It Takes People

Here's a list of the personnel who have indicated their willingness to work with us on our projects. An independent studio is known by the company it keeps, and we intend to keep only the best company – top creative talent from around the world. Here are just a few...

Mark Byers. Executive/Producer/Writer Mark Byers has produced or directed numerous independent feature motion pictures (Deception, Take No Prisoners, Dream Parlor, Criminal Act), written 24 feature screenplays (The Family Mancuso, The Treatment, Slow Boat to China), and written and produced numerous television programs and specials (The Price of Freedom, Home Base, Hands of Mercy, More than the Music).

Byers made his name in Asian co-production circles with the critically acclaimed box office success, Gua Sha, and the hit Hong Kong actioner Dragon Squad. Byers has been actively involved in setting up international co-finance and co-productions with partners in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Korea, India, and Mexico.

In addition, Byers is involved in the funding of large film slates, and represents investment partners developing larger infrastructure projects such as cinema construction and operation, studio development and construction, and new technology development.

Charles Welty. Mr. Welty wrote many of the screenplays in the our project list. He started writing in radio in 1976. After completing an award-winning radio documentary (The Spirit in ’76), he went on to produce a series of public service announcements (radio and television) for the Faith America Foundation. Mr. Welty was later retained to write the screenplay for Minnesota Connection, based on the popular Warner paperback. (The picture starred Joseph Campanella and Rosie Greer.) Charles Welty joined the Writers Guild of America in 1981. He co-founded a direct broadcast satellite company (Continental Satellite), which was later sold to aerospace conglomerate Loral. He later founded a publishing company (Davidson Press) and a satellite telecommunications company (SWANsat).

Frank Antonelli and Caroline Zelder. Since forming their film and television production company in October 2001, Frank Antonelli (writer/producer) and Caroline Zelder (writer/producer/director) created a television series for Ridley and Tony Scott (FH2), wrote an epic historical drama for Mel Gibson (Waitin’ for a Train), and are producing the family film A Plumm Summer which Caroline is directing. They have worked or are currently working with CBS, Mel Gibson, Icon Productions, Hugh Jackman, and the Walt Disney Company. They are represented by Sandra Lucchesi and Amy Schiffman at The Gersh Agency and managed by Graham/Rosenzweig.

Jonathan Lawrence. Lawrence picked up a movie camera at the tender age of eight, and so began a lifelong love affair with storytelling through film that has touched audiences everywhere. As a result of these years of experience, Lawrence has become one of today’s premiere visual stylists – a communicator in images and emotions – shooting straight for the heart. His award-winning work has often been compared with that of his inspirational mentors – Orson Wells, Frank Capra, James Cameron, and Steven Spielberg. Recent directing credits include – Dream Parlor, The Family Mancuso, Treasure of the Templars, and Windsong.

Joe Viskocil. Academy Award winner Joe Viskocil is the special effects wizard who blew up the White House in the blockbuster Independence Day, the Death Star in the seminal Star Wars film, and the entire world in the chilling sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Viskocil put the thrill in director Jonathan Lawrence’s Dream Parlor, the chill in Jody Foster’s Panic Room, took us to the depths of the sea in The Abyss, and the heights of the heavens in Apollo 13, as well as providing truly unforgettable experiences in Armageddon, True Lies, Batman Returns, Interview with the Vampire, Alien: Resurrection, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, and Team America: World Police – among many, many others.

Catherine Hun. Innovative Hong Kong-based producer Catherine Hun began her filmmaking career as production designer on the Michelle Yeoh actioner Executioners. She and Yeoh worked together again on the 1996 drama Stuntwoman Ah Kam, which Hun produced. Subsequently, she teamed with director Daniel Lee, producing his films Moonlight Express, Star Runner, and Dragon Blade.

Lynn Mooney. As an innovative executive, Mooney has over 15 years of global experience in the entertainment and media industries (film, television, licensing) with a broad range of strategic marketing and business management skills. Mooney has been head of International Distribution at Harmony Gold, a leading independent television production/distribution company; Director of Sales and Acquisitions at Transatlantic Entertainment; Vice President of International Sales at Dream Entertainment; and a Founding Partner of international distributor Shoreline Entertainment. Mooney established Eclectic Entertainment, which specializes in consulting for a wide range of producers and distributors, in the areas of worldwide sales, acquisitions and co-production financing. Mooney has worked extensively with companies such as Kintop Pictures (Buena Vista Social Club; Million Dollar Hotel; Bend It Like Beckham) and Hilltop Entertainment (Lovers, Liars and Thieves with Robin Williams; Ignition with Lena Olin, Bill Pullman; Kevin of the North with Skeet Ulrich, Leslie Nielsen, Natasha Henstridge) and other respected producers in the industry.

Debra O’Connor. Producer/Screenwriter Debra O’Connor has worked in the independent film community for nearly a decade, and has written 5 feature screenplays (Elvis Dies, The Witch Hunter, Queen of Hearts, Wallowa, Flyers), produced and directed several short feature films (Vibes, The Fears, Call of Duty), and has worked extensively in development of creative finance models for independent film. O’Connor is currently active as a consultant in creative film finance for feature film projects, incorporating investment-banking alternatives to traditional equity finance models. At present, O’Connor is in negotiations with a number of companies in Hong Kong, Korea, and China to provide over a billion dollars in finance within the independent Asian film community, as well as working to facilitate US/Asian co-production ventures.

Bey Logan. Writer/Producer Bey Logan provided the original screenplay for the US$40 million Jackie Chan release The Medallion. Bey was a producer on Hong Kong’s biggest hit of 2003, the award-winning The Twins Effect, and most recently produced the Michael Biehn / Sammo Hung action picture Dragon Squad for director Daniel Lee.

Daniel Lee. Director Daniel Lee made his name with the art house period actioner What Price Survival. He followed this with the internationally acclaimed Jet Li superhero vehicle Black Mask. Since then, Lee has turned his unique talent to deconstructing various genres of Hong Kong action cinema. He directed Leslie Cheung in the romantic thriller Moonlight Express, superstar Andy Lau in the kickboxing drama A Fighter’s Blues, and Taiwanese pop idol Vanness Wu in the martial arts actioner Star Runner. Lee is currently completing postproduction on his international action thriller, Dragon Squad, starring Michael Biehn, Sammo Hung, and Maggie Q.

Arthur Wong. Cinematographer/Producer/Director Arthur Wong has won the Hong Kong equivalent of the Academy Award for Best Cinematography for the last 6 years in a row. His richly varied work included Jackie Chan’s The Medallion, Milla Jojovich’s Ultraviolet, multiple award-winners like Soong Sisters and Floating Landscape, revered classics such as Iron Monkey, A Touch of Evil, Police Story, and Jet Li’s Once Upon a Time in China.

Salvy Maleki. Producer Salvy Maleki attended UCLA, majoring in film and theater and Classical Civilization. Maleki has produced the plays Hamlet, Mirror of La Mancha, and A Midsummer Night's Dream for the Los Angeles based Will and Company, where she launched their film division in 2000 by producing the documentaries The Rani of Jhansi shot on location in India and The Angry Eye. She served a seven year run in Special Effects and VFX on studio megahits such as Volcano, Godzilla, Alien Resurrection, Stuart Little, Hollow Man, Rat Race, Scorpion King, Windtalkers, and Hidalgo. In 2002, she became an independent film and television producer, producing such diverse projects as Fathers Of The Sport, starring Juilus "Dr. J" Erving and Pee-Wee Kirkland, the dark comedy feature film The Riot Act, the black comedy Shut Up & Shoot, and the award-winning Waterborne. In March of 2005, she joined Steve Oedekerk's team at O Entertainment, where she is currently developing several features and television shows.

Victor and Eddy Wong / Menfond. Founded in 1990, Menfond built a reputation as one of the leading visual effects specialist in Hong Kong and in Asia. Menfond has created 3D-universes for games, animation for commercials and music videos and made countless visual effects shots for feature films. Menfond Electronic Art & Computer Design has set up a new company in China's Guandong province and started a strategic partnership with Haulong Film Digital Production in Beijing. Recent credits include DOA: Dead or Alive, Ultraviolet, Initial D, House of Flying Daggers, and Infernal Affairs.