Attend the Festival
2010 Festival Panel Members
Sun. June 27, 2-4 pm
@ Rialto Center for the Arts at Georgia State University
80 Forsyth St. NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
 Tommy Ford (Hollywood/TV Actor, "Martin" sitcom)Best known for his role as “Tommy” on the hit FOX television comedy, “MARTIN”, Tommy Ford is one of the most familiar personalities to emerge in African-American popular television culture. Whether as an actor, author, producer, director or motivational speaker, Tommy has found success in every endeavor he has chosen to take on.
A Los Angeles native, Tommy graduated from the prestigious Fine Arts Acting Program of USC, and soon after landed his first television role on NBC’s, A Different World. Shortly thereafter, he made his feature film debut in Eddie Murphy’s Harlem Knights. His feature film debut quickly led to numerous film appearances with such notable actors as Richard Gere, Demi Moore and Brad Pitt. In addition to film, Tommy has had recurring and guest star roles on many television shows appearing in fan favorites such as Law and Order, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, Judging Amy and House. Whether playing the fun-loving father of UPN’s comedy, The Parkers or the calm yet cunning Lieutenant on FOX’s New York Undercover, his versatility and mastery of his craft is undeniable.
Tommy is currently in his fourth season as the charming and hilarious Pope of Comedy on TV One’s hit show, “WHO’S GOT JOKES!” He has recently completed several television and film projects including three new pilots: Night Life directed by Zach Braff for the FOX network; Southland a JohnWells Production for NBC; Jamilia’s Box and Hitched for Aaron Spelling’s Production Company. In addition, Tommy recently produced and starred in a film short entitled “The Club” which is receiving industry wide attention and acclaim. He’s searching for a home for his latest pilot, where he hosts two talent shows: THE LAST ONE STANDING & THE LAST KID STANDING.
Despite being blessed with three shows in syndication and a reputation as an award winning director and actor, Tommy remains firmly grounded and committed to the community. He is founder and president of BE STILL AND KNOW, INC., a nonprofit organization dedicated to building better communities for youth. His love and passion for children and youth led him to author a series of children’s books designed to provide healthy, spiritual and positive principles for daily living. In an effort to spread his message of encouragement and empowerment to children, youth and adults alike, he travels tirelessly as a speaker motivating and mesmerizing audiences in America and abroad.
His dedication to community service has garnered him recognition and praise from local and national public service agencies. Tommy received the Volunteer Recognition Award from
the National Conference of Community and Justice for his Humanitarian efforts and inducted into Florida’s prestigious “500 ROLE MODELS PROGRAM”.
With a successful career in entertainment that has spanned over 20 years, Tommy remains humble, focused and determined to fulfill his purpose of service by living a life full of love, laughter and family.
 Warren Judd (CEO, Adventist Media Productions "AMP Studios")A native of Sydney, Australia, Warren Judd has served as C.E.O. of Adventist Media Productions (AMP Studios) in Simi Valley, California, for the past 15 years. Prior to this, he served as Vice President for Production for 7 years at the Adventist Media Center, Newbury Park, California. He studied theology at Avondale College (Australia) and graduated with a Post Graduate Diploma in Human Communication from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He has served the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 43 years in music, film, radio, television production and media production administration.
SONscreen has had the privilege of utilizing his invaluable support and expertise over 8 years as one of the founding and longest consecutive running members of the festival jury panel.
 Paul Kim (MFA, Award winning film producer/director) His passion is using the creative arts to tell stories that foster understanding between individuals across the globe. Paul previously served as Producer for the Adventist Church in North America as a documentary and new media producer, and is currently working independently. A former SONscreen Film Festival Best in Fest winner with his film, "Unto the Ends", he has remained actively involved in mentoring young filmmakers via SONscreen and as an adjunct professor teaching documentary film at Washington Adventist University.
In 2009, Paul completed his MFA from the School of Communication of American University in Washington, DC, where he received a prestigious fellowship from the Center for Social Media funded by the Ford Foundation. He recently finished duties as the Producer of the unprecedented “Stained Glass” documentary series, a project that took over 2 years to complete, sponsored by NAD Vervent Productions.
 Cheryl Jenkins (TV/Film Line Producer/CFO, PACS)
A veteran of the industry, has worked behind the scenes in the production over 13 years in various capacities such as the key production accountant on NBC Studio’s hit reality TV series The Last Comic Standing, and New Line Television’s The Real Wedding Crashers. Most recently she launched Production Accounting and Crew Services (PACS) to provide both Atlanta filmmakers and productions launching in the area with accounting services. Her breadth of experience includes working as line producer on the Family Foreman reality show for New Line Television, and the feature film, The Last Adam, which has given Jenkins a clear perspective on practical details that an accounting department brings to a production.
Willing to share her expertise beyond the workplace, Jenkins taught the first scheduling and budgeting workshop at the Independent Black Film Festival in Atlanta. She has also served as a judge and panelist at the SONscreen Film Festival in Simi Valley, California.
Jenkins launched her career in entertainment after earning a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Michigan State University. She started off working as a first assistant accountant on Moesha,(UPN television network). Jenkins went on to become a production coordinator on The Steve Harvey Show and as an assistant accountant on Imani Pictures’ made-for-cable Arabesque films for BET. She has since then added her production accounting work in New York for the popular show, 50 Cent: The Money and the Power, and, more recently, in Atlanta for the upcoming MTV television movie, My Super Psycho Sweet 16, to her repertoire.
But even with such an impressive background, Jenkins does not take her blessings for granted and regularly shares her God-given talents, knowledge, and support to young people and those in the church community. SONscreen is grateful to have her return to our festival panel for a second time.
 Brian Bazemore (Director, "Stained Glass: Grand Ave." documentary)Despite growing up in an Adventist community it wasn't until after graduating from Pacific Union College that Brian took ownership of his faith and made his filmmaking a true reflection of it. Since then Brian has focused his talent on post production editing. In addition to editing and producing the nationally recognized public service film "Safe Surrender," he has edited several documentaries including the "Stained Glass - Grand Avenue" documentary. He has also been the editor for two seasons of the Adventist World Radio television series "Making Waves." It was Brian's involvement in these message-driven and spiritually themed productions that helped develop his character as much as his body of work.
 Moderator: Melody George (Award Winning Filmmaker/Programmer, SONscreen film festival)Melody George views film as the language of our culture, an art form that has far-reaching influence in our society. A graduate of Southern Adventist University's film program, her goal is to use this powerful tool to tell positive stories that will uplift, entertain, and inspire.
Melody wrote and directed Crystal Heart award-winner Marbles with Thoreau in 2008, a short film inspired by the writings of Henry David Thoreau. She recently completed Stained Glass: Hollywood Blvd., a documentary film series on the Hollywood Adventist Church and its journey to discover authentic Christian community. Currently she is developing a feature film on the life of Thoreau.
2009 Festival Speakers
 KAREN COVELL. A television producer, Director of the Hollywood Prayer Network (HPN) and co-founder and producer for JC Productions, an independent television and music production company. She challenges audiences to view Hollywood as the World’s most influential mission field and speaks on how Christians in the media can be more culturally relevant with their faith, and how important prayer is in all of our lives. www.karencovell.com
CHRIS CHRISTMAS. Designer and Chief Creative Officer. A  success in marketing, product licensing, athletic/sports apparel design and merchandising brand management. This passionate Christian with a unique story to tell, has provided regular and key man consulting services to clients such as, Reebok, NBA, MTV, Viacom and BET. He recently served as the exclusive designer for the Democratic National Convention apparel line. He currently serves as the spokesperson for the National Foster Care organization and the visionary behind "Thinking Blue" the latest campaign for addressing the disease of child abuse in our culture. Christmas' challenge to filmmakers and creatives today is to also think BLUE... according to the campaign's ThinkingBlue.com website "THINKING FIRST is the essential step to making educated decisions." Understand the power of THINKING BLUE as it applies to our individual lives, as we become the change we need to be making in the world. www.chrischristmas.com
.jpg) Two time Emmy-winner DICK WOLF, one of television’s most respected drama series creator/producers, is the architect of one of the most successful brands in the history of television – Law & Order. Wolf serves as creator and executive producer of the three Law & Order drama series from Wolf Films and Universal Media Studios -- Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Wolf’s Emmy Award Winning Law & Order series continue to rewrite the annals of television history. With over 400 episodes under its belt, Law & Order – is the longest-running current drama series on television. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, is in its tenth year , and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, in its eighth season on NBC. Wolf has been a creative force in television for more than 25 years and has received a plethora of awards and recognitions including numerous National and International Academy of Television & Arts lifetime & achievement awards, on March 29, 2007, Wolf received a star on Hollywood’s world-famous Walk of Fame.
 BRYAN BELKNAP is a screenwriter, Act One Writing Program graduate, and the winner of the inaugural Art Within Screenwriting Fellowship in 2005. He is currently co-writing a comedy feature for the Blue Collar Comedy guys at Lionsgate. His untitled comedy feature starring Judge Reinhold is in development at A Barking Catfish Productions, and his teen comedy feature, Mr. Popularity, is under option with Accelerated Entertainment. In addition to writing for the screen, Bryan has authored seven books. He and his wife, Jill, live in Los Angeles with their son, Cash.
Workshop description: This course gives an overview of the nuts and bolts of Hollywood screenwriting from a Christian perspective. We'll uncover the story God's written upon humanity, apply that structure to our own stories, authentically integrate Christian principles into mainstream scripts, and receive practical advice on successfully moving a completed script to the screen.
 CHRISTOPHER ERSKIN has been directing professionally since 1996. When Epic/550 artist Ginuwine wanted Paul Hunter to direct Pony, the remix, and Hunter wasn't available, Erskin, who had been writing all of Paul Hunter's conceptual treatments, stepped in, helped his friend, and completed his first paid directing job. The phenomenal success of Pony launched Erskin's career as a paid director. With credits ranging from R. Kelly to T.Boz (of TLC), Snoop Dogg to Missy Elliot and Boyz II Men to Teddy Riley's Blackstreet, Erskin is known in the industry for being a director with an eye for non-traditional aesthetic beauty.
Erskin's proficiency as a director not only took him to the top of the music video industry, but also afforded him an entry into the commercial industry and the world of feature films. His first feature, JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION (2004) starred Cedric the Entertainer, Steve Harvey, Vanessa L. Williams and Bow Wow. However, Erskin's love of film pales in comparison to his love of God, and as a devout follower, commits his projects and his life to God's guidance. Even at times when his faith and beliefs are challenged--Erskin is at peace in an industry where many have compromised.
Workshop Description: In this workshop you will not only get the inside perspective on how to best cast a film but also how to bring the best out of your actors, your film, and your circumstances without compromise. |
