Producers
Mark Lieber – Producer
A self-made media entrepreneur, Mark Lieber is known for starting divisions and transforming existing divisions at major entertainment companies.
A self-made media entrepreneur, Mark Lieber is known for starting divisions and transforming existing divisions at major entertainment companies. Mark has launched more than 40 successful original series, most of which have ranked number one within their categories. He has a knack for developing hit series and a talent for innovative methods of distributing programming worldwide. Most recently, Mark founded Rethink Entertainment and Media. Before breaking out on his own, Mark was Managing Director, West Coast, CBS Radio's corporate marketing division. Mark also served as President of Television at Film Roman where he was responsible for the development, production and distribution of worldwide television. He also served as Senior VP of Family Entertainment at Polygram Entertainment ( a division that he created) and was Senior VP of Domestic Television at Saban Entertainment which he ran for over six years during their meteoric rise and their merger with Twentieth Century Fox.
Elizabeth Stanley – Producer
After overseeing the DGA's work with independent filmmakers for over 7 years, Elizabeth Stanley left the Guild in 2004 to establish Elizabeth Stanley Pictures and Next Stop Management.
After overseeing the DGA's work with independent filmmakers for over 7 years, Elizabeth Stanley left the Guild in 2004 to establish Elizabeth Stanley Pictures and Next Stop Management. In 2006, Ms. Stanley produced the feature-length MotoGP documentary The Doctor, The Tornado and The Kentucky Kid written and directed by Mark Neale. Her first venture into the new media arena was the critically acclaimed internet and mobile-content series titled Trailers from Hell (www.trailersfromhell.com) which she produces with director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Gremlins 2, The Howling) and Jonas Hudson of Digital Syndication. Trailers from Hell continues to post new content three times per week and is being distributed internationally by Content. In addition to producing The Dark Path Chronicles, Ms. Stanley is developing the feature films The Man with Kaleidoscope Eyes and Expecting Someone Taller, both of which will be directed by Joe Dante and The Price of Peace to be directed by Mary Lambert. She also manages a small number of emerging writers and directors through Next Stop Management. From 1997 to September 2004, Ms. Stanley served as the Assistant Executive Director/Director of Organizing for the Directors Guild of America. From 1987 to 1997, she was the chief executive for the Directors Guild-Producer Training Plan, the pre-eminent US entertainment industry joint labor management training initiative.
Jim Burns – Executive Producer
As an independent producer and television executive, Jim Burns has defined networks with the iconic specials and series he created or developed.
As an independent producer and television executive, Jim Burns has defined networks with the iconic specials and series he created or developed. Burns, who now runs the production company Top Dog Incorporated, co-created the series MTV Unplugged" More recently, as a network executive at Spike TV, he developed and launched The Ultimate Fighter. Unplugged is MTV's most heralded program ever, and has earned two Cable Ace Awards and the prestigious Peabody Award. And ultimate fighting (mixed martial arts) has become so popular and culturally significant that The Wall Street Journal declared it "the sport that killed boxing." The premiere was Spike's highest-rated ever, and became the basis for a franchise of series and specials Burns spearheaded. Burns brought that series to Spike as the network's Senior Vice President of Sports and Specials, the position he held prior to starting Top Dog. The Spike job, which he took in the fall of 2001, came after heading programming and creative for Nick at Nite. Currently, in his Top Dog role, Burns is developing and supervising original production for FEARnet, a revolutionary horror video-on-demand and internet programming venture between Sony, Lionsgate and the media company Comcast. It is the latest step in a career that adds up to more that 20 years of experience in entertainment.
Filmmakers
Imre Juhász – Director of Photography
Imre Juhász was born in Budapest in 1969. A self taught photographer, he found work as a camera assistant, eventually becoming a freelance cameraman working for European Television stations like CanalPlus, Channel 4, and Swiss TV.
Imre Juhász was born in Budapest in 1969. A self taught photographer, he found work as a camera assistant, eventually becoming a freelance cameraman working for European Television stations like CanalPlus, Channel 4, and Swiss TV. In 1991, Imre took photographs while traveling around the world. After his trip, he went on to film documentaries in Switzerland, Peru, Russia, California, and Morocco before moving to San Francisco in 1995. There he shot many short films and music video. Imre returned to Budapest in 1998 to shoot and direct his ten-minute film, Momentum which was named the Best Short Film from the Alpha Adria International Film Festival in Trieste, Italy. In 2001, Imre graduated from the American Film Institute where his thesis film, Remote Control, earned him the 2001 ASC Heritage commendation for Outstanding Cinematography. To further his Cinematography education, he completed an apprenticeship with Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC. Since then he has mainly been shooting television commercials, gaining him international and domestic recognition. Imre has been represented by The New York Office since 2004 for commercials, features and television. He is constantly looking for new collaborations on interesting narrative projects. He currently lives and works both in Los Angeles and Budapest.
Michelle Harrison – Editor
Michelle Harrison made her first short film in 1990, and has been working as an Editor for fiction features, shorts and documentaries for almost fifteen years.
Michelle Harrison made her first short film in 1990, and has been working as an Editor for fiction features, shorts and documentaries for almost fifteen years. Originally from Canada, she received the prestigious Canadian National Apprenticeship Award for writing the short film Reaction while completing her undergraduate degree at Queen's University in Canada. In 1992, she moved to New York and completed Her Master's degree in Cinema Studies at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Soon after, she started working on documentaries with Susan Fromke and Deborah Dickson at Maysles Films. She then moved into fiction features working with luminary feature editors such as Dede Allen, Craig McKay and Lee Percy. Michelle was Associate Editor on Boys Don't Cry directed by Kimberly Peirce as well as on Murder by Numbers directed by Barbet Schroeder. After 9/11, Michelle moved to Los Angeles. Her most recent documentary feature credits include the documentary features: 14 Women written and directed by Mary Lambert about the United States' 14 female senators and Agile Mobile Hostile, about a year in the life of musician Andre Williams. Her most recent fiction features include The Etruscan Mask directed by Ted Nicolaou, Miramax's My Name is Modesty produced by Quentin Tarantino and directed by Scott Spiegel and Bloody Mary directed by Mary Lambert. Michelle currently teaches Editing as an adjunct professor for Columbia University's Graduate Film program. She is also a dedicated acrylic painter who has studied extensively at UCLA under Susan Bothwell.
Niko Vilaivongs – Production Designer
After graduating from Otis College of Art and Design, Niko Vilaivongs began her career doing studio graphics for Disney.
After graduating from Otis College of Art and Design, Niko Vilaivongs began her career doing studio graphics for Disney. Later, she pursued set design for theater production. Niko has been a working production designer for film and television for the past ten years. Her most recent credits include Ladies of the House starring Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree and Lance Hendriksen, and The Legend of Simon Conjurer starring Jon Voight.
Vincent Guastini/VGP Effects And Design Studio – Special FX Make-up
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1963 and heavily influenced by John Carpenter's remake of the Howard Hawks' film The Thing, Vincent Guastini started his own Special Make-up and Effects company at the age of 24.
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1963 and heavily influenced by John Carpenter's remake of the Howard Hawks' film The Thing, Vincent Guastini started his own Special Make-up and Effects company at the age of 24. Called The Fantasy Workshop, the company specialized in prosthetics, creature effects and animatronics and soon grew to become one of the top special make-up effects houses on the East Coast. One of Vincent's first jobs was creating the creatures and special make-up effects for the 1980s 'monster of the week' tv series Monsters, supervised by make-up legend Dick Smith. Vincent's company and credits soon expanded and his big breakthrough came in 1991when he took over the prosthetic effects for Michael Mann's epic remake of The Last of The Mohicans. After this film, Vincent went on to supervise and design creature effects for various studio and independent films. Moving to the West Coast in the 1990s, Vincent established Vincent Guastini Productions, a full service effects studio which creates, designs and constructs animatronic creatures and humans, as well as prosthetic make-ups and characters for feature films and television. Vincent's credits include: Darren Aronofsky's Requiem For A Dream (2000), in which he had to transform Ellen Burstyn into a decrepit old woman and Kevin Smith's Dogma for which he created dramatic sets of angel wings. Vincent was also nominated for an Emmy for his prosthetics work for Saturday Night Live.
Toddrick Spalding – Music Supervisor
Toddrick Spalding turns good stories into great storytelling with his extensive knowledge of music and great ear. He broke into the music industry as drummer and founding member of Chicago indie rock group The Detachment Kit…
Toddrick Spalding turns good stories into great storytelling with his extensive knowledge of music and great ear. He broke into the music industry as drummer and founding member of Chicago indie rock group The Detachment Kit, sharing the stage with groups as diverse as Jimmy Eat World, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Sparta, The Supersuckers, Guided By Voices, My Morning Jacket, Liars and more. After leaving the group he spent time as a talent buyer for Chicago punk club Cal's Liquor, booked national tours, worked at The Metro, a major Chicago music venue, and assisted Neko Case manager Amy Lombardi at Call Girl PR. Toddrick moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles in 2003 to become Director of Marketing for the Knitting Factory, and next went to The Cimarron Group ' a major film advertising agency in Hollywood ' where he was a music supervisor. He spent the last 2 years at SPECTRE Entertainment Group where he built their licensing department from the ground up as the Director of Music for Film, TV, & New Media. He is currently the lead music supervisor at Craig Murray Productions and spends his free time doing freelance supervision and practicing French. He also co-runs a tiny LA indie label called Greatminds and is a self-proclaimed "total record nerd". "It's my goal to get artists paid. To tell better stories with perfect music. To cross t's and dot i's. To live in Paris."
Trish Summerville – Costume Designer
Costume Designer Trish Summerville has been singled out for designs and collaborations with artists in the music industry and celebrities.
Costume Designer Trish Summerville has been singled out for designs and collaborations with artists in the music industry and celebrities. Acknowledged by her peers for three years in a row as "Stylist of the Year" for her videos with Christina Aguilera, Trish went on to work with Pink, Ricky Martin, and Britney Spears. Trish also works with clients like Dita Von Teese on creative editorials and advertising for Fredericks of Hollywood. After working with David Fincher on a Super Bowl spot with Brad Pitt, Trish found commercial production to be the perfect match. Trish previously collaborated with Mary Lambert on her film Clubland is thrilled to be working with her again.