relied upon him to take their commercials to the musical cutting edge.
BC's love of pushing boundaries unsurprisingly lead him to the world of feature films. A commercial with Editor Brian Berdan (Natural Born Killers) resulted in Brian recommending BC for a movie he had just started cutting. That film, Miramax film's Smoke Signals, went on to win the Audience Award and Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and BC found his work hailed as ldquo;one of the most dazzling aspects of the movie rdquo; by USA Today.
Whether programming for Don Gilmore and Good Charlotte, working with Grammy winning Peyote singers Primeaux and Mike while scoring Chris Eyre's film SKINS, or producing former Sunny Day Real Estate singer Jeremy Enigk's songs and score for Paramount Classic's 2004 release United States of Leland (starring Kevin Spacey, Ryan Gosling, Don Cheadle), BC is one of those rare composers who is firmly entrenched ñ and thoroughly fluent - in a world of diverse and eclectic musical styles. His unique voice as a film composer moves between these worlds, combining, reinventing and re-imagining them effortlessly.
BC's credits include the MGM/UA feature Mod Squad starring Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi and Omar Epps, the Franchise Pictures/HBO film Mercy starring Ellen Barkin and Peta Wilson and Finder's Fee the directorial debut of Jeff Probst (host of the smash TV series Survivor) for Lion's Gate Films.
Most recently BC has completed scoring the films Coyote Waits and Thief of Time (both executive produced by Robert Redford), Standing Still for director Matthew Weiss (starring Mena Suvari, Colin Hanks and Ethan Embry) and Ellie Parker (Starring Naomi Watts, Chevy Chase) for director Scott Cofffey.
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