Charles Walker, Jr.,
(organizer/executive vice-president)
Dubbed “Champ” by colleagues and friends,
Charles W. Walker, Jr. attacks business opportunities with a
creativity, management acumen, and entrepreneurial leadership.
For more than a decade, he has garnered a reputation as a young
visionary businessman through his development of successful
marketing campaigns, and as a practitioner of ideas, whose work has
been manifested in the entertainment, fashion and communications
industries. He is currently Executive Vice President of
Fashion & Film Studios, Inc., President of Romar Oil Company, Inc.
and CEO of Bright Ideas, a business development, lobbying and
venture-investing firm.
While devoting his time and resources to community
endeavors, Champ has served progressively in various entrepreneurial
capacities. He has operated one of the largest minority owned
staffing firms in the southeast and served as President and COO of
the Walker Group, a family owned company that has holdings in the
publishing, construction, restaurant and staffing industries. After
a successful tenure at the Walker Group, he founded Crestech an IT
Staffing and telecommunications firm and First Choice Supply an
industrial parts distributor. As CEO and President of First Choice,
Mr. Walker led the company from 250,000 to a $150,000,000 million
dollar contract with a wastewater concern. In addition, Mr.
Walker was President of Romar Entertainment and Senior Vice
President / Marketing and Business Development of Romar
Studios, Inc. - the largest minority owned apparel
manufacturer in the United States with over $100 million dollars in
revenue.
Champ also harnessed his creativity into
the “Heritage by Paris Walker “ clothing line, the first
Afro-centric golf wear, which was distributed by a dozen department
stores throughout the United States. His popular slogan “We
Don’t Play Polo” was published in newspapers across the country. He
quickly became known as Hilfiger in the Hood and was credited with
changing the way Ralph Lauren depicted his preppy label. With 10
years of experience in the record business. Mr. Walker
brokered a deal on behalf of Rugged. In 2002, Champ
conceptualized the “Don’t Vote, Don’t Complain” Campaign.
Prior to that he won a distinguished award for the jingle he created
for KIA Motors America, Inc. In the 1990’s Champ successfully
negotiated deals that catapulted several songs onto the airways,
including the “Daisy Dukes.” He also produced a singe called
“Get on it dog on it”, the signature of Atlanta, Georgia radio D. J.
Melissa Summers.
In 2002 Charles Champ Walker was a congressional nominee
and was selected as one of the nation’s young emerging 100 leaders..
His other interest includes Greenhood Industries LLC, an
Environmental Management company, managing partner of King and
Walker Publishing LLC, Author of the book Prep 101: The Battle for
Class and Social Rank and Status, Chairman of AFI, Inc, Holding
company for his apparel license business and clothing label Paris
Walker lll, board member of Silver Star Capital, a Private Equity
firm based in New York and partner in a Semi-Pro Sports team. Most
recently, he founded GEDI Green Economy Diversity Initiative- a
national advocacy group that serves as a voice to underserved and
minority communities in the Olive Economy- a term that he coined
that signifies the color of the Economy when people of color and the
Green Economy meet.
He serves on several local and national boards to include
the SCLC, Rainbow Push Coalition Steering committee, the Heritage
Crest Foundation. In 1992, he created the First African American
Crest, which is housed in the Smithsonian Museum. The Heritage Crest
has been endorsed by the nation’s largest civil rights and religious
organizations in the country.
DON POLK, (organizer/lead
consultant)
Don Polk has developed an
organization that does business, around the globe, with a
prestigious list of highly recognized retail brands and clients.
With more than 26 years of management and promotional marketing
experience in the apparel manufacturing arena, Polk built his
previously owned company (The Romar Group, Inc.) from the ground up
into the industry’s largest African-American owned apparel and
licensed product manufacturer and marketing organization developing
and distributing both apparel and non-apparel products and brands.
Polk’s teams have created and managed marketing campaigns for
companies such as Chevron, Coca-Cola, 3M, General Motors, InBev,
National Football League, National Basketball League, State of
California (to name a few), and have designed, developed and
manufactured products for companies such as Carter, Hawley, Hale
(The Broadway Stores), Cluett, Peabody (Alexander Julian/Gianfranco
Ruffini), Bullock’s, Dillard’s Department Stores, Wal-Mart, Kmart,
Sears, JC Penny, Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Department of Water and
Power, AEG/Staples Center, Filene’s, Filene’s Basement, Up Against
The Wall, Dr. J’s, Suberbia (now Wal-Mart/Mexico), Liverpool and
many more. As a result of Polk’s tenacity and dedication to
bring unsurpassed quality, customer service and leadership to
clients in nations around the globe; they are building a world-class
operation with a presence in the United States, Mexico and soon to
be in the Caribbean and Brazil; with strategic contractor alliances
in Pakistan, Korea, Brazil, Vietnam and Columbia. From
his first ventures while attending Boston University - producing
t-shirts to manufacturing jeans and women's suits for major
department stores, Polk laid the groundwork for fulfilling his
vision of a business model that achieved fiscal success while also
embracing a platform of social responsibility. His prowess in
building a business extends to building communities as well.
Through his dedication to effecting significant change in local
communities and the world, he has been able to build a foundation
for future minority business development. According to Polk,
"We recognize that we have a responsibility to help build economic
prowess in our communities. One way to accomplish this is through
employment and trading together." Polk's desire to improve
civil rights has also led to his involvement and leadership in a
number of prominent organizations, including serving as a National
Board member of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, a Board of Trustees
member of the Los Angeles Bureau of Rainbow/PUSH, Chair,
Rainbow/PUSH Entertainment and Media Group, a national member of the
SCF Board of Trustees of the NAACP, a Corporate Roundtable Member of
the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, a member of the
Board of Directors of the Urban Education Partnership and future
Board member of Urban League.
DON E. GIBSON,
(organizer/entertainment counsel/consultant)
Don Gibson has spent almost twenty years
in senior leadership positions in the sports industry. He has served
as Vice President and General Counsel, as well as Senior VP/Acting
President of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc., the licensing
and marketing division of Major League Baseball, and as Chief
Operating Officer of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
in Springfield, Massachusetts. In each role, he revitalized the
organization and produced record revenues, profits and market
awareness. Don offers expertise in licensing, corporate partner-
ship arrangements (including sponsorship), intellectual property
development, management and protection, league structure and
operation, and brand development. He maintains strong relationships
with senior executives at all the professional sports leagues,
sporting goods manufacturers, current and former athletes and
coaches, corporate sponsors and consumer product manufacturers. Don
left private law practice in Santa Monica, California in February
1989 to become Associate Counsel for the Office of the Commissioner
of Major League Baseball. Eighteen months later he was promoted to
Vice President and General Counsel of Major League Baseball
Properties, Inc. (”MLBP”), the licensing and marketing division of
Major League Baseball. Don was subsequently promoted to Senior Vice
President/Acting President of MLBP, a position he held for two
years. During that period he guided the division through the labor
dispute that ended the 1994 season early and caused the cancellation
of the World Series, and helped grow the division into a $3 billion
business. Don revitalized the organization while creating new
business partnerships and programs that generated tens of millions
of dollars in new revenues, and restructured the organization.
Following his 8-year tenure with Major League Baseball, Don became
Chief Operating Officer of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of
Fame where he was responsible for all day-to-day administration of
the institution, including management of the $103 million new Hall
of Fame Riverfront development project. Don left his position as
Chief Operating Officer of the Basketball Hall of Fame in the fall
of 2000 to pursue entrepreneurial interests in Los Angeles, forming
his own sports management agency, XL Sports, and subsequently
becoming a principal and co-founder of Section 1, which produces
sports and entertainment focused consumer products. In November
2007, Don joined the law firm Dreier Stein Kahan LLP based in Santa
Monica, California, as a Partner, heading up the firm’s new sports
law practice. He also simultaneously launched and became Chief
Operating Officer of Dreier Sports Opportunities, a sports marketing
and business development consulting firm. Don resigned from his
roles with both Dreier entities in December 2008 to launch KAVI. In
addition to his role with KAVI, Don is an attorney with the law firm
TroyGould, which is based in the Century City area of Los Angeles.
Don is Of Counsel to the firm and works in its Entertainment, Sports
& Media department.
Willie Gault,
(organizer/business dev)
Willie Gault, a high profile celebrity
with more than 25 years experience in sales, marketing, production,
promotions, charities, capitol funding for investors and major
corporations. He is an expert in sophisticated communications and
business affairs, especially with high profile clients; has
outstanding successes in building and maintaining relationships with
major colleges, businesses and accounts and works heavily with a
variety of major charities through out the country in the areas of
fund raising and organization.
As a star in both football and track at
the collegiate level, Gault was part of a
world record-setting
4 x 100
meter relay team, a 110 meter
hurdler who
would have gone to the
1980
Summer Olympics if the United States had not
boycotted the event (he did attend the
Olympic
Boycott Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 100 meter
race) and a
bobsledder (he made the American Olympic team on one occasion).
He was an
All-American wide receiver in 1982. Willie Gault averaged almost
24 yards per kick return and scored 4 touchdowns in 78 attempts,
including 3 in 1980. Gault was drafted in
1983,
played with the Bears until 1988 and then was traded to the Los
Angeles Raiders (now
Oakland
Raiders). Gault was the prototypical "speed merchant", meaning
his greatest asset was his pure straight-line swiftness. He was the
primary long-pass threat on a team known as one of best defensive
teams in history. In
Super Bowl XX,
Gault had four
receptions for 129 yards, and four kickoff returns for 49 yards.
He was also featured on the
Super Bowl
Shuffle. Gault finished his 11 NFL seasons with 333
receptions for 6,635 yards. He also returned 9 punts for 60 yards,
rushed for 154 yards, returned 45 kickoffs for 1,088 yards, and
scored 45 touchdowns (44 receiving and 1 kickoff return).
SPORTS CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
UNIVERSITY of TENNESSEE
-
16 times All American Track and Field,
University Tennessee
-
Football All American
-
US Summer Olympic Team, Track and Field
-
US Winter Olympic Team, Bobsled
-
National and World Championship Track and
Field, 110m. Hurdles
-
World Record 4x 100 meters relay – 37.86 sec.
-
Gold Medalist
-
Bronze Medalist
PROFESSIONAL
-
12 years National Football League (NFL)
-
All Rookie Team
-
All Pro Team
-
Super Bowl Champion ’85 BEARS
-
3rd All Time NFL Average Per Catch
-
Masters world record, 100 meters, 200 meters,
4X100 meter relay
HONORS
-
Jim Thorpe Award
-
Greatest Athlete in the World, 1991
-
Super Stars Champion, 1989 & 1990
-
NFL Fasted Man
-
City of Hope, Man of the Year, 1999
Gault retired in the early 1990s and
is pursuing an acting career in
Hollywood. He portrayed Willie the Sweeper in the NBC series
the Pretender. Willie also had an appearance on the
comedy sitcom,
Still
Standing playing himself as the father of Tina's friend.
He's had a few appearances on
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide playing
himself alongside sportscaster
Van Earl
Wright and most recently was featured in the
series
finale. He also had a guest appearance on the CBS sitcom
Still Standing as himself in 2004. On June 24, 2006, Gault set a
world record of 10.72 seconds in the master's 100 meters, a
division for athlete’s aged 45 to 49. On April 26, 2008, Gault
(at age 47) set a new world record of 21.80 seconds in the
M45-49 age group for 200m.
In the world of business, Willie Gault
is a sales and marketing executive and finance liaison for
Fashion & Film Studios, Inc. – board member and partner.
Gault is also a Board Member/Marketing Director for AMERIDREAM
Corporation, (Note: Over $440,000,000. given for down payment
assistance for home buyers nationally) and responsible for the
Finance and Marketing Committees. He is the President /
Owner, of IBS Capital Management, specializing in mergers and
acquisitions, with over 260,000,000 under management.
Mr. Gault and his capital group’s portfolio include: Aloha
Airlines, Boards of Directors; Piccadilly Restaurants, ERA
Airlines, Boards of Directors; Conscious Enlightenment, Board of
Directors; Conscious Enlightenment Publishing. Gault
manages to give back at every possible opportunity.
He is co-founder and President of Athletes for Life Foundation
whereby over 90 superstar, hall of fame type athletes were
assembled to help in the fight against heart disease.
Jack Maraffi, (creative/marketing)
Jack Maraffi began his career at major
advertising agencies specializing in the product area. As Vice
President of Compton Advertising he was responsible for over 50
million dollars in advertising for the international brands of
Proctor & Gamble as well as Atlas Tire and “Live Better
Electrically.” He supervised the Northeast area Milk Marketing
Account (Everybody Needs Milk) through dealer programs, and national
advertising. He introduced the highly successful Harlequin
Romance Novel line to the United States and supervised the
26-country advertising for Iberia Airlines, the Airline of Spain.
Compton became Saatchi & Saatchi, the world’s largest ad agency at
the time. As Senior Vice President for Ketchum, MacLeod & Grove,
Jack supervised the worldwide marketing efforts of Japan Airlines,
Westinghouse and Heinz. During his tenure, the agency added offices
in seven countries and increased billings from 36 to 100 million
dollars. On the corporate side Jack became Vice President Marketing
for Cunard Line, the British company that pioneered cruising.
His responsibilities included profit and loss for the company’s
cruise division as well as marketing the company’s resort properties
in the Caribbean. As Vice President, Marketing for Diner’s
Club Jack oversaw worldwide budgets, including Olympic support
programs and extensive direct marketing. Jack then founded
Kaufman & Maraffi Advertising in l980. The company grew to
over 30 million dollars in billings and was cited by Inc. Magazine
as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in America. The
agency specialized in travel with such clients as American Express,
Hilton Hotels, The Greek National Tourist Office, BritRail and two
casino properties in Atlantic City; The Sands Hotel & Casino
(Introduction) and The Showboat. He handled the Cadillac
limited edition Pierre Cardin automobile account. Jack then
sold the agency and assumed the position of consultant to
Travelsavers, the world’s largest chain of independent travel
agencies with sales of over 18 Billion dollars. He created an
extensive marketing department and built and international network
for the company (10 Countries). He serves on the Executive Board of
Travelsavers.
Terrence Coles is a Digital Media expert with a wealth of
experience including development of a comprehensive Interactive
Advertising and Digital Content Management solution for large scale
Media Companies and tier 1 Cable, IP & Wireless distribution
including architecture, requirements, use cases & implementation
roadmap. Mr. Coles was most recently a Digital Media Competency Lead
for EMC Consulting focusing on business and technology consulting
offering operational strategy, business process and systems,
integration solutions to clients in the communications media&
entertainment (CME) industry. Mr. Coles has more than 15 years
of media industry experience, spanning film, music, advertising and
e-commerce and has spent the last ten years in the interactive and
digital production areas, where he produced interactive television
and interactive branded entertainment concepts including 8 years of
mentorship at the American Film Institute’s Digital Content Lab.
Prior to joining EMC Consulting, Mr. Coles served as Executive Vice
President for NextMedium, a next-generation advertising marketplace
platform company that launched the market’s first brand integration
solution in conjunction with Nielsen Media Research. There he worked
on the core platform architecture as well as negotiating agreements
with advertisers and content producers. In addition, Mr. Coles
worked with a leading brand integration firm that represented top
companies in their respective industry, such as Volkswagen, Beck’s
Beer, Fuji Film, Kraft, LL Bean and Fender Musical Instruments.
Prior to his most recent work in advertising and marketing, Mr.
Coles served as SVP of Programming for Intertainer, a pioneering
Video On Demand company with responsibilities for contract
negotiations for content, advertising and e-commerce, in-house
production activities, day-to-day programming and content
acquisition/management. His work resulted in the licensing of
content from over 75 providers including Sony, Warner Bros,
Universal, NBC, National Geographic, PBS, Discovery and others to
renowned service providers, such as Comcast, Qwest, Microsoft, etc.
In addition, Mr. Coles has held advertising sales and marketing
positions for several media companies, including Katz
Communications, Infinity Broadcasting, America Online and Lycos.
Melissa Johnson,
(creative/marketing)
Entrepreneur and author Melissa D.
Johnson is a Global Branding and Personal Transformation Strategist
who has a keen understanding of the importance of branding in these
changing times. An innovative marketer with a proven track
record of elevating the image of the world’s greatest brands,
Johnson currently heads-up a forward thinking marketing group that
authentically brands people, corporations, organizations and
destinations with a patent-pending methodology called ID3™
innovation. Johnson’s formula for authentic branding is a
success essential that gives clients an edge and ability to navigate
change and transition. As a global branding strategist, Johnson
empowers by reinforcing the idea that change is a catalyst to
unleash potential. No matter if you are looking to land a job,
build a business or sell a house, personal branding is the vehicle.
Her first title, Brand Me: Make Your Mark: Turn Passion into
Profit (Ambassador Press) offers a 7-Step Brand Blue Print™ to
package your passion into a profitable life. The book’s
empowerment message is designed to help anyone personally apply
these steps successfully. Johnson was groomed in the art of
branding during her tenures at companies like Procter & Gamble,
Victoria’s Secret and Nationwide. Her expertise also includes
coaching clients such as Time, Pepsi, Citi, Kraft, the National
Football League and the National Basketball League. Johnson’s
work has also enabled her to develop partnerships with personalities
such as Shania Twain, Jessica Simpson, Mary J. Blige, Common, Hill
Harper, Carmelo Anthony as well as executives, politicians and
pastors, giving her a proven platform to brand anyone. Johnson is
also the producer and host of “Making the Brand” an online-web
series giving her audience an insider’s view to the recipe behind
the world’s most renown entrepreneurs, personalities and influential
individuals making their mark. In 2008, Johnson created a
groundbreaking social platform and online community – “Brand Me
Live”, in conjunction with Endavo Media to offer videos,
user-generated content and branding tips, with interactive social
media features. Johnson travels the
country speaking about personal and global branding and has been
featured in national media including appearances on CNN and
The Rosie O’Donnell Show as well as in features in The Wall
Street Journal, Black Enterprise, Essence, Ebony, Monarch and
InsideBrandedEntertainment.com. Johnson has also been
selected to be a featured keynote speaker at the 2009 Global Brand
Summit to be held in Mumbai, India.
David Saunders (content/film
development/production)
David Saunders has had a long and
distinguished career in the motion picture and television industries
both as an executive and as a producer spanning over 30 years. Most
recently, he has been Executive Producer of “BODY LANGUAGE,” a
television series that will premiere on The Showtime Networks in the
spring of 2009 and is currently being licensed in many countries
throughout the world. He has also served as Executive Producer
of “chromiumblue.com” and “RED SHOE DIARIES,” both original dramatic
series for Showtime, “FORTY DEUCE,” a four-hour reality series for
Bravo and four theatrical feature films: “BABY GENIUSES II,”
“FEAR.COM,” and “EXTREME OPS.” From 1993-1997, Saunders served as
the President of Triumph Films, a Sony Pictures Entertainment
Company. Triumph, one of the three production divisions at Sony
(along with Columbia and Tri-Star), specialized in films with
budgets under $15 million. Under Saunders’ supervision, Triumph
produced and distributed the following films: “BABY GENIUSES”
starring Kathleen Turner, Christopher Lloyd, Peter MacNicol and Kim
Cattrall, directed by Bob Clark; “IN GOD’S HANDS” directed by Zalman
King; “MASTERMINDS” starring Patrick Stewart, Vincent Kartheiser and
Brenda Fricker; “THE ASSIGNMENT” starring Aidan Quinn, Donald
Sutherland and Ben Kingsley; “BLISS” starring Craig Sheffer, Sheryl
Lee and Terence Stamp; “TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES” starring Vincent
Gallo, Kiefer Sutherland, Kevin Pollak, Mykelti Williamson, Martin
Sheen and Rod Steiger, directed by Kiefer Sutherland; “SCREAMERS”
starring Peter Weller, Jennifer Rubin and Roy Dupuis; “SOLO”
starring Mario Van Peebles, Adrian Brody and Barry Corbin; “ROBIN
HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS” starring Cary Elwes, Roger Rhees and Tracy
Ullman, directed by Mel Brooks; “TO GILLIAN ON HER 37th
BIRTHDAY” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Peter Gallagher, Kathy Baker
and Claire Danes, written and produced by David E. Kelley; “MAGIC IN
THE WATER” starring Mark Harmon, Harley Jane Kozak and Joshua
Jackson; “NINA TAKES A LOVER” starring Laura San Giacomo and Paul
Rhys; “JURY DUTY” starring Pauly Shore, Stanley Tucci, Shelley
Winters and Tia Carrera; “BRAINSCAN” starring Edward Furlong and
Frank Langella, direct; “SIDEKICKS” starring Chuck Norris, Beau
Bridges and Joe Piscopo; and “ESCAPE FROM ABSOLOM” starring Ray
Liotta. Saunders also served as Executive Producer on five of
these films. Prior to Triumph, Saunders served as President of the
Guber-Peters Entertainment Company. During his tenure, the company
produced “SINGLE WHITE FEMALE” starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer
Jason Leigh, which was Sony’s most profitable film in 1992.
He has also held several key management
positions in both the production and business areas of the motion
picture industry. He was co-founder, President and Chief Operating
Officer of Vision p.d.g., where he was responsible for the
production of such films as “WILD ORCHID” starring Mickey Rourke,
Jacqueline Bisset and Carré Otis, directed by Zalman King; “HIGH
SPIRITS” starring Liam Neeson, Daryl Hannah, Peter O’Toole, Steve
Gutenberg, Beverly D’Angelo and Jennifer Tilly, directed by Neil
Jordan; “DARK ANGEL” starring Dolph Lundgren; and “BAT 21” starring
Gene Hackman and Danny Glover. Saunders was also Executive
Vice President of Production for New World Pictures with particular
emphasis on international co-production and was directly responsible
for the production of the original “HELLRAISER” film and served as
its Executive Producer. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice
President of Worldwide Production for Twentieth Century Fox, where
he played a key role in supervising the production of such hits as
“ROMANCING THE STONE”, “BACHELOR PARTY” and “REVENGE
OF THE NERDS.” He also served as Executive Vice President of
Business and Legal Affairs for CBS Theatrical Films and Polygram
Pictures. He is a member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts
and Sciences and was a Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of
Michigan Law School. Zalman King and David Saunders have been
working together in the motion picture and television industries for
over 20 years. They began their association with the film
“WILD ORCHID” that starred Mickey Rourke, Jacqueline Bisset and
Carre’ Otis and grossed more than $110,000,000 worldwide. They
followed that with a sequel, “WILD ORCHID II,” that earned more than
$60,000,000. The duo then turned to television
where they created and produced “RED SHOE DIARIES” which ran on
Showtime for more than 10 years as well as in most countries in the
world. Sixty-six episodes were produced and helped launch the
acting carriers of David Duchovny (“X FILES,” “CALIFORNICATION”),
Ally Sheedy (“SHORT CIRCUIT,” “ST. ELMO’S FIRE,” “WAR GAMES”),
Steven Bauer (“TRAFFIC,” SCARFACE”), Arnold Vosloo (“THE MUMMY,”
“DARKMAN”), Adewale (“THE BOURNE IDENTIY,” “OZ”), Lydie Dernier
(“ACAPULCO H.E.A.T,” “TARZAN”) Sheryl Lee (“TWIN PEAKS”) as well as
such international stars as Tchecky Karyo and Arielle Dombasle. The
Zalman King Company has also produced the following films and
television series: “BOCA” starring Rae Dawn Chong (“COMMANDO”
opposite Arnold Schwartzeneger, “THE COLOR PURPLE”), Martin Sheen
(THE WEST WING,” “APOCOLYPSE NOW,” “WALL STREET”), Martin Kemp
(“HIGHLANDER,””EASTENDERS”) and Brazilian star Tarcisio Meira,
“LAKE CONSEQUENCE” starring Billy Zane (“TITANIC,” “THE PHANTOM”)
and Joan Severance (“THE LAST SEDUCTION II,” “LOVE BOAT”).“WOMEN OF
THE NIGHT” starring Seymour Cassell (“THE ROYAL TANNENBAUMS,”
“RUSHMORE”), Sally Kellerman (“MASH,” “BREWSTER MCCLOUD”) and James
Farentino (“DYNASTY,” “MELROSE PLACE”).“BLUE MOVIE BLUE” STARRING
Nina Siemaszko (“WEST WING”), Tom Skerritt (“TOP GUN,” ”ALIEN,” “A
RIVER RUNDS THROUGH IT”), Robert Davi (“DIE HARD”) and Gloria Reuben
(“ER”).“A PLACE CALLED TRUTH” starring Audie Englund (“DELATA OF
VENUS”), Chris Browning (“TERMINATOR:SALVATION,” “3:10 TO YUMA”) and
Brion James (“THE FIFTH ELEMENT,” “BLADERUNNER”). “BUSINESS FOR
PLEASURE” starring Joanna Pacula (”WARLOCK,” “PRIVATE LESSONS”) and
Joeron Krabbe’ (“TRANSPORTER,” “DEUCE BIGALOW,” “SOLDIER OF
ORANGE”). “SHAME, SHAME, SHAME” starring Costas Mandylar (“SAW,”
“DELTA OF VENUS”), Valerie Perrine (“SUPERMAN,” “LENNY,”
“SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE”) and Olivia Hussey (“ZEFFIRELLI’S ROMEO AND
JULIET,” “DEATH ON THE NILE”).“BLACK SEA 213” starring Timothy
Bottoms (“NERO WOLFE,” “THE LAST PICTURE SHOW,” “THE PAPER CHASE”),
Anthony Addabbo (“RED SHOE DIARIES”) and Brion James (“THE FIFTH
ELEMENT,” “BLADERUNNER”). “WIND ON WATER” starring Bo Derek
(“10”). “CHROMIUMBLUE.COM,” 16 original half-hour episodes of
a sensual/erotic series for The Showtime Networks.“FORTY DEUCE,” a
reality mini-series for the Bravo channel chronicling the expansion
of the enormously successful L.A. burlesque club into the Mandalay
Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. King also co-wrote and directed the
theatrical film “IN GOD’S HANDS” for Sony Pictures/Triumph Films, a
dramatic surfing epic about riding 40-foot waves brought together
many of the top competitive titleholders in the surfing community
and was released worldwide by Triumph. Saunders served as
Executive Producer. Most recently, King and Saunders created “BODY
LANGUAGE,” a new television series that will be broadcast on The
Showtime Networks in the United States in the spring of 2009 and is
also currently being licensed throughout the world. King
directed all 13 episodes of this new series and Saunders was an
Executive Producer.
Zalman King, (content/film
development/production)
Zalman King has firmly established himself as the inventor and pioneer of the sensual/romantic genre in motion pictures and television. Beginning with “9½ WEEKS,” King has gone on to write and direct a series of films that explore the hidden passions and desires of his characters with an elegant style that has become his signature. Labeled “the high priest of erotic filmmaking” by Premiere magazine, King’s signature is unmistakable in its lush visual style, quality and content. King’s projects have been extremely successful in the international marketplace. He wrote and produced “9½ WEEKS” which has become an icon of the erotic/romantic genre. The film, which was directed by Adrian Lyne, starred Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger and has generated over $200 million in worldwide revenues. “WILD ORCHID” starred Mickey Rourke, Jacqueline Bisset and Carre’ Otis and has earned over $110 million worldwide. King has also successfully turned his trademark style to the television screen with “RED SHOE DIARIES,” the highest rated original series in Showtime’s history, which has played consistently for more than ten consecutive years. Sixty-six episodes were produced and helped launch the acting carriers of David Duchovny (“X FILES,” “CALIFORNICATION”), Ally Sheedy (“SHORT CIRCUIT,” “ST. ELMO’S FIRE,” “WAR GAMES”), Steven Bauer (“TRAFFIC,” SCARFACE”), Arnold Vosloo (“THE MUMMY,” “DARKMAN”), Adewale (“THE BOURNE IDENTIY,” “OZ”), Lydie Dernier (“ACAPULCO H.E.A.T,” “TARZAN”) Sheryl Lee (“TWIN PEAKS”) as well as such international stars as Tchecky Karyo and Arielle Dombasle. King began his career as an actor. He quickly landed a starring role in a breakthrough television series of the early 1970’s, “THE YOUNG LAWYERS”. He then went on to star in many films, ranging from “THE SKI BUM” opposite Charlotte Rampling to playing Jesus Christ in the controversial “PASSOVER PLOT.” He began his writing and producing career at the same time. Among his earlier writing/producer credits are “ROADIE” and “ENDANGERED SPECIES” both directed by Alan Rudolf. Often working in collaboration with his wife, Patricia Louisiana Knop, King went on to produce “SIESTA,” starring Ellen Barkin, Gabriel Byrne and Jodie Foster, and directed by Mary Lambert. In 1994, King wrote and directed his acclaimed version of Anais Nin’s controversial erotic masterpiece “DELTA OF VENUS.” Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “A sweepingly romantic celebration of a woman’s sexual awakening… an elegant stylish film of shadowy beauty and a fine example of a film that looks more expensive than it surely cost…” the film was released by New Line Cinema throughout the world. King then went on location in Bali, Mexico and Hawaii to direct “IN GOD’S HANDS,” the theatrical film he co-wrote for Sony Pictures/Triumph Films. This dramatic surfing epic about riding 40-foot waves brought together many of the top competitive titleholders in the surfing community and was released worldwide by Triumph. King then moved into the network television mainstream creating “WIND ON WATER,” a one-hour prime-time series for NBC. He also directed and executive produced “CHROMIUMBLUE.COM,” an original half-hour series for The Showtime Networks and is the Executive Producer and Director of “FORTY DEUCE,” a reality mini-series for the Bravo channel chronicling the expansion of the enormously successful L.A. burlesque club into the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Most recently, King directed all 13 episodes of “BODY LANGUAGE,” a new television series that will be broadcast on The Showtime Networks in the United States in the spring of 2009 and is also currently being licensed throughout the world.
A. Troy Atterberry, (content/
screenplay writer)
A. Troy Atterberry has been writing since
age 11. His early days as a songwriter began with the White Rock
Baptist Church Youth Choir, in Mt Vernon NY, which he was a member
of. From there he moved on to the world of Rap, Rhythm & Blues
with Untouchables/LaFace Records where he worked along with and
under the guidance of Eddie F of “Heavy D and the Boyz”, LA Reid and
Kenneth Baby Face Edmunds. His work at this major recording label
landed Troy in studios working with and along side of a slew of some
of the music industries finest producers such as Dave “Jam” Hall
Nevelle Hodge, Easy Mo B and Anthony “Spunk Bigga” Blagmon, who
between them, have produced songs for the likes of Mariah
Carey, Nas, LL Cool J, Foxy Brown, Brownstone, Mary J Blige ,
Madonna , Allure, Joe, K-Ci and JoJo, Stephanie Mills, Intro, Usher
just to name a few. As for Artists; Troy has worked on such
projects as The Motown compilation featuring Mad Drama, Al B Sure,
Tupac, Notorious BIG, Grand Puba, Christopher Williams, Donnell
Jones and many more.
In 2002 Troy became the Senior Music
Editor of Flossin’ Magazine where he conducted up close and personal
interviews and wrote articles on Ice Cube Marquis Houston, Remy Ma,
Sean Paul, Juvenile, Twista, Yukmouth Salvador Santana son of
the legendary Carlos Santana and a host of other heavy hitters in
the entertainment industry.
He is an accomplished poet and spoken
word artist, releasing his debut CD “Project: PC-04” in 2004 and
having his first book published in 2005 under the title “Something
Deep Within Me Roars”. As a play write Mr. Atterberry has written
and produced such stage plays as “Afro’s, Perms, Weaves & Locks” and
“Falling Down is Easy” which are both scheduled to be released. As a
screenplay writer Mr. Atterberry has written a slate of films that
are now in the very capable hands of some of the film industries
“top guns”.
With a world of opportunity before him A.
Troy Atterberry is an up and coming filmmaker to keep an eye out
for.
Karen Stein, (product
development/soft lines)
Karen Stein, with over 27 years of
experience in the apparel industry, Karen Stein is a wonderful asset
to Fashion & Film Studios, Inc.’s apparel division. Karen
managed and consulted for various successful multi-million dollar
apparel companies. She was a partner of a highly successful
sportswear company named Pieces from 1993 to 1996, and she owned and
managed her own retail store named Lifestylz from 1998 to 2004
before starting her own company of infant accessories and gifts
named Daydreamer in 2005. She is experienced and has hands on
knowledge in every aspect of the design and production process, and
her merchandising savvy is unparalleled in the industry. Her
extensive background in design and merchandising is the perfect
blend of creativity and business savvy. She has planned and
directed market strategies for major department stores; specialty
retail stores, and catalogues with great success. Karen is
currently a professor of Apparel and Production Development at
Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising where she has taught
for the past eight years.
Frederick Harris, (product
development / soft lines)
Fred Harris, Jr., with over 23 years of
experience in the active sportswear industry/garment industry as a
fashion designer, Fred’s vision and conception of everything he
designs has always been at the fore-front of style—he designs unique
commercially viable collections that communicate to consumers’
desire. His knowledge of the fashion industry from design to
production is unsurpassed, and his talent as a fashion illustrator
and graphic artist brings a powerful energy to Romar Motor Sports,
Inc/Fashion & Film Studios’ Apparel Divisions. A true
Nuevo-Renaissance man, he received his B.S. in Economics at UCLA,
and his transition into the creative field began in 1978 when he
worked as a stylist for William Connors LTD. Since then he has
worked as a designer for numerous companies including Speedo, Bugle
Boy, Jimmy Z, Body Glove, Gitano Swimwear/Bodywear, Faremon,
Perfetto Sportswear, and the Estee Lauder Corporation.
He has also designed for various sports organizations such as the
Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors/NBA, Tampa Bay Devil Rays/
MLB, and the Toronto Argonauts/CFL. Mr. Harris’s belief that
“all puzzles are graciously organized designs” is apparent in his
artistry.