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The Panel Speakers
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Michael Matteo Rossi - Director
Award winning director Michael Matteo Rossi Rossi is most well known for his action thriller film Chase, which won the Best Action Feature award at the Hollywood Reel Film festival. It was released through Vertical Entertainment and stars Damien Puckler, Aries Spears and Jessica Morris He is also known for his movie Murder Syndicate which was the winner of 7 awards including Best Feature at the Dream Machine International Film Festival. His most recent movie " The Charisma Killers" won the Audience Award at the Culver City Film Festival.
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Tommy Anderson - Screenwriter
Tommy Anderson is a celebrated figure in the entertainment and literary worlds—an award-winning screenwriter, Amazon best-selling author, actor, director, and motivational speaker. He co-hosts Hollywood Elites Magazine Podcast on Samira’s Network, broadcasting from Los Angeles and Canada with actress Sherry Severs.Tommy is known for impactful screenplays like Life After Oblivion and PTSD: A Soldier's Revenge, and earned his first directing credit on the pilot The Tale of Richard Pic. His acclaimed scripts include The Broken Road, Haboob Wind, and Where the Sweetgrass Grows, which is now in development.
A U.S. Air Force veteran and former firefighter, Tommy co-founded VetPics Film Productions to empower veterans in media. He’s also appeared in national commercials and numerous film/TV roles. His novel Two Million Steps became an Amazon bestseller, and Haboob Wind is being adapted for film. Tommy earned an Emmy for his work on PBS’s Take Me Home Huey, which focused on PTSD among Vietnam veterans. He’s active in the Hollywood American Legion Post 43, Veterans in Media and Entertainment, and has served as a film panelist, award presenter, and gala host at international festivals.Tommy continues to inspire through storytelling that uplifts and honors real-life experiences.
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Randy Kent - Director/Producer
Throughout his 30+ year career in the entertainment world, Randy has garnered multiple awards as a producer, director and editor in the commercial and film arena. With his keen ability to make a little go a long way and make it look like a lot, Randy has earned a reputation for the work he has created across every genre and in many different countries - from his beginnings in the Atlanta comedy world, to directing heavy dramas in India over a computer, shooting tight thrillers in the streets of Holland, making straight-up horror in Buffalo, NY and the U.K., and then smaller, more experimental work he does in his current hometown of Los Angeles.
Randy is also one of the co-founders of the independent filmmaking collective, There Is No Box Studios, where their mission is to create compelling, budget-conscious movies and television shows that inspire positive change in the world. Soon to be released projects from TINB Studios include Blood Tulip, CafeĢ In The Void, Different Eye, Ugly Shoes and Randy’s first feature film co- starring Kristen Wiig, Life Death & Mini-Golf.
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John Luksetich - Producer/Director/Screenwriter/Actor
John Luksetich is a seasoned filmmaker, producer, director, screenwriter, and actor with over 30 years of industry experience. Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, he moved to California to complete his education at the University of San Diego. Early in his career, his screenplay Ugly Shoes was picked up by Jerome Siegal & Associates, marking the start of a prolific writing journey that includes over 20 screenplays, six of which have been filmed.
John hosted and produced the award-winning cable TV show Imagine in Long Beach for over 16 years, interviewing over 500 experts across fields like medicine, science, and politics. He’s also taught film and television classes at institutions like Long Beach City College.
As founder of THERE IS NO BOX Studios, John champions independent filmmaking and storytelling that fosters empathy and purpose. His credits include Shadow of the Monarch, Water, and Cafe in the Void. A member of South Bay Indie Filmmakers and the Long Beach Screenwriters group, he is currently developing four feature films and one TV pilot.
Beyond film, John is a critically acclaimed children's author, singer/songwriter, stand-up comedian, and actor, dedicated to storytelling that empowers and challenges audiences.
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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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