Robert Mandel | Dean
Mandel graduated from AFI in 1979 and is an award-winning director with credits including FX, SCHOOL TIES, BIG SHOTS and THE SUBSTITUTE. He has also directed numerous television movies for HBO, Fox, Lifetime and A&E;, as well as episodic television such as THE X-FILES (pilot), LOST and PRISON BREAK. Mandel began his career as a stage director, with productions at The Manhattan Theatre Club, The Roundabout and The Public Theatre--where Joseph Papp was his mentor. He has MFA degrees from both Columbia University and AFI. Mandel has taught at City College of New York and has been a Directing Mentor at The Sundance Institute. Mandel received the Alfred Hitchcock Award when he was at AFI and his thesis film, NIGHT AT O'REARS, received First Prize at Filmex in LA; First Prize at USA Film Festival in Dallas, TX; and was shown as one of three short films selected by the New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center.

Joe Petricca | Interim Co-Dean
Holds an MFA in Screenwriting from AFI and a BFA in Film Production from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU. Petricca is responsible for oversight of administrative functions for all Education Programs, including the AFI Conservatory, National Workshops and special projects. He directly oversees the Directing Workshop for Women and the Sloan Foundation funded programs. As a screenwriter, he has had feature screenplays optioned and has written for Robert Osborne on Turner Classic Movies. As an art director, Petricca has worked on numerous TV, film, music video and commercial projects. As a producer, he has produced short films, industrials and music videos. Currently, he teaches screenwriting to teenagers in the juvenile justice system.

Frank Pierson | Artistic Director, Distinguished Filmmaker-in-Residence
One of the most respected writer/directors in film and television and a recognized leader in the profession, Pierson is a primary counselor to the overall artistic leadership of the Conservatory and its programs. Pierson wrote CAT BALLOU, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Adaptation. He was nominated again for COOL HAND LUKE and, in 1976, he received an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for DOG DAY AFTERNOON. Directing credits include KING OF THE GYPSIES and A STAR IS BORN (1975 version). CITIZEN COHN (starring James Woods) and TRUMAN (starring Gary Sinise) both for HBO, won numerous Emmy nominations; Showtime's DIRTY PICTURES won a Golden Globe for Best Picture; and A SOLDIER'S GIRL was nominated for an Emmy. CONSPIRACY, for HBO, was nominated for 10 Emmys, winning Lead Actor and Writing for a Miniseries. A former President of the Writers Guild of America, west, Pierson is currently a member of the teaching staff of the Sundance Institute and was President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2001Ð2005.

Roger Birnbaum | Artistic Director
Roger Birnbaum founded the production and finance company Spyglass Entertainment with partner Gary Barber where they share the title of Co-Chairman and CEO. The company develops and finances all of its projects independently. Born in Teaneck, New Jersey and educated at the University of Denver, Mr. Birnbaum built a successful career as Vice President of A&M; Records and Arista Records before entering the film business to produce motion pictures. The company's box office hits range from THE SIXTH SENSE with Bruce Willis, which earned $661 million in worldwide box-office, to the most recent box office smash BRUCE ALMIGHTY starring Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston and Morgan Freeman. With six Oscar nominations, THE SIXTH SENSE became the ninth highest grossing film in history, while BRUCE ALMIGHTY has grossed more than $480 million to date and continues to break box office records around the world. Following BRUCE ALMIGHTY was the critically acclaimed film SEABISCUIT, starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper. Other films include THE INSIDER with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, the M. Night Shyamalan thriller UNBREAKABLE, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO with Jim Caviezel and Guy Pearce, REIGN OF FIRE with Matthew McConaughey and Christian Bale, SHANGHAI NOON with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson and its sequel SHANGHAI KNIGHTS and THE RECRUIT with Al Pacino and Colin Farrell. Prior to founding Spyglass Entertainment, Mr. Birnbaum, through Caravan Pictures (the production company he helped build with partner Joe Roth) was responsible for such box office hits as RUSH HOUR, SIX DAYS/SEVEN NIGHTS, INSPECTOR GADGET, GROSS POINTE BLANK, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, ANGLES IN THE OUTFIELD and WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Before joining Caravan, Mr. Birnbaum held the title of President of Worldwide Production and Executive Vice President of Twentieth Century Fox, where he developed such films as HOME ALONE, SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY, EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, HOT SHOTS, MY COUSIN VINNY, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, DIE HARD 2 and MRS. DOUBTFIRE. Prior to that, Birnbaum was President of Production for United Artists where he developed the Oscar winning film and all-time cinema favorite RAIN MAN. Earlier in his career, he produced THE SURE THING, directed by Rob Reiner and YOUNG SHERLOCK HOLMES, which was presented in association with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment. For television, he executive produced the films SCANDAL SHEET, HAPPILY EVER AFTER, WHEN YOUR LOVER LEAVES and the Emmy award winner ALL THE KIDS DO IT.

Phillip Linson | Vice Dean, Production and post-production, Director, AFI Sony Digital Arts Center; Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence: Editing
Linson oversees production and post-production support operations for AFI in general and of the AFI Conservatory in particular. Linson's professional editing career stretches over all manner of projects for film and television. He worked with Agnes Varda and Haskell Wexler on documentaries and later was associate editor on Haskell's feature film LATINO. His theatrical film editing credits include DEADFALL, AFTER MIDNIGHT and Sean Penn's THE INDIAN RUNNER. His theatrical sound editing credits include HOT SHOTS, TOMBSTONE and Allison Anders' GAS, FOOD AND LODGING. In addition, he helped produce the Finnish film LENNINGRAD COWBOYS GO AMERICA.

Sheila Sullivan | Vice Dean, Fellow Affairs
Responsible for managing and coordinating the academic operations of the AFI Conservatory, including faculty support services, Sullivan also coordinates the professional development aspects of the curriculum and serves as the chief liaison for Fellows regarding program matters. Sullivan has worked at TriStar, Interscope, Le Studio Canal Plus and for Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope.

Betsy Pollock | Director of Production Services
Betsy has worked as a Producer, Line Producer, UPM and a first AD over her 25 year career in the Motion Picture Industry. Most recently she was the Co-Producer of a short film, TWO SOLDIERS, which won the 2004 Academy Award for Best Short Dramatic Film. She was involved in the production of WIND, STEALING HOME, LADY IN WHITE, GOOD BURGER and many other features, commercials and documentary films. She was the co-founder of the PSA Committee of Women in Film, which produces and distributes public service announcements to local groups unable to publicize their services in any other way. Pollock was the head of the Producing Discipline at the North Carolina School of the Arts and while there produced a marketing video which has become one of the school's primary marketing tools.

Gill Dennis | Master Filmmaker-in-Residence: Thesis Production
Responsible for the overall creative guidance of thesis productions to ensure consistency and excellence, Dennis is an internationally renowned educator. He has taught at CalArts, the Northwest Film and Video Center, the Australian Film Commission, at workshops in Portugal and Ireland and he has directed the Screenwriting Program at the Squaw Valley Community of Writers for 10 years. Dennis' screenwriting credits include RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE, ON MY OWN, HOME FIRES and RETURN TO OZ. He has also directed numerous plays, receiving the LA Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Direction. With director James Mangold, he co-wrote the Johnny Cash film WALK THE LINE, which will be released in November 2005.

Abby Singer | Distinguished Filmmaker-in-Residence: Production
Singer works with all thesis productions, serving as a creative guide and ensuring overall consistency and excellence. His television production manager credits include DIAGNOSIS MURDER, COLUMBO, MAJOR DAD, BOB NEWHART, THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW, ST. ELSEWHERE, HILL STREET BLUES, SOMETHING FOR JOEY, HITCHCOCK THEATER and GUNSMOKE. Feature credits include DEATH OF A SALESMAN, THE WILD ONES, THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT, SADIE THOMPSON and THREE STOOGES. Singer was also the recipient of the Frank Capra Award from the Directors Guild of America.

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Stephen Lighthill | Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence: Cinematography
During the 1960s while shooting for CBS News and 60 MINUTES, Lighthill created one of the first shoulder-held news cameras. His film SONS AND DAUGHTERS, about the Vietnam War, launched his career filming social issue documentaries. Among the hundreds of documentaries he has filmed are GIMME SHELTER, BERKELEY IN THE '60s and COMING OUT UNDER FIRE. His cinematography credits for independent features include OVER-UNDER, SIDEWAYS-DOWN; HOT SUMMER WINDS; and SHIMMER, all filmed for PBS' American Playhouse. Lighthill served as Director of Photography on the TV series VIETNAM WAR STORY, EARTH 2, NASH BRIDGES and THE HUNTRESS, as well as on many made-for-television features. In 2000, the Society of Operating Cameramen honored him with its President's Award.

Charles Barbee | Lecturer
Barbee obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Film & Television Production, from San Francisco State University. He worked with Lee Mendelson Productions for 10 years, co-producing, directing, editing and photographing many live-action, filmed, prime-time network specials and series including the George Foster Peabody award-winning NBC series HOT DOG and the Emmy winning CBS special IT'S BEEN 25 YEARS, CHARLIE BROWN. He was a VistaVision and 65mm motion-control cameraman on STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE. He was also a Second Unit and Effects Unit Director of Photography on numerous TV series and Feature Films including AUTOMAN, THE FALL GUY, HARDCASTLE & MCCORMICK, PERFECT STRANGERS, GREMLINS, THE LAST STARFIGHTER, THE A-TEAM, MCGYVER and FAMILY MATTERS. Barbee was also the twice Emmy nominated Director of Photography of the popular sitcom, NIGHT COURT. Since 1996 he has worked as the Director of Photography of several independent feature films including FRE ENTERPRISE, a comedy starring William Shatner and Eric McCormick. In 1999 Barbee shot his first "digital-to-35mm" feature WARM BLOODED KILLERS. Barbee is a Director member of the Director's Guild of America and a Director of Photography member of the International Photographers Guild and the Society of Operating Cameramen.

Bill Dill | Senior Lecturer
Holds a B.A. in Communication Studies from Oberlin College. A member of the American Society of Cinematographers, Dill's credits include SIDEWALK STORIES, B.A.P.S., the Showtime TV series SOUL FOOD, DANCING IN SEPTEMBER and the American Playhouse production of FIRES IN THE MIRROR, a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Among his many productions for HBO was the Ace Award-winning children's program MOMMY BUY ME THAT, as well as comedy specials for Robert Townsend, Damon Wayans and Whoopie Goldberg. Dill photographed a Clio award-winning commercial campaign for Nickelodeon Television Network.

Frederic Goodich | Lecturer
Frederic Goodich, ICG, DGA, is a noted cinematographer, whose most recent features include G.I. JESUS, SURVIVING EDEN and THE AFFAIR. His BOARD & CARE won an Academy Award for Best Dramatic Short. An award-winning DP in commercials [having shot over 900], Goodich also shoots cable movies, fashion videos, music videos and documentaries. His feature films also include LAY OF THE LAND, FEAR NO EVIL and FOR LOVE OF THE GAME (2nd unit).

Goodich was Chairman of Cinematographers Forum for two years at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and, for the past five years, Associate Chairman of Cinematographers Day (www.cinematographersday.com/). The latter, formerly at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, currently resides at the Bangkok International Film Festival. He has co-chaired events celebrating the work of, among others, Dante Spinotti and Laszlo Kovacs. He credits his career path to an early love for foreign and silent cinema, a job as film handler at New York's MOMA Film Library and his admiration for American filmmaking of the 1970s.

Larry Mole Parker | Lecturer
The Executive Vice President of Mole-Richardson Co. and the grandson of the company's founder, Peter Mole, Parker was instrumental in designing the Baby 10k down to the Baby 1k in the mid-'60s, as well as the Softlite line and the Litewate Banded Cable System. Parker regularly conducts workshops and seminars on the Mole-Richardson soundstage for film students.

Charles Rose | Lecturer

DIRECTING

Jim McBride | Master Filmmaker-in-Residence
Holds a B.S. in Film from NYU and also attended Kenyon College and the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil). In 1967, McBride made his first movie, DAVID HOLZMAN'S DIARY, which won a number of awards at festivals and ultimately was named to the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Screenwriting/directing credits include BREATHLESS, THE BIG EASY and GREAT BALLS OF FIRE. Television directing credits include THE WONDER YEARS, THE TWILIGHT ZONE and FALLEN ANGELS, while cable credits include SIX FEET UNDER, THE WRONG MAN, THE INFORMANT, PRONTO and MEAT LOAF: TO HELL AND BACK.

Graeme Clifford | Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence
Born in Sydney, Australia, Clifford obtained experience in editing, special effects, sound recording/mixing, animation and assistant directing at Artransa Park. He worked with Robert Altman on M.A.S.H, McCABE AND MRS. MILLER, IMAGES and THE LONG GOODBYE and with Nicholas Roeg on THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH and DON'T LOOK NOW, for which he was nominated for a British Academy Award for editing. Clifford's directorial debut, FRANCES, gained Academy Award nominations for Jessica Lange and Kim Stanley. His second feature, BURKE AND WILLIS, was chosen as a participant in the Cannes Film Festival. Other directing credits include GLEAMING THE CUBE (with Christian Slater) and DECEPTION (a.k.a. RUBY CAIRO with Andie MacDowell, Liam Neeson and Viggo Mortensen), SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS (Aidan Quinn, Marcia Gay Harden) and Mario Puzo's THE LAST DON Parts I and II, a 10-hour mini-series (Danny Aiello, Joe Montegna, Jason Gedrick, Daryl Hannah). His television directorial credits include JOAN OF ARCADIA, THE GUARDIAN and TWIN PEAKS. Clifford's feature editing credits include Norman Jewison's F.I.S.T., Sam Peckinpah's CONVOY, Bob Rafelson's THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE and the cult-classic THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW.

Mel Damski | Lecturer
Mel Damski has directed 27 movies and many documentaries. He has twice been nominated for Emmy Awards and once for an Oscar for his documentary short STILL KICKING: THE FABULOUS PALM SPRINGS FOLLIES. His feature films include YELLOWBEARD, MISCHIEF and HAPPY TOGETHER. He directed the acclaimed docudramas EVERYBODY'S BABY: THE RESCUE OF JESSICA MCCLURE; THE BADGE OF THE ASSASSIN, starring James Woods; and A WINNER NEVER QUITS, with Keith Carradine playing one-armed St. Louis Brown's outfielder Pete Gray. His television movies have twice earned him Christopher Awards. Damski has directed numerous television series, from MASH to PICKET FENCES to ALLY MCBEAL and BOSTON LEGAL.

A former Newsday reporter, Damski has taught filmmaking at the University of Southern California, the American Film Institute and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and he has lectured at New York University.

James T. Gardner | Lecturer
Holding MFA degrees from both the Yale School of Drama and AFI, Gardner is a prolific director and producer for theater and television. He has produced and directed productions for the Alley Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Quantum Theatre, Tiffany Theatre, Friends and Artists Theatre and the Bermuda Festival. He has served as the artistic director for the Soho Repertory Theatre, the Red Barn Theatre and the Ensemble Company for the Performing Arts. Television directing credits include episodes of COACH, MY SISTER SAM, BABY BOOM, DEAR JOHN, FAMILY MAN, THE POPCORN KID, MCGEE AND ME and EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSIE. Gardner has also taught at Cal Arts, UCLA, Carnegie-Mellon, UT-Austin, Cal State Northridge and Cal State Poly Pomona.

Peter Markham | Senior Lecturer
Holds a B.A. in Drama and English from Hull University in the UK with First Class Honors. Markham served as first AD on TRULY MADLY DEEPLY. After graduating from the BBC Director's Course where his final project, THE TABLE, was developed with and written by Anthony Minghella. Markham directed the extensive second unit on THE ENGLISH PATIENT. He directed THE CORMORANT and directed second unit on GANGS OF NEW YORK for Martin Scorsese.

Richard Pearce | Lecturer
Richard Pearce made his feature film directorial debut with the period drama HEARTLAND, which earned the Golden Bear (Grand Prize) at the Berlin Film Festival, and then opened the New York Film Festival's first look at AMERICAN INDEPENDENTS WHAT IS THIS? WHY IS IT CAPPED? in 1981. Other films of Pearce's include COUNTRY, which brought Jessica Lange an Academy Award nomination and was also chosen to open The New York Film Festival; the highly praised racially-charged drama THE LONG WALK HOME, pairing Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek; LEAP OF FAITH, with Steve Martin, Debra Winger and Liam Neeson; NO MERCY, starring Richard Gere and Kim Basinger; and A FAMILY THING, with Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones. Pearce began work in the late 1960s as a documentary cinematographer, and his camera credits include three Oscar-winning films--WOODSTOCK, MARJOE and INTERVIEWS WITH MY LAI VETERANS. His final project before becoming a feature film director was the Vietnam War documentary HEARTS AND MINDS, directed by Peter Davis. For over a year and a half, Pearce served as both cinematographer and associate producer on the controversial film, which eventually screened at the Cannes Film Festival and won an Academy Award. In recent years, Pearce has returned once again to making documentaries. In 2003, he was invited to direct one of seven films for a Martin Scorsese series, THE BLUES, broadcast on PBS. His contribution, produced by Robert Kenner and entitled THE ROAD TO MEMPHIS, premiered at the Venice Film Festival, eventually playing to theatrical audiences throughout Europe, England and Australia.

Last year, Pearce moved to New York City to help produce and direct a new Dick Wolf series for NBC, LAW & ORDER: TRIAL BY JURY, while continuing his work in documentary film. Currently, he is the executive producer of THE PURSUERS, a three-year effort to document the worldwide crusade to bring Chilean dictator Pinochet to justice.

Robert Spera | Lecturer
Robert Spera has an extensive background in both film and theater. His most recent feature film credits include THE LAST CRY and FORBIDDEN BY LAW distributed by Columbia/TriStar and MUTUAL NEEDS distributed by Orion Pictures. Mr. Spera's theater credits include numerous productions in the United States and abroad. During the last four seasons as the resident director at the Tony award winning Actor's Theater of Louisville, he directed over seventy-five productions. His play TRACKS, which he wrote and originally directed, was hailed by the critics and enjoyed an extended run in Los Angeles. Mr. Spera's published works include ACTORS WRITE FOR ACTORS, ENCORE and the play THE FIELD.

EDITING

Donn Cambern | Senior Lecturer
Holds a B.A. in Music from UCLA. Music editing credits include THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, THE UNTOUCHABLES, I SPY and GOMER PYLE. Cambern edited EASY RIDER, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, BLUME IN LOVE, CINDERELLA LIBERTY, HOOPER, CANNONBALL RUN, ROMANCING THE STONE, TWINS, THE BODYGUARD and THE GLIMMER MAN. Cambern is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, the American Cinema Editors, the Directors Guild of America and the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. He served as Vice President of the Academy Board of Governors from 1990 to 1994 and from 1997 to 1999. In addition, he has held the position of President of the Motion Pictures Editors Guild since 1991.

Brian Chambers | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA in Film from UCLA, Chambers has extensive experience as an Editor and Co-Producer and is currently Manager of Post-Production for Twentieth Century Fox Television. Feature credits include DOWNTOWN, FRANKIE & JOHNNY, LETHAL WEAPON III, LITTLE NIKITA, MERMAIDS and MY STEPMOTHER IS AN ALIEN. Television work includes CRIME STORY, RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SLIDERS, AMERICAN GOTHIC, NYPD BLUE, GET REAL and JUDGING AMY.

David Cook | Lecturer
After having worked in movie theaters from elementary school through college and graduating from THE NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS with a Bachelors in Fine Arts Degree in filmmaking, Cook has worked with acclaimed directors and producers such as James Cameron, Jean Doumanian, Terrence Malick, Edward R. Pressman, Roger Corman, David Gordon Green, William R. Greenblatt, Tony Goldwin, Joseph Sergeant, Sarah Pilsbury, Lisa Muskat and Norman Miller. His credits include GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS, ALL THE REAL GIRLS, CLOVER BEND, GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE JOYRIDERS, DOOMSDAY MAN, HEARSAY, SURFACING, RECKONING, THE SURPRISE PARTY, MAN AND DOG and UNDERTOW.

Bruce Green | Mentor
BRUCE GREEN, A.C.E. edited director Garry Marshall's hit comedies THE PRINCESS DIARIES, RUNAWAY BRIDE, as well as Marshall's THE OTHER SISTER. Green's other film credits include the hit comedy BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE, THE GURU, PHENOMENON, WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING, COOL RUNNINGS, ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD, THE VANISHING, YOUNG GUNS II, THREE FUGITIVES, WELCOME HOME, ROXY CARMICHAEL, PUNCHLINE and SQUARE DANCE. Born and raised in New York City, Green attended Bard College and then graduated from the California Institute of the Arts, where he studied painting and film. While pursuing a career in animation and documentary filmmaking, he began freelancing in a special effects house and working as an assistant cameraman. Green earned an assistant editing position on STAR WARS, where he was able to apply his knowledge of special effects. He moved to London and realized another goal through his work on documentaries. Returning to the United States, he met Michael Kahn, Steven Spielberg's editor, who became Green's mentor. Green worked as an assistant to Kahn on RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM, POLTERGEIST and TABLE FOR FIVE.

Danford Greene | Lecturer
Holds a BA in Film from USC. Editing credits include THAT COLD DAY IN THE PARK, MASH, WHO'S HARRY CRUMB?, PARTNERS, AMERICAN HOT WAX, ALOHA BOBBY AND ROSE, FUN WITH DICK AND JANE, WHICH WAY IS UP, 18 AGAIN, HEAD OFFICE, BLUE SKIES AGAIN, ROCKY II, MYRA BRECKENRIDGE, LOVE AT STAKE, THERE GOES MY BABY, OUTLAW BLUES, MASTER GUNFIGHTER and BLAZING SADDLES. Directing credits include THE SECRET DIARY OF SIGMUND FREUD.

Farrel Levy | Senior Lecturer
Levy attended the University of Michigan and Cooper Union as a Fine Arts major. Editing credits include DIRTY DANCING, NYPD BLUE, PRIMAL FEAR, BROOKLYN SOUTH (pilot), THE HAUNTED, ACROSS THE TRACKS, CONFESSIONS OF A SEXIST PIG, BLIND JUSTICE (pilot), THE UNIT (pilot) and CRIMINAL MINDS. Levy has also directed three episodes of NYPD BLUE.

Sonya Polonsky | Mentor
Prior to film editing, Polonsky worked in book publishing and in both film and television production-most notably on the feature documentary WOODSTOCK. She spent the next 25 years as an assistant film editor and then editor, with credits including ANNIE HALL and INTERIORS (apprentice editor), RAGING BULL (assistant editor) and BABY IT'S YOU and MATEWAN (editor). Polonsky taught Film Editing at NCSA and at The Film School at Florida State University.

Stan Salfas | Lecturer
As a writer, producer, director and editor, Salfas' films have won awards at film festivals worldwide and have been distributed on network television. As an editor of feature films, he has worked with directors Steven Soderbergh, Phil Joanou, Keith Gordon and Matt Reeves, among others. He is the recipient of both an Emmy Award and two ACE nominations. Recently, he served as a producer in charge of post-production on the series FELICITY and as a co-producer on the ABC drama series, MIRACLES.

Howard Smith | Senior Lecturer
A Directing Fellow at the AFI Conservatory in 1969, Smith studied at Northwestern University, where he made over 50 films. Smith's feature editing credits include BLADE TRINITY; TORQUE; CITY OF GHOSTS; THE CROW, SALVATION; GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS; AFTER DARK, MY SWEET; AT CLOSE RANGE; STRANGE DAYS; POINT BREAK; NEAR DARK; THE ABYSS; DANTE'S PEAK; BIG MAN ON CAMPUS; RIVER'S EDGE; TEX; and the Creature on the wing on the airplane segment of TWILIGHT ZONE-THE MOVIE. Smith was associate producer and editor on the ABC-TV specials OSCAR'S BEST ACTORS and OSCAR'S BEST MOVIES. He also worked on six Academy Award shows, producing and editing all film segments.

PRODUCING

Neil Canton | Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence
With a degree in Government and Public Administration from American University in Washington, DC, Canton first worked in Hollywood as assistant to Peter Bogdanovich on WHAT'S UP, DOC?, PAPER MOON and NICKELODEON. He then spent two years on Orson Welles' THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WIND before leaving to work with Walter Hill on THE WARRIORS. Producing credits include THE ADVENTURES OF BUCKAROO BANZAI!, THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK, BACK TO THE FUTURE (along with its sequels), TRESPASS, GERONIMO, MONEY TRAIN, DUETS, GET CARTER, ANGEL EYES, TRAPPED and INTERSTATE 60. Canton is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America.

Richard Arlook | Senior Lecturer
Producing credits include AFTER MIDNIGHT. Arlook has been at the Gersh Agency since 1990 and is currently a senior agent and head of the motion picture literary department, where he represents many top screenwriters and directors.

Harry Clein | Senior Lecturer
An Honors major in Architecture at Yale University, Clein also earned an MFA in Playwriting and Dramatic Literature from the Yale School of Drama. In 2000, he received the Publicists Guild of America Career Achievement Award for his work on THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT. In 1995, he won the Publicists Guild's Maxwell Weinberg Publicists Showmanship Award for the FORREST GUMP campaign. Other credits include SOPHIE'S CHOICE; DIRTY DANCING; HEATHERS; PLACES IN THE HEART; STEEL MAGNOLIAS; THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL; MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS; THE CROW; KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN; MONA LISA; SEX, LIES AND VIDEOTAPE; CINEMA PARADISO; and THE JOY LUCK CLUB. Currently Clein is marketing consultant for National Geographic Feature Films' MARCH OF THE PENGUINS.

Jeff Freilich | Senior Lecturer
After graduating from Antioch College in Psychology, Freilich attended USC School of Medicine. He began his career in filmmaking as the producer on Tim Hunter's AFI thesis project, DEVIL'S BARGAIN. After rewriting screenplays for Roger Corman and Sam Arkoff, he was signed to a series of long-term studio development deals, spanning twenty-four years, as writer, producer and director in episodic television, cable motion pictures and feature films. At Universal, he earned his first Emmy nomination and served as executive story consultant on BARETTA and QUINCY and as writer/producer of THE INCREDIBLE HULK. At Lorimar/Warner Bros., Freilich created three network television series and served as writer/director/executive producer on FALCON CREST, DARK JUSTICE, AGAINST THE GRAIN and FREDDY'S NIGHTMARES. For Showtime, he produced, in partnership with Norman Jewison, the Emmy and Cable Ace Award-winning PICTURE WINDOWS and the Emmy-winning RESCUERS: STORIES OF COURAGE, in collaboration with Barbra Streisand. At Paramount, he wrote/produced/directed NAKED CITY and CODENAME: PHOENIX and produced EXECUTION OF JUSTICE and MEAN STREAK. For 20th Century Fox, he produced SUZANNE'S DIARY FOR NICHOLAS, based on the novel by James Patterson. For Lion's Gate, he consulted on the production of THE CAT'S MEOW, directed by Peter Bogdanovich.

Michael Glick | Lecturer

Robert Kaplan | Senior Lecturer
An entertainment attorney and former independent film producer, Kaplan was executive in charge of business affairs at Warner Bros. in London, supervising all non-US production activities. Currently, Kaplan practices on his own and specializes in representing feature film writers, directors and producers, particularly in the arena of independent film financing. He also is a founding principal in ScreenBridge, a company specializing in packaging and financing independent films. Credits include KRUSH GROOVE (executive producer), NIGHT OF THE COMET, PAPILLON (associate producer), THE ADVENTURES OF AMERICAN RABBIT and SOUTHERN CROSS (executive producer).

Alexandra Rose | Senior Lecturer
Holds an MA from the University of Wisconsin and L'Institut d'Etudes Politiques in Paris. Rose began her film career with a three-year stint working for Roger Corman, where she oversaw film distribution, acquisition, post-production and marketing. She then formed her own independent film company. Producing credits include THE BIG WEDNESDAY, EXIT TO EDEN, FRANKIE & JOHNNY, I WANNA HOLD YOUR HAND, NORMA RAE, NOTHING IN COMMON, THE OTHER SISTER, OVERBOARD and QUIGLEY DOWN UNDER.

David Streit | Filmmaker-in-Residence: Production
Production credits include JURASSIC PARK III (UPM); SPECIES (Executive Producer/UPM); INTERNAL AFFAIRS (Co-Producer); THE RIVER'S EDGE (Co-Producer/UPM); ROCKERS (Co-Producer/UPM) and many others.

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Joseph Garrity | Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence
An AFI graduate, Garrity has designed many feature films including RUNAWAY TRAIN (art director), WEEDS, MY GIRL, DROP DEAD FRED, SON-IN-LAW and NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE. He met Christopher Guest in 1988 and was chosen to design his directorial debut feature THE BIG PICTURE and has designed all his films since, including WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, BEST IN SHOW and A MIGHTY WIND. Currently he is in pre-production on Guest's next film, FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.

Robert Boyle | Distinguished Lecturer
Holds a BA in Architecture from USC. Credits include FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, IN COLD BLOOD, MARNIE, NORTH BY NORTHWEST, SABOTEUR, SHADOW OF A DOUBT, THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, THE BIRDS and THE SHOOTIST. Boyle received an Honorary Degree from AFI in1996 and he was most recently the subject of the Academy Award-nominated Best Documentary Short Subject, THE MAN ON LINCOLN'S NOSE.

Suzanne Feller-Otto | Lecturer
Feller-Otto received her degree in Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and has lived and worked in Tokyo on the Puroland Theme Park. Her set designer credits include five seasons of SEINFELD, episodes of ALLY McBEAL, 8 SIMPLE RULES and the feature films OUT ON A LIMB and TRIAL AND ERROR.

Don Jordan | Senior Lecturer, Digital Design
An award-winning writer, designer and educator, Jordan's work in the media and entertainment fields has been recognized by industry leaders such as Apple Computer, Avid Technologies, Digital Domain, DreamWorks SKG, Hanna-Barbera, Paramount Studios, Sony Studios and Saban Entertainment. Jordan established Digital Media XChange(r), one of the leading digital schools for film and television professionals involved in art direction and set design.

Ernie Marjoram | Senior Lecturer
Holds a BS from Cal Poly-Pomona. Marjoram has been a registered Professional Architect for more than 15 years and has been working as a free-lance designer/illustrator in advertising and entertainment since 1995. He has developed concepts for Walt Disney Imagineering, created sketches for Steven Spielberg's Movie Magic, executed concept design of the Lost World of Jules Verne theme park and handled visual development for Spagna 2000.

Lauren Polizzi | Senior Lecturer
Polizzi received her Bachelor's Degree from UCLA's Theater of Fine Arts where she discovered a love and aptitude for set design. She has since honed her design skills on many diverse feature films, including: DEATH BECOMES HER, JURASSIC PARK, FORREST GUMP, DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS, AUSTIN POWERS 3, SECONDHAND LIONS, LEMONY SNICKET and PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 & 3. In1994 she moved up to Asst. Art Director and worked on such films as: THE TIME MACHINE, PANIC ROOM, SPECIES, AMISTAD and INDEPENDENCE DAY. She received her first Art Director credit on the film THE LOST WORLD and has since Art Directed on the films BE COOL, THE ALAMO, DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and THE X-FILES television series. Lauren received an Art Director's Guild Award and Emmy Nomination for her work on Season Six of THE X-FILES, an ADG and Oscar Nomination for DR. SEUSS'S HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS and an ADG nomination for AMISTAD.

Richard Reynolds | Senior Lecturer
Holding BA and MA degrees in Theatre Arts-Stage and Lighting Design, Reynolds' recent film work includes 3D computer pre-visualization and set design on PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN 2 & 3, THE TERMINAL, SKY HIGH, MINORITY REPORT, TERMINATOR 3, PLANET OF THE APES, PEARL HARBOR, SOLARIS, ENVY, MISSION TO MARS, SUPERNOVA, THE NEGOTIATOR and GODZILLA; set design for BLADE and VOLCANO; and visual effects art direction for BATMAN AND ROBIN and INDEPENDENCE DAY. Reynolds has served as assistant art director for the Academy Awards and has art directed and production designed all formats of television from musical awards shows, sitcoms, 1-hour episodic, to mini-series. His particular interests currently lie in 3D computer design to pre-visualize sets within the art department and in the relationship between classical architecture and contemporary design.

SCREENWRITING

Leonard Schrader | Senior Filmmaker-in-Residence: Screenwriting
Holding an MFA from the University of Iowa's Writers Workshop, Schrader became the first American screenwriter to have two films in Official Selection at the same Cannes Film Festival when KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN competed against MISHIMA, which Schrader co-wrote with his younger brother, writer/director Paul Schrader. Writing credits include NAKED TANGO (also director), KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, GIRL ON FIRE: THE EDIE SEDGWICK STORY, BLUE COLLAR, OLD BOYFRIENDS and THE KILLING OF AMERICA (also producer).

Tom Blomquist | Lecturer
Blomquist is an award-winning Writer, Producer and Director, whose diverse credits include the drama series FARSCAPE, QUANTUM LEAP, WALKER TEXAS WRANGER, HUNTER, TWICE IN A LIFETIME, SWAMP THING, HARDCASTLE & MCCORMICK, THE A-TEAM and Catherine Marshall's CHRISTY. He also recently served as Executive Producer and Writer of the critically acclaimed mini-series sequel to CHRISTY; as well as Director of the theatrical comedy featurette PRISON LIFE, which was cited by the Houston Chronicle as one of the ten best short films of the year. A graduate of Southern Illinois University, Blomquist was formerly a Program Development Executive at MTM Studios, Artemis/Orion Television and Foote, Cone & Belding Advertising, where he worked on The Hallmark Hall of Fame.

Michael Ellis | Senior Lecturer
Holds an MFA in Screenwriting from AFI and graduated from NYU's film school. Ellis and his writing partner, Pam Falk, most recently collaborated on THE WEDDING PLANNER.

Allen Estrin | Senior Lecturer
Estrin has worked successfully in television, film and radio, with his recent writing credits including multiple episodes of Emmy Award-winning THE PRACTICE, BOSTON PUBLIC and TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL. In addition to his TV and film writing, he has written film history (The Hollywood Profession, Volume 6: Capra, Cukor and Brown), educational and corporate videos (For Goodness Sake, Character: Who Needs It) and has directed the highly praised documentary ISRAEL IN A TIME OF TERROR (2002). Estrin's first novel, Heaven's Witness, was published in 2004 by Toby Press and named one of the best mysteries of that year by "The Weekly Standard." It will be a CBS Special Event movie in 2006.

Jerome Gary | Senior Lecturer
Gary has produced PUMPING IRON, STRIPPER; executive produced THE GATHERING, the Ace Award-winning LAUGHS series for HBO, THE RUSSIANS, an eight-hour series which won an Emmy and a Cine Golden Eagle; directed STRIPPER, TRAXX and six plays including TRUE WEST; and written: THE GATHERING, REBEL HIGHWAY. Currently he is the Strategic Director of the Institute for Creative Technologies at USC and is the Creator and Executive Producer of ON THE ROAD IN AMERICA, a 26 part series. He graduated cum laude from Yale in History of the Arts and Letters and is married to Mary Lambert, the film and music video director.

Karen Janszen | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA in Anthropology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, an MA in Anthropology from Harvard and an MFA in Screenwriting from AFI, Janszen's screenwriting credits include DUMA (2005), A WALK TO REMEMBER (2002), THE MATCHMAKER (1997) and DIGGING TO CHINA (1998); television credits include an episode of FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON (1998). In 1999, Variety named her one of "Ten Screenwriters to Watch."

Patricia Meyer | Lecturer
For the past 20 years, Patricia K. Meyer has had a diverse career as a motion picture and television screenwriter and producer. With her passion for dark comedic true crime stories, she has had the privilege of writing numerous screenplays for Martin Scorsese, Harry and Mary Jane Ufland, Brillstein-Grey and Robert De Niro's Tribeca Productions. She has also written projects for every major studio as well as the networks, including a CBS movie, which aired in 1998, and a CBS miniseries, currently in development.

Meyer's first production, the ABC miniseries THE WOMEN OF BREWSTER PLACE starred Oprah Winfrey and received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Miniseries in 1989. Throughout the 1990s, she developed and executive produced multiple network movies starring such luminaries as Kirk Douglas, Kelsey Grammer and Lloyd Bridges. In 2003, Meyer made her directorial debut with THE LIST, a short tragic-comedy starring Corbin Bernsen and Ashley Williams. Her film screened nationwide at six film festivals.

After receiving a BA in History and Literature from Harvard University, Meyer earned a Masters degree in Fiction Writing from Boston University. Before joining the AFI faculty, she taught screenwriting and development at Chapman University's undergraduate and graduate film schools. Meyer continues to write and sell screenplays under the auspices of her longtime agent, Byrdie Lifson Pompan, of Creative Artists Agency, and manager Linne Radmin.

Daryl Nickens | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA in Anthropology from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, Nickens' feature credits include HOUSE PARTY 2 and YOU MUST REMEMBER THIS; television series include HAPPILY EVER AFTER (which he helped create), THE FAMOUS JETT JACKSON and THE PARKERS. His television credits also include staff positions on the episodic comedies 227, A DIFFERENT WORLD and BUSTIN' LOOSE, as well as pilots for CBS, Paramount and Nickelodeon. He was a producer on PBS's Emmy-winning documentary magazine series LIFE 360. Nickens' work has been nominated twice for the Humanitas Prize, as well as a Daytime Emmy Award, Writers Guild of America Award, Writers Guild of Canada Top Ten Award and the NAACP Image Award. Nickens is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America and current Treasurer of the Writers Guild Foundation. At present, he is writing a historical drama for HBO and a series of animated fairy tales for Disney.

Del Reisman | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA from the University of California at Berkeley, Reisman worked as story editor on the original PLAYHOUSE 90, after working on NBC MATINEE THEATRE. His first filmed show was the original TWILIGHT ZONE, where he worked as story editor for Rod Serling. He went on to write scripts, produce episodes and story edit for such classics as THE UNTOUCHABLES, RAWHIDE, PEYTON PLACE, THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and CAGNEY AND LACEY. His long-form TV writing credits include THE TEN COMMANDMENTS: THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, EROS IN LOVE and KILLER INSTINCT. Feature credits include THE TAKE (starring Billy Dee Williams) and THE MORNING MAN AND THE EVENING WOMAN. Reisman served on the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild of America, west, from 1979-87; was their Vice President from 1987-91; and served as President from 1991-93. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Writers Guild Foundation and of the National Film Preservation Board/Library of Congress.

Anna Thomas | Senior Lecturer
Holds an MFA in Film from UCLA. An Academy Award-nominated screenwriter, as well as a producer, director and author, Thomas is the producer and co-writer of the film EL NORTE, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and was elected to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1995. She is also the co-writer and producer of the acclaimed MY FAMILY, MI FAMILIA. Thomas made her first feature in 1977 when she wrote, produced and directed her Master's thesis film, THE HAUNTING OF M. Other film credits include the 1986 drama A TIME OF DESTINY, which she co-wrote and produced. She recently completed writing two episodes of the PBS one-hour drama series AMERICAN FAMILY: "The Journey, Part 1" and "The Journey, Part 2." Thomas is a founder of the IFP West.

Dan Vining | Lecturer
After undergraduate work at the University of Florida, Vining was a Stegner Fellow in Poetry at Stanford, returning the following year as Jones Lecturer in Poetry. He also wrote and edited at Rolling Stone in its last San Francisco days. His credits as a screenwriter include the features BLACK DOG, PLAIN CLOTHES and LIGHTHOUSE and the television movies WILD HORSES, HER DEADLY RIVAL, IN MY SISTER'S SHADOW and the cable feature ESCAPE: HUMAN CARGO. Additionally, Vining has written screenplays for Universal, Paramount, Disney, MGM and NBC and he recently sold the action script AUTOBAHN. His mystery novel, The Quick, was published by Penguin-Putnam in 2004. The follow-up, The Next, will arrive in 2006.

AFI CONSERVATORY STUDIES
The Conservatory Studies curriculum is a series of interdisciplinary courses, seminars and workshops designed to provide Fellows with a broad and varied perspective on the contemporary film, television and digital media arts and professions.

Susan Baerwald | Senior Lecturer
Baerwald graduated from The George School, received her BA from Sarah Lawrence College, a degree of Arts and Letters from the Sorbonne in Paris and studied acting at the Comedie Francaise and HB Studio. While VP of Mini-Series and Novels for Television at NBC, Baerwald developed SHOGUN; THE EXECUTIONER'S SONG; MARCO POLO; LITTLE GLORIA, HAPPY AT LAST; WALLENBERG: A HERO'S STORY; KENNEDY; PETER THE GREAT; CELEBRITY; FATAL VISION; ANASTASIA; EVERGREEN; DRESS GREY; HANDS OF A STRANGER; BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB and THE MURDER OF MARY PHAGAN. Her executive producer credits include more than 20 hours of Emmy-nominated long-form television. Baerwald served two terms on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for the Producers Peer Group and as Chair of the National Emmy Awards Committee. She is currently on the Foundation Board of Women in Film and is President of the Board of L.A. Goal, an organization that provides opportunities to adults with developmental disabilities.

Barbara Bloom | Senior Lecturer
A veteran creative executive in motion pictures and television, Bloom is a graduate of UCLA in English Literature. She began her professional career with HBO Pictures, acquiring, developing and supervising the production of original feature films. She has also served as a producer for HBO Pictures and Citadel Entertainment and as Vice President for Fogwood Films-Sally Field's Disney-based production company- where she supervised and managed the television division. As one of the founders of IFP-West, she organized their first professional seminar programs on independent features. Most recently, Bloom served as Vice President, Television, for Artisan Entertainment where she developed a slate of network and cable television movies and mini-series. Producing credits include LAST OF HIS TRIBE, HEART Of A STRANGER and RFK, among others.

Stan Brooks | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA from Brandeis University and an MFA from AFI, Brooks enjoyed a successful run as President of Savoy Pictures Television--overseeing six production and development entities--after which he ran his own television film production company, Once Upon a Time Films, with a development slate of over 30 hours of movies, miniseries and pilots. Past films include BEHIND THE MASK, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH, FALLING FOR YOU, A DREAM IS A WISH YOUR HEART MAKES: THE ANNETTE FUNICELLO STORY, SUBMERGED and TALKING TO HEAVEN.

Ricka Canter Fisher | Lecturer
As an independent producer, Ricka Canter Fisher recently executive produced FAMILY SINS for CBS and co-produced the independent feature NEW SUIT, directed by Francois Velle. Previously, she executive produced the children's movie STEPSISTER FROM THE PLANET WEIRD for The Disney Channel. She also returned to her theatre roots in 2002-2003 to develop, direct and produce Women of Courage, and performed readings inspired from the series of non-fiction books by Katherine Martin.

Fisher served as President of Salma Hayek's company, Ventanarosa Productions. The company produced award-winning FRIDA, and, for Showtime Cable Network IN THE TIME OF BUTTERFLIES, adapted from the historical novel by Julia Alvarez.

As Vice President, Production, Disney Telefilms, she supervised the revival of the classic family franchise, THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, supervising more than 12 original MISSING A WORD, including the musical CINDERELLA directed by Rob Iscove and choreographed by Rob Marshall; the award winning RUBY BRIDGES STORY directed by Euzhan Palcy; the WWII docudrama MIRACLE AT MIDNIGHT starring Sam Waterston and Mia Farrow; and OLIVER TWIST directed by Tony Bill, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Elijah Wood.

Previously Fisher was Director of Movies & Miniseries at NBC-TV where she supervised films over some five seasons.

Earlier in her career, Fisher was Vice President for Avnet Kerner Productions, and Sr. Vice President for the NYC/LA offices of Force Ten Productions for whom she co-produced IN BROAD DAYLIGHT and FOLLOW YOUR HEART, both for NBC.

Fisher began her career in New York City theatre as an actress and director. She also was a co-founder and board member of the critically acclaimed Off Off Broadway theatre, The Production Company.

Dorothy Fontana | Senior Lecturer
Fontana's screenwriting credits include the television series STAR TREK, BONANZA, THE WALTONS, THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and DALLAS. Story editor credits include the original STAR TREK series, STAR TREK ANIMATED, FANTASTIC JOURNEY, LOGAN'S RUN and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, on which Fontana was also associate producer for the first 13 episodes. She is a member of Science Fiction Writers of America, Western Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, the Writers Guild of America, west and Writers Guild of Canada. Her current project is a script for an online STAR TREK project, NewVoyages.com.

James Hosney | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA in Anglo-American Literature from Occidental College, James Hosney created and taught courses in literature, American Studies and film at the Westlake School for Girls from 1970 to 1980. Currently, after retiring from his position as the Director of the Film and Video Program, he teaches a two-year Honors English course, Great Books of the Western World, at the Crossroads School. He created the Film Program at Crossroads, where he has been teaching for 23 years. He has published articles in Film Quarterly, the South Atlantic Quarterly and the Los Angeles Times; and he has taught film classes for UCLA Extension. He has been teaching at AFI since 1980.

Joe Pichirallo | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA from the University of California at Berkeley and an MFA from AFI, Pichirallo has worked as a studio executive for nearly 10 years and currently is executive vice president of production at Focus Features, a division of Universal Pictures. Among the films he has supervised are THE BROTHERS McMULLEN, QUILLS, THE SLUMS OF BEVERLY HILLS, ONE HOUR PHOTO, THE BANGER SISTERS and THE ANTWONE FISHER STORY. Pichirallo was formerly a reporter for The Washington Post.

Barry Sabath | Senior Lecturer, Senior Mentor: Thesis Production
Sabath has nearly two decades of feature film development experience. He ran the film division of Marsha and Robin Williams' Blue Wolf Productions, whose productions include MRS. DOUBTFIRE, PATCH ADAMS and JAKOB THE LIAR. At Twentieth Century Fox, he was Senior Vice President of Production for Paul Schiff Productions, where he oversaw MY COUSIN VINNY and was co-producer on GHOST IN THE MACHINE and PCU. He spent four years at Columbia Pictures, as Executive Story Editor and Vice President of Production and supervised FLATLINERS and IMMEDIATE FAMILY. Holding an MA and Ph.D. in Cinema Studies from New York University, Sabath also taught film history and criticism at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois State University.

Nancy Sackett | Senior Lecturer
Holds a BFA from U.C. Berkeley, MFA from UCLA. She has written for both television and film. Credits include SKYWARD (Image Award winner), BEVERLY HILLS MADAME, LONG COLD SUMMER and THE RING, a 4 hour mini series for NBC; MISSING CHILDREN: A MOTHER'S STORY (Tennessee Film Board Winner), THE LIE, CENTRALPARK WEST (as co-creator) and THE CANDY MOSSLER STORY, a 4 hour mini series for CBS; DARLIN' CLEMENTINE (Ace Award Winner) for Showtime; BRIDGE TO TERRABITHIA for PBS; CHARLES AND DIANA, MEANT FOR EACH OTHER and GLITTER (as co-creator) for ABC. Her feature film credits include: FAMILY CAMP, ALMOST PERFECT and WOMAN AT THE TOP.

Michael Urban | Lecturer
Michael Urban attended Florida State University as well as the Freie Universitaet in Berlin, Germany before moving to Los Angeles. He is a graduate of the AFI Screenwriting program. His first feature film SAVED! was written while he was a fellow at the AFI. He is currently adapting a novel for MGM and developing a screenplay for Fox 2000. This fall he will begin work on a series for HBO.

George Walczak | Lecturer
Holding an MFA in Screenwriting from AFI, Walczak was a recipient of the Alfred P. Sloan Award. In his eight year as an AFI adjunct faculty member teaching the year-long development workshop, Walczak has also taught the screenwriting section of the Directing Workshop for Women for the last six years. Walczak most recently wrote Zulu Wave with writing partners Mark Rogers and Rob Ryder. Walczak also adapted the French, travel bestseller, African in Greenland. Walczak is also writing a novel about C.G. Jung set in the trenches of World War I. In 2001, Walczak served as the Director of the Ojai Film Festival.

Seth Winston | Senior Lecturer
Holding a BA in Film from the USC School of Cinema, Winston participated in the Academy Internship Program at AFI and interned under Steven Spielberg on CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. He received an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 1992 for writing and directing Showtime's SESSION MAN. Credits include SHE'S OUT OF CONTROL; THE CURE; GAME DAY; IT'S MY CHILD, TOO; and THE COMMON COLD.

Cathy Wischner-Sola | Lecturer
Wischner-Sola holds a B.A. degree in Humanities from The New School for Social Research, attended Northwestern University and the American Conservatory Theatre Advanced Training Program. Wischner-Sola recently served as Vice President, Original Programming at TNT where she supervised an extensive slate of distinguished movies, miniseries and pilots, including the Emmy-nominated PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY, Emmy-nominated KING OF TEXAS, groundbreaking ANIMAL FARM and SMUDGE, winner of the Humanitas Prize for Best Children's Movie. Previously, she worked as Vice President, Creative Affairs, for Daniel H. Blatt Productions, at Warner Bros. overseeing feature, television movie, miniseries and series development. Her producing credits include COMMON GROUND, the Humanitas Prize-winning miniseries directed by Mike Newell and the Emmy-winning SWORN TO SILENCE. As Head of Beverly Hills Theatre40 Playwright's Workshop, she established the theatre's first professional playwright's contract to develop new works and served as Literary Consultant for Showtime's Act One Productions and LATC. She began her film career as a story analyst for Tri-Star Pictures.