Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Tom Malloy, critically acclaimed actor, wowed Hollywood with his turn in the indie-cult favorite Gravesend in 1998, produced by Oliver Stone. Disenchanted with the process of waiting around until someone hires you for a role, Tom became a successful triple-hyphenate Actor/Writer/Producers and made it his business to learn as much about the filmmaking industry as possible. Though he no longer produ...

Billy Ray, screenwriter, director. Billy Ray is the screenwriter of “Captain Phillips.” He also wrote and directed the films “Shattered Glass” and  “Breach”, and co-wrote the screenplay for “The Hunger Games”.  Billy began writing for movies and television at the age of 19. He sold his first script, an episode of “The Jetsons” in 1984. He has written numerous feature films and was one of the creat...

Bill Dever is founder of POLYSCOPE MEDIA GROUP LLC. Bill served as President of Spark Interactive Corporation, the first company in North America to deliver fully interactive video on dark fiber. His partners in these ventures included AT&T, Sun Microsystems, General Electric and Pace.  He also served as President of Stimulus Net Inc., Executive Vice President of Wilderness Films Inc a service...

Rick Vaicius is director and founder of Flyway Film Festival, Wisconsin's bluff premier destination for independent film as noted by Emmy award-winning blogger Scott W. Smith “ … a festival that should be on your radar” . Founded in 2008 Vaicius has created a standout, intimate and high-quality annual festival. Over the past four years, Flyway has brought over 80 filmmakers into the local communit...

Jim McKairnes is 23-year veteran of the TV industry, 15 at CBS is currently, a producer and television consultant, and an adjunct college-instructor/guest-lecturer and author. He moved to  L.A. in 1989 to work in the TV-business as a programmer. There, Norman Lear led Jim to CBS President Jeff Sagansky who hired for the Scheduling department. McKairnes was part of the team that took the network fr...

Julian Adams,  PT 2 produced and co-stars in Phantom starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, written and directed by Todd Robinson of Lonely Hearts, and writer and co-producer of Ridley Scott’s White Squall. The producing team includes John Watson and Pen Densham Back Draft, Blown Away, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Phantom is the first wide theatrical release for Julian and...

Peter Marshall, Pt 26 The Director's Series - The nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career and has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer and director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; televi...

Alex Kruz, actor, of Ecuadorian descent (Kañari Indian) that has worked in movies and TV. His TV work includes roles on The Americans, the upcomin The Tyme Chronicles, as Eskander Hanna, an AlShaabab Terrorist Cell Leader. He was also the Technical Advisor in Counter-Terrorism methods, Electronic Surveillance, and Terrorist Modus Operandi to assure the authenticity of the production in terms of  A...

Amy Jo Berman has been a powerful influence and tastemaker in the entertainment industry for 18 years.  During her time as Vice President of Casting at HBO for 14+ years, Amy has overseen the casting for well over 150 films, mini-series and series, and her casts have won countless Emmy and Golden Globe awards.  In addition to her eye for talent, taste and finesse in business, Amy has a unique gift...

Pen Densham, PT 3, Producer, Writer, Author, Director, Founder, co-chairman of Trilogy Entertainment Group  new movie is PHANTOM starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny, WIlliiam Fitchner.  Pen and John Watson,  founded Trilogy Entertainment Group and worked as creative consultants on films ROCKY II, and FOOTLOOSE.  In 1988 Pen directed Trilogy's first major studio feature, THE KISS, for Tri-Star.  In...

Todd Robinson, PT 3, director/producer is an Academy Award finalist, Emmy-winning, Independent Spirit Award-nominated filmmaker whose new movie Phantom stars Ed Harris and David Duchovny. His next feature is The Last Full Measure, with Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Laurence Fishburne and others. John Watson, Pen Densham and Trilogy Entertainment will produce...

Edmond G. Coisson (director)  is founder of the Naperville Independent Film Festival (NIFF). NIFF is now qualifying to be one of the 64 festivals recognized by the Academy Awards.  After stepping away from directing for the past several years to create NIFF, he is excited to get back into the directing chair and create a thrilling movie ride that keeps you guessing.  Edmond’s production company, O...

Jim McKairnes, producer, is a 23-year veteran of the television industry, 15 at CBS. He is a producer and television consultant, an adjunct college-instructor/guest-lecturer and author. His work as an entertainment-magazine editor and freelance writer out of college took him to Los Angeles in 1989 to pursue a dream of working in the TV-executive ranks as a network programmer. He met producer Norma...

Peter Marshall, Pt 25, The Director's Series - The nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career and has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer and director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; telev...

Jim Wynorski, director, producer writer is a veteran in the Hollywood exploitation field, who is responsible for over 180 varied motion pictures in a myriad of genres. Wynorski left a successful commercial business in NYC moved to L A in 1980 and soon found himself in the company of his childhood idol Roger Corman. He was  soon hired by the renowned Corman to cut "coming attractions" for...

Randy Miller, PT 2, is an award winning film composer, arranger, conductor. Having collaborated with exceptionally talented filmmakers and artists such as: Oliver Stone, Robert Towne, Anothony Hopkins, Zhang Yimou, Robert Dornhelm, Paula Wagner, Tom Cruise, Kitaro, Michael Franti, and BT. Miller has created a career that features acoustic, orchestral music that is emotional, richly thematic, sophi...

Sam Christensen, (PT 6) Image Expert, began his 35-year career as a concert promoter then worked as the company manager of the longest running musical of all time, THE FANTASTICKS. Later Sam served as a executive assistant to renowned playwright/screenwriter/director Arthur Laurents. CBS and MTM Productions brought Sam to Hollywood as an independent casting director. Among his many TV and feature...

Catherine Elhoffer (PT 2) Costume Designer, began her with the short films, “The Maiden and the Princess” and “Quiet”, both of which have received numerous awards for their message and design. She expanded her portfolio to include feature films, webseries, commercials, music videos, personal design commissions, and some light theater work. She  worked  as a costume designer with Lenore Andriel, Mi...

Mark Stolaroff (PT ) is an indiet producer & a founding partner of Antic Pictures, an LA-based production company producing a slate of low budget, high quality digital features. Stolaroff produced Pig, the 4th feature from award-winning writer/director Henry Barrial (Some Body). With Ron Judkins, Stolaroff produced Barrial's 3rd feature, True Love, developed in the 2003 Sundance Screenwriters...

Peter Marshall, Pt 24, The Director's Series - The nuts & bolts of directing film and television with Peter Marshall. Peter has had a 35-year career and has worked as a PA, dolly grip, electrician, assistant cameraman, commercial production manager, first assistant director, TV series creative consultant, television producer and director. He has worked on industrial films, documentaries; telev...

Catherine Elhoffer, Costume Designer, began her with short films, most notably “The Maiden and the Princess” and “Quiet”, both of which have received numerous awards for their message and design. She expanded her portfolio to include feature films, webseries, commercials, music videos, personal design commissions, and some light theater work. She  worked  as a costume designer with Lenore Andriel,...

Doug Richardson PT 2 screenwriter credits include “Die Hard 2,” “Bad Boys,” “Money Train,” and “Hostage.” He also co-produced “Welcome to Mooseport.” Doug has also authored three novels, “Dark Horse,” “True Believers,” and his latest, “The Safety Expert.” He was born in Arcadia, California. The son of a career politician, Doug grew up outside Sacramento and inside the state Capitol. He used to tal...

Julian Adams,  produced and co-stars in Phantom starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, written and directed by Todd Robinson of Lonely Hearts, and writer and co-producer of Ridley Scott’s White Squall. The producing team includes John Watson and Pen Densham Back Draft, Blown Away, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Phantom is the first wide theatrical release for Julian and Solar...

Lance Kawas, PT 2, director, has a passion for writing screenplays and directing. Lance spent the last ten years writing 30 screenplays which earned him 19 national screenplay competition awards and opened the door for him to direct indie films. His first horror feature Silent Scream gave him a taste of the reality of indie film and was picked up by Lions Gate Films. His second was based on a true...

Todd Robinson, PT 2, director/producer is an Academy Award finalist, Emmy-winning, Independent Spirit Award-nominated filmmaker whose new movie Phantom stars Ed Harris and David Duchovny. His next feature is The Last Full Measure, with Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris, Robert Duvall, Andy Garcia, Laurence Fishburne and others. John Watson, Pen Densham and Trilogy Entertainment will produce...