Panelists
+ Women in the Media Arts Panelists
Farnaz Esnaashari-Charmatz
Senior VP at Bron Digital
With over 20 years of experience in animation, Farnaz Esnaashari made her way from
Intern to Creator and Executive Producer at Nickelodeon. While overseeing post-production
on Dora the Explorer full-time, Farnaz began developing her own show ideas. After
selling multiple shows to Nickelodeon, she landed on Shimmer and Shine. Inspired by
her Iranian-American upbringing, the series has strong female heroes set against a
vibrant multicultural fantasy world.
Farnaz is currently working at Bron Digital as the Senior Vice President overseeing
development and creative. In the background she is developing her own projects with
companies such as Nickelodeon.
Her first book titled Little Leo was released in September of 2020 by Simon and Schuster
- Aladdin. She is currently working on two new book properties with Simon and Schuster
– Salaam Reads, set to come out in the next couple of years. Farnaz looks at ever
creative project from a more holistic approach, making her a very unique Creator,
Executive Producer, and SVP.
Yanely Arty
Film & Television Producer
Film & Television Producer, Yaneley Arty, has more than 20 credits spanning, features, scripted series, non-scripted series and documentaries including audience favorites, Scream: The TV Series, The Perfect Match and Brotherly Love. Known for her strong relationships with A-List talent, Ms. Arty spent 10 yeas as a Development Executive for Queen Latifa's Flavor Unit, where she led a team in developing projects for all mediums, creating business strategies and overseeing all budgets from conception through completion. Prior to this, Ms. Arty spent over a decade managing music artists and collaborating on their content, and today she puts those skills to use managing acting talent as she continues her producing endeavors with studios, networks and streamers.
Erin Gamble
Executive Vice President and Head of Current Programming for the Intellectual Property
Corporation
Emmy Award winning Producer, Erin Gamble, is the Executive Vice President and Head
of Current Programming for the Intellectual Property Corporation.
Prior to joining IPC, Gamble produced more than 150 hours of documentary programming
for a variety of cable networks including A&E, MTV, Viceland, and MSNBC.
Gamble was an Executive Producer for Secrets of Playboy (A&E), Free Meek (Amazon), and Co-Executive Producer for The Swamp (HBO), This Giant Beast That Is The Global Economy (Amazon), Living Undocumented (Netflix), and Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath (A&E), for which she won a 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational
Series and a PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television.
Over the last three years she has overseen more than 85 hours of programming for clients
including Netflix, HBO, Amazon, Oxygen, History, and Showtime, including Active Shooter: America Under Fire, which was nominated for an Emmy in 2018 for Outstanding Social Issue Documentary.
Her series include Night Stalker: The Hunt For a Serial Killer (Netflix), The Curse of Von Dutch (Hulu), We’re Here (HBO), The Last Narc (Amazon), Kids Behind Bars: Life or Parole (A&E), Deadly Cults (Oxygen) and Cults and Extreme Belief (A&E).
Stephanie Perea
Producer for Niantic - Playmation Marvel's Avengers
Stephanie Perea is currently a Publishing Producer at Niantic (creator of Pokemon Go, Pikmin Bloom, and Ingress) where she supports and guides game projects through development to launch. Prior to her role at Niantic, Stephanie worked at Framestore Immersive, Disney Imagineering, Disney Consumer Products, and various digital agencies to create interactive entertainment across web, mobile, AR/VR, and real life spaces. She received her undergraduate degrees from the University of Southern California for Business Administration and English (Creative Writing).
Sheila Hanahan Taylor
Film & TV Producer
Past projects include Universal's American Pie franchise; New Line Cinema's Final Destination franchise; Warner Bros’ Cats & Dogs franchise; Universal’s Breaking In; Village Roadshow’s Oddball; Sony Pictures’ Little Black Book and The Big Hit; and Helkon Media's RepliKate. Worldwide, they have grossed over $2 billion at the box office. Upcoming projects
include a sixth installment in the Final Destination franchise; horror film Sisters of Samhain, in partnership with Bloody Disgusting and Grade A Entertainment; and the high-tech
thriller Entry Level, in partnership with Culmination Films and 13 Films.
+ Film & TV Panelists
Walt Becker
Director/Screenwriter/Producer/Author
Walt Becker is a director, screenwriter, producer and author, known for directing
the films “Van Wilder” starring Ryan Reynolds and “Wild Hogs” starring John Travolta,
Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy. He just completed the Paramount Pictures
live action/cg film adaptation of “Clifford: The Big Red Dog.” Prior to that, he
directed “Alvin and the Chipmunks: Road Chip” for Fox 2000 and New Regency and produced
the Sony Film, “Zookeeper”. His films have grossed close to one billion dollars worldwide.
In television, Mr. Becker co-created and executive produced the TBS series “Glory
Daze” a one-hour period comedy following the lives of four college freshman in 1985,
which he also directed.
In addition to producing or directing many television pilots, Mr. Becker executive
produced the Fox series “Bad Samaritans” for Netflix, and created the unscripted television
format “WORKED” for TBS and TRUE TV.
In the commercials space, Mr. Becker has become one of the most in demand commercial
directors, and has directed Superbowl spots for T-Mobile and campaigns for Fossil,
Google, Samsung, and others.
The author of two novels, Misconception was co-written with attorney Robert Shapiro.
His first novel Link was on the Los Angeles Times and National Bestseller Lists;
both were published by Harper Collins and William Morrow. Mr. Becker created the
graphic novel “Last Reign” which Boom! Comics published in 2009.
Mr. Becker received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications Studies from UCLA
and a Master’s Degree in Film from the School of Cinematic Arts at USC.
Mike Cavanaugh
President of Key Code Media
Mike Cavanagh is founder and president of Key Code Media. Key Code Media has a nationwide
presence engaging media and entertainment professionals with the latest technologies
ranging from post production solutions such as Adobe and Avid to live broadcast and
integrated AV workflows. A large focus is the growing VR and AR markets. The focus
is leveraging the latest technology to economic benefits leveraging technology. Clients
range from the top entertainment and broadcast companies, as well gaming, corporate,
government and education. The focus is providing broadcast and post production technology
tools to help clients communicate more effectively.
Mike has a Bachelor of Arts from UCLA in Economics/Business and a M.B.A. from Pepperdine
University
Robin Prybil
Global Director, Strategic Partnerships – FuseFX
Robin Prybil is an entertainment industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience
working both as an executive and as a producer. She worked at CAA; Sony Pictures;
and Paramount Studios - where she served as EVP for Robert Evans. She was VFX Producer
and Executive for Weta Digital on films including Avatar, The Avengers, Planet of
the Apes, The Hobbit Trilogies and Spielberg’s The BFG and Adventures of TinTin. Robin
worked at AMD as WW Director of Film and Television Partnerships.
Ms. Prybil is also Co-Founder of Bullseye Media Partners specializing in global partnerships
and acquisitions. Robin currently works as Global Director of Strategic Partnerships
for FuseFX. She is also a proud member of BAFTA, PGA, and VES.
Eric Manes
Film & Television Writer/Producer
Eric Manes ("3000 Miles to Graceland") has always been an innovator searching for
the next big change in how content can be produced and distributed. This type of
forward thinking led Mr. Manes toward projects such as MTV's "Fear" where he and producing
partner Martin Kuner put cameras into the hands of participants and had them film
themselves while mastering challenges in the most famously haunted places in the world.
The pair followed this with the documentary "Voices of Iraq", for which they funneled
digital video cameras to hundreds of Iraqis in the midst of war, allowing unparalleled
intimacy and direct access to their stories.
Most recently, Mr. Manes was contracted to create two adventure film franchises for
a US-China co-production between Walt Disney Pictures and The Shanghai Media Group,
and also co-founded with his wife - Coco Suisse, a Swiss Chocolate manufacturing company
with chocolate related teaching and media with over 10 million views on Tik Tok.
Deidre Baisley
Assistant Editor
Deidre Baisley has worked as a Lead Assistant Editor in unscripted television for more than 10 years. Her technical expertise in Avid Media Composer, Davinci Resolve, Adobe Premiere, After Effects and Photoshop, has made Ms. Baisley a sought-after commodity by streaming services such as Disney+, Amazon, Bravo, TLC, Sundance, and Discovery, where her credits include Ex on the Beach, Citizen Rose, Life of a Fitness Pop Star and Flipping Out, among many others. Ms. Baisley is a former student of Mt. SAC, and later earned her Bachelors in Television & Film from California State University, Los Angeles. In her free time, she enjoys growing exotic tomatoes and collecting Monarch butterflies with her family.
Stillman Kelly
Mt. SAC Professor
Stillman Kelly is a Television Director, Technical Director, Editor, and respected
veteran presence in the fast-paced world of live television. After entering the media
business as a sound engineer for high profile music artists (for which he received
an AMPEX Golden Reel for Technical Excellence), Mr. Kelly shifted to visual side of
the business and built a storied career working with industry-leading companies ranging
from Disney and ABC to NBC, Direct TV and TVG. As OTT and HD have become the industry
standards, Mr. Kelly's deep experience as a designer and builder of A/V Systems infrastructure
has also delivered innovative live-streaming and live-broadcast solutions to independent
clients that include Vista Studios, Diversified, and Key Code Media. Mr. Kelly is
Professor of Television & Film at Mt. San Antonio College and is the Program Lead
under Mt. SAC's widely-respected Creative Entertainment Arts Department (CEA).
+ Illustration Panelists
Jason Edmiston
Fine Artist & Commercial Illustrator
A fine artist and commercial illustrator since 1996, Jason has shown his paintings
in galleries, as well as worked for advertising, editorial, packaging and book publishing
clients internationally. He is primarily a traditional artist, painting in acrylic
on wood panel and watercolour paper, but also works digitally when the assignment
calls for it. His style can be referred to as “ideal realism”, and usually emphasizes
the figure with high contrast and saturated colors. He is often inspired by the world
of pop culture, adding his personal spin to characters and subjects from movies, comic
books, toys and retro style advertising. Movie poster design is Jason’s personal specialty,
and he has developed a unique technique that mixes traditional painting with digital
color separation that has pushed the medium of screen printing, expanding what is
possible with color and detail, ultimately inspiring experimentation by many of his
peers.
+ Photography Panelists
Brandon Del Priore
CTO & UAS Brand Manager
Brandon is a technology integration expert; well versed in multiple disciplines, from
structural and mechanical engineering to project and construction management and with
over 20-years of design, manufacturing, and construction experience. Over the course
of the last 6 years, he has developed workflows for merging traditional survey data
with ultra-high resolution aerial photogrammetry, terrestrial & aerial LiDAR, subsurface
RD, and ground penetrating radar data to produce more accurate planimetrics, topography,
overhead electric, and subsurface utility data than previously possible with traditional
survey & design at reduced duration and cost. These workflows and processes are all
designed to be compatible with all Bentley, Autodesk, PLS-CADD, and ESRI GIS products.
Brian Paumier
Contractor for the Department of Defense
Brian Paumier was born in Oxnard California, and graduated from Art Center College
of Design Pasadena, California in 2000. His art trajectory paralleling a photographic
and military career, in 2005 he was deployed to Iraq for 2 years. On his return he
continued his education and attended the ICP-Bard College MFA program. He is best
known for his poised and meticulous portraiture and travel imagery; his work embodies
an old-world formality with modern wit to make for the perfect integration of theatricality
and a contemporary style. His images have appeared in numerous publications and periodicals
including The New Yorker, New York Times T Magazine, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast
Traveller, GQ, AFAR and Marie Claire.
Cole Davis
Content Creation Team at BBDO
Graduate from Brigham Young University (BYU). Previously a Content Creator at BBDO
San Francisco, now fulfilling the role of an Art Director at Deutsch NY. Studied Advertising
with a Film Minor. Deep international experience and perspective having lived in five
different countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, Canada, USA). Read, write,
and speak Czech. Accomplished actor.
Dafna Golden
Mt. SAC Professor
Professor Golden has twenty years' experience working with GIS and a strong interest
in applying mapping technologies to study ecosystem processes. In 1999 she joined
a multidisciplinary project, funded by the National Science Foundation, which focused
on understanding the effects of disturbance regimes on chaparral vegetation in the
Santa Monica Mountains. She volunteers her GIS skills for non-profit organizations
such as the Arroyos & Foothills Conservancy. As a teacher, she is committed to guiding students to an understanding of humanity’s
place as part of the natural complex.
Emerald Leong
Creative Lead at Manley Films
Emerald is currently a Creative Lead at Manley Films - a full-service creative production
agency in Phoenix, AZ. She has three cats and likes to go camping in her free time.
Jason Perez
Mt. SAC Professor
Professor Perez is a photographer and a tenured faculty member at Mt San Antonio College,
specializing in photography and media production. His work spans 21 years of working
in editorial, advertising, and historic preservation. In addition, he has done international
projects in the Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh regions focusing on religious and Soviet
Modernism architecture using photogrammetry from aerial terrestrial camera systems
to create 2D and 3D imagery.
Kenneth Lane
Content Producer & Social Media Specialist
Kenny Lane grew up in Orange County, Ca and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in Communications
while playing baseball at the school. After graduating in 2007, he started working
for DirecTV’s Original Content Team. He spent 14 years working in all aspects of video
production as an editor and camera operator for DirecTV’s Sunday Ticket RedZone Channel,
Dan Patrick Show, BlizzCon, Celebrity Beach Bowl, and Audience Network.
In 2017, he followed his passion using drones to create content for his social media
platforms and started his own company called OC Drone Productions. He has over ten
thousand followers on all his social media platforms and specializes creating drone
content for many clients. He flies a variety of different drones and FPV drones.
Jay P. Morgan
Mt. SAC Professor
Jay P. Morgan is a Photographer/DP/Videographer in Los Angeles California. His unique
illustrative style has developed an impressive list of clients from Paramount to McDonald’s.
Jay P.'s documentary style storytelling and experience with elaborate set design and
extensive lighting are key to the success of his work. Using his industry knowledge
he created a YouTube channel called “The Slanted Lens”, which mentors Photographers
& Videographers worldwide. Jay P. continues to DP/Direct commercials and teach college
level photography and video classes at Mt. San Antonio College
+ Animation Panelists
Kat Chan
Storyboard Artist at ShadowMachine
Kat's childhood dream was to be an animator and work on cartoons. As a Walnut native,
she went to Mt.SAC and obtained an A.A degree in Art/Humanities and transferred to
Cal State University, Fullerton to graduate with a Bachelors in Fine Arts, Entertainment
Art/Animation. She landed her first industry job as a production intern on The Simpsons.
She then worked her way up into a career as a Storyboard Artist at companies such
as DreamWorks Animation Television, Nickelodeon, and ShadowMachine.
Kurt Bernadin
CG Supervisor / 3D Artist at Candy Digital
Los Angeles based digital creator, Kurt Bernardin has been crafting his skillsets
professionally in different forms of digital art and photography since 2014. Kurt
is currently working as a CG Supervisor and 3D Artist at Candy Digital, a next generational
digital collectibles company. Prior to Candy, he worked on numerous commercials, product
spots, video game trailers, television shows, and VR projects. His primary focus is
towards 3D compositing, lighting, and look development, but can be regarded as a 3d
generalist.
Stephen Boileau
Junior Technical Artist at Embodied, Inc.
Hello! My name is Stephen Boileau. I have been a lifelong fan of animation and games.
Without knowing where to start I stumbled upon a 3D modeling class at Mt.SAC and it
changed my life. From there I was curious of how all 3D animation worked. I soon became
a teacher's assistant. At Mt.Sac I was very fortunate to have met Prof. Sunil Thankamushy
because I got all my first real world projects and experience from him! I even learned
how to code because of an innovative project I did for him. I was so curious about
all the 3D things that eventually I became a technical artist. Technical artists are
3D generalists and often bridge the gap between technical people and artists. I worked
as a Unity technical artist at Embodied Inc, on the Moxie robot for a number of years,
and currently am at Super 78 Studios.
Sunil Thankamushy
Professor of Animation & Gaming at Mt. SAC
Prof. Sunil Thankamushy started his career working in the games industry in the Los Angeles area on core teams of critically acclaimed and successful video games. Besides working as a faculty in the Animation & Gaming program of Mt. SAC, he now is engaged in various products development as Writer/Producer/ Creative Director for educational games, VR, and other innovative uses of gaming and animation.
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The Commercial and Entertainment Arts department at Mt. SAC is committed to providing students with a quality education that has curriculum driven by industry professionals. We are committed to helping students that embrace their creativity in finding success.
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