Biographies of JT3 Artist Award Panelists 2009
Alyson Evans is a freelance film and television Producer and Production Manager. Her recent credits include USA’s “Royal Pains,” CW’s “Easy Money,” FX’s “Rescue Me,” and Warner Brothers’ “Michael Clayton.”
Amy Lo, through her company Mental Pictures, recently produced the documentary "Planet B-Boy", which was released theatrically to critical acclaim from The NY Times, The LA Times, Variety, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Good Morning America, and was named one of Moviefone/AOL’s 50 Best Movies of 2008. Amy is currently producing an adaptation of "Planet B-Boy" with Sony Pictures' Screen Gems. Amy also associate produced the feature "On A Clear Day", which premiered at Sundance and was distributed by Focus Features. She previously worked as Head of Development for InFilm Productions and was recently the sole US producer selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market. She has also served on the review panel for the Gucci/Tribeca film grants and the International Emmy Awards. As a freelancer, she was part of the production team for films including Spike Lee’s "Inside Man"; Steven Spielberg’s "Munich"; Leon Ichaso’s "El Cantante"; and ABC's "Six Degree's" produced by J.J. Abrams and directed by Rodrigo Garcia. Amy is a graduate of Stanford University with a dual degree in International Relations and Economics.
Antoinette Stella has written for television for twelve years, beginning with Nickelodeon’s animated children’s show, “Hey Arnold!” in which she also played the voice of Arnold’s mother. Her credits include “Melrose Place”, “Providence”, “Enterprise”, “Close to Home” and “Canterbury’s Law”. Currently she is in her second season as supervising producer on USA’s “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” and working in development.
Colin Cumberbatch, friend of Jesse, is a freelance production and post production supervisor who frequently works for Spike Lee’s company 40 Acres and a Mule. His most recent credits include “Miracle at St. Anna,” “Illegal Tender,” and “Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.”
Jennifer Lawson is general manager, WHUT. She was executive producer of the award-winning 2007 documentary, “Security versus Liberty: The Other War,” and AFRICA, a series that premiered nationwide on PBS and internationally in over 130 countries in 2001. From 1989 to 1995, she was public television's first chief programming executive, responsible for the strategies that resulted in PBS's two most successful series, The Civil War and Baseball. Recognized as one of "the 101 Most Influential People in Entertainment" in 1990 by Entertainment Weekly and as one of the "Power 50," or fifty most influential women in entertainment, by The Hollywood Reporter in 1994, she is chair emeritus of the American Public Television board, a trustee of PBS, and serves on several advisory boards.
Kate Fasulo has been with Working Title Films since 2003. She has been based out of both their Los Angeles and London offices, serving in various capacities including Development Executive and her current position as Production Coordinator.
Michelle Wright has worked as Head of Production at Working Title Films since 1999. During this time she has overseen over 30 award winning films and has managed budgets ranging from $8m to $100m. Prior to joining Working Title, Michelle was the Production Executive at Interscope/Polygram and before that worked as a producer and production supervisor.
Mikael Awake was born in 1981 and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. He has worked in film as a production assistant, actor, and screenwriter. He co-wrote the screenplay for the feature film, "The Athlete," which was an official selection at the 2009 Edinburgh International Film Festival. He received a BA in English from Columbia University, where he met JT3 and where they became close friends. Awake is currently in the MFA creative writing program at Syracuse University, where he is working on a novel. His stories have appeared on Fader.com, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and Monkeybicycle.net. He is also working on bringing JT3's feature length screenplay, "Ocean City," to the big screen.
Rick Derby enjoys 30 years of experience as a writer, producer, director, and editor in the film business. An intuitive storyteller, his first documentary, Rocks With Wings, won the The HBO Feature Documentary Prize, as well as airing on the PBS as a Prime Time Special, the prestigious BBC Storyville strand & currently airing on Canadian TV. As Producer, Director, Writer, and Editor, Rocks with Wings represents an impressive 13-year commitment of his talent, time, resources, and energy. Mr. Derby’s diverse career is best reflected by his work on the independent feature Diamond Men, where he served as the co-producer, editor, and 1st Assistant director. The comedy received several awards, including the Special Mention for Excellence in Filmmaking from the National Board of Review. Most recently Mr. Derby edited the feature documentary, Rehearsal for a Sicilian Tragedy, which premiered at the 2009 Venice International Film Festival. Currently, Mr. Derby is in year five of Producing and Directing Axis of Good, a story from 9/11, a feature documentary about a New England family who builds a school for girls in Afghanistan as a memorial for their son, who was killed on 9/11. While the film is not completed, a “work in progress” section will appear at the upcoming Film Columbia Film Festival on October 24th.
