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MARGARET CHO

BAM BAM AND CELESTE

By Margaret Cho


Directed by Lorene Machado

Starring

MARGARET CHO

BRUCE DANIELS

ALAN CUMMING

JANE LYNCH

ELAINE HENDRIX

KATHY NAJIMY

JOHN CHO

WILSON CRUZ

And

MOMMY

A Salty Features and Cho Taussig Production


Salty Features
104 West 14th Street
4th Floor
New York, NY 10011
212-924-1601 p
212-924-2306 f
info@saltyfeatures.com



BAM BAM AND CELESTE

BAM BAM AND CELESTE is a madcap small-town-to-downtown coming of age journey that turns longtime friends Bam Bam and Celeste from outcasts to overnight sensations as they leave their buttoned up Midwest town for the wide open streets of New York City. In the first feature screenplay written by Margaret Cho, Cho stars alongside Bruce Daniels (Margaret's friend and opening act for whom she wrote the part of Bam Bam). Alan Cumming (X2: X-MEN UNITED, Tony Award winner for CABARET), Jane Lynch (THE 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, BEST IN SHOW), John Cho (HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE), Wilson Cruz (RENT, MY SO-CALLED LIFE) and Kathy Najimy (SISTER ACT 1 & 2) provide irresistibly spirited support. In addition to playing the title role of Celeste, Cho also plays Mommy, the hysterically funny and touching impersonation of her own mother cherished by Cho's fans. The film is directed by Lorene Machado, Cho's longtime creative collaborator on the concert films. In BAM BAM AND CELESTE, Cho's outrageous and hilarious, and ultimately empowering personal voice gives birth to a film that captures her infectious spirit.

Synopsis

In BAM BAM AND CELESTE, Celeste (Margaret Cho) and Bam Bam (Bruce Daniels) are best friends still stuck in the white bread Midwest hometown where they grew up. Celeste lives at home with her out-of-touch Mommy (also played by Cho) and has retained her outcast status since high school. She and Bam Bam are free-spirited rejects in a town where looking or dressing differently is perpetually uncool. Shunned on a good day and taunted on a bad one, the only thing Bam Bam and Celeste have is each other. They both feel life is passing them by. After seeing an ad for a contestant search for TRADING FACES, a reality makeover show in N.Y., they decide, like so many misfits before them, to follow their dreams to New York City.

Their yellow brick road to the Big Apple is strewn with potential disasters and comical crises, as they encounter thugs, survivalists, racists and a "lesbian Lone Ranger," played with ballsy charm by Jane
Lynch (40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, BEST IN SHOW) and other roadside distractions before finally reaching The City. They arrive, only to find their hometown high-school nemeses, now the style dictators of the
world-famous Salon Mirage, sitting in judgment at TRADING FACES. Helped by the show's booking assistant, played with delight by Alan Cumming, and an assist from Celeste's Mommy, the two friends survive a potential break-up, sabotage from without and doubts from within, and a fashion-challenged wardrobe, to discover that true beauty lies within.


BAM BAM AND CELESTE
Margaret Cho's Statement


"The story of BAM BAM & CELESTE begins with the script. I wanted to write an earnest tribute to films like CARRIE, WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE and MURIEL'S WEDDING. I had a classically troubled adolescence and I thought it would be fun to unleash all of my demons and add my own contribution to the cinema of loneliness. Fortunately, I was never lonely on my own, and the character Bam Bam, sweetly played by Bruce Daniels, was a love letter to all the wonderful gay boys out there who have made life so much easier for odd girls like me.

"Writing the script was pretty easy. I had a first draft in a weekend. It took two years to finally raise the money to make the film. Not that I am complaining, since I know now that many films take even longer to
get off the ground, but coming from the world of standup comedy, live shows and endless touring, where gratification is instantaneous, it took a little more time to adjust. The first day we showed up to the set, I couldn't believe we were actually doing it. Jane Lynch, who plays my erstwhile lesbian lover 'Darlene' was incredibly dashing and elegant, just as I had written her, and then so much more.

"One of the beautiful discoveries of making this film was seeing actors take the words I had written and magically transform them into people. It is sorcery, what good actors can do. They can conjure up these
unforgettable, awe-inspiring, gorgeous, terrifying entities from mere ideas, words scattered on a page. I had moments where I was so bowled over by their performances that I forgot we were making a film. Bruce, Elaine, Alan, John, Butch, Kathy - everyone really made the movie for me.

"Lorene Machado and I had worked together for many years making my concert films, and it was such a comfort to have her at the helm because I knew that whatever happened, she would understand what I wanted in the scene and she would do everything to make sure she got it. I had never really gotten used to the whole process of collaboration, but Lorene made it completely effortless. Even though the hours were long and the shooting schedule impossible and unrelenting, especially for me playing two characters and being combination producer/investor/punching bag for everyone else, every second was filled with excited anticipation. Here was a world that I created, from faded bits of memory, scraps of old friends and enemies, all these discordant elements of my past and my imagined future, and it was becoming real, brought to life by some extraordinary people. I loved making this film, and I can't wait to do the next one."



BAM BAM AND CELESTE
Lorene Machado's Statement

"I was at LAX when I read Margaret's first draft of BAM BAM AND CELESTE, and I laughed out loud like I was the only fool in the airport. I knew I was going to be involved with the film in some capacity, but I was
completely blown away when Margaret asked me to direct it.

"As films go, this one was no cakewalk. We had funding mishaps that forced us to shut down production 10 days before the first day of principal photography. We were shooting during the worst rainfall that Los Angeles had seen in 100 years - insert the typical 'making of indie film' adventures here, because they all applied. However, as a first time narrative director, I don't know how I could have gotten luckier. The cast is filled with many of my personal heroes, and some old and new friends, who came to the set ready to rock every minute. The producers, the DP (Matt Clark), and the rest of the crew were extremely talented, committed and engaged. I had a clear path every day to focus on my job.

"Eva Kolodner told me years ago that one of the best things that can happen to a film is that it doesn't get funded right away, because it forces the filmmakers to hone the story and develop the material. I distinctly remember thinking, "Great point. But screw that, I'd rather not wait." Now I gotta give it up to Eva, because she was right. While Margaret and I spent the next two years making two concert films and a documentary, we also used that time to discuss, research, riff, and dream. When the time came to actually make BAM BAM AND CELESTE, we had a clear direction. We knew that we wanted to play it real and let the
humor rise organically from the words, situations and performances. I knew that this film was already pulsing through my veins when we hit pre-production, because the decisions came instinctively.

"People often ask me how Margaret and I started working together, and if it had anything to do with the fact that we're both, ok, hold on to your hats here -- Asian women. Actually, that's probably how we first really
noticed each other, because when we met 14 years ago (hard to believe, weird to even write), it was a little bit freakish to have two Asian women on a set where no one was doing kung fu. But I think it's deeper
than that. We both have these weird senses of humor and offbeat sensibilities, and somehow they buzz and create a great energy.

"The set of BAM BAM AND CELESTE had a great energy. It was fun, spontaneous, creative, a little naughty, and really really hard work. We all laughed a lot. We laughed until our stomachs hurt and we couldn't breathe. Thankfully, the heart and the humor that laced Margaret's first draft, I believe, is still intact. I'm pleased and thrilled to send BAM BAM AND CELESTE road-tripping into the world. I hope the laughter
continues."


BAM BAM AND CELESTE
About the Cast


Margaret Cho - Celeste and Mommy

Comedian and writer Margaret Cho has been performing for audiences since she was sixteen. In the past five years she's launched four sold-out national tours and turned each into a concert film.

In 1999, she chronicled her experience on the ill-fated sitcom ALL AMERICAN GIRL in an off-Broadway one-woman show called I'M THE ONE THAT I WANT. The show was extremely well received, toured the U.S, and was made into a concert film and a best-selling book of the same name. The film garnered incredible reviews and broke the record for the most money grossed per print in movie history. In 2001, after the success of her
first show, Cho launched NOTORIOUS C.H.O., a smash-hit 37-city national tour that culminated in a sold-out concert at Carnegie Hall. Cho's 2003 REVOLUTION tour grossed $4.4M and was heralded as, "Her strongest show yet!" by the Chicago Sun Times. The REVOLUTION CD was nominated for a Grammy for best comedy album of the year in 2003, and the concert film premiered on the Sundance channel in early 2004. The DVD sold 100,000 units within the first 2 months of release.

In 2004, Cho took her politically charged STATE OF EMERGENCY tour through the swing states of the Presidential election. Lauded as "Murderously funny!" by the New York Times, STATE OF EMERGENCY
eventually evolved into Margaret's fourth national show, ASSASSIN. Her most political and topical work to date, ASSASSIN toured the US, Canada and Australia and was filmed at the Warner Theatre in Washington D.C. The concert film premiered in select theatres and on the gay and lesbian premium channel Here! TV in late 2005. It was recently released on CD by Nettwerk records and on DVD by Koch Entertainment. Her second book, I Have Chosen to Stay and Fight, was released by Riverhead Books, a division of Penguin Group (USA) in October of 2005, and has been praised as "Raw. Blunt. Passionate. Empathetic, yet no-holds-barred," by the Star-Telegram.

Always one to incorporate activism in her work, Cho recently received the First Amendment Award from the ACLU of Southern California. She has also been honored by the National Organization for Women (NOW), GLAAD, Lambda Legal, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) for making a significant difference in promoting equal rights for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender identity.

BAM BAM AND CELESTE is her first narrative feature.


Bruce Daniels - Bam Bam

Bruce Daniels is an actor and comedian. Dubbed "the main fag behind America's number one hag" by OUT MAGAZINE, Daniels started performing stand-up after meeting comedian Margaret Cho on the set of the
never-released CAN'T STOP DANCING, in which they played spandex-clad lovers. It was Cho who first encouraged him to give stand-up a try and the two have been inseparable partners in comedy ever since. In the past three years, Daniels has opened for Cho on her successful REVOLUTION, STATE OF EMERGENCY, and ASSASSIN tours. His performance, described as "hilariously personal" and "comedy meets story-telling" by GAY WIRED, was captured in the concert films of REVOLUTION and ASSASSIN, now available on DVD. Blending the personal and the political with deadpan ease puts Daniels in the rare class of comedians able to deliver laughs with social relevance.

Alan Cumming - Eugene

Alan trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. On the New York stage he has appeared in ELLE (which he also adapted), DESIGN FOR LIVING and CABARET (for which he won the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Theater World, New York Press, FANY and New York Public Advocate's Awards). On the London stage: HAMLET at the Donmar Warehouse (TMA Best Actor award and Shakespeare Globe nomination), CABARET (Olivier nomination), LA BETE(Olivier nomination), CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH POLE (Olivier nomination) and seasons with the RSC and RNT, where he won an Olivier Award for his performance in ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST (which he also co-adapted).

He wrote, directed, produced and starred, with Jennifer Jason Leigh, in THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and won a National Board of Review award and two Independent Spirit award nominations. Other projects include X2: X-MEN UNITED, SPY KIDS 3, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, JOSIE AND THE PUSSYCATS, COMPANY MAN, TITUS, URBANIA, EYES WIDE SHUT, EMMA, CIRCLE OF FRIENDS, GOLDENEYE, BUDDY and Showtime's REEFER MADNESS. His debut novel TOMMY'S TALE and his fragrance CUMMING are available now.

Elaine Hendrix - Jackie

Elaine Hendrix has recently starred in INSPECTOR GADGET 2, WHAT THE &%^* DO WE KNOW??? and OUR VERY FIRST SEX TAPE, the #1 short in www.atomfilms.com history, directed by Amy Talkington and co-starring "THE BACHELOR" Alex Michel.

Hendrix is presently recurring along side Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen, on the critically acclaimed JOAN OF ARCADIA, as well as a recurring role on OLIVER BEENE. Her numerous TV credits also include MOW MR. ST NICK, THE CHROICLE, and guest starring roles on FRIENDS, CSI, CROSSING JORDAN, MR. STERLING, WATCHING ELLIE, and THE ANDY DICK SHOW, and being featured on NBC's GREAT WOMEN OF COMEDY special.

Hendrix is deepening her theatrical roots by co-producing and performing in PLAYING FOREVER, a series of staged readings of classic screenplays at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Additionally, she has received much praise for creating, producing, and performing in PEEP SHOW...FOR YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE, an adult variety show hailed as "THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW on acid."

Hendrix first captivated film audiences the VOGUE magazine fashion editor in ROMY AND MICHELLE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION, then in SUPERSTAR opposite Molly Shannon and Will Ferrell, THE PARENT TRAP, HERE ON EARTH, MOLLY with Elizabeth Shue and Aaron Eckhart, WISH YOU WERE DEAD with
Carey Elwes, BAD BOY with Dennis Leary and Elizabeth Hurley, THE HEBREW HAMMER with Adam Goldberg, and the touching comedy GET YOUR STUFF.

John Cho - Stephan

Born in Seoul, Korea, and raised in Los Angeles, C.A., Cho began acting while studying English literature at the University of California, Berkeley.

His first professional performance was THE WOMAN WARRIOR, produced first by the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, then the Huntington Theatre in Boston, M.A., and finally the James Doolittle Theatre in Los Angeles.
Other stage roles include Laertes in Singapore Repertory Theatre's production of HAMLET, and a variety of shows for the East West Players.

On the big screen, Cho has appeared in HAROLD AND KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE, OFF CENTRE, AMERICAN PIE 1 and 2, DOWN TO EARTH, THE FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS, AMERICAN BEAUTY, BIG FAT LIAR, BETTER LUCK TOMORROW, IN GOOD COMPANY and SOLARIS.

Television credits include the TV movie THE TIGER WOODS STORY as well as guest-starring roles on FELICITY, CHARMED and THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. He is currently in production on NBC's THE MEN'S ROOM.

Jane Lynch - Darlene

Jane cut her theatrical teeth at The Second City, Steppenwolf Theatre and in many church basements all over the greater Chicagoland area.

Her screen credits include 40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN, LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, SLEEPOVER, SURVIVING EDEN for director Greg Pritikin, THE CALIFORNIANS opposite Noah Wylie, A MIGHTY WIND, THE AVIATOR for director Martin Scorsese, BEST IN SHOW, COLLATERAL DAMAGE, WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM? and THE FUGITIVE.

On television, she's been a series regular on ABC's medical dramedy MD'S, and had recurring roles on BLIND JUSTICE, THE L WORD, TWO AND A HALF MEN, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, ACCORDING TO JIM, SEVENTH HEAVEN, FELICITY, JUDGING AMY and THE WEST WING and has guest starred on
FRIENDS, LAS VEGAS, MONK, DEAD ZONE, BOSTON PUBLIC, THE X FILES, TITUS, ARLI$$, THE DIVISION, POPULAR and THE GILMORE GIRLS.

Jane's creation, OH SISTER, MY SISTER! which previously ran at the Tamarind Theatre and Bang Theatre garnering the LA Weekly Comedy Ensemble of the Year Award, was recently brought back to the Los Angeles theatre scene to great success.

Wilson Cruz - Tony

Cruz first won the hearts of audiences playing 'Rickie,' a troubled, introspective teenager on the critically acclaimed series, MY SO-CALLED LIFE. He again earned fans and critical acclaim for his role of 'Angel'
in RENT that he began at the Ahmanson Theatre in LA and continued on Broadway. RENT became a theatrical phenomenon, winning both the Tony and Pulitzer Prize for Best Musical, while Wilson received the Theatre LA Ovation Award and the Dramalogue Award for his performance.

Cruz landed a series regular role on PARTY OF FIVE and his character quickly became an integral part of the show. Other television credits include guest appearances on ER, THE WEST WING, and a guest appearance as a tortured transvestite airing on a special Christmas episode of ALLY McBEAL.

Cruz had roles in such films as SUPERNOVA, NIXON, JOHNS, ALL OVER ME, JOYRIDE and PARTY MONSTER.

Cruz is currently preparing to co-star in a new musical called A PERFECT WEDDING. A modern take on Shakespeare's A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS' DREAM, the production is being directed by Gordon Davidson.

Kathy Najimy -

Recently Kathy was voted Ms. Magazine's "Woman of the Year 2004." She has starred as the legendary Mae West in the Broadway play, DIRTY BLONDE both on Broadway and later at The Old Globe Theatre (2003 Best Actress-Critic's Circle Award). She currently provides the voice of "Peggy Hill," KING OF THE HILL, for which she received an Annie Award, and 2 WIN awards.

Her other credits include VERONICA'S CLOSET, for which she received an American Comedy Award nomination, SISTER ACT 1 and 2, which won her an American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress and the Hollywood Women's Press Club's Female Discovery of the Year, HBO'S IF THESE WALLS
COUND TALK 2, THE SCREAM TEAM with Eric Idle, HOCUS POCUS with Bette Midler, RATRACE with Cuba Gooding Jr. and John Cleese, HOPE FLOATS with Sandra Bullock, ZACK AND REBA with Brittany Murphy, THE FISHER KING, SOAPDISH, and THE HARD WAY.

Najimy's KATHY & MO: THE DARK SIDE, won Cable Ace Awards for her roles as actor, writer and Executive Producer of the special, as well as an American Comedy Award nomination for her performance. The original KATHY & MO SHOW: PARALLEL LIVES, which Kathy also starred in and wrote, with Mo Gaffney, garnered her two Cable Ace Awards and an Obie Award for the Off-Broadway stage show.

Additionally, she has appeared on SHE TV, FOOL FOR LOVE, CHICAGO HOPE, EARLY EDITION and ELLEN.

Najimy directed the Off-Broadway production of the critical hit, BACK TO BACHARACH AND DAVID, and directed the Off-Off Broadway plays DON'T GET ME STARTED and I CAN PUT MY FIST IN MY MOUTH.


ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS


Margaret Cho, (Writer, Producer and Star)

MAGARET CHO'S FILMS & CONCERTS

I'M THE ONE THAT I WANT

In 1999, Cho's groundbreaking smash-hit one-woman show I'M THE ONE THAT
I WANT played off-Broadway, toured the country and became a phenomenal
independent feature film and best-selling book. North American box
office gross for the film: $1.4 million (self-distributed, using only 9
prints). North American home video sales for the film: 60,000 units. I'M
THE ONE THAT I WANT won Entertainment Weekly's Great Performance of the
Year.

NOTORIOUS C.H.O.

In 2002, Cho's next live tour, NOTORIOUS C.H.O., covered 37 cities with
45 concerts, culminating with a performance at Carnegie Hall that was
taped for a double-sided CD release (Nettwerk Records) and a second
feature film. North American box office gross for the feature film:
$1.1 million. North American home video sales for the film: 100,000
units. NEW YORK PRESS names Margaret Best Comedian of the Year. With an
average audience of 2000 fervent fans, the NOTORIOUS C.H.O. tour grossed
over $3 million.

REVOLUTION

Margaret Cho's third tour, REVOLUTION, grossed more than $4 million, and
the CD from the tour was nominated for a Grammy. Wellspring
released the DVD in August 2004 and it went on to sell 100,000 units
within the first 2 months of release. It premiered on the Sundance
Channel in the summer of 2004.

ASSASSIN

Margaret's fourth tour, ASSASSIN, grossed more than $2.6 million. In a
groundbreaking deal, here! TV took on the theatrical distribution of the
concert film that it released. The telecast was available to over 42
million households along with a simultaneous theater run. Proceeds from
the theatrical run will benefit the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

Lorene Machado (Director)

BAM BAM AND CELESTE is her narrative directorial debut, starring Margaret Cho, Alan Cumming, Bruce Daniels and Jane Lynch, amongst others.

Machado was the director, producer and editor of REVOLUTION and NOTORIOUS C.H.O., Margaret Cho's recent concert films. Machado also produced Cho's first concert film, the award winning I'M THE ONE THAT I
WANT.

Lorene Machado began her career with comedy legend Bob Hope, as the Coordinating Producer on the final seasons of the Bob Hope Specials on NBC. She has extensive experience as a writer and story producer in
television.

With BAM BAM AND CELESTE, Machado is bringing her knack for comedy and love of feature films to fruition.

Salty Features (Producer)

Salty Features is an independent film production company founded in January 2003 by producing partners Eva Kolodner and Yael Melamede. Salty's goal is to make feature films that showcase unique vision,
strong storytelling, and thought-provoking subject matter. The company's founders have built careers nurturing these kinds of projects and hope to fill a niche in the New York independent scene by continuing their
commitment to films of the best quality made at modest budgets.

Salty Features' first production, Enid Zentelis' EVERGREEN, premiered in competition at Sundance in 2004 and was released theatrically through a unique partnership with AMC Theaters on 115 screens in the fall of 2004.


BAM BAM AND CELESTE, written by and starring Margaret Cho, will have its world premiere at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival. The cast includes Alan Cumming, Kathy Najimy, Jane Lynch and John Cho.


Eva Kolodner (Producer)

Kolodner got her start in the independent film industry as a part of the original team at Christine Vachon's renegade indie production company, Killer Films. In her five years at Killer, Kolodner worked in production
on such independent film classics as KIDS, I SHOT ANDY WARHOL, SAFE and HAPPINESS and became the company's Director of Development in 1998. During her time with Killer Films, Kolodner produced the Academy Award-winning film BOYS DON'T CRY. In 2000, she became Head of Production at MADSTONE Films, a unique digital production, distribution and exhibition company, where she produced Madstone's first feature, RHINOCEROS EYES. Directed by newcomer Aaron Woodley and starring Michael Pitt (THE DREAMERS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH), RHINOCEROS EYES won the prestigious Discovery Award at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. Kolodner has been nominated for the Independent Spirit
Producer's Award, and in 2002 was selected for Crain's New York Business' "40 Under 40." Kolodner holds a B.A. from Yale University.

Yael Melamede (Producer)

Since her career shift from architecture to film in 1996, Melamede has worked in many capacities within the New York independent film community. Melamede was the Post Production Supervisor on Wayne Wang's
THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, Paul Schrader's FOREVER MINE, and Paul Auster's LULU ON THE BRIDGE, bringing her into close working relationships with extraordinary creative talent and with a wide range of production, distribution and foreign sales companies. At the end of 2000, Melamede joined MADSTONE Films as the company's Production Supervisor. Melamede co-produced the feature documentary MY ARCHITECT, directed by Nathaniel Kahn, about the prominent architect Louis I. Kahn. MY ARCHITECT was
released by NEW YORKER FILMS in 2003 and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary. Melamede holds a B.A. and M.Arch. from Yale University.

John Chichester (Production Designer)

John Chichester's design experience travels from outer space to the barrios of East L.A. and points between. His work as a set designer on the films MEN IN BLACK II and SPIDERMAN II showcase his work in science
fiction, while his production design for the P.B.S. television series AMERICAN FAMILY creates the multifaceted world of East L.A. His production designs for PREY FOR ROCK & ROLL show an excitement for
designing for music that goes back to his early days as an assistant designer at the New York City Opera.

Matthew Clark, Cinematographer

Matthew Clark lives in New York with his wife, Lisa and their two children, Ben and Sam. He has just completed work on THE LAND (directed by David Wike and starring Kevin Corrigan and Clea Duvall). His other credits include EVERGREEN (directed by Enid Zentelis) (2004 Sundance - Dramatic Competition), RHYTHM OF THE SAINTS (directed by Sarah Rogacki) (2003 Sundance - Dramatic Competition) and the documentary BOOMTOWN (directed by Bryan Gunnar Cole)(aired on PBS' P.O.V.). Matthew was
trained in New York University's Graduate Film Program, and worked under Vilmos Zsigmond (CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, THE DEER HUNTER) and Vadim Yusov (ANDREI RUBLEV, SOLARIS, IVAN'S CHILDHOOD). In 2000, Matthew was presented the ASC Heritage Commendation for Outstanding Cinematography by the American Society of Cinematographers for his body of student work. In addition to narrative films, Matt continues to shoot music videos and commercials for clients including The Independent Film Channel, Coca-Cola, ESPN, and Universal Records.

George Acogny (Executive Music Producer)

In the early eighties George took a trip to Africa with Peter Gabriel, which helped carve both their careers, and shaped what is now known as World Music. He produced Youssou N'Dour's first international album THE
LION and then went on to restart the career of Donny Osmond with the very successful SOLIDER OF LOVE album.

George has worked on over 20 films including the successful CITY OF ANGELS soundtrack (12 Million albums sold worldwide to date) and various other films like the CROW 2, SPAWN, THE SAINT, SAVE THE LAST DANCE, and RABBIT-PROOF FENCE for which Peter Gabriel received a Golden Globe Nomination for the instrumental score.

George also has a passion for animation and music supervised, wrote and produced songs for the RUGRATS IN PARIS and THE WILD THORNBERRYS movies. It led to a Golden Globe nomination and an Academy Award nomination.

George has also worked on very successful European projects such as ASTERIX, MISSION CLEOPATRA (the second biggest box office success in France to date) and is busy supervising a few movies this year, as well as writing, arranging and producing music for both movies and other mediums.