CREDITS
Allison Prete (Writer, Producer, Director, Co-Editor) is a documentary filmmaker who has produced and directed films for television and theatrical release. Her films have screened at festivals world-wide, as well as at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum of Art, The New York City Transit Museum and the George O’Keefe Museum, and are in the permanent collections of the Donnell Library and the New York Historical Society. Her film, Lavender Lake: Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal was awarded the Municipal Arts Society’s highest honor, the Brendan Gill Award. She has served on the board and as Vice-President of the NY Film and Video Council, as juror for the Brooklyn Arts Council’s film festival and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy’s Movies With a View film series, and she is a MacDowell Colony Fellow. She was also the co-founder and artistic director of the popular film series, Big Movies for Little Kids. Allison was recently awarded finishing funds for Women of Slender Means from the NYC Women's Fund for Media, Music and Theatre and the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. Allison received her B.A. in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University, and worked in publishing for years prior to producing and directing documentaries.
William Murray (Director of Photography, Co-Producer, Co-Editor) is a freelance director, director of photography and editor in Brooklyn, NY, working with independent artists and content producers throughout the tristate area. Early passion for film lead William to a career in the motion picture theatre industry serving as General Manager for national chain Landmark Theatres and The Ritz Theatre group in Philadelphia, PA. 13 years ago when serious digital filmmaking emerged, he moved to Brooklyn, NY and immediately connected with an emerging artist thirst for photography, music videos, electronic press kits and live show content for the internet and beyond. In addition to photographing his fifth feature film this year, William is creating and directing all visual content for a premiere installation of Denver, CO, artist Floyd D. Tunson’s collective work Endangered with music by musician/producer Tomás Doncker and American poet Yusef Komunyakyaa in June. The show will then tour the U.S.
Caroline Petersen (Associate-Producer; Sound) is an educator and community advocate. She has a Master of Science degree in Education from the New School for Social Research. She opened and operated two schools in rural Zambia and has worked for several non-profit groups including the International League for Human Rights. She has served in leadership roles in several local schools and educational policy organizations throughout the country. Caroline is currently leading a public-service learning initiative at a local school, which focuses on education, outreach and family engagement in community issues. She founded a student film festival focusing on outreach to New York City public schools, which has now become an annual event. She has also organized numerous successful fundraising and community events for non-profit organizations and corporations.
Amy Sirot (Associate-Producer; Story Editor) has produced films for the New York City Transit Museum and Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). She has covered health and science extensively as a producer/director of National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, and has written for Time Out New York, The Boston Globe, Newsday, and many other publications. In addition, she has worked as the Content Editor for the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), producing multi-media content on climate change, conservation, public health and other topics. She has been awarded The Epilepsy Foundation’s Distinguished Journalism Award, and The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources’ High Country Fellowship. Amy holds a Master of Science in Journalism degree from Northwestern University.
ADVISORS:
Dominique Bravo
Janette Gayle
Jessica Lustig
Aaron Matthews
Jennifer Mittlestadt
Nancy Marie Robertson
Mark Zimet