Georgia Creative Summit
A curated collection of the people, projects, and companies represented in the room.
Honnie Korngold
Producer
CineVantage | PhilanthroFilms | Georgia Storylab
Athens, Georgia
Honnie Korngold is a producer and the founder of CineVantage Productions, Georgia StoryLab, and co-founder of the nonprofit PhilanthroFilms, all based in Athens, Georgia. A sought-after speaker on independent filmmaking, she has presented at Cannes, Sundance, and Toronto International Film Festivals and is a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Her dedication to craft and mentorship carries forward the legacy of her family's two-time Academy Award-winning composer, Erich Wolfgang Korngold.
Building
An open creative ecosystem for Georgia. Through Georgia StoryLab, I'm building the connective tissue between production companies, emerging creators, and industry partners at Athena Studios, a model where established professionals and new talent develop projects side by side. On the production slate, CineVantage is developing two feature films, Get Up and Northern Lights, while Worthy Media is testing new models of short-form vertical storytelling. And through PhilanthroFilms, we're building a workforce pipeline for Georgia's entertainment industry, from student film labs in partnership with school districts to an AmeriCorps VISTA program creating career pathways into the creative economy.
Can Offer
Fiscal sponsorship through our 501(c)(3) PhilanthroFilms for film projects seeking donor and grant funding. Plus a working ecosystem to plug into: production company connections and studio resources through Georgia StoryLab, hands-on producing experience across development, financing, and distribution, and an open door for anyone building in Georgia's creative economy.
Gary Korngold
Executive Producer
Georgia Story Lab
Gary Korngold is a producer, entrepreneur, and creative leader whose work bridges legacy Hollywood storytelling with today’s independent film and television landscape. Based in Georgia, Gary is associated with CineVantage and has contributed to projects spanning documentary, narrative, and inspirational media. As the grandson of legendary composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Gary brings a unique connection to film history while continuing to champion meaningful stories, emerging productions, and purpose-driven entertainment for modern audiences.
Chris Fogg
Owner Of Magick Lantern
Magick Lantern
Chris Fogg is a seasoned post-production executive, creative producer, and studio leader with more than 30 years of experience shaping audio and visual content for film, television, publishing, brands, and digital media. As Owner of Magick Lantern, and part-owner of John Marshall Media, Chris leads a talented team delivering high-end audio and video services across feature films, episodic series, commercials, corporate projects, web content, audiobooks, podcasts, sound design, foley, music, and immersive Atmos mixing. With a career rooted in innovation, collaboration, and audience-focused storytelling, Chris brings both strategic leadership and creative precision to projects that aim to capture attention, spark imagination, and leave a lasting emotional impact.
Jim Bowhall
Vice President & Creative Director
Jim Bowhall is Magick Lantern’s Vice President and Creative Director, bringing decades of experience as an artist, animator, designer, and visual storyteller across film, television, motion design, commercial, and branded content. With a strong background in animation, design, title work, and creative development, Jim helps guide projects from early concept through final execution—shaping treatments, style frames, visual approaches, and creative teams that bring each story to life. His work blends artistic instinct with practical production experience, helping clients turn ambitious ideas into polished, memorable visuals that reflect Magick Lantern’s craft, creativity, and collaborative spirit.
Mona Love
Operations Manager
Mona Love keeps Magick Lantern moving as Operations Manager, supporting the people, projects, and day-to-day production flow behind the studio’s visual effects, motion design, animation, and branded content work. With a steady hand for organization, communication, and logistics, Mona helps coordinate the moving pieces that allow artists, producers, and clients to stay aligned from intake through delivery. Her role bridges creative ambition with practical execution, bringing structure, clarity, and follow-through to the process so the studio’s work can move smoothly from idea to finished screen.
Tyler Grow
Creative Production Coordinator
Tyler Grow is a Creative Production Coordinator at Magick Lantern, bringing a background in film composition, sound design, dialogue editing, and studio operations to the company’s growing production and post-production work. A SCAD-Alumni sound designer and composer, Tyler helps bridge the creative and logistical sides of a project, supporting outreach, coordination, client communication, production planning, and creative development while bringing an editor’s ear and storyteller’s instincts to the process. With experience across independent film, branded content, audio production, and post workflows, Tyler approaches each project with a mix of technical precision, creative curiosity, and a deep respect for the people and craft behind every finished piece.
Jonathan Leiter
Actor
SCAD Graduate of Film & Television : Voiceactor : Actor : Content Creator I'm interested in exploring art and storytelling in a variety of mediums. I've done illustration, mural painting, animation, short films, etc. I'm working on my first videogame. And I've dabbled in a bit of Vtubing. I'm extremely passionate about the filmmaking process, the animation process, and film history. I haven't made a film in a long time, but I've been inspired by recent experiences to see what I can do with a simple situational setup.
I'm currently developing a new short film with a genre-mixing twist. The concept and scope is relatively simple, but I'm interested in finding ways to accomplish it in a way that will have the most flexibility and the least headache. I'm also challenging myself by both acting and directing.
I really enjoy bouncing ideas off of others and enjoy supporting other's goals with feedback, brainstorming and sharing resources.
Waminja Cleaveland
Stylist
Watkinsville, GA
Waminja is a University of Georgia graduate with a B.A. in Film and Theatre Studies, who is interested in exploring opportunities in the entertainment industry. She acted in A Midsummer Night's Dream in Italy, featured in three music videos, and has been a production assistant on Athens Historical Society short documentaries. Among Waminja's interests are acting, writing, and styling.
Waminja is currently working with the Athens Historical Society's film projects as well as freelance film work on music videos.
Acting, writing, styling, and modeling
Gianni Mantovani
Atlanta, GA
Gianni Mantovani is an American actor of Panamanian & Italian descent, raised in Miami, Florida. His grounded presence and understated intensity are shaped by a unique real-world background: before pursuing acting professionally, he served nearly eight years in the U.S. Army's elite 75th Ranger Regiment, attended Columbia University, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Miami, and become a critical care nurse. Known for his calm demeanor, commanding presence, and emotionally restrained style, Gianni often plays layered characters under pressure - protectors, antiheroes, tactical professionals, and morally conflicted men.
I'm building a long-term career as a film and television actor here in Georgia. Over the last year I've been focused on training, building my reel, booking projects, and surrounding myself with people who challenge me creatively. Before acting, I spent nearly eight years in the 75th Ranger Regiment and later became a critical care nurse, but my goal isn't to solely be known as "the military guy." Those experiences shaped how I approach the work and taught me discipline, observation, emotional control, and how to tell the truth under pressure. I'm building a body of work that reflects range. I love grounded dramas, thrillers, and action, but I also enjoy comedy and characters with contradictions. Ultimately, I'm trying to become the kind of actor directors know will show up prepared, collaborative, and committed to serving the story.
I bring a perspective that isn't easy to manufacture. My background has given me experience with leadership, high pressure environments, and understanding people from every walk of life, which helps me create authentic performances. Beyond acting, I'm someone who enjoys contributing wherever I'm useful. Whether that's acting, military or medical consulting, helping with realism on set, collaborating with stunt teams, or simply being a reliable professional who elevates the people around me, I'm happy to contribute. I also believe great careers are built on generosity. If I can connect someone with a resource, introduce two people who should know each other, or help solve a problem, I will.
Dabney Moss Norton
Dabney Moss Norton is an Atlanta-based actress originally from Albany, Georgia. Her passion for performing began in the dance studio, where she trained for nearly 17 years before competing on a collegiate hip-hop team. She earned a B.B.A. in Marketing from Georgia College & State University, which comes in handy because now she’s savvy when it comes to dissecting a contract! Dabney has 5 years of experience in marketing and social content strategy. On her personal TikTok (@dabneymoss), she has generated more than 27 million views. She discovered her love for acting after appearing in a short film directed by Mark Ryals (who also happens to be attending this event—how fun is that?!). That experience inspired her to move to Atlanta and pursue acting professionally. Since then, Dabney has continued to hone her craft through classes, workshops, and private coaching while embracing every opportunity to learn, collaborate, and grow. Her recent credits include a Dairy Queen commercial, the independent feature Remote (available on Amazon), and most recently, the lead role in a SCAD student film. Dabney is currently represented in Texas, but is excited to expand her representation in her home market of Atlanta. She loves connecting with fellow creatives, collaborating on meaningful projects, and is always eager for the next opportunity to bring compelling stories to life.
Wrapping production on a short film to strengthen my acting reel with fresh footage. Recently updated my headshots and marketing materials. Actively auditioning while continuing to train, collaborate, and build a strong body of work in film and television.
Professional and prepared actor, creative collaborator, marketing & social media expertise, industry connections & resource sharing, and feedback.
Sue Ann Taylor
Writer, Producer, Director
Blue Heron Films
Sue Ann Taylor is the creative force and writer behind The Vindication of Teri Horton, Side Trails, and Charlie’s Christmas Wish (released by Lionsgate in 2020). Her company regularly produces a slate of content for studios and networks, among which currently in development include Christmas at the Grey Horse Inn (post-production), The Vindication of Teri Horton, Side Trails, The Christmas Coat, Etowah Ridge, It Just Can’t be that Difficult, The Widow Plan and Bill Duke’s Next Act. She has produced multiple syndicated television series and created niche networks for Roku and AppleTV.
The Vindication of Teri Horton is a feature film about a working class truck driving woman who buys a painting for $5 in a thrift store and later finds out it just might be a Jackson Pollock work over $100 million. She slams into the elite art world who refuses to give her authenticity in the face of overwhelming forensic evidence.
I raise money for great projects. I am very pro-Georgia for filmmaking.
sat@blueheronfilms.com
7703613865
Daniel Dennerline
Author
Morbid Publications
Independent author of the Nightmarescape series. Experience with script writing and editing. Freelance content writer for aggregate website Stacker.com.
Currently developing the Nightmarescape book series into a multimedia intellectual property
A ready to produce intellectual property based off of a book series, script doctoring, writing help for other projects, voice over work, concept art and mockups
Francisco Breton
Writer/Actor
Kojak Films
Francisco Breton is an Atlanta-based writer & actor whose work blends dark and absurdist comedy with warmth, emotional realism, and sharp social observation. He and Kenneth Trujillo are the co-creators and co-writers of the dark-comedy anthology Other Things and co-writers of the feature screenplays Me, My Mom, and Mom and Key Party. Their short film The Marley’s was an official selection of the Athens Film Festival, Rome International Film Festival, and FilmFest Knoxville and received an honorable mention from HollyShorts. Breton also writes short fiction, essays, and graphic narratives, creating character-driven worlds concerned with ambition, intimacy, belonging, and the strange systems people build to survive. As an actor, he brings humor, warmth, and charm to his work and is represented in Atlanta by Aligned Stars Agency.
I’m currently producing Eric the Anxious Avocado, an animated short about childhood anxiety, while developing Me, My Mom, & Mom, an independent feature film, along with a slate of original films through Kojak Films.
Story development, screenplay feedback, producing support, creative collaboration, and a willingness to help other filmmakers move their projects forward.
Carlos De Los Santos
Dir
Navy Veteran, with a dream of succeeding in the. film industry as a director
a work place sitcom
Kenneth Trujillo
Director
We’re building Kojak Films into a home for bold, filmmaker-driven stories rooted in dark comedy, emotional honesty, and deeply human characters. Our immediate focus is Me, Mom, and Mom, a standalone feature that exists entirely outside our larger cinematic universe. Separately, we are developing an interconnected universe anchored by The Marleys trilogy. Together, our long-term slate consists of two short films and seven features that we aim to produce over the next decade.
Connections. Knowledge. Time And creative insight.
Jose A. Acosta
DoubleRaven
Marietta, GA
Emmy winning filmmaker with over 30years experience.
As a writer/director, I'm developing several feature films.
Skilled writer, director, cinematographer, VFX supervisor. Very deep contacts in all aspects of production.
Robyn Kranz
Founding Partner/Executive Producer
Brownieland Pictures
Brownieland pictures is an award winning full service video production company that works solely with nonprofits.
Mark Ryals
Producer / Sound Designer
Atlanta Institute of Music and Media
Indie film producer and sound designer with a focus on true faith based stories.
Korey Washington
Production Designer/Producer
Production Strategies & Design Group, LLC
IMDb Korey Washington
Lisa Ferrell
Professor of Practice
CMII / GSU
Producer – Lisa Ferrell - Lisa Ferrell has worked in series and tele-film development for such companies as CBS, Lifetime Television/Hearst Entertainment, NBC and TBS. Lisa has served as Executive Producer for several of Atlanta’s foremost post production, motion capture and VFX facilities, including the Toronto-based SPIN VFX, and has helped create creative for some of the foremost advertising agencies and brands in the world. After starting Lisa Ferrell Productions in 2016, Lisa worked on numerous projects that for such clients as J Walter Thompson Inside New York, Hartsfield Jackson Airport, CARE USA, Toys R Us, music videos, a number of short indie films and concept pitch projects. Currently, Lisa works as a Producer / PM in emerging technology, i.e., Motion Capture, Volumetric Capture, AR / VR for Georgia State University’s Creative Media Industries Institute.
Ashley Davis
Freelance
Atlanta
ASHLEY DAVIS / FREELANCE PRODUCER Ashley’s story begins with motion. As a dancer turned animation and video producer, she was raised in the world of pre, production, post, and showtime. Having graduated from Emory University with bachelor's degrees in both business and film, Ashley can boast more than 15 years’ experience managing projects of all sizes and developing unique project-based pipelines. She has collaborated with some of the greatest brands and industry voices, including Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Crayola, Nickelodeon, NBA, Logitech, Sesame Workshop, NBC Universal, and Elf on the Shelf, to name a few. She also gives back to the creative community as co-leader/co-founder of Women in Animation ATL and serves on the board of Rise City Dance, a youth pre-professional dance non-profit.
Danya Levine
Director of Studios
DeVine Creative LLC
EMMY-winning Creative & Production Executive with a track record of elevating networks, studios, and franchises through bold vision, disciplined execution, and a storytelling instinct honed across live-action, animation, digital, and virtual production. I build high-performing creative ecosystems — the kind that attract top talent, accelerate workflows, and consistently deliver standout work. A strategic operator with a director’s eye and a producer’s practicality, I’m known for transforming ambitious ideas into world-class content while keeping complex teams aligned, motivated, and laughing when they desperately need to. I've led major creative operations for NBC, CNN, Adult Swim, and SCAD, driving ratings wins, network-defining campaigns, and studio expansions.
Currently developing a sci fi fantasy series based on a novel by a local Atlanta author .
Pre production planning, script and concept feedback, low cost rental space for filming, access to talented crews, and many connections across Atlanta industry.
James Crawford
Editor
Decatur, GA
James Crawford is a multifaceted audio-visual artist from Atlanta, Georgia. He primarily works in post-production with a focus on storytelling. His background in music informs the rhythm, pacing, and sound design of his work, while his experience in photography strengthens the visual language.
I recently finished a feature and am in between my next job right now. In the down time I'm practicing with Fusion, Fairlight and Blender to add to my skillsets.
I'm a talented narrative editor that brings both creative and technical skills to work day.
Joshua Lipkin
Atlanta Editors Collective
I’m a video editor and post-production producer based in Atlanta, working across broadcast, corporate, and digital content. I specialize in creating clean, engaging edits that tell a clear story, hit deadlines, and elevate the brand. Over the years, I’ve worked on everything from network television and live events to branded content, webinars, sizzles, and social campaigns. My focus is always the same: strong storytelling, smooth pacing, and broadcast-ready delivery. I’m also the founder of the Atlanta Editors Collective, a growing community built to connect editors, producers, and post professionals across the Southeast. Through AEC, I help match great talent with great projects while building real relationships in the industry.
The Atlanta Editors Collective, Post Atlanta Conference
Alexis Pelot
Writer / Post Producer
Further Ado
I’m a writer and post producer at Further Ado, a full-service post production company for film, television, commercials, and branded content. As a writer, I specialize in comedy, action, and kids' content and served as head writer on the children's series Wondermore. I currently live in metro Atlanta with my husband, Lonny, and our five kids.
We have a few projects in post, including a feature doc and indie thriller. We're also producing an original children's audio series and have two completed spec scripts.
Time, feedback, creative insight, post-production, connections
Lonny Pelot
Owner, Editor, Colorist
Loganville
Lonny has over 25 years experience in post-production, editorial, color grade, visual effects, finishing and post-supervision. With a Film and Video degree from GSU, Lonny began his career as an edit assist at Riot! Atlanta (now Company 3). In 2004, he moved to Triple Horse Studios as lead editor and colorist. In 2018, Lonny and his wife Alexis started Further Ado offering full-service post production services for feature films, shorts, television series, documentaries and commercials.
We are close to wrapping up post on an Independent thriller and have a feature documentary that is scheduled to go into finishing soon. We're also in the process of developing a children's audio series and have a couple of feature spec scripts available.
Post-production, skills, knowledge, feedback, creative insights
Sara Ryals
Holistic Health Practitioner & Entertainment Wellness Consultant
Sara Ryals, CHHC is a Holistic Health Practitioner based in Atlanta, Georgia, with a unique background spanning both the entertainment industry and functional health. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Film Studies from the University of Georgia and completed post-production training through the Georgia Film Academy. Over the course of seven years in the film industry, Sara worked her way from background acting to production assistant, dailies engineer, in-house post producer, and head of social media, gaining firsthand experience with the long hours, high demands, and fast-paced nature of production. After overcoming her own health challenges, Sara became a Certified Holistic Health Coach and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Nutritional Science at the University of Georgia. Today, she combines her experience in film and functional health to help individuals optimize their health through personalized, root-cause wellness strategies. Her mission is to bring holistic health to the entertainment industry by helping the people behind the camera build healthier, more sustainable careers, because no great production should come at the expense of the people who create it.
I'm currently building a new approach to wellness for the entertainment industry. By combining my background in film production with advanced education in nutritional science and holistic health, my goal is to help creatives thrive in demanding careers without sacrificing their health. I'm looking to collaborate with studios, production companies, post-production teams, and creative organizations that believe healthy people create better stories. Together, we can create a culture where health is recognized as an essential part of creative excellence, not an afterthought.
Services include: * One-on-one holistic health coaching * On-set & post-production wellness support * Functional wellness testing (gut health, hormones, nutrient deficiencies, food sensitivities, and more) * Personalized nutrition & supplement protocols * Burnout prevention & recovery * Stress management & resilience coaching * Sleep optimization for demanding production schedules * Wellness workshops & team education * Wellness consulting for productions, studios, and creative organizations
Adrian Maruri
Sound Designer
Odyssey Sound
Sound Designer with 14 years of experience (formerly Pixar). Extensive experience as a VO recordist, Re-recording Mixer, Sound Designer and Supervisor. Located in Fayetteville, GA. A teacher, a father, a friend, and an all-around nice guy. At times, the funniest guy in the room.
I’m built a studio, and am building a team, and a network of post artists and facilities to provide a comprehensive Post Sound and Music Package and Picture Post Production
I can offer connections, valuable information, one time one-on-one consulting, my skills and services, moral support in times of need.
Nicholas Pawlenko
Freelance Sound Designer
Grow Beyond Audio
Lovejoy, GA
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Working on independent projects with a team of sound designers who are all highly skilled in various fields
I can give ample knowledge about sound, and how to design it, as well as a trove of creative ideas that can be used in a way to help elevate any project I am working on.
Michael Cardillo
Re-Recording Mixer, Supervising Sound Editor
Creative Waves, Inc.
Hoschton
Michael Cardillo is a a re-recording mixer and supervising sound editor with over twenty-five years in the audio post production community in Atlanta. He partners with filmmakers and other creatives to use sound as a storytelling tool, and is a dedicated advocate for establishing Georgia as a premier destination for post-production. Michael is a co-founder of Georgia Post Alliance.
A collaborative community of like-minded professionals interested in bringing professional experience and Indie passion to disrupt the film/television industry through hybrid workflows and revolutionary ideas! The industry is changing, and we need to adapt with it. Let’s develop a real industry here in Georgia instead of a fairgrounds for the circus. Post production is critical for a sustainable film/tv industry, but only part of the picture. Films and shows need to be written locally and funded locally. Let’s build this together!
Audio post production - the final mix is where I get the most joy, but I love the entire process! Whether I am supervising the other elements or doing them myself, sound is my thing! In addition, I offer decades of professional experience and a lifetime of hearing the world differently.
Brianna Shelko
CEO
Level Up Music Productions
Brianna Shelko is a trailblazer in the sync songwriting world, blending creativity and business to reshape white-label songwriting camps. As CEO of Level Up Music Productions, she’s delivered 500+ songs and 20,000+ hours of music for libraries, studios, and networks. Her recent Hollywood Independent Music Award win for “Praying for the Rain” affirms her emotional impact and industry reach. She leads a global team of songwriters and prioritizes easy-clear licensing, making sync accessible and scalable. Her work empowers creators, streamlines production, and pushes sync education forward.
Level Up Music Productions is a lean, award-winning, female-led team crafting custom music for TV, film, and advertising. From custom scores and standout productions to sonic branding, music clearance, and licensing, we create powerful music that bring stories and brands to life.
Skills, connections, knowledge, time and feedback and opportunities to get their music into TV film
BYRON CHILDS
Byron Childs Productions
Savannah
Byron Childs, a distinguished sound designer and filmmaker, is a proud alumnus of SCAD and Savannah State University. Based near Savannah, Georgia, he owns one of the city’s few spatial audio mixing suites, offering immersive experiences for his clents. His expertise spans sound design, videography, and audio installations. As Chief Recording Engineer for Inside Voices United, Byron captures high-quality audio in challenging environments, including state prisons. His portfolio includes Dragonville Studios' films and Clone Wars: Battle of the Heroes. An award-winning creative, Byron has earned accolades such as an "Award of Excellence in Drama" at the Metro Film & TV Awards and "Best Comedy" at the Savannah State University Film Festival. Recognized as a Goodwill Ambassador of Georgia, he has also addressed the Georgia State Capitol on the impact of nutrition on children. With Pro Tools certification and years of experience, Byron delivers exceptional results that clients trust.
I can offer a host of knowledge and skills in both sound and video production.
Joshua Little
VFX Supervisor / Director
Alectreon
Josh has worked on over 70 film and television productions at every budget level. His expertise is in streamlining processes, whether at a research lab at Vanderbilt, where he turned a three-week data analysis process into a five-minute process, or as a team lead at ActionVFX, where he quadrupled their video production output while keeping the same crew size and budgets. Josh's company, Alectreon, has contributed visual effects work to numerous feature films and web series, as well as visuals for live shows at The Sphere in Las Vegas. He has also developed curriculum and taught classes for the Trilith Institute and has consulted for the FSU College of Motion Picture Arts.
I am currently in development on my feature script, Alektorophobia, a Hitchcockian thriller about killer chickens. Meanwhile, my production company, Alectreon, has been doing VFX work on numerous feature films and a project for the Vegas Sphere.
Visual effects supervision, VFX artist work, custom pipeline development, plate and element photography
Dan Berkowitz
VFX Compositor
With over a decade of experience in the visual effects industry, specializing primarily as a compositor, I’ve contributed to a wide range of projects from television to blockbuster feature films. My time spent at multiple major VFX studios is demonstrative of my level of proficiency executing visual effects within a variety of projects, as well as the high standard of work I hold myself accountable to. Leveraging technical and creative prowess, smoothly guiding projects across the finish line comes with ease.
AI-assisted VFX tools and short-form content exploring new pipelines between traditional VFX software and generative AI.
13 years of experience as a VFX compositor, with a growing focus on integrating AI tools into production pipelines.
Jacob Lawson
Agent
Privilege Talent Agency
We are a talent agency representing actors across the United States, based in Atlanta
Corey Lawson
Talent agent
Atlanta ga
Corey Lawson is a Talent agent for Privilege Talent agency. Privilege Talent is a talent agency located in Atlanta, Georgia. Corey's passion and focus has been to develop a stronger presence in the film, television and commercial industry. "It is truly a privilege to work in this industry and be a part of Privilege Talent".
Mathew Steele
Sync Agent
SteeleSync
Owned SteeleSync since 2012 a music licensing company that works in film, tv, ads, video games, podcasts and micro-dramas. Own SyncSpotlight since ‘24 the largest sync event company with 548 attendees this year. I also own SyncRadar a digital sync networking and educational group on Skool with over 815+members in the first 6 1/2 months.
Working on a blues, country, EDM, R&B, sports-themed, modern indie-rock, world playlists including eastern Pacific, European and African
Quality music and an affordable price.
Brennen Dicker
Executive Director
Creative Media Industries Institute
Brennen Dicker, Executive Director of Georgia State University's Creative Media Industries Institute (CMII), brings 30 years of film and television experience, having previously held leadership roles at SIM International Atlanta and Crawford Media Services, working on productions like “Vampire Diaries," and "The Walking Dead." He began his career as executive producer of American Mongrel Productions in Chicago and holds an academic background in English, Theatre, and Economics from Cornell College. His industry recognition includes the 2001 Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Fellowship, the 2018 inaugural WIFTA Gallantry Award, and a 2022 TAG Impact Award nomination. Brennen is deeply engaged in Georgia's creative economy, chairing the Georgia Screen Entertainment Coalition (GSEC) and serving on boards including TAG Media & Entertainment, Atlanta Esports Association, and the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, where he previously chaired the festival in 2018 and 2019. He has also held leadership positions with SCAD Atlanta, the Georgia Production Partnership, the Frazer Center, and the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, reflecting his broad, sustained commitment to Georgia's media and entertainment ecosystem.
The Creative Media Industries Institute has built a strong track record of industry collaboration, partnering with organizations such as United Way, Atlanta United, the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Microsoft to create real-world projects for its students. These partnerships provide students with hands-on, professional-caliber experience while delivering meaningful creative and technical work to organizations across the nonprofit, entertainment, sports, and technology sectors. Building on this foundation, CMII is expanding its industry network for FY27, bringing new corporate and organizational partners into the fold to continue offering students collaborative, career-relevant project opportunities.
CMII offers a distinctive pipeline of talent: students grounded in a storytelling-first, technology-second foundation who are equipped to apply creative narrative thinking alongside advanced technical skill. Through programs spanning Media Entrepreneurship, Game Design, Game Development, and Virtual Production/VFX, CMII students bring a rare combination of creative fluency and technical proficiency to every project they undertake. This foundation allows CMII students to move seamlessly between disciplines crafting compelling stories while mastering the tools and technologies that bring those stories to life. For partners and collaborators, this means access to well-rounded, industry-ready talent capable of contributing meaningfully to real-world creative and technical challenges from day one.
Brian Rio
Consultant
IMMERSV
Brian Rio, a 25-year veteran of the Media and Technology industries, has produced and supported premium content and technology for beloved brands on a global scale. A multiple National Emmy, International New York Festival, and Promax winner, he has held roles from craftsperson to executive, focusing on uplifting the people and industries around him. With roots in music composition and sound design, he expanded his expertise to include production, post-production, content, technology strategy, and human-centric leadership. After a meaningful tenure at Turner Broadcasting, Time Warner, WarnerMedia, and Warner Bros. Discovery, he began working in an advisory capacity in 2024 to foster innovation in creativity and technology across multiple organizations, with an emphasis on profound priorities such as sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Miko DeFoor
Actor/Producer
DeFoor Creative
Spennett U is a coming-of-age drama series set at an elite all-girls HBCU that follows four young women as they navigate friendship, identity, ambition, and the challenges of college life while discovering who they are and who they want to become.
Skill, creative insight
Nick Tamposi
Film Maker, Photographer
Dragonville Studios
Hernando, FL
Nicholas developed a passion for photography and film at an early age. As a teenager, his mother gifted him his first camera and camcorder, sparking his love for capturing surf, skate, and snowboard films. He later studied marketing and photography at Barry University in Miami, where he began shooting fashion models, a path that led him to establish several successful talent agencies. In 2012, Nicholas co-founded The Lions in New York and became its CEO, leading the agency to become one of the industry's top modeling agencies. In 2019, he expanded into filmmaking, producing his first feature film, the indie thriller Feral State. His second feature, Skinwalker Island was released in 2025 and his third film Broken Ranch is set for release in 2026. Throughout his career, Nicholas has collaborated with publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, Numero, Elle and L'Officiel. Today, he continues his creative work at Dragonville Studios, his ranch and production studio in Central Florida, where he shoots daily and develops new projects.
Alex Lugo
Actor, Filmmaker, Founder
FilmPro
Alex D. Lugo is an award-winning actor, filmmaker, software engineer, and the Co-founder and CEO of FilmPro, an AI-powered operating system for film productions. Born in Puerto Rico and raised between Los Angeles and Miami, Alex's work is shaped by his multicultural roots and artistic heritage as the son of Daniel Lugo, an iconic Latin American film and television actor. He is an alumnus of the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and the founder of Vitruvian Films. On the tech side, Alex built his engineering career at Goldman Sachs and Square, where he specialized in backend systems and AI integration. Today, through FilmPro, he is reimagining the future of filmmaking, building technology that empowers storytellers while protecting the human creativity at the heart of every great story.
At FilmPro we’re building a suite of AI tools to help filmmakers with story development and pre-production management.
We can offer a unique perspective at the intersection of filmmaking, technology, and AI, along with product and technical expertise, creative insight, and connections within the film and startup communities.
Elizabeth Kealoha
Co-Founder & COO
Altera
Elizabeth Kealoha is a media and entertainment executive with more than 25 years in the industry, including senior leadership roles at Turner Broadcasting, Bounce, and Katz Networks. As Co-Founder and COO of Altera, she oversees the agency and education arms - partnering with brands and organizations to produce generative media and train their teams through hands-on workshops. A founding board member of the Creative Economy Collective and a UCLA Anderson Executive MBA, Elizabeth focuses on proving that AI-integrated creative work can be sustainable, scalable, and equitable.
Generative Media education and skills to empower creatives in their storytelling.
David Kendrick
Owner
Lion Speaking Agency
David Kendrick is a Purple Heart veteran from Rochester, New York, whose life story fuels the raw emotional power behind Cavalry. A former U.S. Army Cavalry Scout who served during the Iraq War, David survived a sniper attack in 2007 — an experience that reshaped his understanding of trauma, brotherhood, and resilience. Today, he is a nationally recognized professional speaker and NAMI Ambassador, using his voice to advocate for mental health, veteran support, and the human stories often lost in war. His mission is simple: to turn lived experience into meaningful storytelling that helps others feel seen. With Cavalry, David is building a limited series rooted in authenticity — a project shaped not by imagination, but by memory. His goal is to partner with filmmakers and producers who believe in character‑driven stories that carry both heart and truth, and to bring Cavalry to life in a way that honors the men and women who lived it alongside him.
I’m building Cavalry, a character‑driven, emotionally grounded project that begins as a documentary‑style sizzle reel and grows into a limited series in the tradition of Band of Brothers. This project is designed to introduce audiences to the real story of a young Cavalry Scout from Rochester, NY — a Purple Heart veteran who comes of age during the most dangerous period of the Iraq War. Cavalry is more than a war story. I’m building a world that explores: Brotherhood on the battlefield Family bonds at home The emotional journey of falling in love while preparing for war The transformation from teenager to soldier to survivor The sizzle reel is the first step — a cinematic proof of concept that captures the tone, authenticity, and emotional power of the full series. From there, the goal is to partner with filmmakers, producers, and studios who believe in grounded, human‑centered storytelling and want to help bring this limited series to life. I’m building interest, momentum, and a community around a story that deserves to be told with honesty, depth, and respect for the people who lived it.
I can offer a military story unlike anything you’ve ever seen — one told from the ground, through the eyes of a young Cavalry Scout in the lead truck of a 25‑man platoon during the most dangerous period of the Iraq War. Cavalry isn’t a distant retelling or a secondhand interpretation. It’s lived experience, captured with honesty, vulnerability, and the kind of detail only someone who survived it can provide. I offer a perspective that blends the intensity of combat with the emotional complexity of real life: parents at home trying to hold themselves together while their son is deployed on the front lines; a young man falling in love while preparing for war; a family navigating the fear of watching their child get wounded at just 20 years old. What I bring to the room is authenticity — a story rooted in truth, humanity, and the bonds that carry soldiers through the worst moments of their lives. I offer a project that has the emotional depth of Band of Brothers but told through a modern lens, grounded in the realities of the 2007 troop surge. I can offer a story that resonates with veterans, families, and anyone who has ever loved someone in harm’s way. And I can offer a project with the potential to grow into a powerful limited series — one that honors the people who lived it and gives audiences a deeper understanding of the cost of service.
owner@dkendrickjr.com