Patrick Shen – Director/Producer/Cinematographer
Patrick made his feature directorial debut in 2005 with the critically-acclaimed Flight from Death: The Quest for Immortality which was hailed by critics as being “one of the most ambitious films ever made” (PBS 106.7 Australia) and “moving and thought-provoking” (NBC). Beautifully photographed in eight different countries and three years in the making, Flight from Death was awarded seven “Best Documentary” awards at film festivals all over the United States. In 2009, Shen premiered his award-winning The Philosopher Kings to sold-out audiences at the AFI-Discovery Channel SILVERDOCS Documentary Festival after which the film opened theatrically in Los Angeles & New York and was broadcast on The Documentary Channel. Shen’s latest documentary La Source premiered at the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs Documentary Festival in June 2012 where it received a standing ovation and a nomination for the Social Impact Award. Narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle, La Source tells the story of Josue Lajuenesse, a janitor from Princeton University who returns to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to bring clean water to his village. La Source premiered theatrically in LA and New York in August 2012 and debuted on iTunes, Hulu, and DVD in 2013. Patrick has received a grant from the Fledgling Fund and for the past 3 years has been lecturing and teaching filmmaking workshops all over the globe as a film envoy for the U.S. State Department for their American Film Showcase. Website
Andrew Brumme – Producer
Specializing in the concept, production and marketing of films, Andrew has worked as a multimedia communications consultant for over a decade. Most recently, he served as Producer for an award-winning, feature documentary on a global human rights issue under a pseudonym. His past experience includes marketing Ben Stein’s 2008 documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, and Disney’s 2005 blockbuster The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to the faith and family audience through Motive Entertainment.
Brandon Vedder – Producer/Co-Cinematographer
Brandon sharpened his teeth as a filmmaker while on the road shooting concert documentaries for bands like; Pearl Jam, Sleater Kinney, Wu Tang Clan, Dispatch, Jet and Lauryn Hill. He parlayed those experiences into directing music videos which have been featured in Stereogum, Filter, Pitch – fork and The Los Angeles Times among others. His narrative tendencies have been expressed in a handful of short films that have gone on to play the American festival circuit. As a non-fiction film – maker, Brandon has documented stories around the globe ranging from life on the road with a three-ring circus to out- breaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa. He was on the producing team behind TM’s La Source and also contributed as co-cinematographer and co-editor. Website
Cassidy Hall – Co-Producer
Cassidy is the creator of 17spaces.org, an online resource dedicated to appreciation of the O.C.S.O (Trappist) monasteries of the United States. The website is a culmination of interviews and photography after a 6 month tour throughout the U.S. in which she visited all 17 Trappist monasteries. In addition to her writing and photography, Cassidy has worked as a tour manager, co-writer, and background vocalist for her musician sister Leslie Hall.
Alex Lu – Composer
Named by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) as a “Composer to Watch,” Alex Lu has composed, arranged, orchestrated, and conducted on a growing list of film scores. Recent documentary credits include the SXSW awarding-winning film, Mine: Taken by Katerina, Carpe Kilimanjaro: An Alzheimer’s Project, Go Pubic: A Day in the Life an American School District, Blessed is the Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh, among others. Alex has also contributed music to the Primetime Emmy Award winning documentary series, Have You Heard From Johannesburg? In addition to composing, Alex has worked in the music department for Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood, Prometheus, and The Grey, starring Liam Neeson. Alex is an alumnus of the acclaimed ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop and is the recipient of the ASCAP David Rose Award. Website
Steve Bissinger – Sound Designer
Steve is a guitarist, composer and producer who has also worked extensively as a sound designer and mixer for feature films, television, commercial advertising and exhibits. He has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and six Golden Reel Awards, winning the Golden Reel for Best Sound Design in 1999. Recent film credits include Despicable Me, Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, Transformers, Cloverfield and 3:10 To Yuma. Television credits include Northern Exposure, The Outer Limits and The Visitor. He has scored commercials for Nike, Coke, Mercedes and Miller Light, as well as contributed sound design to top-rated video games The Sims and Lego Indiana Jones.
Executive Producers: Poppy Szkiler, Andrew Brumme, Larry Finegold