The Mentors: passionate, giving professionals

Our mentor pool is deep and strong. The mentors come from all areas of the film business. They are producers, studio executives, editors, filmmakers, agents, managers, animation executives, and even other writers. Our winners who begin work in the Industry, are often invited to come back as Staff, serving as a bridge between the new writers and the professional ones. Those writers who have gone on to great success ask to support us by coming back again as mentors. The commitment to CineStory and its mission is unparalleled with any other program geared towards writers out there.

Past retreat mentors include:

Meg LeFauve Independent Producer, Writer
Former President, Jodie Foster's Egg Pictures
Former co-chair, Graduate Producers Program, UCLA
Films produced: THE BABY DANCE (Peabody Award) and THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS (IFP AWARD, BEST FIRST FEATURE)
Sundance Writers / Directors Labs: THE CAVANAUGHS, a script by LeFauve & John Morgan (June 07)
Upcoming projects: FLASHPOINT (with Lorenzo DiBonaventura, Paramount), FLORA PLUM and LENI RIEFENSTAHL PROJECT (with Jodie Foster)
Joe Forte Screenwriter
Last film: FIREWALL starring Harrison Ford for Warner Bros
Upcoming project: FLASHPOINT written with CineStory alums Jeff Forester and Jim Berg, being developed by Lorenzo DiBonaventura and Meg LeFauve at Paramount. A LIFETIME IN HEAT, also co-written with Jeff Forester and Jim Berg, directed by Joe Forte and produced by Gina Kwon (The Good Girl, Me and You and Everyone we Know).
Just Announced: The adaptation of OUT, to be directed by Hideo Nakata (the original THE RING and DARK WATER) for New Line.
Julie Lynn Independent Producer, founder of Mockingbird Pictures
Last films produced: WIT (HBO, Mike Nichols directing, with Emma Thompson); NINE LIVES (written and directed by Rodrigo Garcia with Robin Wright Penn, Holly Hunter, Glenn Close); 10 ITEMS OR LESS (written and directed by Brad Silberling with Morgan freeman); THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB (written and directed by Robin Swicord, with Emily Blunt and Maria Bello)
Just Completed: PASSENGER (directed by Rodrigo Garcia, with Anne Hathaway and Patrick Wilson)
Just Announced: BLOOD MAKES NOISE (written and directed by Gregory Widen)
Bruce McKenna Writer/Producer
Past project: Emmy-winning writer, BAND OF BROTHERS miniseries
Currently: Supervising producer and writer for THE PACIFIC miniseries (for Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks)
Announced Projects: RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA (directed by David Fincher) and THE HANDS OF SHANK-CHI) from Marvel Comics hero, to be directed by Woo-ping Yuen)
Navid McIlhargey Executive Producer/Studio Executive Silver Pictures / Warner Bros
Past films as studio exec: PETER PAN, WHITE CHICKS, TEARS OF THE SUN
Exec producer of upcoming projects: ROCKNROLLA and GAMEKEEPER (Guy Ritchie directing both); MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE (Larry and Andy Wachowski directing); DIRTY DOZEN remake
Lisa Callamaro Literary Agent
Represents screenwriters, directors, producers and film rights to books.
Represented the screenwriters or novelists of: EVENT HORIZON, MY DOG SKIP, SEABISCUIT, DEADWOOD, THE MAN WITHOUT A FACE, LIVES OF THE SAINTS, LEGALLY BLONDE, FIRESTARTER, WHERE THE HEART IS, FRACTURE
Upcoming projects: MAD MONEY starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifa and Katie Holmes, and THE INTERNATIONAL starring Clive Owen
Barri Evins Independent Producer, former President, Debra Hill Productions
Latest Project: THE STETSON KENNEDY PROJECT starring Tobey Maguire, Christopher McQuarrie (USUAL SUSPECTS) to write. Documentary version to be directed by Barbara Kopple and produced with Maguire's production company
Sheila Hanahan Taylor Producer/Partner (with Craig Perry) Practical Pictures
First look deal with Scott Rudin/ Disney Studios
Over 20 feature projects at major studios, Exec. Producer on hour-long series at both AMC and Paramount Television
Collaborated on both the AMERICAN PIE and FINAL DESTINATION franchises while development executive at Zide/Perry
Associate professor, UCLA School of Film and Television, Director of MFA Program for Producing
Amy Salko Robertson Independent Producer and former CAA agent
Last film produced: THE OH IN OHIO starring Parker Posey, Paul Rudd, Danny DeVito
Next Project: REALITY, written and directed by Ross Venokur starring Jon Heder (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE/BLADES OF GLORY)
Michelle Sy Independent Producer
Former VP of Production and Development at The Kennedy/Marshall Company and Director of Development at Miramax Films
Executive Producer: FINDING NEVERLAND
Last film produced: FAN-DEMANIUM, a documentary about soccer-obsessed fans during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Currently: RED LETTER DAY by Paul Vaillancourt & Ron Erdmann, to be directed by Victor Nelli (UGLY BETTY, THE OFFICE, MY NAME IS EARL) and MYSTERY WHITE BOY, biopic of musician Jeff Buckley
David Koplan Independent Producer, founder of Timbergrove Entertainment
Last films produced: WINTER PASSING (Ed Harris, Zooey Deschanel, Will Ferrell); CHRYSTAL (Billy Bob Thornton) and RANDY AND THE MOB (Ray McKinnon)
Currently: THE LAST LULLABY (Tom Sizemore) in post production
Tracey Becker Independent Producer
Last film produced: FINDING NEVERLAND starring Johnny Depp, and Kate Winslet
Next films: LOSING JERRY written & to be directed by Mitch Ganem and HYSTERIA written by Stephen & Jonah Lisa Dyer, to be directed by Tanya Wexler, Jonathan Pryce attached
David Blackman Producer
VP, Laurence Mark Productions (DREAMGIRLS, I, ROBOT, THE LOOKOUT)
Former VP of Wendy Finerman Productions (THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, DRUMLINE, FORREST GUMP, STEPMOM)
Andy Cohen Producer/President, Grade A Entertainment
Releasing Jan, 2008: UNTRACEABLE (dir. Gregory Hoblit, starring Diane Lane)
Currently working on: MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE (dir. By Steve Sommers at Universal); MICRACLE CARS (with Nick Cannon at new Line); THE FIVE ANCESTORS (producing with Lawrence Bender at Nickelodeon); and MIDNIGHT VOICES (being produced with Steven Soderbergh and george Clooney at Warners)
Jonathan Fernandez Writer/Producer
Executive poducer: BREAKDOWN (Kurt Russell)
Writer: Y2K (NBC); STAR TREK ENTERPRISE staff writer
Pilots and movies for: 20th Century Fox, Revolution Studios, NBC/Warner Bros, Fox, HBO, Sci Fi Channel, USA Network, CBS
David Baird Literary Manager, Kinetic Management
In 2003 David started literary management company Kinetic Management. Screenwriting clients include Emmy Award winner Bob Goodman, Pulitzer-nominated poet Gary Miranda, and Chicago playwright Tom Patrick.
Adam Merims Producer
Upcoming Film: THE LUCKY ONES (dir and written by Neil Burger, with Rachel McAdams, Tim Robbins and Michael Pena
Last Films Produced: THE HUNTING PARTY, BREACH, CASANOVA, THE MATADOR
Valeska Ramet Producer, Development Exec and Sr VP, White Water Films
Valeska will also produce THE DICTATOR'S DAUGHTER, a female spy project in development with Kate Winslet attached to star that Bronwen Hughes will direct. Also in the works is a book-to-film adaptation of Lolly Winston's HAPPINESS SOLD SEPARATELY starring Julia Roberts, an Eva Mendes project called YOU LOOK NICE TODAY (based on the book by Stanley Bing, to be written by Neil Cohen,) and a re-make of Kurosawa's 1952 classic, IKIRU, to be produced DreamWorks in Spring 2008 with Tom Hanks attached to star. Prior to Whitewater Films, Valeska worked at Stone Village Pictures and with Director Brad Silberling at Reveal Entertainment. Valeska started her career in the New York film community at Miramax and then Universal Pictures, where she established lasting relationships with talent and publishers that would later complement her move to Los Angeles.