2015 BigPictureCon Speakers
Theme: Digital Design ~ A Decade of Digital Entertainment Development
Opening Keynote Speaker
DON LEVY
Smith Brook Farm
After 17 years in senior management positions at Sony Pictures Digital and an extensive career in the entertainment industry, DON LEVY now advises several early stage media, entertainment and technology companies, including the game, animation and visual effects talent platform, Zerply, and the mobile and the VR game publisher and producer Cosmic Forces.
Closing Keynote Speaker
JOHN JOSEPH
Executive Producer: The Weather Channel
JOHN JOSEPH is an Award-winning Executive Producer and Director and is currently an Executive Producer at The Weather Channel. John began his professional life directing & editing music videos and commercials for clients such as Porsche, Toyota, Apple, and Kaiser Permanente. John went on to work in the episodic TV world doing pilots and series for FOX, CBS, ABC, NBC, and working on the long running series Unsolved Mysteries. With the explosion of documentaries and reality programming on Cable TV, John has Produced and Directed over 150 hours of television for almost every cable outlet from A&E to The Science Channel.
Adam Aalderks
Actor and Screenwriter
ADAM AALDERKS is an accomplished actor and screenwriter. He graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology Education. Adam has played the lead in films such as Curveball, Solacium, M.I.A., and Flowers in May. He also played Valcheck in Tony McNamara’s Ashby.
Akil DuPont
DuPont Productions
AKIL DUPONT is a multi-award-winning director from Tallahassee, FL. He was later accepted into the MFA program at Florida State University- one of the top film schools in the nation. Akil later worked as a Production Designer on the independent feature film Then There Was You, as well as Co-Producer and Cinematographer on a National Promotional Video for Florida A&M University. After moving to Atlanta, Akil was quickly promoted to Director of Photography with Image Harbor Productions as well. Currently Akil teaches film production and editing at Clayton State University.
Amani Channel
Visual Eye Media
AMANI CHANNEL is an expert in video production, broadcast news, and new media. He is the founder of a media consulting, video production company called Visual Eye Media. The company offers high definition video production services, media training, and social media solutions for companies, organizations, and individuals. Content produced by channel has aired on CNN, Headline News, AP, BET, Black Family Channel, HDNews, and various local and online outlets. He also enjoys teaching video production and currently teaches a digital media class at Kennesaw State University.
Angela Tuck
Writer and Editor
ANGELA TUCK is an award-winning writer and editor at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. For four years, Tuck led the newspaper’s education team, directing coverage of the Atlanta public schools cheating investigation and subsequent trial, the selection of several school superintendents, the challenges of charter schools, and redistricting. Tuck has written extensively about the 1961 Freedom Riders, one of four girls killed in the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. She also covered the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. During her 26 years at the AJC, she has worked as a reporter, editor, newsroom recruiter, trainer and public editor.
Barion L. Grant
Angel Lion Productions
BARION L. GRANT is a film and television producer and successful new media entrepreneur. He founded Angel Lion Productions, a multi media-consulting firm that connects brands and media partners with target audiences through culturally relevant programming. Grant has produced over 100 TV shows and films for network TV, cable and digital distribution. As Co-Founder of the TheGrio.com, he launched the site’s business development strategy by partnering with advertisers launching the site in 2009. theGrio was sold to NBC News in 2010. His television clients include ASPiRE TV, BET, MTV, VH1, and FUSE.
Brent Brooks
Blank Stage Productions
Brent founded "Blank Stage Productions" where he produced several projects and started up an Internet show called ThriveAmerica. Working as a cofounder of Get Connected Brent is constantly conjuring up ways for folks to maximize the networking experience. He created "CineCentral & CrewCall" a speed networking solution, he created the Get Connected Screening Room and works with each of the filmmakers and develops interactive workshop experiences. Currently Brent works as an actor with the J Pervis Talent Agency, a writer for self-produced projects and a hired filmmaker.
Cynthia Cureton-Robles
Osage Phoenix Productions
CYNTHIA CURETON-ROBLES is Founder and CEO of Osage Phoenix Productions. As a media and marketing veteran, she has worked at some of the largest media companies in the U.S. including Clear Channel, Hearst Corporation, Cox Media, Johnson Broadcasting and others. As a favor, she acquired film distribution for an independent film which expanded her career as a producer’s rep and later film distributor. Presently, Cureton-Robles is the Founder/CEO of Osage Phoenix which has combined all of her talents, film production, distribution and commercial sales into one company.
Denice A Evans
J’ Hue Film Productions
DENICE A EVANS is a filmmaker and national speaker. Denice is the CEO/Owner of J’ Hue Film Productions. Her company specializes in social cause & deep ecology media. J’ Hue Film Productions is currently producing and directing a short documentary in collaboration with Safe Water Now, a nonprofit organization with the mission of providing global awareness and clean water education in Tanzania, Africa. As a socially-conscious filmmaker, Denice wrote & produced her first award-winning feature documentary, Spitting Game: The College Hook Up Culture, over a four-year period. In 2008 her compelling film world premiered at the prestigious Boston Film Festival.Profit Organization, and focused on developing the organization with experience and integrity.
Diva Tyler
Actress
DIVA TYLER is an actress (Stage, Television and Film), and was awarded the 2015 Best Black Female "Rising Star" in the Arts by The National Black Women in Jazz and Arts Association. She provides private coaching for beginners, and she is an Inspirational/ Transformational Personal Growth Life Coach. She is also an activist, community ambassador and spokesperson for the Fulton County Based Organization "YouthSpark," and founder of "Not On My Watch Endeavors" (NOMWE), an Anti-Trafficking/ Anti-Slavery Movement. For more information, check out www.thedivatylerpresents.com.
Elise Hines
Producer
ELISE HINES started her communications career at The Weather Channel, and then moved to Crawford Communications where she worked for Fox Kids (Latin America), Travel Channel and Discovery Channel networks. Elise was the Executive Producer and co-host for a popular radio show with Atlanta’s V-103 affiliate station. Elise currently works as a writer, producer and director for corporate videos produced at Georgia Power. She is also the CEO of Platinum Works Productions and has written several screenplays with hopes to one day see them on the big screen. The Denver native currently resides with her family in metro Atlanta.
Fredrick Bussey
Icon Status
FREDRICK D. BUSSEY is a Marketing and Public Relations executive in the Music Entertainment industry. He has worked as a Songwriter, Producer, Publicist, Marketing Representative, and Artist Manager, spanning the Hip-Hop, Gospel, R&B, and Pop genres, for nearly 17 years. He is formerly the Director of Marketing and Publicity for Xist Music, & Managing Partner & Chief Creative Officer at iPMG, a full-service PR/Media firm. Fredrick has launched several businesses, including IconStatus, a media & entertainment consulting/artist development firm.
Gregg Easterbrook
Burning Eye Films
GREGG EASTERBROOK is a Cinematographer and Producer, and founder of Burning Eye Films. His work has been featured in numerous film festivals and award shows (Santa Barbara, Camerimage, SXSW, Edinburgh Film Festival, Tellys, Spirits, Addys, Clios, etc.), and can be regularly seen "in theaters near you." He's lensed features for Lionsgate, eOne, IFC Films, New Films Int'l, Vertical Entertainment, Arclight and VMI, among others. Gregg has used the full spectrum of shooting formats to achieve the right look for each story, from Super-35mm film to Canon 5d digital, and nearly everything in between.
Jonathan M Harris
Film Instructor
JONATHAN M HARRIS is an instructor of film production at Clayton State University. As a filmmaker, his film and video work has been screened at film festivals nationwide including the San Francisco Documentary Festival, the Brooklyn Arts Council Film Festival and the Atlanta Film Festival. He is the director of numerous short films including the documentary, Treasure Hunters. He worked in public television as a producer on "C-47: Georgia's Short Film Showcase," and the "World War II Veterans Oral History Project".
Jose A Acosta
Digital Cinematographer and Director
JOSE A ACOSTA is a digital cinematographer and director who enjoys tells stories with moving pictures. His passion for excellence has garnered him EMMY and TELLY awards and he has been trusted with some of the world's best known brands like AFLAC, AT&T, Cartoon Network, CNN, Coca-Cola, Ferrari, the EMMY Awards, Disney, DIY Network, Dunkin' Donuts, the Home Depot, and the Weather Channel. TOOLS OF CHOICE CAMERAS: RED Epic owner/operator, Plus ALEXA, Panasonic P2, Canon HDSLRs, Sony EX-1, EX-3, F3, FS100, and GoPro.
Josh Saideman
Director of Photography
JOSH SAIDEMAN is a Director, Cinematographer, and Editor. Josh has worked as a Cinematographer and Gaffer on projects of all sizes, from feature films to national commercials. He was also the Key Grip on an independent film starring Ving Rhames and Director for a number of music videos in the Atlanta. Some clients he has recently worked with include: Aflac, The Bleacher Report, Goodwill, Delta, Smite World Championship, ChickFil-A, BitPay, Lady Antebellum, and Geraldo Rivera. Josh is well-versed in a broad range of productions including narrative films, documentaries, commercials, corporate, music videos, live event coverage and anything else that requires compelling visual storytelling.
Ken Feinberg
Creative Studios of Atlanta
KEN FEINBERG can call upon a productive three-dimensional career that embodies performing, writing and directing. He has a long list of credits that demonstrate the fortitude of his craft. His broad knowledge of the industry and his devotion to the arts, whether on film, television or stage, has been expressed in his many accomplishments. For over 18 years Feinberg has been directing, writing, producing and acting in award-winning films, hit television series and major theater projects in Los Angles, New York and Atlanta.
Micah Stansell
Filmmaker
MICAH STANSELL is an Atlanta-based video/filmmaker and installation artist. His work has screened in galleries and film festivals across the Unites States and internationally. Stansell has received several awards for his work, most recently a 2011 Artadia Award, 2010 Working Artist Project Award from the Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia, a Special Jury Prize for Innovative Filmmaking at the 2009 Atlanta Film Festival, and a 2008 Student Academy Award Nomination for his graduate work. Stansell's work has been reviewed in numerous publications including Art in America, Moviemaker Magazine, Atlanta Art Now: Noplacencess (book) and The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Nicholas L Minter
Ida Audio
NICHOLAS L. MINTER is CEO of Ida Audio and a professional Production Sound Mixer, Composer, and Sound Designer from Rochester, New York. Recent productions he has worked on include BRAVO’s Real Housewives of Atlanta, VH1’s T.I. and Tiny: The Family Hustle, Mena starring Tom Cruise, FOX Sports 18 Holes, Adobe, Kodak, and VICE AT&T. In addition to composing, Nicholas L. Minter has worked on various films and with many musicians serving as a recording and mix engineer in the areas of music, film, games, children toys, and audio books.
Quisa Foster
F2 Communications Group
QUISA FOSTER is Managing Partner of F2 Communications Group. F2 Communications Group is a savvy, strategic and integrated public relations firm that understands the importance of communications and how it impacts your brand, image, reputation credibility and growth. Ms. Foster is an accomplished public relations professional with more than 18 years of public relations experience. Her professional career includes a diverse mix of communications work in the field of television, radio, non-profit management, and higher education with expertise in media relations, crisis communications, community relations, social media management and brand development.
Ryan Monolopolus
Monolopolus Productions
RYAN MONOLOPOLUS is the Founder and Head Instructor of Monolopolus Productions. In this capacity, he created On Camera Combatives (OCC) – an original program that combines elements of martial arts, combat systems, and performance techniques into a uniform and skill-building curriculum. The goal of the program is to better on-camera action for actors, filmmakers and enthusiasts, and create a global network of industry professionals. Currently the program is based out of Atlanta, Georgia which is arguably the fastest growing film market in the world and where Monolopolus lives and works in the film and entertainment industry.
Shandra McDonald
Kiss the Limit Productions
SHANDRA MCDONALD is CEO/President of Kiss the Limit Productions, Inc. She is an award-winning writer, director and producer of short and long-form content and documentary projects that have screened in festivals around the world. She has received awards from the Director’s Guild of America, Atlanta Film Festival, IFP Film Festival, Roxbury Film Festival, Women in Film and Television/Atlanta and Reel Shades of the Diaspora.
Stanley Johnson
Diamond Light Entertainment, Inc.
STANLEY JOHNSON has been a force in the music industry with over 25 years of experience in areas such as vocalist, songwriter, arranger, producer and composer. Stanley is CEO/owner of Diamond Light Entertainment, Inc. (DLEI), based in Atlanta, GA, with offices in NY/NJ. DLEI has filmed some of the top movers and shakers in music, film, television and sports. Stanley is the first African American television producer to produce a golf series that was featured on the Golf Channel.
Suzan Satterfield
Salt Run Productions
SUZAN SATTERFIELD is owner and executive producer of Picture Window Productions. She started in news production, migrated through producing big live shows to become an ad agency producer. She also worked on independent and documentary films, and now creates, writes and produces television and transmedia. Suzan has helmed several television series as EP, including “Mega Dens” (DIY Network), “Ground Breakers” (HGTV), as well as “The Natural South,” for Turner Broadcasting.
Download PDF of 2015 speaker list.
Short Film Festival Jury
Clementine Leger
Slamdance Film Festival Manager
CLEMENTINE LEGER is a graduate of Rollins College. Leger is the Festival Manager at Slamdance Film Festival. Prior to joining Slamdance she enjoyed a two-year tenure at Florida Film Festival as the Programming Coordinator. She oversaw the day-to-day logistics of the festival’s programming and year round events. When she is not occupied with saving the work one-film-at a time, she can be found enjoying some refreshing cheap beer.
Ly Bolia
Associate Professor of Film/Video at Georgia State University
LY BOLIA (M.F.A., New York University, 1994) is Associate Professor of Film/Video with Georgia State University, with creative specializations as a writer, director, editor and cinematographer. Bolia’s films have screened nationally and internationally. Bolia’s work spans feature films, short films, public service announcements, and political campaign advertisements. His work has been distributed on DVD, and reviewed in Variety Magazine, Hollywood Reporter, Village Voice, TV Guide, Box Office Magazine, Filmmaker Magazine, and Entertainment Today. Research Areas: Cinematography; Film Lighting & Editing. Degree Track Affiliations: Ph.D. (Moving Image Studies), M.F.A., M.A. (Film & Video).
Xavier L Neal-Burgin
University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts MFA Fellow
XAVIER L NEAL-BURGIN is a graduate student at USC's School of Cinematic Arts graduating in December. Hailing from the deep south, Xavier brings a personal, and intimate aesthetic to his films. He's screened at the San Diego Black Film Festival, was a finalist at the Stage 32 Raindance Short Film competition, and was a finalist for the UCFTI Expo. His latest shot film, Olde E, will premiere in 2016.
Short Film Festival Master of Ceremonies
David Martyn Conley
Munirah Entertainment
DAVID MARTYN CONLEY is a Writer, Director, and Actor with over 20 years’ experience as a stage and cinematic artist. Through his company, Munirah Entertainment, Conley has written the UpTV original movie, Raising Izzie. As an Actor, Conley has appeared on Network television programs including: Army Wives, Drop Dead Diva, Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, and Disney’s Let It Shine.
