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AFFP Member Updates
This is an ongoing update of some of the film professionals who have recently joined the American
Federation of Film Producers. Welcome Aboard! Click here for information about joining.
Thaddeus Wadleigh (DP) recently shot 'Who Killed the Electric Car?', which screened at this years
Sundance Film Festival. He was awarded Best Cinematography for the Feature Film "Loco Love" shot in
24P High Definition for HDFEST 2003. He has photographed in both HD and film projects for Universal,
Tri Star, Warner Brothers, MTV, Artisan, HBO, VH-1, TNN. Spike TV, Trio, Bravo, and many others.
RUPERT WAINWRIGHT (Director -'The Fog', 'Stigmata', 'The Sandness of Sex') began his life in the
humanities young, performing experimental theatre throughout Europe and in South Africa's first
multi-racial theatre. He attended the prestigious Oxford University, during which time he was cast in
the critically acclaimed motion picture "Another Country." More acting roles followed, inspiring
Wainwright to pursue a career in film – albeit on the other side of the camera. Wainwright went on to
direct commercials for Fragile Films in association with Propaganda Films (1990 -1992), Bedford
Falls (1994-96), and Pavlov Productions (1996-99). At the same time, Wainwright was working in
film, directing "Blank Check" for Walt Disney Pictures, a successful, youth-oriented action/comedy
starring Ton Loc; "The Sadness of Sex," for which he used a collage of techniques and visual
styles; and Michael Jackson's epic short film "HIStory." He recently directed the feature 'The Fog',
starring Selma Blair. 'Stigmata', starring Gabriel Byrnne and Patricia Arquette. For more information
about Wainwright's career, call Rochelle Winters at Smoke & Mirrors, 310 204-4404. The Sadness of
Sex on IFilm.com
Lloyd A. Silverman executive produced the Academy Award nominated SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS,
and has also produced such films as SHATTERED IMAGE, and TILL THE END OF TIME. After six
years at Universal Pictures, a ten-year involvement as a Broadway and off-Broadway producer,
painter and writer Lloyd A. Silverman established in 1997 The Artists' Colony designed to nurture
the creative vision of passionate and committed talent in multiple disciplines. As a result of this
singular directive, The Artists' Colony today is considered one of the premiere independent film and
art "thinqubators" in the country. Lloyd A. Silverman executive produced the Academy Award
nominated SNOW FALLING ON CEDARS in 1999, and has also produced such films as SHATTERED
IMAGE, and TILL THE END OF TIME. As a function of his knowledge and experience in multi-
disciplined communications, Lloyd Silverman devotes a good part of his time to lecturing and
educating at institutions and forums around the country and around the world on communications in
the 21st century.
Rick Schmidt is the author of the indy film makers bible Feature Filmaking At Used Car Prices, and is
also the producer of the second American film to receive a 'Dogma' certificate. Since 1973, Rick
Schmidt has written/directed and produced thirteen features and authored the classic moviemaking how-
to, Feature Filmmaking at Used-Car Prices (Penguin Books, 1988, 1995, 2000). His first feature, A Man,
a Woman, and a Killer, co-directed with Wayne Wang (TheJoy Luck Club, Smoke, etc.), won Director’s
Choice at the Ann Arbor Film Festival and premiered at Rotterdam International. His second, 1988-The
Remake, sold to Channel Four in England after screening at the London Film Festival. It won 1st place
at Ann Arbor Film Festival. Morgan’s Cake , made for $15,000, screened at Sundance’s Dramatic
Competition, San Francisco International, Berlin International (Panorama), Melbourne, and New
Directors/New Films, where critic Janet Maslin of The New York Times called it,“A delight...one of the
best of the festival.” Recently Schmidt has collaborated with writer/directors at his Feature Workshops to
create DV movies like Chetzemoka’s Curse (DOGME NO. 10). >>Read Rick's Journal of IFFM
René Besson and James Portolese are Co - Founders of Coyote Arm Films and Mondrado Filmworks.
Under Coyote Arm they develop film and digital features for the international market using their
experience from working for most of the major Hollywood studios and Independents.
René made his directorial debut with the feature film “boxes”, written and produced by Portolese. It was
subsequently acquired for distribution by The Independent Film Channel, and has had many festival
screenings including winning Best Experimental Film at The New York International Independent Film
Festival. As a Producer, he recently produced the Urban Sci-Fi thriller “Recoil”, which has been
acquired by Maverick Entertainment for home video distribution and is their largest selling title to date.
Both Besson and Portolese also Produce films in association with Signature Pictures where they have
served as Producers under Art Linson (The Untouchables, Heat, Fight Club) and Moshe Diamant
(Timecop, The Musketeer, Spartan) on the feature “Imaginary Heroes” starring Sigourney Weaver and
Jeff Daniels. Currently in production is "The Black Dahlia", Directed by Brian DePalma and starring Josh
Hartnett, Hilary Swank and Scarlett Johanssen. Prior to “boxes” and "Imaginary Heroes", Besson and
Portolese produced the first film out of the Coyote Arm stable, “The Decade”. This critically lauded film
is a drama about college hazing directed by Portolese. Portolese has also served as Producer and
Production Coordinator on “Hairy Tale” and “Feardotcom” for Franchise Pictures / Warner Bros., “The
Musketeer” for Universal, “The Body” with Antonio Banderas for MDP / Behaviour, “Simon Sez” for
Columbia, “Knock Off”, “Double Team”, “Maximum Risk” and “The Quest” all starring Jean-Claude Van
Damme, “Prophecy II” with Christopher Walken for Miramax/ Dimension, “Warriors Of Virtue” for MGM /
U/A, and “Venus Rising” for I.R.S. Media. As a team, René and James have worked on a variety of Film
and Television projects including numerous commercials. Corporate and Network Clients include Best
Buy, Visa, Ready Pac, TIAA CREF, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, NBC, Telemundo, E!
Entertainment Television, IFC and Next Wave Films, 777 Films (Jean Claude Van-Damme),and Greato
Productions (Dan Frisch, Producer of Hostel and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen). Their next
project for which they are currently in pre-production is a feature film thriller called "Circadian Rhythm"
starring Rachel Miner, Seymour Cassel, Sarah Wynter, Jonathan Banks, and David Anders.
Paul Harrison directed Jesus and Hutch starring Eric Stolz and Tate Donovan, as well as produces the
tv show Punk'd, starring Ashton Kutcher. More info on Paul to come.
Francesca Prada was born and raised in Buenos Aries, Argentina and works as a freelance creative
producer-director for broadcast and theatrical projects. Some of her film producing Credits: Every Child
Is Born a Poet, Traveling Companion, Here Dies Another Day. Her film directing credits include
"Politically Correct"(honorable mentions at the Columbus International Film Festival, Smoky Mountain
Media Fest, Utah Film Festival and US Film Festival) and a short film for Pam MacDaniel's production of
"Faulkner's Bicycle," which screened for three weeks at the Working Women's Festival in San Francisco.
Additional film credits include: "The Last Express" (Production Supervisor), "Tales Of The City"
(Locations), "Sister Act II"(Locations), "Jade" (Locations Co-ord), "Crazy Love" (Production Co-ord),
"Murder In The First" (Locations) and "Nash Bridges" (Production Coordinator.) Francesca has just
completed production on a documentary intended for PBS entitled "Every Child is Born a Poet," and
she is currently developing a DVD documentary on opera. Francesca is the founder of Diana Films: an
company serving to mentor, train and develop women producers, directors, writers & technicians.
Thousand Words is an independent film production and finance company devoted to creating
innovative and engaging entertainment. We most recently co-produced 'United States of Leland',
'Waking Life' with Richard Linklater, and with Artisan Entertainment, Darren Aronofsky1s "Requiem for a
Dream," his follow up picture to "Pi" and developing numerous new projects. This past winter, Thousand
Words also launched a new half million dollar Finishing Fund. More at Thousand-Words.com
Sophie Waterhouse trained as a producer at the British National Film & Television School. On
graduation she moved to Greece to focus on writing for a period, then moved to the San Francisco
Bay Area where she completed a Masters in Expressive Arts Therapy. As part of her studies she
collaborated with chronically mentally ill patients in making a documentary about their experience
with the therapeutic power of art-making. In 2001 she moved to Los Angeles. She is Director of
Development at The Pitt Group, a production and management company founded by former ICM
agent Lou Pitt.
Hank Grover is a Los Angeles-based line producer/production manager, working mostly on TV
movies, independent features and episodic television. In those positions or as an assistant
director, Hank's been on over 25 features and nine years of episodic television. Prominent credits
include "High Voltage" on HBO, "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", Showtime's "Black Scorpion"
and "Forbidden Secrets" for the PAX TV network. He's also written for an educational TV series and
co-wrote the spoof feature, "Motorcycle Cheerleader Mommas." Hank can be reached at
HankGrover@aol.com
Patrick Cunningham - Seeking more creative energy, Patrick left Shearson Lehman Brothers
investment firm for work in the advertising industry. That brief stop on Madison Avenue led him to
ICM and Eddie Murphy. Patrick spent seven months in the casting department of "Boomerang,"
starring Murphy and Martin Lawrence. It was in the casting offices of films such as "What's Love
Got to Do with It," Desperado," "Blank Check," "Geronimo" and others where Patrick honed his
casting skills. He then went to cast for Disney in the sitcom department before venturing into the
world independent filmmaking (credits include "The Woman In the Moon" (Maria DeMedieros, Portia
DeRossi), "Never Met Picasso" (Margot Kidder, Alexis Arquette), "Dancing In September," directed
by Reggie Bythewood (Get on the Bus, Romeo Must Die), produced by Rueben Cannon and Don Kurt,
premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival and purchased by HBO, and the documentary
“Art City”). He followed those films by producing the critically acclaimed stage play "Emmett Till"
which was nominated for a National Theatre Image Award. Presently he is producing a feature with
Matthew Perry (Friends, The Whole Nine Yards) entitled "The Beginning of Wisdom”, as well as
casting Whoopi Goldberg’s next project and developing a feature film with actor Morgan Freeman's
production company. He is an active member of The Academy of Television of Arts and Sciences,
the Casting Society of America (CSA), and the AFFP.
Timothy Eakle - President - Vinland Productions Since founding the company in January 2002
Timothy has acquired the purchase agreement for three features currently in development, MANDY
WOULD and SHADOW GAMES, both of which he also will produce. Previous to Vinland Productions,
Timothy was the Director of Development for Fox Family Studios and figures finding and working
with writers to be a very strong element of his background. Vinland Productions will always look at
high or low-budget, high concept screenplays. Website is pending but you can visit www.
vinlandproductions.com soon. Please forward all questions, comments and loglines to
vinlandproductions@usa.com.
John Swon is President and founder of the Minneapolis-based film production company, Reel
Cinema Entertainment. Forming his passion for film and video works at the age of twelve, John
completed his first feature, "peter" in 1999. "peter" travelled the film festival circuit before being
nominated for a D.L. Mabery Award for Best Feature in Minnesota in 2000. John's second feature,
"Jerome's Razor", shot on location in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico, is currently making the
rounds with stops at the IFPMarket and the Hollywood Underground Film Festival among others.
"Paradise", John's third feature is due to wrap post-production this fall.
Helena Dedic - Vice President of Production - Lotus Pictures Helena Dedic is currently Vice
President of Production at Lotus Pictures, Inc. Since assuming her position at Lotus she has
arranged to option two properties for development, CHILDREN OF THE ARK and JINETERA, which
she is also co-producing. CHILDREN OF THE ARK is based on the true story of an American man’s
journey around the world to save 800 Russian children during the Cold War. The Spanish best seller
JINETERA is based on the sexually charged true story of "The Caribbean Geisha", written by
Rudolpho G. Almaquer. Previous to Lotus Pictures, Helena was Director of Development for
Greendog Films. Helena supports independent filmmakers and is always looking for independent
film projects. Questions or projects can be forwarded to leo2870@aol.com.
Robert von Dassanowsky is Co-President of Belvedere Film, the U.S./Austrian production company
revival (1999) of the film studio co-founded by his mother, film producer Elfi von Dassanowsky in
Vienna, Austria in 1946. He is currently executive producing several projects to be released: a
dramatic short, "Semmelweis", (recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Award for Scriptwriting)
directed by Jim Berry and starring Broadway actor Fritz Michel and Eden Riegel of "All My
Children"; an animated short, "The Nightmare Stumbles Past," and an independent feature, "Wilson
Chance." Von Dassanowsky is founding Vice President of AAFA-Austrian American Film
Association, which promotes film scholarship and co-production between the two nations.
Additionally, von Dassanowsky has written for the stage and television, is a widely published film
and cultural historian, a contributor to the Short Vision dvd series, and an Editorial Advisor to the
International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers (4th Edition, St. James Press, 2000). He serves as
Chair of Languages and Cultures and Director of Film Studies at the University of Colorado,
Colorado Springs. Austrian American Film Association
manhattantheatresource is a new not-for-profit arts service organization with a groundbreaking
purpose: to organize and link the disparate communities within New York's vital off-off-Broadway
movement, and to provide a "one-stop shop" resource center for independent theatre artists and
audiences across the nation. TheatreSource.org
Green Dog Films is a multi-culturally driven entertainment company that produces and acquires a
broad range of original programming, including short-subject independent films, documentaries,
music videos, animation, interviews with film personalities and live shows. GDF just wrapped on
the feature 'Ungodly' starring Wes Bentley. We distribute this content to audiences in every feasible
territory of the world; over the Internet, and in traditional as well as alternative venues such as the
extensive Microcinema network. We then work with many of these same filmmakers to produce
short and feature film and episodic programming, as well as socially driven documentaries from
many countries and languages. GreenDogFilms.com
INDICAN PICTURES are the makers of such films as The Boondock Saints with Sean Patrick
Flannery, Willem Defoe and Billy Connelly (see photo above), and the documentary hit The Girl Next
Door. More info on Indican to come!Indican Pictures
Damaged Californians (AFFP) is comprised of writer/producer D. Scott Hessels and
director/producer P. James Keitel. Over twelve years they have released an oddball array of work
ranging from films to music to video shorts to performance art to stage plays to websites. Their
videos were multiple award-winners on the international film festival circuit, their website was
nominated for "Cool Site of the Year", and a CD compilation of their scores became popular on
college radio. A bit of an international cult has now formed thanks to the internet and the cable
success of their previous film "Below 30/Above 10,000." Wanderlust marks their theatrical film
debut. "Nomen est omen" (The name is your warning)
Todd Verow was named as one of the '10 Digital Directors to Watch' by Variety Magazine. Verow
studied film at the American Film Institute and the Rhode Island School of Design and directing at
Brown University. After a string of widely screened and praised short films he shot his first feature
film, FRISK (Sundance, Berlin, Toronto ’96) a controversial adaptation of the novel of the same
name. Featuring PXL vision, video, super 8 and memorable performances by Craig Chester and
Parker Posey, FRISK assaulted audiences. Praised and reviled, it more importantly proved that
Verow was an original voice that could not be ignored. "Verow is New York 's underground cinema
posterboy, and you'll either love his work or find it utterly repellent." -TIME OUT NEW YORK 1999
Bangor Films
CHRIS GORE is the editor of Film Threat Weekly and the author of the must-read book The Ultimate
Film Festival Survival Guide. Gore's recently wrote the screenplay for My Big Fat Independent
Movie. Buy it at FilmThreatdvd.com
