June 8th 2024 Virtual WOrkshop Speakers

Heidi Stangeland is a writer who specializes in creating suspenseful and mysterious stories using Nordic noir and/or Sci-Fi. As a native Norwegian, she draws inspiration from her cultural background and incorporates elements of mythology into her work, resulting in stories that transcend borders. 

In addition to her writing, she is also the founder of Hanè Saga, a nonprofit organization that supports and promotes storytellers. She currently resides in California with her children. 

 Alexia Melocchi has over 25 producing credits of films from emerging filmmakers from all over the world and has been an instrumental facilitator to the financing process of movies by pre-buying on behalf of her International Distribution clients, which grossed 900 Million US in the box office in the last decade. She attends all Major Film and Television Markets and is fluent in five languages. She is also the host of the 5-Star rated podcast THE HEART OF SHOW BUSINESS, and author of the book "An Insiders Secret: Mastering the Hollywood Path". 

 James Fox is the Founder and CEO of Dawnrunner and brings with him the creative power of 14 action-packed years in the film industry. As the principal Director for Dawnrunner he has lead the company through numerous award-winning projects He has been recognized within the industry for his passion and determination to advance the industry through education and outreach, and has spoken numerous events. His ``breaking down barriers`` approach to filmmaking, creativity and technical street-smarts have labeled him a visionary for the future of visual storytelling through new methods and technological innovations. He refers to his crew as family, and provides strong and charismatic leadership - and an inexhaustible well of excitement and energy. 

Kelly Schwarze is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, author, and entrepreneur. He has produced and directed eight feature films, three TV documentaries, and numerous commercials, working with A&E Networks, History Channel, ABC, and Scripps Networks. He co-owns the Las Vegas-based film studio Indie Film Factory, founded by his wife Charisma Manulat in 2011. The studio has facilitated over eight independent feature films and various TV shows for NBC, ABC, Disney, Amazon Studios, and EOne.

Kelly specializes in micro-budget filmmaking, handling projects ranging from $30,000 to $100,000. His strategic partnerships with ITN Distribution and his own licensing company highlight his business acumen. He is also the author of four books on filmmaking, including What Film Schools Don't Tell You and A Filmmaking Mindset. In 2022, he premiered his latest feature, Darkest of Lies, and launched a new animation studio. His next animated film is expected in 2026.

Kelly frequently lectures at the College of Southern Nevada, where he hosts an 8-week film producer’s bootcamp.

Lauren Daisy White has spent her career in sales, talent management, film financing, creative development, producing, as well as behind the camera and in front of camera capacities. She is an actor, writer, stunt performer, producer, and overall… an entertainer. Lauren can be seen in the upcoming Kevin Lewis directed horror feature “Oak.”

She is partner in the film & TV production company T-Minus Productions, which she runs alongside her husband TJ White. She’s curated a strong slate of film and TV projects for T-Minus Productions. Most recently they produced the satirical superhero Netflix series, “The Guardians of Justice.”  T-Minus also embodies a stunt department that designs action scenes for all forms of media including Film, TV, Commercials, music videos, live events, and print. The T-Minus Stunt Department is a curated collective of Action Directors, Stunt Coordinators, Stunt Riggers, and Stunt Performers who are all at the top echelon of the action world. 

As if that wasn’t enough, Lauren also owns the water company, Gluten Free Diet Water. And she is the co-founder of the tech platform Jockoh, the solution for content creators to market their digital content and build their global community.

Shaan Sharma is a working actor, SAG-AFTRA union leader, acting educator, writer, and former top casting session director. Shaan is currently acting on the international hit TV show "The Chosen" playing Shmuel (thechosen.tv), Founder of The Storytellers Conservatory, an on-camera acting studio (storytellersconservatory.com), Co-Founder of the top Fiction “Table Read Podcast,” Guest Lecturer for the University of Southern California, and an Adjunct Professor for PACE University’s School of Drama, a SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local and National Board Member, a proud founding member of SOLIDARITY, a grassroots SAG-AFTRA education group (solidarity.us), and spent more than a decade working as a casting session director with over 45 of the top commercial casting directors in Los Angeles.

 Shaan is also a Backstage Expert Contributing writer with over 50 published advice articles for performers and the author of the book and audiobook, “Commercial Acting in LA: A Session Director’s Guide.”