CREW - THE SWEETEST LAND

JEFFREY B. TEITLER (DIRECTOR/EDITOR): holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and a BFA from New York University’s, Tisch School of the Arts. Currently he serves as Professor of Production and Performance Studies within the Department of Communication at Central Connecticut State University. His work in film, both narrative and documentary, has been seen in festivals nationwide. He was also the filmmaking curriculum lead for the Children’s Defense Fund’s, Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative. www.envisionfilms.org

RON KOWALCZYK (ATTORNEY/PRODUCER): Ronald B. Kowalczyk is a partner at Kowalczyk Law Offices, P.C. He practices primarily in the areas of corporate law and civil litigation including business, employment, and intellectual property litigation. In addition, Mr. Kowalczyk is an adjunct instructor at the IIT Stuart School of Business and a lecturer at North Central College. Mr. Kowalczyk received his B.A. from Stetson University, his M.S. in Public Affairs from American University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

SERAFIN MENDEZ (PRODUCER): has arranged participation by Hartford city departments and other organizations for the film. Dr. Mendez is the Chair of the Communication Department at Central Connecticut State University; he has published numerous articles on media and social justice. In addition to his academic work, Mendez has served as the Secretary of the Hartford Charter Revision and performs development for local NGO’s.

Jill BC DU BOFF (SOUND DESIGNER/POST PRODUCTION AUDIO PRODUCER): Jill is an Obie Award winning sound designer for theatre, radio, television, film and special events in such venues/clients as On and Off-Broadway, National Public Radio, various popular television shows, and independent films. Since 2009 Jill has also served as a Professor of Sound Design at Sarah Lawrence College. Jill is represented by the Gersh Agency. http://jillduboff.com/Home.html

RALPH PEREZ /CINEWORKS (COLORIST) Ralph is the Senior Long Form Telecine Dailies Colorist at Cineworks Digital Studios in Miami, FL. Perez specializes in post production using telecine and color correction equipment including Spirit Datacine, Vialta, Ursa Diamond, Mark III, DaVinci Renaissance 8:8:8 and DaVinci 2K with Toolbox. His current TV clients include the original series Burn Notice starring Jeffrey Donovan and Bruce Campbell for the USA Network and his feature film dailies include Marley and Me, I Love You Phillip Morris and The Reaping. http://www.cineworks.com/

Linda C. Degutis, DrPH, MSN, FRSPH (ADVISOR TO THE SWEETEST LAND) is a consultant specializing in policy, advocacy, and injury and violence prevention. She is currently consulting on initiatives focusing on prevention of injury, suicide prevention and intervention, and violence prevention. Previously, she served as Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). At NCIPC, Dr. Degutis led initiatives in preventing violence and injuries, both domestically and internationally, focusing on interventions to address risk factors and developing closer linkages between research and practice. Prior to joining CDC, she was Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Public Health, and Associate Clinical Professor of Nursing at Yale University, and served as Research Director for Emergency Medicine and Director of the Yale Center for Public Health Preparedness. She was a 1996-97 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow, working in Senator Paul Wellstone’s (D-MN) office. Her research has focused on injury and violence prevention, as well as substance abuse prevention and intervention. She has been actively involved in educational initiatives in injury and violence prevention and intervention, trauma system development and implementation, substance abuse prevention and intervention and public health preparedness.

ALEK DEVA (COMPOSER): Alek Deva’s current/recent projects include: The Lost Cities Song Cycle (original music and lyrics), The Music Box Maker (original music, animated short), Paper Birds (post-classical collaboration with electronic artist Unigen) and Jordan’s Jackhammer (original score, short film). In addition to his artistic endeavors, Alek has worked as Master Electrician and Lighting Designer at Carolina Performing Arts’ world-class performance venue, Memorial Hall, where he collaborated with theater, dance, and music artists from around the world. In early 2012, he produced Something Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue, a world premiere percussion and piano performance featuring award-winning percussionist Scott O’Toole and composer/pianist Alicia Willard. Alek holds a degree in English with a focus in Poetry Writing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

RICH FERGUSON-HULL (EFFECTS ARTIST AND ANIMATION): Richard recently completed consulting and directing for the first and second seasons of the animated series Ugly Americans, currently airing on Comedy Central. Just prior to that, he directed two pilots for Cartoon Network, one of which he also created, co-wrote, and executive produced. Previously, Rich was the Supervising Director for Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, part of Cartoon Network’s late night animation block, Adult Swim. In 2005, the Harvey Birdman Episode “Birdgirl of Guatanamole” won Best Animated Series For Adults at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. Prior to directing that series, Ferguson-Hull spent nine years at Olive Jar Studios of Boston and Los Angeles, first as animator and director, and later as a Creative Director. He is currently represented for commercial work through Global Mechanic.

NIKITA PROKHOROV (WEBSITE/GRAPHIC DESIGN/PROMOTION): is a founding partner of CINQ Partners, he is recognized by The International Council of Graphic Design Associations, logolounge and ICOGRADA.

Special thanks to our past and present consulting advisors: Dr. Linda DeGutis, Jocelyn Glatzer, Ricardo Accosta, Miranda Pachiana, Glynis Fitzgerald, Kathy Knoph, Alison Damone, Dr. Steve Wolf, Wick Griswold and Bryan Storkel.