CREW
Born in India and raised in Texas, Deepika Daggubati received a B.A. in English & Psychology from Georgetown University and an M.F.A. in Film Production from CalArts. Deepika has written and/or directed several short films, including THE OVERNIGHTERS, POTOSI RD., DOWRY, and NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH. Her award-winning feature debut as a writer/director, WAKING DREAMS, has played festivals across the U.S.
Deepika’s screenplays include MUNCIE MASALA (Disney), a boarding school drama GIRLWRECK (Colucci Productions), and a psychological thriller THE RECKONING. As an editor, Deepika has collaborated on shorts, promos, and reels for award-winning filmmakers including Steve De Jarnatt, David Madsen, Michael Jacobs, Jason Crain, and the Fies Sisters. Her industry experience includes working in development at Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Motion Pictures and Michael Phillips’ Lighthouse Productions. She is honored to be a former Chair of the WGA’s Asian-American Writers Committee, an ABC/Disney TV Directing Finalist, and a Project: Involve Fellow (Film Independent).
KALYAN VINDHYA: Producer
Kalyan Vindhya was born in Guntur, India and came to the U.S at the tender age of 6. He inherited his family’s love and passion for movies at a very young age. After graduating from Trinity University with a B.A. in Communications, he received his Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from the University of Houston. After having worked in the healthcare field for a few years at the world renowned UCSF Medical Center, he decided to finally pursue his dreams of working in the entertainment industry.
Having moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco in the spring of 2004, he quickly found work at various established entertainment companies. Since his arrival in L.A., Kalyan has worked for Comedy Central, Paula Abdul, and Myriad Pictures. He was the Production Manager on the feature film QUIET DIGNITY. He was also an executive producer on the short film A LIFE’S WORK, which screened at the prestigious Los Angeles International Short Film Festival in the fall of 2005. WAKING DREAMS marks Kalyan’s debut as a feature film producer.
SULEKHA NAIDU: Producer
After leaving Odessa, Texas upon graduation, Sulekha studied acting at Yale University for a summer. After spending 2 years at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Economics, Sulekha decided to make the move out west. She transferred to Pepperdine University and majored in Theater and Business Administration. By working at various casting offices, production offices, and talent agencies, Sulekha was able to get a feel for the business. Sulekha graduated with a degree in Business Administration and began to pursue her acting career full time.
Sulekha has appeared in the film ONE NIGHT STAND, with Wesley Snipes and Nastassja Kinski, and the hit TV show “Seinfeld.” Her greatest satisfaction thus far has been playing a doctor on NBC’s “ER.” Sulekha also produced and appeared in the short film BADGER. BADGER received high praise at the prestigious Clermont Ferraud Film Festival in France. She was also the production coordinator for the Bollywood blockbuster KAANTE. Sulekha is making her debut as a lead, as well as co-producer, in this feature film. Currently, Sulekha is working on other features she plans to produce.
MICHELE COLUCCI: Executive Producer
Michele Colucci is a writer/producer with operations in film, television and cable. She began her career as an entertainment attorney and worked for such prominent entertainment clients as Viacom, MTV, and Spelling Entertainment.
Prior to starting her own production entities, Michele worked in development for Lynda Obst Productions (SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, THE FISHER KING ). She established her feature and television company, COLUCCI PRODUCTIONS, in 1998. In 1999, she established a partnership with Massimo Cristaldi on remakes of Cristaldi Films’ 250+ titles ( CINEMA PARADISO, DIVORCE ITALIAN STYLE, WIFE/MISTRESS ). Then, in June of 2004, she accepted a first-look producing deal for film and television at Maverick Entertainment, Madonna’s film and television production shingle. The first collaboration between Colucci Productions and Maverick Films is SEX, DRUGS & MOZART – a story of young people in the world of classical music.
Michele is a frequent collaborator of producer Twink Caplan (CLUELESS). Some of their upcoming projects include HIGH MAINTENANCE with Mena Suvari, FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE with Thora Birch, and director Deepika Daggubati’s second feature GIRLWRECK with Rachel Hurd-Wood. Michele is also currently attached to produce THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT with writer/director Chris McQuarry, and KNOCK ‘EM DEAD with Amanda Bynes for director Randall Kleiser.
Michele holds a B.S. from Georgetown University, a J.D. from Georgetown Law Center and an M.F.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute.
EVE CAULEY TURNER: Production Designer/Set Decorator
Eve Cauley was Production Designer for the award- winning independent film FACTOTUM, directed by Bent Hamer and based on Charles Bukowski’s novel. It stars Matt Dillon, Lili Taylor, Fisher Stevens, & Marisa Tomei. She also production designed Director/Writer/Producer Wachowski brothers’ indie award winner BOUND, starring Jennifer Tilly, Joe Pantoliano and Gina Gershon.
Her other production design credits include THE WAR AT HOME, starring Kathy Bates and Martin Sheen for Director Emilio Estevez, and S.F.W., starring Reese Witherspoon and Stephen Dorff for Director Jefery Levy.
She received acclaim for her work as Production Designer on “Dirt,”starring Courtney Cox and Ian Holt, for the FX Network. The creator of “Dirt” is Director/Writer/ Executive Producer Matthew Carnahan. She also designed the CBS series “Cane,” starring Jimmy Smits and Hector Elizondo. Most recently, she served as Production Designer on the upcoming feature I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, directed by Bob Gosse and starring Jesse Bradford.
She has also served as Art Director on Gus Van Sant’s award-winning drama DRUGSTORE COWBOY as well as on SISTER ACT, starring Whoopi Goldberg. Cauley was Set Decorator on DENNIS THE MENACE for Producer John Hughes and on the first HOME ALONE film.
She has an M.F.A. in theatre design from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a concentration in scenery.
MICHAEL JACOB KERBER: Director of Photography
M. Jacob Kerber was born in Santa Monica, California and discovered his passion for visual arts at an early age. He studied Fine Art at UC Santa Cruz and graduated Cum Laude from the Academy of Art University with a BFA in Motion Picture/Television with a focus on Cinematography. Kerber is a Los Angeles-based Cinematographer, who has photographed numerous narrative films, commercials and music videos.
Stephen M. Chudej began his costuming career in 1983 as a costume assistant on Robert Benton’s PLACES IN THE HEART. Other costuming positions followed in the Dallas area including 1918 and THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. By 1985 Stephen had hit the road as a costume supervisor beginning with the Coen brothers’ RAISING ARIZONA.
In 1986, Stephen moved to Los Angeles. Over the next six years, he would work as a costumer on big budget films such as FOR THE BOYS, BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, NECESSARY ROUGHNESS and TALK RADIO; and at night he would steal away and design such independent classics as SHAKES THE CLOWN, SAMANTHA, and ANGEL TOWN. It was also at this time that Stephen began costume designing for television. In 1988, he was a member of a four person design team for CBS’s “Pancho Barnes,” a made-for-television movie chronicling the life of the famous aviatrix. In 1989, he won a Primetime Emmy for his efforts.
Stephen developed a preference for smaller, independent projects including IT’S IN THE WATER, WISTERIA COTTAGE and, proudly, WAKING DREAMS. Television projects have included “Saving Jessica Lynch,” “Mohammed Ali: King of the World,” and the PBS children’s series, “Wishbone.” Stephen won Daytime Emmy awards in both 1996 and 1998 for his work on “Wishbone.”
STEPHEN DAY: Music Composer
Born in California and brought up in Canada and France, Stephen Day has enjoyed an exotic and varied life as a musician and composer. After studying sarod with world-renowned sarod player Amjad Ali Khan in India for three years, Stephen embarked on various tours throughout Asia, North America and Europe. During this time he also recorded two albums, Indian Dance and Indian Classical Fusion, for the global music company Boosey and Hawkes. After settling down in Los Angeles in 2002, Stephen started the band Ombience and performed in premier venues such as the Wiltern Theater, the House of Blues and the Key Club on the Sunset Strip. He also wrote music for various films including FORMULA 51 starring Samuel Jackson and Emily Mortimer. In 2006 he teamed up with composer Tony Humecke to write music for Paula Fouce’s critically acclaimed documentary NAKED IN ASHES. He recently worked with Oscar nominated animator Bill Kroyer on the Rhythm and Hues production LITTLE ANGEL and completed the score for the feature film WAKING DREAMS written and directed by Deepika Daggubati.
Mark S. Turner Art Directed the indie award-winner FACTOTUM, which received an 18 minute standing ovation at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, and was sold during the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. FACTOTUM will be released in the summer of 2006.
Over the past 15 years, Turner has held various positions in the paint/scenic art departments of big feature films, including running the paint department at the DeLaurentiis Studio in Wilmington, NC. Some of his film credits include: FORREST GUMP, BOUND, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, A KISS BEFORE DYING, CRIMES OF THE HEART, BLUE VELVET, and MANHUNTER. Some of his TV credits include: “Profiler,” “Touched by an Angel,” “Babylon 5″ and “I’ll Fly Away.” He was Construction Coordinator and Head Painter on THE WAR AT HOME, VAULT OF LOVE, and the TV pilot “Gun.” Turner has also painted & sculpted on the films FREEJACK, PRANCER, FROM THE HIP, and A THOUSAND ACRES.
Mark was Visual Consultant on the AFI short film GRASSHOPPER, starring James Franco and Rachel Miner. GRASSHOPPER was written & directed by Eric Kmetz and produced by Denise Bitidis.
Most recently, Mark served as Art Director on the CBS series “Cane,” starring Jimmy Smits and Hector Elizondo, and on the upcoming feature I HOPE THEY SERVE BEER IN HELL, directed by Bob Gosse and starring Jesse Bradford.
GARY MAIRS: Editor
Gary Mairs co-chairs the Program in Film Directing at the California Institute of the Arts, where he teaches editing and film history. He contributes criticism to The High Hat, an online cultural journal, and wrote “Charged Symmetry: The Landscape Films of James Benning” for Argos Festival 2005, the annual museum catalog for the Belgian Argos Arts Festival. He served as creative consultant for THE CUTTING EDGE: THE MAGIC OF MOVIE EDITING (2004), the official documentary of A.C.E., the American Cinema Editors. Gary recently completed a short film, entitled SAY IT , which he directed and produced.
BRAD GILMORE: Casting Director
Brad is a Los Angeles-based Casting Director with experience in Film and Television, who has been involved in projects in Los Angeles, New York, and London. He graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University (New York) in English and Economics.
Recently, Brad cast films including CAITLIN (Kevin Zegers) and FINISHING THE GAME (James Franco). He is currently casting DRESS BLUES, produced by Irish Dreamtime (THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, THE MATADOR), THE GAUNTLET, a thriller filming in Beijing later this summer, and BROKEN ANGEL, from the acclaimed Turkish director, Aclan Bates. Previous film credits include CHRYSTAL (Billy Bob Thornton), THE SISTERS (Maria Bello), and IN THE SHADOW OF WINGS (Virginia Madsen). Two television shows he worked on were nominated for Golden Globes: “American Family” (Edward James Olmos) in 2004 and “The Closer” (Kyra Sedgwick) in 2006, which premiered to record setting audiences. For theater, Brad cast 12th Premise for Los Angeles and for London’s West End, as well as working on musicals for the Hollywood Bowl, Reprise and the Kodak Theater.
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