Here we’ll be able to give you an idea of who’s behind this production! We’re SO fortunate to have locked A-list crewmembers in every position. We may be good at writing and directing, but we need serious help managing money, designing sets, stitching costumes, organizing personnel, staying on schedule, casting, etc, etc, etc. … And we’re pleased to report that all of these people are smarter than us at what they do, which will enable us to make an amazing film. Stay tuned as we post the bios of our crew!
WRITING & DIRECTION
MICHAEL KOEHLER (writer, director) grew up in East Africa, where he spent much of his childhood outdoors creating stories. In 2005, Michael moved to New York City to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Before graduating with a BFA in Film and Television Production, he wrote and directed numerous projects both in and outside of film school, including a 35mm short film set in Prague, a nationally broadcast television episode about the Space Race, a documentary about predator control in Alaska, and an exposé on infant mortality in Southeast Asia. In 2008, Michael teamed with Ryan Patch to write and direct “The Sheol Express”, a short film that crowned his years at Tisch. With production finished in the spring of 2009, Michael and Ryan traveled to Thailand to shoot a television pilot before turning their sights on post-production of “Sheol” and on writing its feature adaptation. Inherently drawn to humanitarian crises and remote places, Michael is preparing to return to Southeast Asia, where he will investigate the potential for a feature-length documentary.
RYAN PATCH (writer, director, producer) cut his teeth telling campfire stories in the mountains of his native Colorado. He moved to New York City to attend New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, where in 2009 he received a BFA in Film and Television Production. Throughout his years at Tisch, Ryan pursued his dream of becoming a feature film director by directing, assistant directing, and producing showcase work in radio, 16mm, 35mm, and HD. Highlights include “Chess and the Art of Orange Soda”, a comedy shot on super 16mm; and his NYU thesis film “The Sheol Express”, a short he wrote and directed with Michael Koehler. Since graduating, Ryan has traveled throughout Thailand to shoot a television pilot with “Sheol” collaborator Michael Koehler; to Brazil to direct the first documentary produced about an indigenous Amazonian tribe that is intended for that tribe; and to Turkey, where he joined an NYU crew to produce a short film. When he’s not working as a freelance editor and videographer, Ryan is either writing his next feature or supervising post-production of “The Sheol Express”, which is scheduled to premiere in June 2010. He is also the owner of “Storyteller’s INK”, a production company based in New York City.
CAMERA
ANDREW MICHAEL ELLIS attends Tisch School of the Arts, and is pursuing a Film and Television major with a minor in Cinematography and Business and Entertainment. Coming from California, Andrew gained G&E and Camera experience working on USC graduate films through his high school career. Today, Andrew has not only shot many student films, but also holds experience in the professional realm, shooting and camera operating for commercials, music videos, and documentaries. This past summer Andrew worked with Alternate Ending Studios (AltEndStudios.com) on a number of commercials, as well as a short film and a music video. Andrew also worked extensively with Maingrove Productions, a Los Angeles based company, for which he shot several commercials in California and Utah. Check him out online at www.andrewmichaelellis.com.
SET OPERATIONS
MARYMICHAEL D’ONOFRIO (assistant director) graduated from NYU’s Tisch Film and TV program with a BFA in ’07, and has spent the past two years honing her craft as an Assistant Director. Some of her more notable projects include MTV music videos, National Geographic TV programs, HGTV specials, as well as dozens of student and independent shoots. In 2006 Marymichael spent six months abroad in Paris, France working on a documentary about cyclists and other “green” transportation. More recently she was found in Johannesburg, South Africa, working on multiple projects including “Landless”, a documentary that focuses on the struggle of illegal forced evictions in shantytowns by the local Government. Marymichael has made a name for herself in NYC amongst her peers and, with her love of strip boards and call sheets, she is reinventing what it means to be a great AD.
ART AND DESIGN TEAM
CHLOE SMOLKIN (storyboard artist) is one of a very small pool of talented storyboard artists in New York University’s film program, and has done storyboards for literally dozens and dozens of the short films of her peers. Recently, she has worked on storyboards for nationally aired commercials and music videos, and is currently storyboarding for the Red Cross. Chloe will also be the First Assistant Cameraperson on “The Sheol Express”s set.
