Meet the Team
Writer, Director, Producer
Rae Shaw is an award-winning director-producer of films and writer of screenplays, poetry, essay and short fiction. Her work explores diversity, connection, sexuality and disparity. A graduate of the University of Chicago and University of Miami, Rae has directed productions in theater and film. Her writing has received awards from noted screenwriting competitions the Academy Nicholl Fellowship, Austin Film Festival and Cynosure Screenwriting Awards among others. After working in the industry at The Firm, One Race Films and LionsGate for industry veterans, Rae returned to teaching filmmaking and screenwriting. She continues developing projects that uplift women and diverse perspectives. She was recently a semifinalist for the NYWIFT Writers Lab and NBC Universal Writing Program. She is the recipient of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship, Francis E Williams Artist Fellowship, and Marvin Miller and Guy Hanks Screenwriting Fellowship. Rae is a member of AWD, IFP, ACLU, WIMPS and WOCU. Rae is bi-coastal and splits her time between Los Angeles and Boston.
Producer
Sandra E. Varona (Producers Guild of America member) is a Los Angeles-based Producer with over 10 years of experience. In 2008, Sandra received the Panavision New Filmmaker Grant. Soon after, she launched her own production company, Varona Productions—a banner that has been at the forefront of numerous music videos, short films, new media projects and now feature films.
In 2010, Varona was one of 30 participants selected for the highly coveted year-long mentorship program Project Involve sponsored by Film Independent. After completing Project Involve, she signed on as the Unit Production Manager on the feature film, FILLY BROWN, which was well received at Sundance and starred Golden Globe-winner Gina Rodriguez.
Varona then became the Production & Crew Manager at Maker Studios and for 4 years worked directly with the Head of Production to develop efficient production manuals and implement necessary protocols between producers and studio operations.
Most recently Varona produced and line produced two feature films, SHINE, shot in New York City, London and Los Angeles in the Fall of 2015 and LETS GET TO IT, filmed entirely in Los Angeles during Winter 2016. Both films are currently in post production.
In 2010, Varona was one of 30 participants selected for the highly coveted year-long mentorship program Project Involve sponsored by Film Independent. After completing Project Involve, she signed on as the Unit Production Manager on the feature film, FILLY BROWN, which was well received at Sundance and starred Golden Globe-winner Gina Rodriguez.
Varona then became the Production & Crew Manager at Maker Studios and for 4 years worked directly with the Head of Production to develop efficient production manuals and implement necessary protocols between producers and studio operations.
Most recently Varona produced and line produced two feature films, SHINE, shot in New York City, London and Los Angeles in the Fall of 2015 and LETS GET TO IT, filmed entirely in Los Angeles during Winter 2016. Both films are currently in post production.
Producer
A New Orleans native residing in the Los Angeles area, Desiréia Valteau is a producer, writer, and award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience spanning television, film, radio, and web platforms. Interviews with film and television talent (in front and the behind the scenes) is what interested Desiréia in becoming a writer and producer. Her interviews include Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Spike Lee, Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, John Singleton, and Jada Pinkett Smith, just to name a few. Before joining “Black Kung Fu Chick” as a producer, Desiréia consulted with independent filmmakers and produced documentary-style content for an independent television network. She also hosts, writes, and produces the arts, culture, and society Underground Magnolia Podcast (https://www.undergroundmagnolia.com/).
Producer
Sascha Brown Rice is an award-winning producer, writer, director. Her Emmy nominated documentary California State of Mind and her feature romantic comedy Mango Kiss both screened internationally, won multiple honors, and received distribution. Pivoting from her role as a filmmaker, Sascha joined the motion picture division at Eastman Kodak where served as the Global Marketing Director. As part of the executive leadership team, she amplified Kodak’s visibility with innovative collaborations, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. Driven by a passion for making art and making a difference, she returned to filmmaking with a focus on producing and championing underrepresented voices. As producer, she’s worked on indie films including short film BASURERO by writer/director Eileen Cabiling, the feature film Solace directed by Tchaiko Omawale, and Rae Shaw’s upcoming web series Black Kungfu Chick. As part of the Central Valley’s Big Tell Showcase, she’s served as consulting producer on 40 short documentaries. She serves on the Board of Advisors of the Pat Brown Institute, which is a non-partisan public policy Institute at Cal State LA.
Transmedia Producer & Post SupervisorJainardhan Sathyan is a multi talented producer, director and a transmedia specialist. He has produced more than twenty television shows, music videos, commercials and directed short films. His recent film Harvey's Dream, has been winning several awards at the festivals around the world. In the past, he has worked with the WPP group, the world's largest advertising conglomerate, as Producer/National Director - Content, where he was responsible for producing branded content and delivering transmedia campaigns for brands like Pepsico, Unilever, Kelloggs, Lufthansa, LG and many more. He also runs a startup that develops smartphone applications for entertainment shows and series. He is a film graduate and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, son and when he is not working, he loves traveling to a new city on exploration.
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Producer and UPM
Reko Moreno is a storyteller and entrepreneur. His latest project, a docu-series on the world of combat sports, "Bushido Battleground" premiered on The El Rey Network and can now be seen worldwide on different streaming apps. His mission is to tell stories that inspire, create a sense of community, all while being inclusive.
Social Media Producer
Prarthana Joshi is a creative producer based in Los Angeles. Her most recent project as a production manager, a web series called "the Millionaires” has been featured on the funny or Die and is in the second season.
Her introduction to the industry was in 2008, when she started working as an assistant director in independent features and short films in India. Her first short film she directed, ‘Vaatsaru', The Rolling Stone, was screened at the International film festival of India. She Was Awarded a fellowship from the National Film Archives of India for her work on the archival documentary on Prabhat film company. She graduated with a MFA from New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in 2012. The Projects that she AD’d on include The Well, Following Jerry, Imperial Odyssey: Questions of War, Black and Shiny Things , Chippy and Imperial Odyssey: The Brushfire Impasse. Her credits not only include her work as a producer/ AD but she has edited over 10 short projects and has done production design on projects like Dance of insanity, A Father's Love , Blind Date, Infliction, Same Time Same Place, napkins and Tell Me a Memory.
Her introduction to the industry was in 2008, when she started working as an assistant director in independent features and short films in India. Her first short film she directed, ‘Vaatsaru', The Rolling Stone, was screened at the International film festival of India. She Was Awarded a fellowship from the National Film Archives of India for her work on the archival documentary on Prabhat film company. She graduated with a MFA from New York Film Academy in Los Angeles in 2012. The Projects that she AD’d on include The Well, Following Jerry, Imperial Odyssey: Questions of War, Black and Shiny Things , Chippy and Imperial Odyssey: The Brushfire Impasse. Her credits not only include her work as a producer/ AD but she has edited over 10 short projects and has done production design on projects like Dance of insanity, A Father's Love , Blind Date, Infliction, Same Time Same Place, napkins and Tell Me a Memory.
Casting Director
Brooklyn born, and Florida raised, Tiffanny Nelson Hobbs is founder of NYLA Creative Consulting, LLC. From New York to Los Angeles, Tiffanny connects aspiring actors and actresses with insight into navigating the growing entertainment arena. In film, TV, and digital, Tiffanny has aided directors and producers in bringing their vision to life on the small and large screen. Her first intrigue into entertainment was ignited thru acting, working on numerous independent projects in Los Angeles. Tiffanny worked rigorously and became a member of SAG-AFTRA. Her love of acting led her to finding out more about the casting side of the business. It was during her time as a casting intern she realized her passion was in helping artists find the right actors to bring their projects to life. After sharpening her skills at as a casting assistant at Central Casting, she branched out into casting projects independently. Credits include “Rocking With the Best” music video, and AFI Masters Thesis Films: Crenshaw Nights, Bula’s Fortune, Song of David, and In Another Life. She is currently working on the new post-Hurricane Katrina thriller, “The Repass” and the upcoming film, “Salsa Millenia”.
