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2017 Universe Multicultural Film Festival Jury Committee
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Bill Blair, Actor, Director, Producer and Script Consultant
Born and raised in Kent Ohio, Bill graduated Kent State University, in 1977. He led a band tour in 1980s. He has played variety of characters in movies and TV series since 1990s. He is best known for his roles as aliens and monsters, and other various creatures from other worlds and of this world long ago. He has acted some well-known movies and TV series such as “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, “Star Trek: Voyager, Enterprise”, “The X-Files”, “King of Queens”, “Will and Grace”, “Friends”, “Desperate Housewives”, “Criminal Minds”, “How I Met Your Mother”, “NCIS”, “2 Broke Girls”, and many more.
As one of a special group of actors that he has worked extensively on sci-fi, and fantasy/horror shows. He is the author of the book "The Professionals Talent Handbook: The Guide to Getting Started". He has been featured in a number of magazines, publications, and live interviews. |
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Brian Connors, director, screenwriter, producer
Brian has had a long career as an actor which eventually evolved into writing, directing and producing. Brian appears opposite KEVIN COSTNER in the Disney film MCFARLAND USA. He's been featured on LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER SVU, THE RICHES, THE HANDLER and CLOSE TO HOME working in scenes with Eddie Izzard, Minnie Driver, Sam Waterson, Mariska Hargitay, Chris Noth and Jerry Orbach among others.
Brian Connors recently wrote and directed the feature film SENIOR ENTOURAGE starring ED ASNER, HELEN REDDY, CHARLIE ROBINSON, MARION ROSS & MARK RYDELL. SENIOR ENTOURAGE is also being "pitched" as a TV series. |
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Catherine Clinch, Writer/Producer
Catherine is a writer/producer with 29 years of experience in the entertainment industry. In the early years of her career, Catherine wrote 17 episodes of network television for hit series including Hunter, Jake & The Fatman, KnightRider, Hart to Hart, The Love Boat, True Confessions and Foul Play. She wrote and developed movies made for television with Gross-Weston Productions and ABC TV. She was Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, west.
She is associate publisher of Creative Screenwriting Magazine and associate coordinator of the Screenwriting Expo. Catherine also is an Adjunct Professor at Loyola Marymount University and California State University Dominguez Hills. She had wrote, produced and presented more than 225 hours of LIVE educational television that was broadcast throughout the greater Los Angeles area on the University-affiliated channel. She authored a primer for PBS Learning Satellite Service to explain the distance learning process from the course-creator's point of view. In 2000, she was nominated for the Los Angeles Business Journal's "Women Who Make A Difference" Award. |
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Eric Brodeur, Film Editor, Leader of South bay film makers
Eric Brodeur's interest in filmmaking began the moment he saw Star Wars and Raiders of the Lost Ark. His journey to becoming a motion picture editor took a number of turns from technologist to screenwriter and finally editing.His technology background was the jumping off point for the field of post-production and within a year of making the decision, he landed an assistant editor position on ELEKTRA LUXX an independent feature film by Sebastian Gutierrez (Snakes on a Plane).This led to co-editing BEDROOMS which won two Best Feature awards and aired on Showtime. His next editing credit for IJE THE JOURNEY, a Nigerian-American film, became one of Nigeria's top grossing films and won awards for Best Editing and Best Feature.His follow up film FILLY BROWN was an Official Selection at Sundance in 2012 and will be released theatrically in 2013. Mr. Brodeur's latest film BACKMASK from director Marcus Nispel (Pathfinder, Texas Chainsaw Massacre) is in the final stages of post-production.His other credits include FINDING GAUGUIN, HOTEL NOIR, and THE SESSIONS which was recently nominated for an Academy Award. Between feature films he works on commercials for clients such as Volkswagen, Honda, and Toyota.
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Emilio Vega, Writer, Producer, Director
Emilio Vega is the founder and current Executive Director of the Broadway International Film Festival in Los Angeles. He also founded the Santa Ana International Film Festival and the International Film Festival in Plaza Mexico. Vega has wrote, directed and produced many films and theater works, including Justicia Por Amor, Las Huellas Del Mal, La Vida Por Un Rato De Placer, etc. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, Emilio established an on-going alliance in Los Angeles with the Latin American Consulate General's. He has also worked with Senator and Congrasswoman on public relations and publicity affairs. |
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Professor Sally Lee Wu
Sally Lee Wu is a Professor of Psychology at Marymount California University. Prof. Wu has created and teaches courses on intercultural psychology and interdisciplinary study of psychology and the arts. As co-founder of Marymount's P.E.A.C.E. Center (Promoting Peace, Educational, and Cross-Cultural Exploration), Wu coordinated a Marymount visit for the Chinese Henan Yu Opera No. 2 Troupe, and has coordinated many programs about peace, justice, and intercultural understanding. She has led Marymount's study-travel courses to China and Taiwan. As a graduate student and instructor in Taiwan, she taught English and Psychology at universities, studied Mandarin, and did her thesis on university student values in Taiwan and America (Distinguished Thesis Award, School of Education, CSULB). Wu's honors include presenter at NAFSA's international educators annual national conferences, College Educator of the Year (Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club), Teacher Recognition Honoree (San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce), and Faculty of the Year (Marymount students). |
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Bernard Clinch; Producer/Director
Bernard is a media production specialist with 16 years of experience in production: writing, producing, shooting and editing.
Two of his series won Telly Awards, an Aegis Award and an Omni Intermedia Award. He produced, directed and edited over 330 one-hour network quality broadcast episodes aired over JEC Knowledge TV which reached into more than 40 million homes. In 2000, Bernard was named one of the Top 100 Media Producers in the United States by AV Video Multimedia Producer Magazine.
In 2001, Bernard took creative and technical control of one of the first electronic LED billboard signs in Los Angeles. In 2006, Bernard served as Associate Producer and Editor for Victims Of Another War: The Aftermath of Parental Alienation. This documentary received a Telly Award and The Bronze Plaque at the Columbus International Film Festival. It is being used by the Federal Appellate Court system to educate new judges and attorneys about the after effects of parental abduction and alienation. It made the first cut for Oscar Award consideration for Short Subject Documentary. |
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Ziggy Mrkich, Producer/Cinema Photographer
Ziggy Mrkich freelanced as a photographer in her native Australia for several music magazines and national newspapers photographing major acts during the early 90's. She began a short career in radio as a deejay until she completed studies in Photography/Film & TV at the Western Australian College of Media Design and Fine Arts. Ziggy lived in Croatia from the age of 13 to 19, during the political influence of former Yugoslavia and came to the United States in 1995, after spending time in Australia, Toronto and London. Ziggy Mrkich has worked as a development executive in Hollywood for several production companies and has also worked for most of the major studios in various roles. She has curated programs for several festivals and Ziggy is currently the Program Director for the Catalina Film Festival. In addition, she is the Founder and Festival Director of the San Pedro International Film Festival (www.Spiffest.org) |
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JACOB N. STUART, Screenwriter
IMDb: www.imdb.com/name/nm3714544. Jacob is an award-winning and represented screenwriter, with OVER 15 scripts optioned and/or produced to screen, airing in OVER 7 different countries. Going into 2016, Jacob currently has 1 feature-length screenplay sold, 2 feature-length screenplays optioned, and 2 short scripts in post-production. He is the Founder of the popular Screenwriting Staffing [www.screenwritingstaffing.com], an online screenwriting community that has facilitated OVER 125 success stories in 3 years (for both screenwriters and producers). Jacob was previously the Screenplay Contest Director for the Cincinnati Film Festival. He has spoke on screenwriting for FilmDayton, WriteStuff Writers Conference, 48 Hour Film Festival, and MANY more. He graduated in 2010 from The Los Angeles Film School, with a concentration in screenwriting. He also is a contributor for Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Jacob's personal web-site: www.JacobNStuart.com. You can follow Jacob on Twitter @JacobNStuart |
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Alain Azoulay; Actor, Host, Producer, VO
'Azoulay' is a member of SAG/AFTRA and has appeared in over 50+ films as a Principal or Supporting Actor and as many National Commercials.
'Azoulay' was born Alain Elie Azoulay in the world famous 'Casablanca' in Morocco (The Gateway to Africa). He has been known widely for being a consummate 'Host' and Improv Master on Red Carpet Events and for his creative flare and very spontaneous Facebook 'Live' interviews and 'Man On The Street. He has becoming 'Acting Ambassador' for Morocco to the U.S. to promote and produce 'films and filmmaking' along with doing general business. He was honored by Sennheiser Sounds in 2013 during an interview at the prestigious 66th Annual Cannes Film Festival for representing a record 7 films (1 feature, 1 docu-drama and 5 short films) all wherein 'Azoulay' was a principal Actor in each of these films.
'Azoulay' recently struck a 1 year exclusive agreement to represent a major Production Company here in Santa Monica with a slate of 16 high budget film projects for consideration to be shot in Morocco. |
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Mark Teague, Producer, animator
Mark Teauge is the founder of Dreamhaven Studios that provides animation and production services for distinct entertainment properties in feature film, television, animation and web-based content. Experienced in design, animation, motion graphics, compositing, production and post-production services. Having worked with Disney, Marvel, Universal, Stan Lee and Mark Hamill, he’s definitely a fanboy at heart |
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Gina Ann, Actress, Author, Teacher
Gina, also known as gigi, is an Actress, Author of children books and Blogger for the Huffington Post. Her interest in the arts and playful sense of adventure started from an early age writing short stories, poetry, and storytelling for her teachers and family. In College, she acted in many plays while working as a Deputy Clerk for LA Superior felony court. She put her acting career on hold to teach children in the academics, imaginative arts, and special education while playing the best role of her life as mom to Christopher and Megan. Gina completed a Masters in Spiritual Psychology and continues to practice her craft as an actor. She is currently under the direction of Master teacher and seasoned actor, Billy Gallo, at the Manhattan Actor Studio. You can see her upcoming work on film, television, commercials, and radio. |
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Bob Harper; Animation Producer/Director
For Bob, It all started out simple enough, working at a comic book store. Then there was the adventurous period of the painful and difficult job of pro wrestler. That was followed by stand up comedy, which proved to be even more painful and difficult. Let's not forget the confused period of stage magic, but let's face it, nobody likes magicians. Finally Bob settled for career in animation where he has created and worked for companies such as Disney, Cartoon Network and DreamWorks TV. Presently he is creating new projects and directing an animated series for Chinese television. Bob is now building his own studio, A Fistful of Crayons, while hanging out with his kids in search of bigfoot and UFO's. |
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