The ART OF FILMMAKING
HOST: Aaron Leong
Aaron Leong went to SF State University’s Theatre Dept for a double emphasis in Performance and
Directing. After working for several years as an actor for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre
Programs, he started a production company.
During that time, he started to do more commercial filmmaking and went back to school for film at
The Art Institute in Sacramento, focusing more on Directing and Cinematography. He continued
his cinematography training at the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles where he was
taught by renowned ASC members such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Dean Cundey and Russell Carpenter
among others.
After 20 years in various areas in the industry, Aaron has directed features, shorts and commercials
and has DP’d for features, shorts, documentaries, reality TV, commercials, and corporate work just
to name a few. Aaron also has 18+ years of experience flying Steadicams and is an M2 Volt owner/operator. He
also rents out a lot of gear to productions. You can check it out at www.4thwallfilmworks.com.
Aaron Leong went to SF State University’s Theatre Dept for a double emphasis in Performance and
Directing. After working for several years as an actor for Kaiser Permanente’s Educational Theatre
Programs, he started a production company.
During that time, he started to do more commercial filmmaking and went back to school for film at
The Art Institute in Sacramento, focusing more on Directing and Cinematography. He continued
his cinematography training at the Global Cinematography Institute in Los Angeles where he was
taught by renowned ASC members such as Vilmos Zsigmond, Dean Cundey and Russell Carpenter
among others.
After 20 years in various areas in the industry, Aaron has directed features, shorts and commercials
and has DP’d for features, shorts, documentaries, reality TV, commercials, and corporate work just
to name a few. Aaron also has 18+ years of experience flying Steadicams and is an M2 Volt owner/operator. He
also rents out a lot of gear to productions. You can check it out at www.4thwallfilmworks.com.
Assistant Directing - Nov. 12th, 2024
Jeremiah Kelleher
1st AD - Jeremiah Kelleher is a 1st Assistant Director and proud San Franciscan.
His resume ranges from big budget studio television and movies, to multi budget independent film.
Working in the industry since 2009, his work style puts an emphasis on the future of film making culture. An advocate for shorter hours,
safer sets, and a focus on mental health, Jeremiah’s passion doesn’t come soley from the film making process, but from creating an environment where the welfare of the crew exist in harmony with the demands of the industry.
1st AD - Jeremiah Kelleher is a 1st Assistant Director and proud San Franciscan.
His resume ranges from big budget studio television and movies, to multi budget independent film.
Working in the industry since 2009, his work style puts an emphasis on the future of film making culture. An advocate for shorter hours,
safer sets, and a focus on mental health, Jeremiah’s passion doesn’t come soley from the film making process, but from creating an environment where the welfare of the crew exist in harmony with the demands of the industry.
Dominic Martin
2nd AD - Dominic Martin is an assistant director based in the Bay Area. Specializing in independent projects and working frequently with first time directors, he strives to create a safe and collaborative environment on set.
Dominic graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and began working as Production Assistant while still in school. Since entering the industry full time in 2014, he has worked on a wide range of projects, most often as a 2nd Assistant Director in both the Bay Area and across the country.
2nd AD - Dominic Martin is an assistant director based in the Bay Area. Specializing in independent projects and working frequently with first time directors, he strives to create a safe and collaborative environment on set.
Dominic graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, and began working as Production Assistant while still in school. Since entering the industry full time in 2014, he has worked on a wide range of projects, most often as a 2nd Assistant Director in both the Bay Area and across the country.
Mick Mugnai
2nd 2nd - Mick Mugnai is a relatively new assistant director in the LA film and television scenes. Brought up on VHS tapes from his local video store in Oregon to the film program at Humboldt State University in Northern California, he’s long held a desire to be a part of the filmmaking process. Nabbing his first walkie PA job on a hope and a prayer for A24’s The Sky is Everywhere, he’s worked hard and learned much and steadily risen to assistant director positions. He’s worked on such titles as All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Fairyland, Billy Knight, and Nope.
2nd 2nd - Mick Mugnai is a relatively new assistant director in the LA film and television scenes. Brought up on VHS tapes from his local video store in Oregon to the film program at Humboldt State University in Northern California, he’s long held a desire to be a part of the filmmaking process. Nabbing his first walkie PA job on a hope and a prayer for A24’s The Sky is Everywhere, he’s worked hard and learned much and steadily risen to assistant director positions. He’s worked on such titles as All Dirt Roads Taste of Salt, Fairyland, Billy Knight, and Nope.
The Stunt Department - Oct. 15, 2024
Tony Vella
Stuntmaster
Tony Vella is an experienced Stunt Coordinator, Stuntman, Actor, and San Francisco Native, with over 35 years’ experience both on-camera and behind the scenes working here locally, L.A. or wherever the work takes him! His work in both stunt coordinating, on-camera stunts and acting includes a multitude of feature films, television shows, commercials, corporate projects, and even “live” stunt shows previously at 6 Flags, Vallejo Ca. His recent stunt coordinating credits to name a few include “DiDi” just out of theaters and now streaming, and the horror film “The Bell Keeper” with MMA star, Randy Couture and Chaz Bono. Films completed awaiting release are “No Address” with Billy Baldwin and Beverly D’Angelo, “Splash City”, “Outerlands”, and “Dream” Recent Festival Selections now circulating include “Princeton’s in The Mix” with Heather Burns and Charlie Besso, “Learners Permit” with Sadhana Singhal and Christian Harris, “Devotee” with Mackenzie Firgens and several more just completed awaiting release. Past Films and Television Shows Tony has coordinated include “All Day and A Night”-Netflix “The Last Blackman in San Francisco”- A 24 “Blindspotting” the TV Series - Lionsgate/Stars “Sorry to Bother You” “Click Bait”, “Tales of The City”, “Lasso” and many more! Tony has also had on-camera stunt and cameo appearances in “Beverly Hills Cop 4 – Axle Foley, Mayans MC, “Lucas” on “Thirteen Reasons Why” 2nd season 3 episodes, and even stunt doubled Fred Armisen on “Our Flag Means Death”. Tony also worked on the original “Nash Bridges” show on multiple episodes as the stunt double for Evan Cortez and played bad guys. Stunts, Stunt Driving, Flying Wire Rigging, Actor Safety and More! In the Bay Area or on Location! Tony Vella and Bay Area Stunts are on the Go!
Stuntmaster
Tony Vella is an experienced Stunt Coordinator, Stuntman, Actor, and San Francisco Native, with over 35 years’ experience both on-camera and behind the scenes working here locally, L.A. or wherever the work takes him! His work in both stunt coordinating, on-camera stunts and acting includes a multitude of feature films, television shows, commercials, corporate projects, and even “live” stunt shows previously at 6 Flags, Vallejo Ca. His recent stunt coordinating credits to name a few include “DiDi” just out of theaters and now streaming, and the horror film “The Bell Keeper” with MMA star, Randy Couture and Chaz Bono. Films completed awaiting release are “No Address” with Billy Baldwin and Beverly D’Angelo, “Splash City”, “Outerlands”, and “Dream” Recent Festival Selections now circulating include “Princeton’s in The Mix” with Heather Burns and Charlie Besso, “Learners Permit” with Sadhana Singhal and Christian Harris, “Devotee” with Mackenzie Firgens and several more just completed awaiting release. Past Films and Television Shows Tony has coordinated include “All Day and A Night”-Netflix “The Last Blackman in San Francisco”- A 24 “Blindspotting” the TV Series - Lionsgate/Stars “Sorry to Bother You” “Click Bait”, “Tales of The City”, “Lasso” and many more! Tony has also had on-camera stunt and cameo appearances in “Beverly Hills Cop 4 – Axle Foley, Mayans MC, “Lucas” on “Thirteen Reasons Why” 2nd season 3 episodes, and even stunt doubled Fred Armisen on “Our Flag Means Death”. Tony also worked on the original “Nash Bridges” show on multiple episodes as the stunt double for Evan Cortez and played bad guys. Stunts, Stunt Driving, Flying Wire Rigging, Actor Safety and More! In the Bay Area or on Location! Tony Vella and Bay Area Stunts are on the Go!
The Audio Department - Sept. 17, 2024
Dave Losko
Production Sound Mixer | Director of photography | Director | Producer
Dave has been a part of the Sacramento and surrounding region's production community since 1986. His extensive experiences include DP, Director and producer, and working in sound alone on 77 different titles; feature films, multiple reality TV and docuseries, commercials, national TV, sports, news and more! In his later years, Dave and his wife Kari Losko have produced a travel show called American Travelers. They act as cast and crew and travel guides, taking you on awesome adventures to exotic locations and behind the scenes of their show.
IMDB
Production Sound Mixer | Director of photography | Director | Producer
Dave has been a part of the Sacramento and surrounding region's production community since 1986. His extensive experiences include DP, Director and producer, and working in sound alone on 77 different titles; feature films, multiple reality TV and docuseries, commercials, national TV, sports, news and more! In his later years, Dave and his wife Kari Losko have produced a travel show called American Travelers. They act as cast and crew and travel guides, taking you on awesome adventures to exotic locations and behind the scenes of their show.
IMDB
Jameson Randall
Production Sound Mixer | Director of photography
Recognized for his versatile creative technique as a sound mixer, a camera operator, and a drone pilot. Jameson knows how to capture the beauty within the chaos. He has worked on countless reality television shows and documentaries, including The X Factor, House Hunters, Wife Swap, Inside Edition, Destination Fear and Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.
His experience and top-of-the-line equipment make him an extremely valuable asset to any set or project. As both a professional Editor and Sound Mixer, he personally understands the struggles of the post-production workflow and goes above and beyond to ensure the sound quality coming from the set sounds immaculate.
You may see him rolling by on his Segway filming with a stabilizer or capturing award winning production sound on your next project.
Production Sound Mixer | Director of photography
Recognized for his versatile creative technique as a sound mixer, a camera operator, and a drone pilot. Jameson knows how to capture the beauty within the chaos. He has worked on countless reality television shows and documentaries, including The X Factor, House Hunters, Wife Swap, Inside Edition, Destination Fear and Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice.
His experience and top-of-the-line equipment make him an extremely valuable asset to any set or project. As both a professional Editor and Sound Mixer, he personally understands the struggles of the post-production workflow and goes above and beyond to ensure the sound quality coming from the set sounds immaculate.
You may see him rolling by on his Segway filming with a stabilizer or capturing award winning production sound on your next project.
Austin Slayton
Austin began his career in professional sound 6 years ago in Milwaukee, WI. A
few months after receiving his degree in Film, Video, and Animation from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he had the opportunity to substitute as a
boom operator for 2 nights on a low-budget feature film called Give Me Liberty,
which went on to have its world premiere on the opening night of the Sundance
Film Festival in 2019, and also went on to be screened at the 2019 Cannes Film
Festival. Despite those 2 nights being 6pm-6am outside in 25 degree weather,
that set is where Austin fell in love with set life and production sound. A
couple of months later, in June 2018, he relocated to Auburn, CA and hit the
ground running. He put all of his time and energy into networking with local
pro's, and by the end of his first month here he found himself as a volunteer PA on the feature film Ballbuster. It was on that shoot that Austin met the
wonderful craft services provider, Robin Sorrick. Robin would go on to hire him as her crafty assistant for numerous shoots, including both commercial work and two more feature films, introducing him to even more local pro's and establishing his presence in the Sac film community. Over the next couple of
years Austin took any sound gig he could get his hands on, while also working as a PA for a number of companies. He'd eventually save up enough money to buy his first sound kit with guidance from local renowned production sound mixer, Donovan Murphy. Since then Austin has worked 100+ shoots, 2000+ hours, recorded over 300 interviews, and filmed in 9 different states. Some notable achievements include 2 credits on Netflix for the documentary shows Merpeople and Untold: Hall of Shame, as well as working on a feature length documentary following volunteer firefighters from around the country called Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hats.
Austin began his career in professional sound 6 years ago in Milwaukee, WI. A
few months after receiving his degree in Film, Video, and Animation from the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he had the opportunity to substitute as a
boom operator for 2 nights on a low-budget feature film called Give Me Liberty,
which went on to have its world premiere on the opening night of the Sundance
Film Festival in 2019, and also went on to be screened at the 2019 Cannes Film
Festival. Despite those 2 nights being 6pm-6am outside in 25 degree weather,
that set is where Austin fell in love with set life and production sound. A
couple of months later, in June 2018, he relocated to Auburn, CA and hit the
ground running. He put all of his time and energy into networking with local
pro's, and by the end of his first month here he found himself as a volunteer PA on the feature film Ballbuster. It was on that shoot that Austin met the
wonderful craft services provider, Robin Sorrick. Robin would go on to hire him as her crafty assistant for numerous shoots, including both commercial work and two more feature films, introducing him to even more local pro's and establishing his presence in the Sac film community. Over the next couple of
years Austin took any sound gig he could get his hands on, while also working as a PA for a number of companies. He'd eventually save up enough money to buy his first sound kit with guidance from local renowned production sound mixer, Donovan Murphy. Since then Austin has worked 100+ shoots, 2000+ hours, recorded over 300 interviews, and filmed in 9 different states. Some notable achievements include 2 credits on Netflix for the documentary shows Merpeople and Untold: Hall of Shame, as well as working on a feature length documentary following volunteer firefighters from around the country called Odd Hours, No Pay, Cool Hats.
Rachel Saldivar
Rachel is a lifelong recording artist turned production and post-production sound mixer and editor. With over 10 years of experience in vocal recording and music mixing, she has tailored her audio production skills to suit a wide range of projects large and small. From running sound boards on large budget, multi-character feature films, to recording intimate, content sensitive, sit-down interviews, for independent and network documentaires, Rachel's passion for high quality audio keeps her on the forefront of new technologies and techniques to capture the highest quality recordings for your production. Rachel’s clients include brands like Nike, Adidas, and Sephora, and broadcast networks and studios like DiscoveryPlus, TLC, The History Channel, Hulu, ESPN, BET and TNT. With a complete, flexable pro audio kit that can scale to suit projects of all sizes, Rachel is travel-ready and always ready to hop on a plane, hike up a mountain, or cross a river to cover the story.
As a Latina Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area surrounded by gentrification and ever- widening wealth disparities, it has always been important for Rachel to use her voice and resources as an asset to support her community. Teaching production sound mixing classes for POC film students at Open Signal LABS community center in Portland Oregon, donating production time to social and racial justice projects and producing podcasts and web series for local Bay Area artists, it is incredibly important for her to share her knowledge of professional sound mixing, and help open doors for other women, femmes, LQBTQI, and people of color to join an industry that has historically kept us out.
Rachel is a lifelong recording artist turned production and post-production sound mixer and editor. With over 10 years of experience in vocal recording and music mixing, she has tailored her audio production skills to suit a wide range of projects large and small. From running sound boards on large budget, multi-character feature films, to recording intimate, content sensitive, sit-down interviews, for independent and network documentaires, Rachel's passion for high quality audio keeps her on the forefront of new technologies and techniques to capture the highest quality recordings for your production. Rachel’s clients include brands like Nike, Adidas, and Sephora, and broadcast networks and studios like DiscoveryPlus, TLC, The History Channel, Hulu, ESPN, BET and TNT. With a complete, flexable pro audio kit that can scale to suit projects of all sizes, Rachel is travel-ready and always ready to hop on a plane, hike up a mountain, or cross a river to cover the story.
As a Latina Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area surrounded by gentrification and ever- widening wealth disparities, it has always been important for Rachel to use her voice and resources as an asset to support her community. Teaching production sound mixing classes for POC film students at Open Signal LABS community center in Portland Oregon, donating production time to social and racial justice projects and producing podcasts and web series for local Bay Area artists, it is incredibly important for her to share her knowledge of professional sound mixing, and help open doors for other women, femmes, LQBTQI, and people of color to join an industry that has historically kept us out.
The Art Department - August 20th, 2024
Hugo Martinez
PRODUCTION DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR
Hugo F. Martínez is a 1st generation Mexican-American, Production Designer, Art Director, Set Designer, Prop Fabricator, Carpenter, and Practical FX Artist, from Stockton, California, with over 10 years experience in the industry. His educational background includes the Los Angeles Film School, as well as the California Institute of the Arts' Technical Theatre and Actor's Studio program.
Born to migrant parents from Mexico, and raised in Stockton, California, USA. Hugo F. Martínez is a production designer, art director, set designer, prop fabricator, carpenter, and Practical-FX artist with over 10 years experience in the industry. His educational background includes the Los Angeles Film School, as well as the California Institute of the Arts' Technical Theatre and Actor's Studio program.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR
Hugo F. Martínez is a 1st generation Mexican-American, Production Designer, Art Director, Set Designer, Prop Fabricator, Carpenter, and Practical FX Artist, from Stockton, California, with over 10 years experience in the industry. His educational background includes the Los Angeles Film School, as well as the California Institute of the Arts' Technical Theatre and Actor's Studio program.
Born to migrant parents from Mexico, and raised in Stockton, California, USA. Hugo F. Martínez is a production designer, art director, set designer, prop fabricator, carpenter, and Practical-FX artist with over 10 years experience in the industry. His educational background includes the Los Angeles Film School, as well as the California Institute of the Arts' Technical Theatre and Actor's Studio program.
Julia Chiesa
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Julia Chiesa (also known as Jewels) is a Production Designer / Art Director from New York, based in Sacramento, California. She has been working as the Head of Art Department since 2017 in Live Performance, Music Videos, Events, Commercials, Short Films, VR, Web Series, Photographic Archives, and Documentaries, and her favorite is the deep dive of Feature Films.
Her Independent Filmmaking career began in New Zealand in 2009, and has since developed into a thriving Artistic Practice. You may have seen her work on Feature Films; Notorious Nick, Ballbuster, Hope for the Holidays, Dark Feathers, No Address, Confluence, Blood Wine, and Dream.
Chiesa also designs Practical Special Effects and has been training a new wave of Haze Practitioners on Independent Film Sets in Sacramento.
Her inspirations for Production Design come from Architecture, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Photography, Dance, Opera, Theater, Magic, Video Games, Film, Science, Engineering and World History
Production Designers that inspire her work are Sarah Greenwood, Dante Ferretti, Tamara Deverell, Mark Friedberg, KK Barrett, Jason Kisvarday, Dan Lee, Aline Bonetto, Tim Yip, and Eugenio Zanetti.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6525216/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
PRODUCTION DESIGNER +1 (818)679-7410 WWW.JAMMERLAB.COM
PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Julia Chiesa (also known as Jewels) is a Production Designer / Art Director from New York, based in Sacramento, California. She has been working as the Head of Art Department since 2017 in Live Performance, Music Videos, Events, Commercials, Short Films, VR, Web Series, Photographic Archives, and Documentaries, and her favorite is the deep dive of Feature Films.
Her Independent Filmmaking career began in New Zealand in 2009, and has since developed into a thriving Artistic Practice. You may have seen her work on Feature Films; Notorious Nick, Ballbuster, Hope for the Holidays, Dark Feathers, No Address, Confluence, Blood Wine, and Dream.
Chiesa also designs Practical Special Effects and has been training a new wave of Haze Practitioners on Independent Film Sets in Sacramento.
Her inspirations for Production Design come from Architecture, Fine Arts, Interior Design, Photography, Dance, Opera, Theater, Magic, Video Games, Film, Science, Engineering and World History
Production Designers that inspire her work are Sarah Greenwood, Dante Ferretti, Tamara Deverell, Mark Friedberg, KK Barrett, Jason Kisvarday, Dan Lee, Aline Bonetto, Tim Yip, and Eugenio Zanetti.
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6525216/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
PRODUCTION DESIGNER +1 (818)679-7410 WWW.JAMMERLAB.COM
Jeska Lapin
PRODUCTION DESIGNER, PROP MASTER, FABRICATOR
Jeska has been working in the Film Industry, in her native Bay Area, doing Production Design, Set Decoration, Props, Fabrication, Scenic Painting, Graphic Design and Food Styling for 27 years. From her beginnings in independent films to higher budget Local 16 IATSE productions, her work ranges from commercials with Google, Dodge Ram, Netflix and Salesforce to acclaimed films like “Freaky Tales”, “Blindspotting”, “All Day and A Night”, “Diary of A Teenage Girl”, and the Netflix TV series, “Tales of the City” and “Thirteen Reasons Why”. She loves the art of storytelling through aesthetics, expanding the borders of ingenuity and capturing the details that make you want to look twice. A vast appreciation for every medium of art, Jeska’s creativity, precision and resourcefulness brings dimension to ideas, big and small, and breathes life into all her projects. Her experience in a range of creative environments has allowed her to fine tune her vision for all of the promise, potential, and current film work that is in the greater Sacramento Area and beyond. Maintaining her prop and carpentry shop, gardening, spending time with her loved ones and combining her skills and passion for helping the community are what keeps her balanced and inspired. Also, vegan donuts and kittens, particularly her babies, Moo and Bowie.
PRODUCTION DESIGNER, PROP MASTER, FABRICATOR
Jeska has been working in the Film Industry, in her native Bay Area, doing Production Design, Set Decoration, Props, Fabrication, Scenic Painting, Graphic Design and Food Styling for 27 years. From her beginnings in independent films to higher budget Local 16 IATSE productions, her work ranges from commercials with Google, Dodge Ram, Netflix and Salesforce to acclaimed films like “Freaky Tales”, “Blindspotting”, “All Day and A Night”, “Diary of A Teenage Girl”, and the Netflix TV series, “Tales of the City” and “Thirteen Reasons Why”. She loves the art of storytelling through aesthetics, expanding the borders of ingenuity and capturing the details that make you want to look twice. A vast appreciation for every medium of art, Jeska’s creativity, precision and resourcefulness brings dimension to ideas, big and small, and breathes life into all her projects. Her experience in a range of creative environments has allowed her to fine tune her vision for all of the promise, potential, and current film work that is in the greater Sacramento Area and beyond. Maintaining her prop and carpentry shop, gardening, spending time with her loved ones and combining her skills and passion for helping the community are what keeps her balanced and inspired. Also, vegan donuts and kittens, particularly her babies, Moo and Bowie.
Heidi Boucher
PRODUCTION DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR
PRODUCTION DESIGNER / ART DIRECTOR
The Art of the Vanities - July 16th, 2024
FEATURING HAIR, MAKEUP and WARDROBE PROFESSIONALS:
Shellie Rae
Shellie Rae is a seasoned professional in make-up, hair, and wardrobe styling with over 25 years of experience. She has worked with numerous celebrities, including Olivia Newton-John, Daryl Hannah, and Tommy Hilfiger. Her extensive portfolio spans film, television, media, and print, with clients ranging from CBS's "Survivor" to major brands like Ford, Indeed, and Hallmark. Shellie Rae's friendly and professional approach ensures a comfortable and productive environment for everyone with whom she works. This, with her expertise and passion for her craft, has made her a sought-after stylist in the entertainment industry.
For more details, visit her website: [Shellie-Rae] (http://www.shellie-rae.com).
TeJae Hardy - Hair Stylist
Over the course of two decades, I have dedicated my passion and creativity to the art of hairstyling. Seeing the transformative power of a great haircut or a beautifully crafted hairstyle has always fueled my drive to excel in this industry. From classic cuts to avant-garde creations, I have honed my skills to cater to the unique needs and desires of each client who sits in my chair. But my journey didn't stop there. Fifteen years ago, I embarked on a new adventure in the world of cinema as a stylist. Working behind the scenes, I have had the privilege of collaborating with actors, directors, and production teams to bring characters to life through their appearance. From period dramas to futuristic sci-fi, I have immersed myself in various genres, always striving to create hairstyles that seamlessly blend with the narrative and enhance the overall visual experience. In both hairstyling and cinema, attention to detail is paramount. Each strand of hair meticulously placed, each brushstroke of color thoughtfully chosen - these are the elements that elevate a hairstyle into a work of art. And in cinema, it's not just about aesthetics; it's about capturing the essence of a character, expressing their personality, and weaving their story into the fabric of the film. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the transformative power of hairstyling. It is not just about changing appearances; it is about boosting confidence, inspiring self-expression, and empowering individuals to embrace their unique beauty. Whether it's a client seeking a fresh new look or an actor stepping into the shoes of a character, I cherish the opportunity to be a part of their journey and contribute to their story. As the years have passed, my passion for hairstyling has only deepened. It is not just a profession; it is a lifelong pursuit of excellence and self-expression. Each day, I am grateful for the chance to step into the world of hair and cinema, where creativity knows no bounds and where I can make a difference, one hairstyle at a time.
Over the course of two decades, I have dedicated my passion and creativity to the art of hairstyling. Seeing the transformative power of a great haircut or a beautifully crafted hairstyle has always fueled my drive to excel in this industry. From classic cuts to avant-garde creations, I have honed my skills to cater to the unique needs and desires of each client who sits in my chair. But my journey didn't stop there. Fifteen years ago, I embarked on a new adventure in the world of cinema as a stylist. Working behind the scenes, I have had the privilege of collaborating with actors, directors, and production teams to bring characters to life through their appearance. From period dramas to futuristic sci-fi, I have immersed myself in various genres, always striving to create hairstyles that seamlessly blend with the narrative and enhance the overall visual experience. In both hairstyling and cinema, attention to detail is paramount. Each strand of hair meticulously placed, each brushstroke of color thoughtfully chosen - these are the elements that elevate a hairstyle into a work of art. And in cinema, it's not just about aesthetics; it's about capturing the essence of a character, expressing their personality, and weaving their story into the fabric of the film. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the transformative power of hairstyling. It is not just about changing appearances; it is about boosting confidence, inspiring self-expression, and empowering individuals to embrace their unique beauty. Whether it's a client seeking a fresh new look or an actor stepping into the shoes of a character, I cherish the opportunity to be a part of their journey and contribute to their story. As the years have passed, my passion for hairstyling has only deepened. It is not just a profession; it is a lifelong pursuit of excellence and self-expression. Each day, I am grateful for the chance to step into the world of hair and cinema, where creativity knows no bounds and where I can make a difference, one hairstyle at a time.
Michelle Draper - Makeup Artist
Michelle has had an illustrious career that has taken her around the world. Her makeup artistry has been seen on runway fashion shows in New York and Paris and has graced the red carpet at the Emmys and Golden Globes in Los Angeles.
She has been to countless countries, teaching, beauty techniques and shooting editorials for top magazines. Michelle has worked with Christian Dior, Lancôme, and Shiseido and had a long career as a global makeup artist and trainer with Laura Mercier Cosmetics.
Michelle Draper is a highly respected makeup artist and a distinguished leader in the beauty industry. She has passion, dedication, a solid work ethic, and undeniable talent. It is these qualities that have helped to earn her success and acclaim globally.
She enjoys the creativity involved on set for film or print, headshots, and portraits. She loves to create a flawless complexion with a great glow and makeup that looks natural but still makes a statement. And her free time, she enjoys golfing, gardening, and playing at the beach with her hubby Steven and fur baby CathyJean.
Angela Womack - Makeup Artist
Angela Womack is a highly regarded Makeup Artist and Hair professional represented by Agency Stars Management that’s based in San Francisco. She is known for her work on editorial and commercial shoots. With a background in Fine Arts and a degree in Graphic Design, Angela possesses a deep understanding of color theory, light, balance, and aesthetics, which shape her meticulous attention to detail and precise application techniques. Throughout her career, Angela has worked on numerous film and TV productions, collaborating closely with directors, producers, and actors to craft captivating visual narratives. As a key member of the production team, she has demonstrated her ability to understand and translate the director's vision. With her profound understanding of the unique demands of the film and television industry, Angela brings an unparalleled level of professionalism, creativity, and expertise to every production she is involved in. Her contributions to the visual aesthetics of film and TV have left an indelible mark, further solidifying her status as a versatile and accomplished artist that enhance visual storytelling. IG: @AngelaWomack
Angela Womack is a highly regarded Makeup Artist and Hair professional represented by Agency Stars Management that’s based in San Francisco. She is known for her work on editorial and commercial shoots. With a background in Fine Arts and a degree in Graphic Design, Angela possesses a deep understanding of color theory, light, balance, and aesthetics, which shape her meticulous attention to detail and precise application techniques. Throughout her career, Angela has worked on numerous film and TV productions, collaborating closely with directors, producers, and actors to craft captivating visual narratives. As a key member of the production team, she has demonstrated her ability to understand and translate the director's vision. With her profound understanding of the unique demands of the film and television industry, Angela brings an unparalleled level of professionalism, creativity, and expertise to every production she is involved in. Her contributions to the visual aesthetics of film and TV have left an indelible mark, further solidifying her status as a versatile and accomplished artist that enhance visual storytelling. IG: @AngelaWomack
Anastasia Kryukova - Wardobe
Originally from Tula, Russia, Anastasia started to make clothing when she was 14. She expanded her skill set and graduated from Moscow State University’s Fashion Design and Marketing program where she soon landed a highly coveted position as an assistant to a distinguished wedding dress designer. It was here that she learned the art of couture and developed her artistry.
Anastasia arrived in the United States in 2006 and made Sacramento her home. She navigated learning all about American culture while diving head-first into making a name for herself in the fashion industry. She launched her own contemporary couture line featuring classic Russian folk style blended with American textiles. Her high-end custom pieces are intricately hand-loomed using vibrant, rich, natural fibers. While also been showing her collections since 2012 at Sacramento Fashion week, New York Fashion week, and many other shows.
In 2015, Anastasia had an opportunity to be part of the wardrobe department team for the movie 'Trouble Sleeping’. She worked with the movie’s Costume Designer, Camille Jumelle, where the lead actress Vanessa Angel wore her dress for one of the scenes.
In 2017, she worked as a Costume Designer, produced by Mark S Allen, for the horror film "APParition" with featured actors such as Kevin Pollak, Mena Suvari, Jon Abrahams.
Originally from Tula, Russia, Anastasia started to make clothing when she was 14. She expanded her skill set and graduated from Moscow State University’s Fashion Design and Marketing program where she soon landed a highly coveted position as an assistant to a distinguished wedding dress designer. It was here that she learned the art of couture and developed her artistry.
Anastasia arrived in the United States in 2006 and made Sacramento her home. She navigated learning all about American culture while diving head-first into making a name for herself in the fashion industry. She launched her own contemporary couture line featuring classic Russian folk style blended with American textiles. Her high-end custom pieces are intricately hand-loomed using vibrant, rich, natural fibers. While also been showing her collections since 2012 at Sacramento Fashion week, New York Fashion week, and many other shows.
In 2015, Anastasia had an opportunity to be part of the wardrobe department team for the movie 'Trouble Sleeping’. She worked with the movie’s Costume Designer, Camille Jumelle, where the lead actress Vanessa Angel wore her dress for one of the scenes.
In 2017, she worked as a Costume Designer, produced by Mark S Allen, for the horror film "APParition" with featured actors such as Kevin Pollak, Mena Suvari, Jon Abrahams.
The Art of the Camera Department - June 18th, 2024
Joe Hernandez
Joe Hernandez born in Mexico came to northern California at age 10 and he always known he wanted to be a creative. He experimented with other visual medias inevitably landing in a at a local web development company in Sacramento where he was able to fast pace learn the ins and out of tech and creative ideas using a camera, fast forward three years he and his friends decided to tackle the music video scene and became a whole chapter of his life working with top records labels and top artist. He then wanted to challenge himself by becoming a steadycam operator and that became a whole level of cinematography and operations using high end heavy equipment! His other passion on set is to AC and has done so for a few feature films shot here in Sacramento. He just looks forward to continue to learn have fun and give back to the community especially Sacramento
Joe Hernandez
Joe Hernandez born in Mexico came to northern California at age 10 and he always known he wanted to be a creative. He experimented with other visual medias inevitably landing in a at a local web development company in Sacramento where he was able to fast pace learn the ins and out of tech and creative ideas using a camera, fast forward three years he and his friends decided to tackle the music video scene and became a whole chapter of his life working with top records labels and top artist. He then wanted to challenge himself by becoming a steadycam operator and that became a whole level of cinematography and operations using high end heavy equipment! His other passion on set is to AC and has done so for a few feature films shot here in Sacramento. He just looks forward to continue to learn have fun and give back to the community especially Sacramento
Matthew Sangria
Matthew began as a PA in '21 after graduating from Sac State film program in fall '19 then covid. Did PA work for 6ish months then than working my way into camera PA, 2nd AC, & 1st AC gigs
Justin Clare
A Sacramento based DIT and Film Editor with experience in delivering feature films for international theatrical distribution and worldwide streaming. Originally from the east coast, Justin found his passion in post-production at a young age and has strived to master the craft of taking a film from production all the way through post production and distribution.
The Art of Cinematography - May 21st, 2024
DP John Jimenez
John Alexander Jimenez has been working in film and video production for over a 3 decades. A couple of awards he is especially proud of is the "2000 Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Emerging Artist Award" for his cinematography and The Sacramento Film Festival "2014 Local Vanguard Award" for his contributions to many successful local productions. John was the Director of Photography on the feature film Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998). After showing at the 1998 Sundance film festival, he decided to Write and Direct his first film, Taco Heaven (1998). This film was seen around the country via the film festival circuit. He now freelances as a Director/ DP.
After Directing his biggest accomplishment to date the feature film "Fugitive Hunter" (2005) distributed by Lion's Gate Films which he also wrote, he was hired as the Director of Photography for the YouTube comedy channel Smosh (2011-2017). Smosh has over 22 million followers and is one the highest watched and followed channels on YouTube in the comedy genre. John continues to create and collaborate with businesses and artists in their production needs.
John Alexander Jimenez has been working in film and video production for over a 3 decades. A couple of awards he is especially proud of is the "2000 Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Emerging Artist Award" for his cinematography and The Sacramento Film Festival "2014 Local Vanguard Award" for his contributions to many successful local productions. John was the Director of Photography on the feature film Blood, Guts, Bullets and Octane (1998). After showing at the 1998 Sundance film festival, he decided to Write and Direct his first film, Taco Heaven (1998). This film was seen around the country via the film festival circuit. He now freelances as a Director/ DP.
After Directing his biggest accomplishment to date the feature film "Fugitive Hunter" (2005) distributed by Lion's Gate Films which he also wrote, he was hired as the Director of Photography for the YouTube comedy channel Smosh (2011-2017). Smosh has over 22 million followers and is one the highest watched and followed channels on YouTube in the comedy genre. John continues to create and collaborate with businesses and artists in their production needs.
DP Brian Hamm
I have been working as a cinematographer since 1999, creatively collaborating with directors and production companies from all over the world. After receiving an Audio Production degree, I had opportunities to work on commercial sets, feature films and corporate videos as a production assistant and moving around as a grip, best boy, and even running Teleprompters and shooting weddings. I fell in love with “being on sets”. So I studied what the gaffers and key grips were doing and focused especially on the DP’s lighting and camera techniques…which I still do today. I then had the opportunity to start shooting short films, music videos, and corporate videos.
Over the years, I have worked for Disney, Netflix, SHOWTIME, HBO/MAX, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Life Time Network, Fuse, MSNBC, MTV, Smithsonian Channel, A&E, and more. I've worked with companies across the United States such as Sirens Media, Half Yard, Big Fish, Red Rock Films, Trapeze Ltd., Big Table Media, Ke-Jo Productions, and many more. With a handful of awards and highly rated TV shows I've worked on, I am proud of the successful career I’ve had as a Cinematographer.
I love to diversify my skills and the types of productions I am involved in. From shooting in prisons, to flying in Air Force military planes, to documenting emotional stories in another country…I pride myself in collaborating each project cinematically with the experience I've developed
DP Joey Katches
Most of Joe's work is in the narrative space. He primarily works as a director of photography for indie features and short films. He has shot 3 features and over 30 short films. His latest feature was shot locally in Auburn and Sacramento. For commercials he’s filmed national commercials for Clarkes Shoes, Door Dash, Virgin Travel, Fortnite, and Colgate. His documentary work has included features and series for streaming platforms. Educationally he's taught several cinematography courses including courses at Maine Media in Maine.
When he's not working as a DP he loves to spend time with his wife and kids, watching movies, and reading.
DP Mark Herzig
Mark Herzig worked as a 1st camera assistant through the 1980s, forming relationships with some of the biggest commercial directors in the world. Since 1994, he has been the cinematographer or director/DP on hundreds of commercials and corporate image films, also lensing five independent features, including the 2000 cult classic “North Beach”. In 1999, his first short film as a director, “Scherzo”, was invited to a select showcase in Paris, “Une nouvelle veine du cineastes” (The New Filmmakers), mixing ten filmmakers from the US and ten from Europe. His short film “et cetera” won Best Cinematography in 2001 at the New York International Independent Film Festival, and the same film was honored that same year at the Den Haag Film Festival, festival director Robert Ovetz proclaiming it “ . . . better than “Requiem for a Dream”. In 2004, his short film “Lunch” was an official selection at Clermont-Ferrand, and the French daily La Montagne praised it as a “Lynchian urban nightmare.” He has also taught cinematography at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, the PCFE Film School in Prague, Czech Republic, and California State University at Sacramento. WEBSITE: www.markherzig.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/ma
