Special Thanks
In addition to our Sponsors, the Faculty and Staff of MCNY, and our Crew,
who have worked tirelessly on coordinating the festival, we want to recognize and extend a special thank you to the following individuals, for their
contributions to making the festival a success:
President Dr. Vinton Thompson
Dean Humphrey Crookendale
Dean Steven Lenhart
Mayra Robinson
Mercedes Melendez
Steebo Varghese
Davinder Kaur
Douglas Long
Desi Robinson
Eric Torvinen
Deb Spohnheimer
Tina Georgiou
Christopher Johnson
The Office of Admissions
Facilities Staff
Security
For more information about MCNY or the Media Management MBA
program visit us at www.mcny.edu or call (800) 33 THINK.
Executive Producers
Cherice Monique Bedford is an actress, screenwriter, film editor, and filmmaker. She worked for
several production companies and media events,
including serving as a producer for the Metropolitan College of New York’s Inaugural Short Film
Festival, which she co-created, in April of 2010.
She wrote and produced her first short film "Toya"
that same year. Ms. Bedford divides her time now
between co- executive producing the MCNY 2nd
Annual Media Management Short Film Festival
and transforming her short into a feature length film. In August 2009, Ms.
Bedford received her Bachelor of Arts in communication. In August 2010
she received her MBA in Media Management at the Metropolitan College
of New York.
George Kevin Jordan came to MCNY with more
than 20 years of writing experience. After receiving his B.A. in Print Journalism from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1995, he worked
within almost every genre of writing, working for
such publications as The Milwaukee Journal –
Sentinel, The Sunday Paper – Atlanta, and Bleu
Magazine, where he served as EIC and Executive
Editorial Director for three years. His debut novel
“That Moment When,” was released worldwide in
2007 through Urban Soul / Kensington Publishing. His follow up effort
“Hopeless,” came the next year in 2008. In August 2010, Mr. Jordan received his MBA in Media Management from the Metropolitan College of
New York. Currently he is working on his third novel.
Judges
DENIS BLOT is Video Merchandising Manager at Columbia House/Direct
Brands Inc where he provides insights into how best to promote DVDs and discusses DVD product with film studio representatives. A graduate of NYU’s prestigious Film Studies Masters program, he has participated in a variety of film related careers over the last ten years. Early in his career, he worked as a Film Research Assistant Manager for Archive Films/Archive Photos and then later Film
Research Supervisor for Getty Images where he assisted producers in the advertising, documentary, and feature film markets with locating stock footage for use in
their projects. He has taught cinema over the last eight years at Lehman College.
The Crew
Nathasha Cresap
Cristiana Tudor
Fatima Pootrakul
Kawas Bhasin
Joline Napolitano
Paul Meyer
Nygil Fraser
Crystyn Wright
George K Jordan
Cherice Bedford
Sunay Tamashev
Andy Oh
Prof. Kristie Velasco
Daniel Simonette
Prof. Paula Landry
Prof. Alex Sepulveda
Thursday, April 7
VINCENT PRESTI is an attorney and co-founder of I Wanna Be On, Inc., a multi
-media production company that has a first look deal with CBS to develop reality
programming. Vincent was the former Director, Business Operations at Roundabout Theatre Company where he developed cross-platform concepts between
theatre, television and music, including pitching the first, reality-based Broadwaytheme concept to CAA, and seeking American Idol talent for Broadway productions, and encouraging Las Vegas business interest in co-venturing in Broadway
productions.
Friday, April 8
LA RIVERS is an actor/producer/filmmaker. She began her journey as a filmmaker working with a group of friends on a great script, which turned out to be
the feature film DIRTY LAUNDRY, starring Loretta Devine and Rockmond
Dunbar which she Co-produced. The film achieved much success at the American
Black Film Festival (ABFF) sweeping the festival and winning the audience
award, and went on to be nominated for an NAACP image award in 2007. La
also sat on the board for the African American Women in Cinema's 10th annual
festival in 2007 arranging the opening feature at HBO. Current projects include
Naomi Black, screening soon at HBO, LOVE in the ZODIAC, and FACADE.
Festival Schedule
6pm
Doors Open
6:15
Welcome
6:30
Film Industry Insiders Panel
7:45
Moderator: Prof. Kristie Velasco, Coordinator,
Media Management MBA Program
Special Film Screening
8pm
Roundtable Discussion
Facilitator-Prof. Paula Landry
Media Management MBA Program
6pm
Doors Open
6:10
Welcome
6:20
Screening of Short Films
8:15
Special Film Presentation
8:20
Feature Short TOYA
8:45
Presentation of Awards
Panelists
NICOLE BUKOWSKI earned her MBA in Media
Management from MCNY, and a BS from the RIT.
Working as a first accountant and 1st assistant accountant in film and reality television, she is a member of
IATSE Local 161, worked for JFA Accounting and
has gone on to start her own production accounting
firm. She produced several episodes of the TV series In the Now. Other credits
include The Extra Man, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Shame, Win Win, An
Invisible Sign, and Violet & Daisy.
RALPH SCOTT has been a pioneer and advocate
for Black films, particularly in the short film genre.
He has toured all around the world creating film
festivals that highlight amazing films, particularly
those from the African and African American Diaspora. He is best known as the executive producer of
BET-J’s The Best Shorts and the creator and Executive Producer of Lens on Talent, the premiere
location for black short films. He is now owner of Social Cinema, LLC a
socially conscious film company.
ROSLYN L. PATTERSON leads Novartis Corporation Brand and Corporate Reputation efforts in
the United States as well as the Novartis US Foundation. She has served as Vice President and Managing Director for UniWorld Health, a division of
Uniworld Group, Inc., and was responsible for
UniWorld Group’s business development. global
communications to commercialization. Currently a
member of the adjunct faculty at MCNY’s School of Management, her
education includes an M.B.A. from Baker University and a B.A. in Communications – Radio, TV, and Film, with a minor in advertising from the
University of Missouri – Columbia.
Judges
STEPHEN R. GREENWALD is the co-author of This Business of FILM, and has
served as an executive, financier, consultant, and lawyer with companies including
Presto Productions; G&H Media; Odyssey Pictures and Vision International; and
De Laurentiis Entertainment Group, where he served as Chair and CEO, releasing
over 20 films, including Blue Velvet and Crimes of the Heart. From 1999 to 2007,
he was president of Metropolitan College of New York and is currently President
of Aurelius Capital PLC.
SEAN CAZADES is Vice President of Development and founder of Caeruleas Entertainment and has over 15 years experience in film and television as a director and
actor. He has produced over 30 live Off and Off-Off Broadway events, as well as
several PSAs and television commercials for non profits and local NYC businesses.
In addition Sean co-founded and was Managing Director of Absolute Theatre Company NYC for 5 years; was Line Producer and Production Coordinator for Villains
Commercial Productions, and ZTV, LLC; was Marketing Associate at Reuters
America; and an Account Executive for Endeavor Marketing New York .
MAURICE CARR (Reece) is Vice President of Production for Caeruleas Entertainment who has worked in the film and music industries as a director, writer, producer and musical composer. He has written for MTV, produced, directed, and
acted in independent film projects including Gravesend by Oliver Stone, and
Ashes, written and directed Ajay Naidu, as well as co-wrote and performed music
in the award winning film Bella. A professional drummer, Reese has played at Lincoln Center and The Apollo Theater, and has recently recorded and toured Europe
with Italian singer Amalia Gre’ for EMI records. He is currently collaborating with
The Apollo Theater on rhythm workshops for it’s educational program.
RICHARD E. PELZER II is currently the President and CEO of MEGA Management Inc. a NYC Business Development Management Firm he founded in
1994. Clients included; The NYSE Diversity Council, Sephora, Essence Magazine, Jones Magazine, Bleu Magazine, Celebrity Makeup Artist Sam Fine, Musical
Duo Les Nubians, International Artist Emmanuel Jal, and African American
Women in Cinema Film Festival. He prides himself on the ability to cultivate
creative partnerships and long lasting relationship to stay within budget in our current economic climate. He was also casting director for the feature film Dirty
Laundry.
Children’s Aid Society
Student Filmmakers/Actors
Briana Marquez
Sharoya Evans
Kayla Sutton
Kayla Avey
Donavan Jones
Alize Bradford
(camera shy)
Nashay Daniels
Jordan Williams
The Door, which was produced, directed and stars these young people, is a
short film about molestation; it teaches young children how to speak out and
say something if something were to happen to them…
The Dunlevy Milbank Children’s Center of the Children’s Aid Society
provides the area’s most renowned and comprehensive community facility
offering an indoor heated swimming pool, a gymnasium with vertical moving walls, a health clinic, a computer technology lab, an arts and crafts room,
a kitchen designed for teaching, a library, picnic area and soccer pitch field.
Milbank provides an array of services including family activities, after
school programming, Saturday program, Summer Camp, Youth Development Services and wrap around services for the entire family.
Campus Director: Casper Lassiter M.S.W. Acting Teachers: Cherice Bedford, Anwar Hannon
Panelists
BERNARD H. JACKSON, III is currently producing
entertainment content and practicing law, combining
his 20 years of legal experience with the filmmaking
skills he has acquired throughout his career. Formerly
counsel in the NY office of Dewey & LeBoeuf's Entertainment and Media Group, he worked with
many celebrities (Michael Jackson, Rosie O’Donnell,
Lil Kim, Mos Def, Harlem Globetrotters) often performing additional tasks outside his legal role
including album/music video/television and motion picture production
budgeting, production coordination, talent procurement as well as drafting
and editing television/film treatments and scripts. Bernie has previously lent
his legal and business expertise as a partner of JDW Entertainment, Inc., a
music production company that had a record distribution arrangement with
RCA Records and was one of the executives of the management team for
several recording artists signed to major labels including multi-platinum recording artist Mary J. Blige. Bernie received a J.D. from New York Law
School, an M.Ed from City College of New York, and his BS from Boston
University.
NEFERTITI STRONG began in entertainment as a
rapper with her acclaimed L.I.F.E. album. A feature
role in Mario Van Peebles PANTHER took her into
film producing and directing. She has worked on
soundtracks for Black Panther, Above the Rim,
Girlstown, the Rose that Grew from Concrete, Rap
Mania, and is the soundtrack supervisor for PorVida starring Snoop Dog and Danny Glover. She has
produced and directed Concert DVDs for Nelly, IceT and Juvenile. She was also a performer and co-writer with the Grammy
Nominated Spanish rock band KINKY. Her award winning film, Phase 5
screened at Sundance. She studied Film Direction and Production at the Los
Angeles Film School.
Round Table
TEJU PRASAD completed his MBA in Media Management from
MCNY in Fall, 2010 and is working on his second documentary film,
Not a Feather, but a Dot. Teju has been making short films since
2004, and completed his first documentary in 2007, Creating Utsava,
following the debut in the West of the performing group Taranga, a
theatrical dance show drawing on Indian sacred stories. Creating Utsava is available on Indieflix.com. Not a Feather, but a Dot is an examination into
the history and evolution of the Indian-American community, including an investigation into mainstream perceptions of the Indian community.
MELI PENNINGTON comes to producing from a background as an
internationally acclaimed makeup artist. She has worked with an extraordinary range of photographers, from fashion heavyweights Patrick
Demarchelier and Arthur Elgort to fine art innovators Ryan McGinley
and Stephen Gill. Her work has been featured Allure, Glamour, Teen
Vogue, and numerous international editions of Vogue. She holds a BA
in Fine Arts from Syracuse University and an MBA in Media Management from
MCNY. ALL THAT GLITTERS, Ms. Pennington’s first film, is a harrowing,
suspenseful thriller with influences from ancient mythology all the way to modern
quantum theoretics. The film is at once a gripping narrative and a layered menagerie of ideas that brings into question the very purpose of our existence.
PETER SCHELFHAUDT is a business entrepreneur with a
unique capacity to spot creative talent and develop it into successful media and business collaborations. Before acquiring and
leading Creative Partners, an integrated marketing communications network based in CT, Peter was head of Mergers & Acquisitions – Advertising and Communications for Monster Worldwide. Peter holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Univ. of Massachusetts at Boston and an MBA in Media Management at MCNY. FAILING BETTER NOW
is a coming-of-age-at-thirty, offbeat comedy about a flaky writer who loses her
sister's cat and falls for the aspiring rockstar who joins her on a wild search in the
East Village. Awards include Winner 'Best Original Music' Charlotte Film Festival 2010, 'Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema Dramatic' Amsterdam Film Festival, Winner 'Best Acting Ensemble' Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Winner 'Best
Romantic Comedy Feature Film' NY Independent Film & Video Festival.
Round Table
PAZIT LEVITAN is a New York-based Internet marketer, instructional technologist and video producer who developed a global
career around her passion for cross-cultural communication, media
technologies, education and the arts. Pazit earned an MBA in Media Management from MCNY and is a Doctorial Candidate in Communication
and Education at Columbia University.
CHERICE BEDFORD is an actress, screenwriter, film editor, and filmmaker. She
worked for several production companies and media events, including serving as a producer for the Metropolitan College of New
York’s Inaugural Short Film Festival, which she co-created, in
April of 2010. She wrote and produced her first short film TOYA
that same year. Ms. Bedford divides her time now between coexecutive producing the MCNY 2nd Annual Media Management Short Film Festival and transforming her short into a feature length film. In August 2010 she received her MBA in Media Management at the Metropolitan College of New York.
PARRIS MOORE holds an MBA in Media Management from
MCNY, produced the film Black Ninja, and is an Associate Producer of the film KINYARWANDA, which debuted at Sundance
in 2011 and won the World Cinema Audience Award in the Dramatic Category KINYARWANDA is based on true accounts from
survivors who took refuge at the Grand Mosque of Kigali and the madrassa of
Nyanza during the Rwandan genocide. It recounts how the Imams opened the
doors of the mosques to give refuge to the Tutsi and those Hutu who refused to
participate in the killing.
GERMAN JIMENEZ received his MBA in Media Management
from MCNY in 2009 and is currently an Executive Manager as Independent Artist Management LLC. He is the producer of a web
series called Dominion.