Sabrina Avilés

Filmmaker / Executive Director, CineFest Latino Boston

I have worked as an independent filmmaker for over 25 years, on PBS documentary programs as well as educational videos, the latter which gave me the chance to become skilled in narrative filmmaking as well. Currently I’m the Founder/CEO of CineFest Latino Boston. Prior to this, I was the Executive Director of the Boston Latino International Film Festival. During my tenure, the festival received a special commendation from the Boston Society of Film Critics in 2019 for providing a unique voice in the community.

I am committed to tackle issues and challenges of career sustainability affecting independent filmmakers and the need to enlist additional potential funders to support the existence and health of our industry. As a young, rising filmmaker, I experienced the effects of long-existing structural inequality in the filmmaking industry. As a result, I’ve also committed myself to offer guidance to rising BIPOC filmmakers, to nurture their talent and help keep them in the industry despite the inequities and obstacles they may face. I’ve found great satisfaction in opening doors for these filmmakers, and I’m passionate about providing the connections and guidance that would have been so welcome in my own journey as a filmmaker.

Jack Bradley

Owner / Executive Producer, HiFi Project

Having grown up in the Boston area, I have been fortunate to experience the local production community here from every side. Starting as a production company intern in 1997, I followed my passion for music and visuals through the agency side (at Arnold), to Singing Serpent music in NYC, and eventually as CEO/EP of bi-coastal HiFi Project. HiFi has worked with incredible brands: Progressive; Nike; DraftKings; Target and many others. We have touched every aspect of audio/music production and won two Emmys for work with the Red Sox and Bruins. Leaving NYC in October 2021, I’m finally back in the Boston, thrilled to be part of this thriving MA film and TV community. I believe it’s extremely important for there to be a voice within MPC that represents music and audio as a vital part of content production.

Shaun Clarke

Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Visual and Media Arts, Emerson College

I am an Associate Professor at Emerson College, and currently serving as the Chair of the Department of Visual and Media Arts (VMA). The VMA department is a vibrant and engaged community of artists, scholars, and professionals, with over 100 full- and part-time faculty members, 1700 undergraduate students, and more than 100 MFA graduate students. We are consistently ranked among the top 10 film schools in the country. I am excited to continue fostering relationships between local academic programs and professional communities.

My own creative pursuits focus on dance filmmaking, exploring ways that movement can be transformed through the tools of the cinema. My work as Director of Photography spans a wide breadth of productions: short and feature-length narrative films, documentaries, music videos, and television commercials. I received a B.F.A. from the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and an M.F.A. from Emerson College.

I was born and raised in Cambridge, MA. And I am excited to serve on the MPC Board and work to help the industry thrive in our state!"

Gary Crossen

General Manager,
New England Studios

I have been involved in the film industry in Massachusetts since the building of New England Studios began in 2012. I have been managing the facility since 2017 responsible for the day to day operation of the business, including direct dealings with virtually all of the major film production companies in the U.S. In 2020 and 2021, I was extensively involved in dialogue with our elected leaders advocating for the elimination of the sunset provision of the Film Tax Credit, in collaboration with other industry leaders from MPC and elsewhere. I learned from that experience how collaborative this industry is locally. The future of the industry in Massachusetts is bright. And what it needs most is the leadership of the MPC to foster growth and continue that spirit of genuine collaboration. I hope to play a supportive role in that as a member of the MPC Board.

Bill Goodell

Executive Producer, Brickyard Filmworks

I have 25+ years of production experience and I am currently an Executive Producer at Brickyard Filmworks. My career has allowed me to gain extensive experience producing content all around the globe and I led the production department in Boston and NY at Arnold Worldwide for many years. I was named a Creative All Star by Adweek magazine and I have worked on many national and global advertising accounts including: Jack Daniel's, Progressive Insurance, Volvo, Volkswagen, Carnival Cruise Lines, ESPN, Fidelity, Verizon, and McDonald’s.

I have spent my entire career working in production in Massachusetts and I am a fervent supporter of the growth and advancement our community. I currently serve as President on the Board of Directors of the MPC. I will continue to develop innovative programming for the MPC, present globally recognized guest speakers and advocate for our industry with our elected officials.

Amber Harris

VP Executive Producer, Head of Boston Production, Digitas

I am currently the head of production and the VP/Executive Producer at the Digitas Boston office, where I lead a team of producers. My recent award-winning campaign for the JFK Library showcased my passion for tech, film and education. I continue to produce and manage work for many brands such as Bank of America, HPE, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Ebay.

Still rather new to the MPC board, I found these two years to be a welcome challenge. Working with other members to advocate for our community and increase diversity are key initiatives that I would like to continue to explore. Throughout my career, I have tried to support the larger film and video community that has given me so much and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to advance the MPC mission and to partner with other members to bring new ideas forward.

Will Humphrey

Executive Producer,
Windy Films

Since co-founding Windy Films, my goal has been to establish an inclusive company aimed at telling stories that positively impact our communities. I intend to capitalize on the momentum and traction that the MPC is gaining within Boston & the surrounding areas. As in my previous term, my aim for the next term is to enhance our programmatic offerings to strengthen talent and resilience in our workforce. I am honored to represent the MPC in our community, promoting the values of building an inclusive, accessible cohort of filmmakers in Massachusetts.

Lyda Kuth

Executive Director,
LEF Foundation New England

Like many longer serving board members, it’s been gratifying to see our advocacy efforts come to fruition this past year with the removal of the sunset clause from the MA film tax program. The advocacy work will be ongoing, but this recent victory ushers in a new phase for the MPC. I believe we're poised to tackle workforce development and am committed to identifying ways for the MPC to create a sense of opportunity for independent filmmakers working here and identifying what growth could mean for them.

Eran Lobel

CEO / Executive Producer, ELEMENT Productions

I started ELEMENT Productions in 1998, and developed it into one of Boston’s premiere, full-service production and post-production companies, working with top brands, agencies and networks to produce everything from commercials to documentaries. This past year, we were able to pilot a program through the Urban League that provided accessibility to diverse communities underrepresented in the industry through workshops and networking opportunities. As a founding member of the MPC, I have proudly moderated and helped produce multiple panels for MPC programs, leading discussions on innovation in our field. My hope is to continue to support the MPC’s growth and success by utilizing my expertise and passion for storytelling, multi-platform video content marketing, syndication and leveraging innovative video technologies.

Jessica Maher

Executive Director,
SAG-AFTRA New England

Jessica has been a part of the Massachusetts film and television industry for over 25 years, primarily on staff at SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors and broadcasters. In her most recent role as Executive Director, she worked closely with the Coalition and fellow union leaders on the successful removal of the sunset of the tax incentive. She looks forward to continuing the work to support and grow the industry and workers in Massachusetts.

Charles Merzbacher

Professor Emeritus, Boston University

I have served as the Vice-President of the MPC since 2017. I am both a filmmaker and educator. My films have won several awards and have been screened at prestigious film festivals, including Sundance. For 27 years, I served as a member of the faculty at Boston University, where I oversaw the production of several thousand student films. I am the author of The SHORT! Guide to Producing from Focal Press.

I have had the good fortune of being involved with the MPC since its inception. Over the past two decades, I have hosted numerous workshops and meetings. I have also spearheaded the MPC-sponsored study of the state’s media economy and have been active in the organization’s advocacy efforts. We must remain vigilant in promoting and supporting the motion picture industry in Massachusetts. At this time, a key priority in this regard is the development of a homegrown, highly skilled, diverse workforce that can afford to pursue creative careers. I’m proud of the leadership role the MPC has played in this area, and I fully pledge my support of the organization's active program of educational panels and workshops.

Vladimir Minuty

Director

I’m a storyteller with a love for movies and directing! As a member of the MA film community since 1997, I’ve climbed up from various crew positions, including storyboarding and assistant directing, to directing short films, commercials and TV. My passion for mentoring, and equity has lead me to found The Secret Society of Black Creatives. If elected, I’d strive to further the MPC’s success by expanding diversity, nurturing the industry’s locally developed projects, and dreaming up how MA can influence the future of content.

Chris O’Donnell

Business Manager,
IATSE Local 481

Since 2003, Chris O'Donnell has been the Business Manager of IATSE Local 481, the union that represents the technicians and crafts people who work on motion pictures in New England. Chris is a founding member of the MPC and has been the chair of the MPC Advocacy and Public Policy Committee since then. Before being the Business Manager, Chris was a location sound technician for 20 years and worked on dozens of feature films and television projects.

Angela Peri

Founder / Casting Director,
Boston Casting

Angela has been a casting director for 35 years and is the founder of Boston Casting, Inc. She is a proud member of the Casting Society of America and has been on the board of the Massachusetts Production Coalition since 2006. Her company’s recent credits include Academy Award Best Picture winner, CODA, KEVIN CAN F*** HIMSELF (AMC), DEXTER: NEW BLOOD (Showtime), JULIA (HBO Max) and I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Whitney Houston biopic) to name a few.

Angela has cast thousands of national, regional and local commercials such as DUNKIN’ DONUTS and NIKE. Angela has received two Artios Awards for outstanding casting, with her first in 2020 for her work on KNIVES OUT, and most recently this year for her work on CODA. Through her seat on the board of the MPC, Angela will continue to create a stronger community for local talent with innovative ideas to grow the organization.

Chad Robinson

Partner, CohnReznick

Chad is a Partner in the Entertainment, Media and Film practice at CohnReznick LLP - a global accounting and consulting firm specializing in entertainment, media, technology, real estate, commercial businesses, private enterprises and public companies. He has almost 30 years of experience providing extensive accounting, tax and management consulting services, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity, tax structuring, valuation and financial modeling. Chad was instrumental in writing the regulations and agreed upon procedures during the inception of the Massachusetts film credit. He has worked with hundreds of productions in the film credit program including all major studios: Sony, Disney, Fox, Warner Bros, Paramount, ABC Studios, CBS Studios, and NBCUniversal; as well as hundreds of independent film production companies and local commercial production companies.

Margie Sullivan

Executive Producer,
Conductor Productions

Seasoned business professional with noteworthy experience as a corporate leader, executive producer and creative manager. Well-connected and widely respected networker, idea generator and problem-solver. Highly motivated to bring like-minded creatives together to collaborate and generate great work. Passionate about bringing order, productivity and innovative thinking to the creative process.

I am a dedicated Board Member for the MPC and look forward to continuing my service on the board. My passion is to create events and workshops to further people’s career. I am a passionate advocate for the continued MA Tax Incentive and keeping it intact.

Sara Ventetuolo

Director of Production, MMB

My 25+ year career has been spent working for Boston ad agencies producing commercials. I have worked on a range of projects from multimillion dollar Subway campaigns to 3 person crew videos supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I am proud of the Massachusetts production community. I happily influence and support work done in Massachusetts. These past two years have been dramatic from the challenges faced to the pivot to overcome. We’ve many signs of resilience and the strength of the local community that we can be proud of. Certainly the secured film tax credit was a high point. But also seeing the whole industry come together to share information like thru our Producers Connect series to get back to work safely was inspiring. I am excited to harness the energy in our community to continue our industry growth. I am dedicated to continue to support our community with fundraising and educational events as an MPC board member.

Frans Wetterings

President, Red Sky Studios, Red Herring Motion Picture Lighting

For those of you that do not know me, after graduating from Boston University in 1994 I invested myself heavily in the Motion Picture industry in Massachusetts. Dave Cambria and I started Red Herring MPL, Inc. in 1997, a full service lighting and grip rental company. Since its inception we have serviced films and commercials from Boston, Massachusetts to Seoul, South Korea. In 2014 we opened Red Sky Studios LLC. in Allston which services a large share of the commercial world, but also offers a place for local Unions, Guilds, artist and industry groups to meet and train. This year we will open Red Sky Foxboro, our largest venture yet.

Besides being a company owner I am also a Chief Lighting Technician and a member of IATSE Local 481 and 728. I have 26 years of industry relationships that I continually nurture, as well as with state legislators through advocacy for the film tax incentive. As a crew member on the largest film productions to come through the state I believe I can be an asset to our policy initiatives and workforce development. I believe in the MPC’s commitment to furthering our state’s infrastructure and keeping the tax incentive. I am passionate about our state and our crew base and would love to be more involved in the MPC family.