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Scenarios USA Final Selection Committee
CRUZ ANGELES, Director
Scenarios USA Director, South TX Film
Brooklyn-based filmmaker, Cruz Angeles, was born in Mexico City and raised in South Central Los Angeles. He was recently nominated for a Gotham Award in the Best Breakthrough Director category for his feature film directorial debut, DON'T LET ME DROWN, which premiered in competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. It made New York Magazine’s “top five films out of Sundance.” The film won the Audience Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the Lee Marvin Best Feature Narrative Award and the James Lyons Award for Best Editing at the Woodstock Film Festival. Cruz is a United States Artists Fellow, a Sundance Institute Fellow, an Annenberg Film Fellow, a Director’s Guild of America Award recipient, and a recipient of the 2006 NHK/Sundance International Filmmakers Award.
KRISTOFF BANNIES
Student
Newark, NJ
Kristoff Bannies, a Jersey native, spent the majority of his life as a military dependent in the United States Air Force and has lived part of his childhood in Turkey. He is now working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Management at Rutgers University Business School in Newark, NJ. Though he is receiving an education in business, he may return to school for a degree in Psychology or study to become a registered nurse. Bannies holds an interest in acting, writing, HIV prevention/awareness, and working with youth to ensure them a fair chance at succeeding through life and its obstacles.
DR. ALISON BERNSTEIN
VP for the Education, Creativity and Free Expression Program, Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation, NY
Dr. Bernstein joined the Foundation in 1982 as a Program Officer and subsequently served as Director of the Education and Culture Program from 1992-1996. As Vice President of one of the three program divisions of the Ford Foundation, Dr. Bernstein is responsible for the direction, conduct and evaluation of the Foundation’s work in the United States and internationally in the fields of education and scholarship, arts and culture, media, religion and sexuality. Funding world-wide in these fields amounted to $165 million in 2007. Bernstein is currently a Trustee of Bates College, and serves on the Board of the Samuel Rubin Foundation and the International Fellowships Fund, sponsored by the Institute of International Education.
CAROLINE BOON
Scenarios USA Alumni
Austin, TX
Caroline Boon is the 2007 Scenarios USA "What's The REAL DEAL?" Winner from South Texas. She worked with the Director, Eva Vives to turn her winning story into the film, ME, MYSELF & I. Since then she has moved to Austin, Texas and is a semester away from getting her associates degree. Caroline has been involved with Scenarios USA since 2004, and has learned and grown through her experiences with the organization. She hopes to work for Scenarios one day.
Brian Casemore
Assistant Professor of Secondary Education, George Washington University
Washington D.C.
Brian Casemore is assistant professor of secondary education in the Department of Teacher Preparation and Special Education at the George Washington University. He teaches courses in English education, curriculum theory, human development, and social diversity. His research focuses on autobiographical inquiry and psychoanalytic conceptions of educational experience. His book on southern place and identity, The Autobiographical Demand of Place: Curriculum Inquiry In the American South (Peter Lang, 2008), explores the role of place in self-formation and conceptualizes a southern studies curriculum rooted in southern literature and autobiographical inquiry. In his current research, Brian is investigating the emotional geography of conversations in sex education.
Marica Chacona, Vice President, Program Planning & Scheduling for Showtime Networks
Showtime Networks, NY
Marica Chacona is a senior member of Showtime Networks' programming team responsible for the development and execution of the monthly program schedules for THE MOVIE CHANNEL, FLIX, SHOWTIME multiplexes, various On Demand offerings as well as SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL. She also spearheads the development of new channels and has oversight of all program information and changes communicated company-wide. Marica has an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University and a B.S. in Music Education from Duquesne University. She works out of Showtime Networks' corporate headquarters in New York City.
Tiauna Clark, Scenarios USA Alumni
New York, NY
I am 20 years old. I live in Chelsea Manhattan and I attend BMCC for Video art and Technology. I am currently interning at Tribeca All Access under the careful eye of Tamir Muhammad. I am the New York 2008 Scenarios USA WTRD winner and writer of “Misunderstood.” Now I am working on three different projects; a novel, a documentary, and my acting career. I have traveled to many different schools and events to talk about my film and issues of masculinity with other kids. I aspire to be a writer/director/producer/actress and own my own production company.
Emiliano Diaz de Leon
Primary Prevention Specialist, Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA)
Austin, TX
Emiliano Diaz de Leon is a native of Austin, Texas where he worked as a Children's Advocate at SafePlace for 5 years. Emiliano moved to Harlingen, Texas 7 years ago, where he worked as a Children's Advocate and later as a Volunteer Coordinator at Family Crisis Center. During his last 2 years in Harlingen, he worked at Casa de Proyecto Libertad, a local Immigrant/Human Rights organization, as an Immigrant Rights Legal Advocate. Emiliano recently returned to his hometown of Austin to work for Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA) as a Primary Prevention Specialist. He is the founder of the Men's Resource Center of South Texas, the former men's non-violence organization in South Texas.
Benny Garza
Scenarios USA Actor, Student
McAllen, TX
Benny Garza is a Freshman at Texas State University, San Marcos where he majors in English. He hopes to start Law School (possibly Baylor) in four years. Born in McAllen Texas, Benny grew up in Pharr. Benny’s played baseball since the age of five. In high school he played both Varsity and JV simultaneously in order to get the most playing time possible. Benny first heard about Scenarios USA through his high school theater class and beat out about 50 other young men to win the role of Rob in the Scenarios USA Film, Bitter Memories.
Earlaina Kemp
Scenarios USA Alumni, Student
Cleveland, OH
Earlaina Kemp is currently a Freshman at Central State in Ohio. She wrote the script, MANchild, as an assignment for her teacher Rik York in his Language Arts class. Earlaina hopes that the film she created with director Rawson Marshall Thurber can provide both an analytical as well as a positive alternative to more stereotypical depictions of black masculinity. “Through my script I want to tell viewers they can do something different … more than society expects.”
Malcolm D. Lee
Scenarios USA Director, Cleveland Film
Bronx, NY
Malcolm D. Lee graduated from Georgetown University in 1992 and later studied at New York University’s Tisch School of The Arts. With his screenplay, The Best Man, Lee made his directorial debut at the age of 28. He then directed the action comedy Undercover Brother with Eddie Griffin. His 3rd feature, Roll Bounce, debuted September 2005. Lee’s critically acclaimed films, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and Soul Men bowed in 2008. Aside from directing films, commercials for various clients, and episodes for Chris Rock’s Everybody Hates Chris television series, Lee is currently writing and developing several films and television projects.
Alexander (Alex) Leslie
Community Educator for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC)
Cleveland, OH
I have a BA in Religious Studies and am currently pursuing an MBA at Case Western Reserve University. I have been working in the sexual violence prevention field for more than five years and have been with the CRCC for three years. I have presented programs that deal with bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault, alcohol and consent, masculinity and manhood, and many others. I am especially proud of the Men of Strength Club (MoSt Club) program I run at three different places in Cleveland, engaging young men in understanding masculinity and violence prevention, based on a national model from Men Can Stop Rape. I have also worked with male survivors of sexual assault and trained the agency's volunteers. I look forward to continuing to help young people engage in critical questions through artistic expressions.
Sharon McDonald, ED.S.
Deputy Chief of Special Projects and Student, Family and Community Engagement for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District
Cleveland, OH
Sharon McDonald is the Deputy Chief of Special Projects and Student, Family and Community Engagement for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. She joined the CMSD in 2006 as the Deputy Chief of PreK-8 Education. Ms. McDonald has been a Principal, Assistant Principal, Campus Director and Business Education Teacher in Ohio Schools since 1982. She received her Masters of Science Degree in 1989 and Educational Specialist Degree in 1990 from BGSU in Bowling Green Ohio. She is a member of the National Association of High School Principals, National Alliance of Black School Educators, Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., and on the Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Cleveland.
DARNELL L. MOORE
Writer, Thinker, Activist
Newark, NJ
Darnell L. Moore’s personal mission can be captured in one word: justice. His writing/activism addresses racist, sexist, classist and gendered practices that restrict the freedom of people. He is a board member of the Newark Legacy Charter School, Stop Shootin, Inc., New Jersey Women and AIDS Network and the Newark Youth Policy Board. He was recently appointed, by Mayor Cory A. Booker, Chair of the city’s first Advisory Commission on LGBTQ Concerns. Moore holds a BA in Social & Behavioral Sciences (Seton Hall University), MA in Counseling (Eastern University) and MA in Theological Studies (Princeton Theological Seminary).
Kendra Palmer
Storyteller, Artist, Intern
Brooklyn, NY
Kendra Palmer is a Brooklyn native who enjoys waving three flags at the West Indian Labor day Parade. Born to parents from Trinidad and Jamaica, during the stock market crash of 1987, she is the second youngest of four siblings. Her passion lies mainly in storytelling through imagery, and she has found 2-D animation to be the artistic medium most effective to that end. Her work is fantastical yet at the same time full of irony and social commentary. Currently residing in her hometown of Brooklyn where she works as an intern at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts; and will be returning to her artistic and academic studies in the fall.
Freda Richmond
Educator, Community Advocate
New York, NY
Freda Richmond is a native of Chicago, Illinois. She has spent over 15 years working in the non profit community. Freda received her BA in Television Production from Columbia College in Chicago and currently pursuing a MPA (Public Administration) from Baruch College in NYC. Freda’s experiences range from community advocate, educator to building the capacity of schools to strengthen their college going culture.
Joel Schumacher
Scenarios USA Director, Cleveland Film
New York, NY
Joel Schumacher is renowned for his versatility, style and ability to move seamlessly between film genres with equal popular success and critical acclaim. Most recently, Joel brought audiences the films 8MM, Flawless (which he also wrote), Tigerland, Phone Booth, Bad Company and Veronica Guerin. In 2004 he adapted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical, The Phantom of the Opera, for the screen. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy. He followed that up with his second collaboration with Jim Carrey, the intriguing thriller The Number 23. Joel recently completed production on his twenty-third feature film, Twelve, based on the groundbreaking novel by Nick McDonell. The film was honored as the closing night presentation of the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Brandon E. Spring
Student, Filmmaker
Cleveland, OH
Brandon E. Spring possesses a passion for art. First inspired by George Lucas’ “Star Wars” then immersing himself in the works of Martin Scorsese, he knew he was destined to become a filmmaker. Brandon gained his first exposure to stage as an actor and stage manager in the 2007 theatrical production, ’Sistah Soulfood”. In 2008, he wrote his first script entitled “Guilty Conscience”, exposing societies’ stereotypes of manhood. Spring now seeks to attend film school while expand his love for movies by creating his own films. Currently, he is developing an original script entitled Conviction, a film expected to be produced in 2010.
France Winddance Twine
Professor of Sociology, University of California - Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA
Twine earned her Ph.D. from UC-Berkeley in 1994. In 1997 Twine developed the first interdisciplinary course devoted to the experiences of teenage girls in the U of California system and has regularly taught this course for the past decade. As a graduate student Twine co-produced Just Black?, an award-winning documentary about youth from multiracial families that is distributed by Filmaker’s Library in New York. Twine is the author and/or editor of five books including Feminism and Anti-Racism: International Struggles for Justice (NYU Press). Her most recent book A White Side of Black Britain: interracial intimacy and racial literacy, will be published in the Fall of 2010 by Duke University Press.