The Team
Brian O'Hare, Director
Brian O’Hare graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and was commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He commanded a platoon during combat in the first Persian Gulf War, where he began writing.
Brian left the Marines as a Captain, and was cast by director John Waters out of a Baltimore bar in the film Crybaby. He has appeared in numerous commercials and films, including After, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Brian’s feature film scripts have been recognized as semi-finalists for the AMPAS Nicholl Fellowship. He’s also the award-winning co-director of No Limit, a feature documentary set on the World Poker Tour, currently screening on the festival circuit.
Brian is a regular contributor to Moviemaker magazine and lives in Los Angeles.
Contact Info:
Black Ace Films
brian@blackacefilms.com
Bobby Shepard, Director of Photography
With over 200 documentary, dramatic, commercial, and sports films to his credit, cinematographer Bobby Shepard is a legend in the independent film world.
A former U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant and decorated Vietnam veteran, Bobby bought his first camera while stationed in Japan. That initial purchase triggered a quarter century of landmark projects that would forever change documentary filmmaking.
Bobby was recognized early for his work on the Emmy-winning, Oscar-nominated civil rights series Eyes on the Prize and the pioneering documentary film Black Is ... Black Ain't. Bobby has worked as Director of Photography and Producer for virtually every major documentary series on U.S. television, including projects with Bill Moyers.
His films have earned Peabody and Emmy Awards as well as the Filmmaker's Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival. Bobby has served as a jurist at countless competitions, including the Sundance Film Festival and the Emmys.
Karin Williams, Producer
Karin Williams is an award-winning independent documentary producer based in Los Angeles. For more than 20 years she has worked as a journalist, broadcast producer and filmmaker in New Zealand, Australia and the USA. Her work has earned dozens of honors, including five regional Emmys and the prestigious Peabody Award, and has screened in festivals all over the world.
Originally from New Zealand, of Pacific Islands heritage, Karin began her career as a reporter on the tiny Pacific island of Rarotonga. She is known for her passionate work championing indigenous cultures and social issues. Credits include the national PBS documentaries The Voyage Home, following a Polynesian canoe voyage to Alaska; Skin Stories, a film about native Pacific tattoo traditions; and The Meaning of Food, a series on food and cultures in America. Her award-winning TV documentary on domestic violence, Hostages at Home, was distributed around the U.S. and is used for training by medical, educational and law enforcement agencies.
Assignments have taken her from remote Alaskan native villages to the heart of Los Angeles, where she has worked with LAPD homicide detectives and with medical examiners at the LA County Coroner’s Office. She continues to work with native tribes in Alaska and Canada to document environmental protection on the Yukon River.
Ric Arthur, Co-Producer
Ric Arthur is not your typical producer. From writing and producing to military operations and political advocacy, Ric’s diverse background allows him to create award-winning projects that reflect his strong vision and commitment to dynamic storytelling.
Most recently, Ric wrote on the staffs of Commander-in-Chief and NCIS and is now co-developing a one-hour network television show with Rod Lurie (The Contender, The Last Castle, Commander-in-Chief). Ric has produced two feature length movies, including Laura Smiles with RKO Pictures, which Variety hails as the "indie American Beauty," and which will be released theatrically in September 2006.
While getting his masters in politics at Harvard University, Ric worked with Al Franken on Lying Liars and the Lies They Tell. Prior to getting his masters he served as a naval officer for eight years, completing tours in the Western Pacific and Africa. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1993.
William Haugse, Editor
Renowned editor William Haugse has been nominated for both an Oscar (Hoop Dreams) and an Emmy (The Last Days of Kennedy and King). He has received the American Cinema Editors Eddie Award among many other prizes and has edited over 50 hours of network and cable documentaries. During his long career, Bill has worked with such cinema legends as Orson Welles and John Cassavetes. Recent work includes Sunset Story, winner of a special jury prize at the Tribeca Film Festival, Stevie, directed by Steve James and Unprecedented, about the 2000 Florida presidential election produced by Robert Greenwald. Since 1996 Bill has been a member of the professional honorary ACE.
Mark Paul Deren, Graphic Design
Mark Paul Deren, a.k.a. "Madsteez", is a world-renowned artist and designer based in Irvine, California.
His cutting-edge visual style attracts clients like Nike, Honda, Volkswagen, MCA Records, Interscope Records, Stussy, Evisu, Target and Boost Mobile. Steez’s distinctive graphics can be seen on Armada skis, Salomon bindings, Wallin surfboards, Nike footwear, X-Box, and on his own line of clothing and accessories.
Steez has bombed walls (with a spray can) in Beverly Hills, Barcelona, Seattle and NYC, and been featured in the New York Times. He is currently directing music videos, has a film project in the works and recently began a creative collaboration with Dennis Hopper.
website: www.madsteez.com
Roni Zulu, Tattoo Artist
Roni Zulu is one of the world's true masters of tattoo art.
After a successful career in commercial art and graphic design, Zulu took a spiritual path that dramatically fused his tribal and artistic talents, while transforming the face of modern tattooing.
Zulu became a pioneer in creating Zulu Tattoo, a world renowned, one-of-a-kind custom tattoo studio that embraces diversity of ethnicity and beliefs. His clientele includes Janet Jackson, Queen Latifa, Bruce Willis, Montel Williams, Christina Aguilera, Carrie-Anne Moss, Rosie O'Donnell, David Duchovny, and Lisa Bonet.
Zulu is a favorite of photographers, journalists and filmmakers for his unparalleled tattoo expertise and life philosophy.
website: www.zulutattoo.com