2009 Panelists
Melody Gilbert-Documentarian:
Melody is an independent documentary filmmaker whose work features a rare intimacy with her subjects, as she unearths previously hidden worlds. She has directed, produced, filmed (and sometimes edited) five independent feature-length documentaries since 2002. The Documentary Channel calls her “One of the most fearless filmmakers in contemporary documentary cinema.” All of Melody’s films have screened at major film festivals around the world and have
been broadcast in dozens of countries, from Australia to France and everywhere in between. Her documentaries have been featured on Oprah, CNN, ABC, Montel, Medical Mysteries, Entertainment Tonight and Good Morning America.
Matt Ehling-Documentarian:
Matt is a Twin Cities based television and media producer. He has directed documentary programs that have appeared on PBS, Bravo, the IFC channel, and at national and international film festivals. His production company, ETS Pictures, has shot and edited film and TV projects that have appeared on Court TV, PBS, MSNBC, Showtime, and at film festivals including Sundance and Berlin.
Peter Schilling-Film Reviewer, novelist:
Peter was once the film critic for The Rake when it was a monthly print magazine, and now writes about movies for the Star-Tribune. A full time novelist, last year he published The End of Baseball, and is currently at work on both a graphic and conventional novel. He regularly reviews movies, old and new, at his blog The Bug lives in St. Louis Park.
Colin Covert-Film Critic:
Colin graduated from Macalester College and attended the University of Minnesota journalism program before becoming editor of the Twin Cities Reader. He worked at the Detroit Free Press as a reporter before joining the Minneapolis/St. Paul Star Tribune as an editor. He has been the newspaper’s film critic for more than 15 years. He lives in Minneapolis.
Jim Brunzell III-Film Writer:
Jim has been writing film reviews since he was 9 years old. He currently writes film reviews at Twin Cities Daily Planet and is a contributor to MNDialog on the MN Film & TV board blog and is the producer & host of KFAI’s “Movie Talk” program along with Erik McClanahan & Peter Schilling Jr., which runs at 6 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month. He has had articles and reviews published in the Star Tribune, Vita.mn, City Pages and Howwastheshow.com. Jim is also a film programmer for film festivals in the Twin Cities and has programmed for the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Film Festival, Sound Unseen and Beyond Borders Film Festival. He currently resides in South Minneapolis and is working on a novel.
Euan Kerr-News Editor:
Euan was born into the movies in a way, at least the presentation side of the business. His grandfather and great-uncle started what was to become the largest independent chain of cinemas in Scotland. His grandfather once claimed to be better than Napoleon because he had two empires: one in Dundee and one in Coatbridge. Euan didn’t go into the family business, but his first job was tearing tickets at the Edinburgh Film Theater. It didn’t pay much, but allowed him to see movies for free.
Throughout his journalistic career, Euan has pursued his interest in film, interviewing many directors, actors, and screenwriters including Richard Attenborough, Dennis Hopper, Tilda Swinton, Hector Babenco, Tom Stoppard, Sally Pillsbury, Bill Forsyth, and Neil Jordan. Nowadays he wishes he could go out to see more movies, but has to settle all too often for the DVD and the couch at home. He does film stories for MPR and NPR, as well as the Movie Natters blog on www.mpr.org
Tom Schroeder-Filmmaker/Animator:
Tom has been making animated films since 1990. He has received Minnesota State Arts Board Grants in 1991, 1999 and 2006, Jerome Film and Video Grants in 2000 and 2004, Bush Fellowships in 1997 and 2008, and a McKnight Fellowship in 2006. Tom teaches animation at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. He is represented for commercial work by Ka-Chew!, and has directed ads for Kashi, Samsung and Hertz Car
Rental. His films have played widely on the international film festival circuit and have won the following awards:
Michael Starrbury-Screenwriter:
Michael is a two-time winner of the McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship and has advanced in numerous screenwriting competitions, including the Nicholl, FADE IN and Urban World.
In 2005, he received his first produced screenwriting credit with his short screenplay Natural Born Salesman, which was filmed as a part of the AFI Directing Workshop for Women.
Michael’s current script, “Watch Roger Do His Thing” has been optioned by actor Jamie Hector (The Wire, Max Payne) and his script “A Life Supreme” is being produced by Lindy Ascher Productions. He’s currently putting the finishing touches on a genrebending drama and prepping to direct his short film “One Cadillac Drive”.
Bobby Marsden-Producer/Filmmaker:
After working for the very reputable and well established ad agency known as Fallon, Bobby migrated to the young and up-and coming agency of MOJO SOLO in April of 2008. During his stint at Fallon, Marsden worked as a producer on award winning campaigns which included TRAVELER’S INSURANCE, HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, and the critically acclaimed and risque’ “Happily Ever” for Equinox.
Upon accepting his new role as SENIOR PRODUCER at Mojo, Bobby has had the pleasure of working with corporate clients which include 3M, Thomson Reuters, Ecolab, Land O’Lakes, WestLaw and Findlaw. In his free time at Mojo Solo, Mr. Marsden entertains his enjoyment of his own corporate culture by creating internal contests such as The Annual Mustache Growing Contest – and soon to be named others.
Prior to his agency life, Marsden worked regularly in the world film. He directed the critically acclaimed documentary LEFT BEHIND WITHOUT A CHOICE. He also produced the award winning short films REVOLVER, and PAPER HEARTS.
Bobby is still an avid supporter of the indie film world, as he has been a festival director for the Minneapolis/St Paul International Film festival for the past 3 years and The Filmanthropist Project for the past 2 years.
Occasionally (and as much as he can), he spends time with his family and plays hockey – still holding onto the dream of holding the Stanley Cup above his head.
Deena Graf-Production Manager:
Deena has worked in film and television production since 1999. She mostly works as a production manager on television commercials, but has also worked as a producer on the production and agency side of the business. While most of her projects are done locally, she has also been able to travel for work. Some of her clients include: Best Buy, Buck Holzemer Productions and Orange Filmworks.
Jeffrey Bair-Creative Director:
Jeffrey, throughout his career has worked in commercial production with numerous advertising agencies and production companies. As an editor in New York his projects for clients ranged from Late Night with David Letterman, MTV, Nickelodeon and The Ricki Lake Show as well as hundreds of national television commercials for clients such as: Tide, Wendy’s, E*Trade, Dunkin Doughnuts, BMW, Coldwell Banker, and Johnson & Johnson to name but a few.
Jeffrey has written numerous feature length scripts and in the late 1990s wrote and directed the feature film, Skirty Winner. Skirty Winner premiered at the Denver International Film festival and won awards at festivals across the country. Jeffrey also edited the feature film Sunday on the Rocks directed by Joe Morton and staring the Tony winning actress Cady Huffman.
Relocating to Minneapolis he assumed the role of Creative Director for Time Warner Cable now Comcast Spotlight. With both organizations, Jeffrey has overseen the production of hundreds of local and regional commercial productions and manages a team of production producers.
He is currently an MBA candidate at The University of St. Thomas and has a BFA in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He resides in South Minneapolis with his family.
Nicole Erdmann, Production Manager, Indie Films and TV commercials
TimCampbell, Senior Editor, Star Tribune Arts and Entertainment Section
Jim Brunzell, freelance writer and film critic for the Daily Planet and producer/co-host of KFAI’s Movie Talk program
