Bret Granato is an editor and actor, known for:
Editor: America Divided (2016), O.J.: Made in America (2016), It Happened Here (2014), 30 for 30 (2014), The Woman in the Dress (2013), How’s Your News?: Election 2012 (2012), Cartoon College (2012), 6 Days to Air: The Making of South Park (2011), Over 90 & Loving It (2011), The Misunderstood Epidemic: Depression (2010), Let Me Die Quietly (2009), Following Dreams (2009), Anyone and Everyone (2007), The Republic of Baseball: The Dominican Giants of the American Game (2006)
Actor: In the Dark (2005), Karla Faye Tucker: Forevermore (2004), Colour Blind (2002), Easier Said (1999)
Editorial Department: Time to Choose (2015), The Seven Five (2014), Cartoon College (2012)
Born in Mexico City, Carlton Cuse grew up in Boston and Orange County, California. He attended Harvard University, graduating with a degree in American History. He started his career in feature films working first as a development executive then formed a partnership with feature writer, Jeffrey Boam. Working with Boam, Cuse helped develop the films Lethal Weapon 2, Lethal Weapon 3 and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
In television, Cuse began his writing career on the Michael Mann series “Crime Story.” He co-created and executive produced the critically acclaimed Fox series “The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.” He created and executive produced all six seasons of “Nash Bridges.” He also created and executive produced the CBS series “Martial Law” starring Arsenio Hall and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo.
As of 2007, Cuse writes and is one of the show runners/executive producers of “Lost”, and has won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Producers Guild Award, and a Writers Guild Award for his work on the show.
John Ridley is the author of seven published novels, the most recent, What Fire Cannot Burn from Warner Books and The Drift from Knopf. His first novel, Stray Dogs, was made into the feature film U Turn (1997) directed by Oliver Stone and starring Sean Penn, Jennifer Lopez, and Nick Nolte. Additionally, Ridley wrote the screenplays for the films Undercover Brother (2002) and Cold Around the Heart (1997) and wrote the story for Three Kings (1999).
He is a playwright as well and in 2005 produced the world premiere of his first play, Ten Thousand Years. Ridley is also a commentator for National Public Radio and a regular contributor to California Connected (2002), an award-winning, news magazine which airs throughout California on 12 Public Television stations. He was the host of Movie Club with John Ridley (2004) on AMC, a unique movie review program with a panel of critics.
Ridley also wrote, directed, and produced the popular TV show, Barbershop (2005) formerly on Showtime.
Williams has received much critical acclaim for his film work since the 1990s, including his portrayals of real-life figures such as South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X, boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, football coach Herman Boone, poet and educator Melvin B. Tolson, and drug kingpin Frank Lucas. He has been a featured actor in the films produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and was a frequent collaborator of the late director Tony Scott.
Williams has received two Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor and Best Actor.
James Aidan was born on October 27, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He is an actor, known for Peter’s Price (2005), Touch (2015) and Shut-Eye (2003).
James Aidan works extensively as a voice over actor. His voice has been heard in national commercial campaigns for Hyundai Automobiles, Kelloggs, Nintendo, Coca Cola and Suzuki, among many others.
Lubezki began his career in Mexican film and television productions in the late 1980s. His first international production was the 1993 independent film Twenty Bucks (1993), which followed the journey of a single twenty-dollar bill.
Lubezki is a frequent collaborator with fellow Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. The two have been friends since they were teenagers and attended the same film school at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Together they have worked on six motion pictures: Sólo con tu pareja (1991), A Little Princess (1995), Great Expectations (1998), Y Tu Mamá También (2001), Children of Men (2006), and Gravity (2013). His work with Cuarón on Children of Men (2006), has received universal acclaim. The film utilized a number of new technologies and distinctive techniques. The “roadside ambush” scene was shot in one extended take utilizing a special camera rig invented by Doggicam systems, developed from the company’s Power Slide system. For the scene, a vehicle was modified to enable seats to tilt and lower actors out of the way of the camera. The windshield of the car was designed to tilt out of the way to allow camera movement in and out through the front windscreen. A crew of four, including Lubezki, rode on the roof. Children of Men (2006) also features a seven-and-a-half-minute battle sequence composed of roughly five seamless edits.
Lubezki has been nominated for eight Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, winning three, for Gravity (2013), Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), and The Revenant (2015). He is the first cinematographer in history to win three consecutive Academy Awards.
Jack Bender was born on September 25, 1949 in the USA. He is a director and producer, known for Lost (2004), Child’s Play 3 (1991) and Under the Dome (2013).
Kabir Akhtar, ACE is an Emmy-winning director and editor whose work includes Arrested Development (2003), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015), New Girl (2011), and Unsolved Mysteries (1987). Ten of the pilots he has edited have been made into series. He recently completed a two-year term as Co-Chair of the DGA’s Asian-American Committee, and a four-year term on the Television Academy’s Editors’ Peer Group Executive Committee.
Daniel was born in San Jose, Costa Rica to Roberto Marin-Sojo and Katherine Muller. Growing up, Daniel and his family, including his brothers Christian and Erick, moved and traveled all over Central and South America, as well as Central Asia. With all the traveling, Daniel became fluent in 3 languages and understands the basics of many others. He obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Elon University in North Carolina, and resides in Los Angeles, California as well as Lima, Peru.
Daniel is also an accomplished magician, having performed all over the world in various languages. He is also a professional photographer having worked for 1.5 years for the United Nations.
Linus Sandgren is an Academy Award winning Swedish cinematographer. He is best known for his work with Damien Chazelle on La La Land (2016) and his collaboration with David O Russell on the films American Hustle (2013) and Joy (2015).He also worked with Gus Van Sant on Promised Land where he shot the film in a unique format, Super 35mm 1.3x anamorphic.
In La La Land he shot in the classic Cinemascope ratio 2.55:1.
Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. Raised by his Catholic grandmother, del Toro developed an interest in filmmaking in his early teens. Later, he learned about makeup and effects from the legendary Dick Smith (The Exorcist (1973)) and worked on making his own short films. At the age of 21, del Toro executive produced his first feature, Dona Herlinda and Her Son (1986). Del Toro spent almost 10 years as a makeup supervisor, and formed his own company, Necropia in the early 1980s. He also produced and directed Mexican television programs at this time, and taught film.
del Toro got his first big break when Cronos (1993) won nine academy awards in Mexico, then went on to win the International Critics Week prize at Cannes. Following this success, del Toro made his first Hollywood film, Mimic (1997), starring Mira Sorvino.
del Toro had some unfortunate experiences working with a demanding Hollywood studio on Mimic (1997), and returned to Mexico to form his own production company, The Tequila Gang.
Next for del Toro, was The Devil’s Backbone (2001), a Spanish Civil War ghost story. The film was hailed by critics and audiences alike, and del Toro decided to give Hollywood another try. In 2002, he directed the Wesley Snipes vampire sequel, Blade II (2002).
On a roll, Del Toro followed up Blade II (2002) with another successful comic-book inspired film, Hellboy (2004), starring one of Del Toro’s favorite actors, Ron Perlman.
Christopher Nolan is an innovative film director and screenwriter who’s helmed several early 21st century megahits, including Memento, Inception and The Dark Knight Rises.
Born on July 30, 1970 in London, England, Christopher Nolan received attention for his early films, Following (1998) and Memento (2000). After directing Insomnia, Nolan’s next film was Batman Begins, a re-launch of the comic-book franchise that became a worldwide hit. The film’s sequel, The Dark Knight, broke box office records, and Nolan’s heady sci-fi thriller, Inception, became another blockbuster two years later. In 2012, he produced the third film of his Batman saga, The Dark Knight Rises.
Nolan’s major film debut, Following, was a black-and-white, small-budget work about a lonely writer who’s obsessed with following strangers and then partners with a burglar. The film’s unconventional, non-linear narrative scheme helped garner interest in Nolan’s work and propelled him to his next film, Memento. The noir-ish indie feature starred Guy Pearce as an amnesiac man who relies on Polaroids and copious note-taking while seeking vengeance. Nolan adapted the work from a story written by his brother Jonathan Nolan, and the film received two Oscar nominations for its editing and screenplay.
Mark Allan is an industry leading Executive Producer and media executive known for his vision, creative direction, and ability to assemble world-class production teams tailored to each project. His work is distinguished by cinematic quality, authenticity, and a consistent commitment to high production standards.
With a background spanning senior management at a top global ad agency, award winning broadcast television, and major films, Mark has led national programming across major networks and platforms, developing a range of series, specials, and documentaries. His strength lies not only in storytelling, but in recognizing how to position content for maximum reach and impact—bringing together creative and strategic elements in a way that elevates each production.
As the founder and creative force behind World Impact Productions, Mark built and leads a consortium of top-tier writers, producers, cinematographers, and directors—including Academy Award® and Emmy Award®–winning talent—focused on producing high-end, purpose-driven programming. Under his leadership, WIP has become a platform for meaningful, large-scale storytelling that informs, inspires, and delivers measurable public impact.
Ana is the Executive Vice President of Special Programming, where she curates and shapes a global portfolio of high-impact content at the intersection of innovation, technology, and human potential. Known for her discerning eye and instinct for meaningful narrative, she brings together visionary organizations, transformative ideas, and cinematic storytelling—translating complex advancements into work that resonates with both clarity and depth across international audiences.
Working closely with founders, senior executives, and institutional partners, Ana develops programming that reflects not only what is happening at the forefront of progress, but why it matters. Her work spans emerging technologies, medical breakthroughs, sustainable systems, and culturally significant initiatives, each selected and crafted with a deliberate focus on long-term impact and global relevance. With a background advising ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices, she brings a refined understanding of legacy, influence, and strategic positioning to every engagement.
In parallel, Ana serves as CEO of Elite Fablane International, where she leads a portfolio of global ventures and advisory initiatives rooted in innovation, culture, and elevated brand development. Across both roles, she operates with a quiet authority—balancing vision with precision, and creativity with intent. The result is programming that feels both expansive and intimate, capturing not just the story of progress, but the human experience within it.
Luke Hayes is the Senior Program Director and strategic lead overseeing national public-interest media initiatives and high-level partnerships across World Impact Productions’ PSA platform. With a background spanning broadcast production, executive communications, and large-scale campaign development, Luke has worked with a wide range of organizations—from emerging innovators to global enterprises—helping position their work within meaningful, nationally relevant narratives. His focus is on identifying and elevating stories that intersect with critical societal conversations, ensuring they are communicated with clarity, credibility, and lasting impact.
In this role, Luke operates at both a strategic and executive level, serving as a key advisor to participating organizations while directing internal coordination across production, creative, and distribution teams. He leads the end-to-end development of each campaign, from initial engagement through final delivery, maintaining alignment between partner objectives and the broader mission of the programming. Known for his ability to engage senior leadership, Luke brings a consultative approach that balances brand positioning, messaging integrity, and audience relevance across sectors including healthcare, technology, sustainability, and consumer innovation.
Luke is recognized for his ability to translate complex ideas into compelling, high-level narratives while ensuring operational precision across multiple concurrent initiatives. His leadership style combines strategic foresight with disciplined execution, enabling him to anticipate challenges, align stakeholders, and deliver consistently high-quality outcomes. With a deep understanding of media, storytelling, and executive-level engagement, he plays a central role in shaping programming that not only meets premium broadcast standards but also delivers meaningful value to both audiences and participating organizations.
Zach Barnett is a Program Director with extensive experience overseeing national media initiatives and leading strategic partnerships across public interest campaigns. With a background in broadcast production and client engagement, Jordan has worked closely with organizations ranging from emerging innovators to established industry leaders, helping translate complex ideas into clear, compelling narratives for broad audiences. His work is centered on identifying meaningful stories that align with larger societal conversations and ensuring they are positioned with both credibility and impact.
In his role, Zach serves as the primary liaison between participating organizations and internal production teams, guiding each project from initial outreach through development, production, and distribution. Known for his ability to build strong executive-level relationships, he brings a thoughtful, consultative approach to every interaction—ensuring that each partner’s message is accurately represented while maintaining the integrity and educational focus of the programming. His experience spans healthcare, technology, sustainability, and lifestyle sectors, giving him a well-rounded perspective on how different industries contribute to real-world impact.
Zach is particularly recognized for his ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution, keeping projects on track while elevating the quality of storytelling. He is adept at managing multiple stakeholders, aligning timelines, and anticipating challenges before they arise. With a strong understanding of both media production and brand positioning, he plays a key role in ensuring that each segment not only meets broadcast standards but also delivers lasting value to the organizations involved.
Morgan Raye is a Program Manager and creative lead specializing in the development of high-end, documentary-style content across lifestyle, wellness, and public-interest programming. With a background in production, visual storytelling, and narrative development, Morgan has led the creation of nationally distributed segments that explore the intersection of home, beauty, health, and travel—bringing human-centered stories to life with a cinematic, editorial approach. Her work focuses on uncovering the deeper meaning behind everyday experiences, translating them into visually compelling narratives that resonate across broad audiences.
In her role, Morgan works closely with organizations and production teams to shape each story from concept through execution, guiding everything from narrative structure and visual tone to on-camera presence and overall creative direction. She is known for her ability to craft stories that feel both elevated and accessible—whether highlighting innovations in skincare and wellness, reimagining how people live and design their homes, or exploring advancements in healthcare and global travel experiences. Her collaborative style allows her to draw out authentic perspectives from participants while maintaining a cohesive, high-quality production vision.
Morgan brings a refined eye for detail and a strong sense of pacing, ensuring each project delivers both emotional connection and visual impact. She is particularly skilled at balancing aesthetic storytelling with substance—creating content that is not only beautiful, but meaningful. With experience across multiple verticals, including beauty, lifestyle, medical innovation, and travel, she plays a key role in shaping programming that feels current, relevant, and enduring.