Film Team

Olivia Kuan
Director

Olivia began her career in her early years at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She has excelled as a cinematographer ever since. To date, she has shot over 30 narrative features and 5 documentary features. Her work can be seen here. Olivia's recent years have been filled with new adventures. She spent a year working on the front lines managing a Covid testing and vaccination site in an underserved area. She directed her first scripted film that sold to Lifetime in 2022. And most importantly, for the past several years she has been working on her own documentary project, The Herricanes.

James Short
Producer

James founded Inwood Road Films in 2016 with his brother, John, with whom he has invested in and/or produced six independent films across both narrative features and documentaries. Their films include the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Award Winner, Plus One, starring Jack Quaid and Maya Erskine, and The Dark & The Wicked from acclaimed writer/director Bryan Bertino (The Strangers), an official selection for the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. James also served as a co-producer on the docuseries, Year Zero, executive-produced by Kathryn Bigelow and an official selection at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival. James's most recent project is The Herricanes, where he served as a producer from early on in the project along with director Olivia Kuan and producer Lisa France. James will be the first to tell you The Herricanes was one of the most fulfilling projects he's helped produce, and so proud of the recognition it has received. Accolades for The Herricanes include the 2023 SXSW Audience Award in the Documentary Spotlight category and being selected to over twelve film festivals and counting. A native Texan and extensive world traveler, James spent his career as an entrepreneur and executive in the digital media space. He has founded or been a co-founder of four companies that exited either by acquisition or merger, including IAC's acquisition of Market Hardware in 2009, and most recently, RevNew Digital's merger with OnCore Digital in 2022.

Lisa France
Producer

Lisa France began her film and TV career as a stunt woman with Spike Lee in He Got Game and a stunt acting job on The Summer of Sam and did stunts on a variety of other TV shows and films, most notably, The Sopranos. She took acting classes, did some performing, and then moved to the other side of the lens where she directed, co-wrote and produced her first feature film, Anne B Real in 2003, which won more than 30 film festival awards and nominations around the world, including two Independent Spirit Award nominations, a Black Reel Award, Urbanworld, Pan African Film Festival and American Black Film Festival. She then filmed Love and Suicide in Cuba before its theatrical release through AMC Select, and The Unseen which sold to Netflix, Starz and Encore. Her first documentary, Roll with Me, which also garnered numerous awards, debuted at The Woodstock Film Festival and was a 2018 Slamdance Official Selection, later acquired and distributed by ARRAY Releasing. France has directed numerous thrillers and Christmas movies for Lifetime, BounceTV, OWN Hulu and Tubi. During the height of the pandemic, France directed and produced on Season 5 and 6, the critically acclaimed, award winning series Queen Sugar by creator Ava DuVernay. Most recently, France directed episodes of the hit FOX series The Cleaning Lady and another DuVernay series on The CW, Naomi, currently streaming on HBO MAX, and has two Holiday movies dropping in November and December 2023 on Hulu and OWN respectively. Most recently, France is very proud of The Herricanes, which she is a producer on. It chronicles the diverse and unknown story of the first women's American Football Pro Football league of the 1970s as it parallels the timeline of the 50 year anniversary of Title IX. It will make its World Premiere at SXSW. France herself is an avid football fan and was the only girl to played Pop Warner football when she was in middle school. France also happened to file a Title IX lawsuit in 1989 at Brooklyn College. This lawsuit led to one of the first ever monetary wins in this legal arena. France graduated from Dublin Coffman High School where she lettered in 4 sports and was all-league and all district in multiple sports. She received a full Division I basketball scholarship and graduated from Brooklyn College Cum Laude and then returned home to Ohio where she received a full scholarship to complete her MA at The Ohio State University and her BA from Brooklyn College.

James Lee Hernandez
Producer

James Lee Hernandez is a multi-Emmy® and PGA Award nominated filmmaker and Signal Award winning podcaster. Most notably, Hernandez and his creative partner, Brian Lazarte directed, edited, wrote, and executive produced the 5-time Emmy® nominated HBO Original Documentary Series, McMillion$ (Sundance 2020). Mark Wahlberg, Stephen Levinson, and Archie Gips also executive produced. Most recently, Hernandez executive produced the forthcoming three-part documentary series, Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza (Sundance 2024) which will be available on Paramount+ in Spring 2024. He also wrote, directed, and executive produced the Apple TV+ Original Documentary Series, The Big Conn (SXSW 2022) as well as produced the soon-to-be-released feature documentary The Herricanes (SXSW 2023), winner of the Documentary Spotlight Audience Award and the Louis Black "Lone Star" Award. Hernandez is a self-taught Latinx filmmaker and founding partner of FunMeter, a TV & Film production company specializing in stranger-than-fiction scripted and non-scripted content.

Brian Lazarte
Producer

Brian Lazarte is an Emmy®-nominated Producer, Director and Editor. His credits include a variety of award-winning documentaries and series. Most notably: The 5-time Emmy nominated McMillion$ (Sundance 2020) for HBO and The Big Conn (SXSW, 2022) for Apple TV+, which he wrote, directed, edited and executive produced alongside James Lee Hernandez. His forthcoming Paramount+ documentary series Lolla: The Story of Lollapalooza (Sundance 2024) will be coming 2024. Additional notable credits include Katy Perry: Part of Me 3D, HBO's Emmy award-winning Sonic Highways, Fed Up, ESPN's Emmy award-winning Hawaiian: The Legend of Eddie Aikau 30 for 30, The Price of Free (Grand Jury Prize, Sundance 2018), and Showtime's Time of Death, which won IDA's Best Limited Series in 2014. A recipient of the Panavision New Filmmaker grant, Lazarte's work has been seen over the last 18-years on major networks and streaming platforms. He is a Signal Award winning podcaster as well as a founding partner of FunMeter, a TV & Film production company specializing in stranger-than-fiction scripted and non-scripted content.

Justin Baldoni
Producer

Justin Baldoni is an actor, director, producer, New York Times bestselling author, and entrepreneur whose efforts are focused on creating impactful media and entertainment. Baldoni is the co-founder of Wayfarer Studios, an independent production studio focused on creating purpose-driven, multi-platform content that serves as true agents for social change. Baldoni is well-known for his starring role as "Rafael" on The CW's "Jane the Virgin," but has since moved more behind the camera with films such as CLOUDS and FIVE FEET APART among his directing and producing credits. Currently, Baldoni is directing, executive producing, and starring in the highly anticipated film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's #1 bestselling novel IT ENDS WITH US. In addition, he hosts the popular, Webby nominated podcast, The Man Enough Podcast, which explores what it means to be a man today and how rigid gender roles have affected all people. He has also added author to his credits having penned his inaugural book Man Enough: Undefining My Masculinity in 2021 and then Boys Will Be Human in 2022, which went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Both aim to create a safer and more equitable world by calling on men to undefine masculinity by taking accountability, promoting vulnerability, emotional expression, and authentic connections with empathy and respect for all

Andrew Calof
Producer

Andrew Calof is the President of Production and Development of Wayfarer Studios, an independent financial and production engine pioneering purpose driven, multi-platform film productions that elevate and speak to the human spirit. He's a prolific film executive who brings extensive experience working on some of Hollywood's biggest franchises and overseeing some of the most impactful, award-winning films in recent decades. His experience in combination with his unique narrative vision perfectly complements the studio's mission to capture universal human truths through the lens of fiercely authentic and social impactful storytelling. Calof oversees Wayfarer Studios' genre-defining slate with film projects including Ezra, It Ends With Us, Code 3, and A Nice Indian Boy to name a few, and documentary films such as Will & Harper, Racist Trees and The Herricanes. Additionally, they've announced development on a live-action film based on the forever popular video game, PAC-MAN. Prior to joining Wayfarer Studios, Calof served as Vice President of Creative Affairs at Amblin Partners. In his time there, he oversaw development and production of tentpole films such including Office Christmas Party, Ghost in the Shell, Come Play and Finch. Before that, Calof held the position of Vice President of Production at New Regency, where he oversaw the production of Academy Award-winning Best Pictures Birdman and 12 Years A Slave. Beyond winning Best Picture, these two iconic films alone won a combined seven Academy Awards and received a total of 18 Oscar nominations in back-to-back awards seasons. During his impactful time there, Calof also oversaw the production of Runner Runner and Broken City and developed The Revenant.

Endyia Kinney-Sterns
Executive Producer

Endyia Kinney-Sterns is an accomplished television producer and network executive with over 20 years of entertainment television experience. Named one of the "Top Female Executives in Hollywood" by Essence Magazine, Kinney-Sterns has been instrumental in identifying and developing various new programming for various networks. Most recently as Vice President of Development and Programming for OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Kinney-Sterns was responsible for overseeing day-to-day development of new original programming including popular docu-series Raising Whitley and Deion's Family Playbook. She was an integral part in developing the new hit series Flex and Shanice in addition to many presentations and pilots. As an accomplished television producer and executive, Kinney-Sterns has over 20 years of entertainment television experience producing shows for high-profile networks including VH1, CBS, NBC, HGTV and production companies such as Buena Vista Television, Arnold Shapiro Productions and LMNO. Kinney-Sterns held the title of senior director of programming and development for TV ONE, where she was responsible for the day-to-day supervision of production and programming for popular series including Baisden After Dark, Who's Got Jokes and Black and Men Revealed. Her most notable accomplishment was co-developing and co-creating the brand defining, multiple NAACP Award winning hit show Unsung. Kinney-Sterns spent over four years working in programming and development at BET where she was responsible for overseeing production and post production for the network's top-rated series College Hill and the highest rated show in BET history at the time, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is. She was also responsible for helping to develop, launch and oversee the day-to-day production of The Mo'Nique Show, the #1 late night talk show among African Americans as well as the hit music competition show Sunday Best. She was responsible for overseeing other ratings hits like, Lil Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, DMX, Soul of a Man and helped to develop and oversee successful original programs such as Exalted and Hell Date. Prior to her positions at BET and TV ONE, Kinney-Sterns produced reality, talk/variety and lifestyle shows including the Emmy Award-winning syndicated series The Wayne Brady Show, Big Brother 4 and The Other Half among others. As Founder and CEO of EKS Consulting Firm, a highly sought after development consulting company, Kinney-Sterns offers development and programming strategy direction for networks and production companies. She is currently, Senior Executive Consultant for BET, overseeing Unscripted Original Programming. In addition, as a content provider and creator, Kinney-Sterns is Co-President and Founder of One Room Entertainment, a full service production company that has an overall deal with Invent TV that develops and produces scripted and unscripted fare across all media platforms. Kinney-Sterns is passionately involved in a number of children's organizations. She works with the Children's Hunger Fund in helping to move their vision forward to see that no child goes without meal, is active with Zoe Ministries to help stop child trafficking overseas and regularly speaks to inner-city girls about pursuing their dreams.

Tracy Ryerson
Executive Producer

Tracy Ryerson has a long and varied work experience in film and television production. In 2003, they began their career as an Assistant to Bruce Kaufman at the Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency. Tracy then moved to Jerry Weintraub Productions in 2005 as the Director of Development, overseeing the development of feature films and TV shows. In 2010, they became an Independent Producer, setting up docu-series and executive producing the short film, Steven's Friend. In 2012, they joined Caryn Mandabach Productions as Vice President of Scripted TV and Development, focusing on developing high-end international scripted television projects. In 2016, they became the Head of TV & Film at Rare Birds Productions. In 2020, they joined Wayfarer Studios as SVP of Development & Production where they helped bring The Herricanes to life. In 2023, they joined Meghan and Harry's company Archewell Productions as the new Head of Scripted Content.

Sue Hoover
Editor

Susan Hoover is a Primetime Emmy Award winning editor who has worked on five feature films and five Emmy nominated network television shows. She was best known for her work on "Top Chef", "Project Runway", and "Laguna Beach" before she worked on the feature documentary "Holy Hell" which was selected for competition at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Other projects Susan Hoover has edited include: "Shelf Life" starring Betsy Brandt which won Best Feature Film at the Dances With Films Festival. Variety said, "Tamar Halpern's whip smart "Shelf Life" taps into a fresh source for American Comedy". "AWOL" written by Shane Black and starring David Morse and John C. McGinley. "…A.W.O.L proves to be an extremely well executed and fun film." "Operation Change" a documentary series whose cast included His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton among others.

Fletcher Wolfe
Director of Photography

Fletcher Wolfe is a cinematographer who began working in the industry while attending NYU's Tisch School of the arts. She learned the craft working as an electrician and gaffer for a number of years before moving on to DP. Feature films she has shot have won best cinematography at the Cannes-World, Richmond International, iHollywood, and Glendale International film festivals. Other projects she has lensed, including the short films 'ThirstyGirl' and 'Daddy's Girl' and the feature documentary 'The Herricanes' have premiered at Sundance and SXSW. She has shot campaigns for Calvin Klein, Gap, Campbells, Oreo, Zara, Balenciaga, Vogue and New York City Ballet to name a few. She loves using the camera to deepen storytelling within multiple genres, including narrative, documentary, fashion and miniatures.

Sarah Trevino
Composer

Sarah began her music career at Elias Arts, a premier commercial music house, where she was mentored by famed commercial composer Jonathan Elias, eventually becoming the first and only female composer in the history of the company. Sarah has composed, mixed, edited, and produced music for a plethora of national brands and worked on hundreds of tracks hosted by both Universal and Elias Arts production music libraries. Most notably, she is the featured female singer in the "Liberty, Liberty, Liberty" jingle. Sarah completed her MM in Screen Scoring at USC, where she was awarded the Alan Silvestri Scholarship. Sarah was also selected to participate in the USC Thornton Board of Councilors Mentorship Program and was privately mentored by world renowned composer Thomas Newman. Upon completion of her master's degree, Sarah secured a position as music assistant to film composer Brian Tyler and provided music arrangements for the films Rambo: Last Blood, Fast 9, Scream, the smash hit The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and Fast X. She is co-composer along with Brian Tyler on the docuseries The Big Conn, co-produced the music for the live show Awakening at the Wynn in Las Vegas, and recently scored the documentary The Herricanes, which had its world premiere at SXSW (2023).

Fonco Studios lead by Fon Davis
Diorama Artists

Fonco was founded in 1997 in San Francisco by Fon Davis as a design and fabrication studio specializing in miniatures and special effects. Over the two decades Fonco has been joined by an amazingly diverse, creative and driven group of artists, many of whom have worked for companies including Lucasfilm, ILM, Digital Domain and Disney. The Fonco Studios family, in short, are creative world builders. To see more of their spectacular work, go here.

In his three decade career, Fon Davis has worked on over 40 feature films, countless music videos, commercials, TV shows and other projects as an alumnus of the Industrial Light and Magic's Model Shop, Fon has worked on Starship Troopers, Galaxy Quest, and Pearl Harbor feature films, as well as the Star Wars, Terminator, Mission Impossible, and Jurassic Park franchises. In addition to his work in visual effects, Fon has also worked in several art departments on Disney's The Nightmare Before Christmas, James and the Giant Peach, Christmas Carol, Mars Needs Moms, Laika Entertainment's Coraline and Warner Brothers The Matrix series. More recently, Fon worked on Interstellar, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Neill Blomkamp's Elysium. Fon has a reputation for being a kind-hearted team builder, hardworking planner and excellent troubleshooter who cares deeply about building and nurturing communities.

Basia Haszlakiewicz
Contributing Producer

Basia played safety for the Herricanes. She went on to excel as an interior designer until her recent retirement. She has two children, the eldest of which is Olivia Kuan. The mother-daughter pair tracked down Basia's former teammates and reopened the lines of communication 40 years after the fact. Basia's latest venture is also in the arts. Basia Hawicz is the creator of art masks and egg artistry. The unique luxury masks suitable for display or to wear for Masquerade. Her work can be seen here here

Syhaya Aviel Smith
Crowdfunding Campaign Manager

Syhaya graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, with a B.F.A. in theatre. While there, she studied with the Lee Strasberg Institute for Acting and The Stonestreet Studios for Film/TV acting. She was also blessed to venture into the world of voiceover while studying in a studio at the Clive Davis Department of Recorded Music. From being an original member of Harlem's The Movement Theatre Company to a sultry rapstress in the former pop duo , The Psyche Effect, to collaborating on writing and creating various skits and sketches, Syhaya always has her hands in some creative venture. She finds acting to be her art form and outlet for connecting with the world. Everyone has a story worth telling, and she's honored to be a part of the process with her passions. She also believes that performance arts are a form of healing for many, whether by viewing or participating and continues to give thanks for the opportunity to be on both sides. Syhaya can be seen in HBO's Vinyl opposite Bobby Cannavale and directed by Martin Scorsese. She's also graced the stage in bringing to life the works of new playwrights, and many indie projects as well. In addition to on-camera commercial work, she's also voiced major brands like Con Edison, and Pep Boys, and spots for Toyota, Subway and Preparation H to name a few. She's recently spent time building a new holistic brand and hopes to serve the Entertainment and Arts communities as someone in tune with the unique needs of artists and creators. She's currently offering tools online with We Breathe. Move. Meditate. Her work can be further explored here.