Cinemascope

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Kira Sipler has a passion for storytelling ignites both on-screen and behind the scenes. Raised in New Mexico, this filmmaker crafts award-winning content through her company, Jouska Road Productions. Sipler's passion for the film industry led her to take on critical roles in prominent organizations. In 2020, Sipler joined AFMX as its Volunteer Coordinator, then advanced to its...

Nick and Trevor Marcotte have made movies since they were kids — with their first serious effort being the 2012 short western, 'The Weight'. They're currently developing a retro vampire film called 'Sunset'. Their short proof of concept, 'A Scene from Sunset', will premiere at AFMX in Albuquerque this fall. 'Sunset' is a love letter to 80s vampire films (think The Lost Boys and Fright Night) and i...

Derek Bauder, a native of Yuma, Arizona, USA, began his journey after graduating from Cibola High School. He then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, dedicating six years to conducting Helicopter Search and Rescue missions out of California. Following his honorable discharge in 2020, Bauder transitioned into the world of entertainment, establishing himself as an American Director, Writer, A...

Jijo is a third generation Los Angeles native and the grandson of Alan Reed who was the voice of FRED FLINTSTONE and acted in such movies as Breakfast At Tiffany's and Postman Always Rings Twice. Jijo’s latest feature films include Crescent City starring Alec Baldwin and Terrence Howard, THE BLACKENING directed by Tim Story for MRC, Village Roadshow's CINNAMON, and MENDING THE LINE starring Brian...

Aaron Alexander, a New Mexico native, has established himself as a creative force in the film industry over the past 15 years. His journey began as an actor, with notable appearances in productions like "Longmire." About 12 years ago, Aaron transitioned into directing, producing, and writing—a move that has defined his career. Specializing in drama, psychological thrillers, and horror, Aaron has c...

Drew Lopez is from a small town; Las Cruces, New Mexico. Him and his family moved around a lot as a child but eventually they found their way back to Las Cruces. Drew enjoys being out doors and playing sports. He picked these hobbies because of the competition and for a split second his mind is silent. He started boxing as a kid and been training for the last 16 years. He is now a certified boxer,...

As a native of Denmark, Daniel Stilling started his career as a Steadicam and camera operator in Scandinavia. In 2001 he moved to Los Angeles where he honed in on his passion for camera work, working in many acclaimed TV series, such as "Scrubs" and "Criminal Minds". He continued in his path as a Cinematographer in several films, such as independents "Chasing Bullitt" (a Steve McQueen biopic), the...

Jia Rizvi is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, podcaster, and writer who pursues stories of wrongful convictions. Her debut film, Conviction, chronicles the shortcomings of the American Criminal Justice system. Conviction saw success on the festival circuit and won awards for Best Picture, Best Cinematography, and an Award of Distinction, prior to releasing on Amazon Prime. Jia is also the C...

Based in Albuquerque, Tiffany’s background in the film industry with acting, directing, writing and producing experience enhances the New Mexico Film Foundation's focus of supporting Above-the-Line talent. Former faculty member at the USC School of Dramatic Arts, Tiffany's notable film roles include " Sharknado" (you read that correctly!) and " The Last Girl ", as well as " True Blue " and " Park...

Recently named a “ 2024 Rising Star of Animation ” by Animation Magazine , Ashleigh Crystal Hairston is a multi-hyphenate in the truest sense of the word. She is the lead voice actress on Nickelodeon’s The Fairly OddParents: A New Wish , a series she also helped co-create. As a writer, story editor, and co-EP on the show, Ashleigh has helped shape its voice since its inception. She ran the writers...

Sopapilla Productions is an Albuquerque-based production company that focuses on highlighting and uplifting local businesses, artists, and creatives through film and media. It is led by the dynamic husband and wife duo Keith Allen and Felicia Masias who bring impactful collaboration, creative approaches, and truly local and original media content to Albuquerque. Recently, they have taken on the po...

'Daredevil: Scales of Justice' is a fan film featuring Rising Star Stunt Team. When a man accused of murder is released, a blind lawyer with hyper senses takes justice into his own hands. It is written by Nick Marcotte and directed by Phoenix Zito. Gary Choi and the Rising Star Stunt Team, including Daniel Moen and Phoenix Zito, coordinated and performed stunts. Phoenix Sol Zito is a filmmaker, ac...

Jacques Paisner is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation. He is the former Director of Programming at Jean Cocteau Cinema. Jacques serves on the Advisory Board for California American Indian Film Festival, and he is a former Santa Fe Film Commissioner. Jacques was born in Minneapolis, grew up in Santa Fe, and is a 1998 graduate of Santa Fe Hig...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Emmy Award-winning director and producer Lois Lipman, whose film First We Bombed New Mexico is bringing critical and timely attention to the untold story of the Trinity nuclear bomb. We’re discussing the power of film to impact public policy and what listeners can do to help bring awareness — and change — to one of the largest coverups in U....

Mark is an independent filmmaker working on his second feature documentary film about a captivating artist who has made a difference. His first feature documentary, Awakening in Taos, was inspired by Mabel Dodge Luhan’s work and he is currently developing a feature dramatic film on her memoir Edge of Taos Desert: An Escape to Reality. Awakening in Taos was narrated by actor/activist Ali MacGraw an...

Filmmaker Jennifer Takaki is a fourth generation Japanese American from Colorado. She began her career in journalism at a Denver TV station and later moved to Hong Kong to work with Encore International. In Hong Kong she produced English-based news programming broadcast in China, India, and the Middle East via Rupert Murdoch’s STAR-TV. In New York, she produced and directed “Photographic Justice:...

About the film: The Hard R is a film that explores cultural appropriation of Black culture. A white drug runner's cultural appropriation is called out by his black partner when they are on a drug run that goes wrong and leads to unintended consequences.

In this episode, Cinema Scope guest host and actor, writer and producer Jamie H. Jung is speaking with When Angels Fear director, writer and co-producer Peter DeAnello and the film's stars, Harper Frawley and Louie DeAnello. The film also stars Dan Lauria , of The Wonder Years fame (he played the father) and many other films and series. When Angels Fear screens at the Santa Fe Film Festival this S...

Guest host Jamie H. Jung and actor and filmmaker Bree Klauser discuss disability empowerment in the film industry In this episode, Cinema Scope guest host and actor, writer and producer Jamie H. Jung is speaking with Philadelphia-based actor and filmmaker Bree Klauser about disability empowerment in the film industry. Both Bree and Jamie have low vision. Bree is a queer actor and filmmaker whose c...

Ross Kagan Marks is an award-winning director best known for directing WALKING WITH HERB, THE TWILIGHT OF THE GOLDS and HOMAGE. His other credits include THE HEART OUTRIGHT, FOWL, TARRANT COUNTY, SHOWDOWN ON RIO ROAD, FLUFF and PRINCESS, which was on the short list for the Academy Award live-action shorts. His films have won awards at the Sundance Film Festival, Chicago International Film Festival...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with Kyiv-based producer and cinematographer Andrii Kotliar, a member of one of Ukraine’s biggest production companies, Babylon’13. Andrii and Babylon’13 produced recent genre-bending documentary Iron Butterflies , which premiered at Sundance 2023 and examines Russia’s 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Eastern Ukraine. The flight k...

Tony Doupé is a SAG-AFTRA actor and producer with an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. A successful actor for over 34 years in LA, New Orleans, and Seattle, he has been teaching and coaching actors for 25 years, both privately and at the college level. He currently serves as the Film/Theatre Department Chair, at Shoreline Community College. With over 130 film and television credits, T...

Lisa Zambetti is a casting director, known for the long-running crime drama series Criminal Minds as well as independent films and video game casting. Originally from the Bay Area, Lisa spent over a decade in NYC as an actress on Broadway and Off, writer, director and producer for many award-winning theatre companies. While working at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, Lisa met casting legend Billy Hopk...

In this episode, host Genevieve Trainor is speaking with film and television writer and director Megan Griffiths, whose recent television work includes serving as producing director for S2 of Amazon’s The Summer I Turned Pretty . Megan's giving her advice on building a successful career for others who, like her, live in markets outside L.A. Megan’s built a successful writing and directing career f...

In 2016, as a relatively unknown electro-pop artist (MEMORYY), Shaun was selected to score the theme song for Netflix's first-ever streaming nightly talk show, Chelsea Handler’s Chelsea , beating out A-listers and Grammy winners for the job. He then exploded into the film and television music scene and launched Neon Moon Studios ( neonmoonstudios.com ). He quickly started working with a roster of...