Filmmakers:
James Lipetzky - Director
Director/editor James Lipetzky is currently directing a documentary-style film exploring and celebrating the Mayan culture in conjunction with the upcoming opening of the Museo Maya de America in Guatemala.
While working on “License To Operate,” Lipetzky spent nearly a year in South Central Los Angeles delving deep into the lives and stories of the film’s subjects and witnessing first hand the power of the LTO to effect change within the community.
Lipetzky is a graduate of Iowa Film School. His film “Sweet Dreams Driving School” was a hit on the festival circuit.
Filmmakers:
Anna Patel - Editor
Anna Patel is a natural storyteller with a knack for finding the emotional thread.
Her latest documentary, Sole Survivor, recently picked up by CNN Films, is the perfect example: “My last documentary opened my eyes to the heartbreaking
struggles of the sole survivor, and the men and woman featured in this film are survivors too.”
Anna’s spent the last 7 years working on both documentary and commercial projects. For Anna, it’s not just a matter of showing what
happens, but revealing the heart and poetry that makes this story so beautifully human.
Filmmakers:
Jeremiah Hammerling - Cinematographer/
Director of Photography
Our fearless DP has spent the last decade making documentaries from Pakistan, to Sudan, Egypt, Palestine, Israel, Morocco, and
Chicago's South Side. His experience filming with small crews in war-torn countries coupled with his endless curiosity makes him the ideal DP for this project
His recent work behind the camera includes Bailout: The Dukes of Moral Hazard covering the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, A Message from the East,
telling the story of Pakistan’s spiritual leader, He followed an Egyptian revolutionary through the Arab Spring for Beyond Tahir and Werner Herzog described
his film Ba Ne Jek Mal (We Meet in Peace) as “truly rogue.”
Filmmakers:
Mike Wallen - Producer
Mike has developed and produced content for Adult Swim, 20th Century Fox, TBS, and Spike. Additionally, Mike ran creative for Fox Mobile Studios, where managed and supervised all business and creative aspects of Fox Mobile Studios where he developed and produced original and licensed content tailored specifically for mobile and online distribution worldwide.
Mike also served as Creative Director of Lifestyle and Consumer Products for MGA Entertainment, which included the wildly successful Bratz brand.
Filmmakers:
Don Kurz - Executive Producer
Don’s stewardship sets the standard for the entire staff. From development through production, Don’s leadership and knowledge
has been paramount to our success. He also serves on the board for A Better LA and the Community Affairs Committee for Johns Hopkins University, focusing on inner-city
education and youth development.
The vision for this film began when fellow ABLA board member Matt Celenza approached Don. “Given the strong passion our team showed for the subject, we felt strongly
that a movie should be made to tell this remarkable story. And through the entire journey, it’s been a privilege to be part of this project.”
Filmmakers:
Samantha Hart - Executive Producer
As a Marketing and Creative Executive in the film industry, Samantha has had the opportunity to work with some outstanding directors including the Coen Bros,
Steven Soderbergh and Kimberly Pierce. She’s witnessed the hard work, sweat equity and above all, the passion it takes to bring a film to life. Having Samantha on board has been an
incredible asset, as she’s been able to share that creative perspective with the team on a day-to-day basis. In her words: “Seeing director, James Lipetzky, become increasingly passionate
about the subject matter as he took it from a fundraising video to a feature? That’s been incredibly rewarding. That passion is what will set it apart.”
Filmmakers:
Matt Celenza - Executive Producer
Matt started out as a volunteer for A Better LA and now serves as the board chairman. “I was overwhelmed by the potential I saw in these inner city neighborhoods and recognized that without the
proper support, that potential would never be realized.” ABLA’s unique approach to gang intervention has been immensely effective, and Matt's involvement has become a key component to its
success. Through the trust and respect he has earned with the LTO's in these communities, Matt has been instrumental in arranging unprecedented access for our film crew. Matt’s passion is palpable,
and continues to serve as a driving force behind this entire film production.
Filmmakers:
Edgar Burcksen - Editor
Editor Edgar Burcksen, ACE is a seasoned veteran in the film business. He left his native Netherlands for California after editing 15 feature films and winning the Dutch Academy Award in 1985. George Lucas chose him to edit the two hour pilot for “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”, for which he won a primetime Emmy. He received an Oscar nomination for the 1996 documentary Colors Straight Up. The critically-acclaimed documentary Darfur Now earned Edgar Burcksen an ACE Eddie nomination in 2007. He was awarded the ACE Robert Wise Award for his outstanding contribution in journalistic achievement advocating the art of editing. His work on LTO signals another fine accomplishment that combines his sense for drama and the reality of everyday life.
