My first job out of college was a counselor for The Department of Vocational Rehabilitation in Miami, Fla. This was about forty-five years ago and I had a revolving caseload of about eighty clients who were physically or emotionally challenged. I would provide counseling, evaluation, job training and eventually place them in their desired occupation. Employers sometimes had stereotyped images of these people and wouldn’t realize what valuable, productive, conscientious employees they would make. Luckily my clients often broke through those images and became successful in their careers. I worked there for about three years before I became a writer and it was probably the most rewarding job I ever had. I met my wife Wanda there, who was also a social worker. Wanda went on to become a psychologist and yes she sometimes insists that I call her Doctor (it gives her an edge in arguments). I think that job as a counselor broadened my empathy and understanding and definitely helped my relationship with my mother as she got older. I hope that showed in the film The Matchmaker.
Jennifer Tennican began her documentary career in the late 1990s working on NOVA science programs for WGBH with independent producers in the Boston area. Since moving to Wyoming in 2002, she has focused on local projects and storytelling. Her films explore identity, inclusion and community, and although they are rooted in Jackson Hole, they resonate far beyond the mountain west. Ms. Tennican’s award-winning work has been featured in numerous film festivals and distributed nationally by American Public Television.
Zack Grant is producer and director based in Brooklyn, NY. Mostly working in commercial advertising production, Zack has made films for all kinds of clients, ranging from global brands like Starbucks, Supercell and Snyder’s-Lance, to non-profit organizations like the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and the Brady Center for Anti-Gun Violence. Zack’s work, both as a producer and director, has been honored by the Cannes Lions Festival, The Clios, One Show and DA&D. A graduate of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Zack has always made time outside of work for personal film projects. SHAKE WITH ME is Zack’s most ambitious project to date, and one he hopes will lead to further directorial opportunities.
Paul Szynol is a Polish-born filmmaker. He immigrated from Warsaw to the US at the age of 12. His films have been featured in the New York Times Op-Docs, the Atlantic, and the New Yorker, and have played at festivals worldwide, including AFI Docs, Big Sky, Clermont-Ferrand, Doc NYC, Slamdance, and TIFF (Kids). He is a graduate of Columbia University and Yale Law School. He and his three-legged dog Tess live in Brooklyn and Warsaw.
Debra Magid, a Rhode Island School of Design graduate, spent more than 35 years as an industrial designer before rediscovering her fine arts roots and the love of making art. Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012, Debra approaches her art with a passion and urgency that only an uncertain future can create. Her artwork is a joyful exploration at the intersection of the human form, intense color and movement. Experimenting with scale, texture and composition in pastel, watercolor and acrylic, her work now focuses on how the basic human form – and particularly the face – can be interpreted and rendered to be both real and imaginary. Debra’s artwork is owned in several private collections in addition to having been shown in galleries in New York City, the Greater Tri-State area, and South Korea.
Subject of the film Thrive.
Jason DaSilva is an Emmy Award winning filmmaker and advocate for the disabled community, and founder of AXSLab. His prolific film career spans two decades. He has completed 4 short films and three feature films, and is a frequent writer for the NY Times. The common thread that unifies Jason’s work is the desire to give voice to those on the periphery of society. DaSilva’s best known for “When I Walk”, which chronicles his life over 7 years as he faces the devastating and degenerative effects of Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis.
Madison Ford debuts in the lead role of Laura, in feature film Nathan’s Kingdom. Madison is a graduate of Columbia University and has a diverse career with credits in film, television, and voice-over projects in both Los Angeles and New York. She recently completed filming on the television pilot Layovers, MTV’s Awkward, and has performed specialized voice-over work for Dreamworks’ Hotel for Dogs, as well as voice-over work for Radio Disney. In addition to her acting career, Madison is developing personal projects while performing stand-up comedy at the Laughing Buddha comedy club in New York.
Jacob was diagnosed with high-functioning autism when he was 3 years old and with the help of a lot of people, including the Culver City school system, he graduated from high school and is currently attending WLA College while pursuing his acting career. Jacob joined the Performing Arts Studio West (PASW) in Inglewood, which provides an environment where adults with developmental disabilities participate in a performing arts curriculum. It was here that he was discovered by Olicer Muñoz, the writer/director of Nathan’s Kingdom.
A proud bilingual (Spanish) and Orange County (CA) native, Olicer Muñoz earned his M.F.A. in directing from the prestigious American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. With 15 years professional Filmmaking experience and through his recent narrative feature film – Nathan’s Kingdom, Olicer is empowering diverse audiences around the world. Currently, Olicer is developing and directing high-concept Sci-Fi / Fantasy films, integrating cutting edge CGI and are focused on humanitarian storylines.
