James Sweeney, Director

James Sweeney is a twenty year old actor/writer/director from Eagle River, Alaska. Studying film and theatre at Chapman University in Orange, California, “The First” marks his directorial debut to the world. He is compelled by narratives that offer a unique perspective and aspires to create films that challenge societal conventions. James has had several short scripts published or staged, and has a few features in the works.

 

Katie Chilson, Producer

Katie Chilson is a Television and Broadcast Journalism major at Chapman University. When she first moved from Colorado to the mean streets of Orange County, she planned on going into broadcast news, but was sidetracked by narrative television and short films, before venturing into documentary filmmaking. Katie is planning to film a documentary in Ghana this summer, and assuming she does not contract Yellow Fever or Malaria, ultimately wants to write for Saturday Night Live.

 

Greg Cotten, Cinematographer

Greg Cotten is a Film Production major at Chapman University, originally from Richardson, Texas. He is a collaborator at heart and strives to find a unique vision for each project he undertakes. His interest in cinematography first came about when he found some old still cameras in his attic and learned that his grandfather had developed lenses used in spy satellites for the CIA. He has been constantly playing around with cameras and lenses ever since.

 

Andy Gress, Editor

Andy Gress is currently a Film Production major at Chapman University, although he has been making movies for almost his entire life. He was first introduced to filmmaking around age 5 when he started making videos with his sister, her friend, and a cast of stuffed animals. Despite their silliness, these movies encouraged Andy to explore the world of narrative filmmaking. While his true passion is film editing, he has been known to dabble in the arts of cinematography and sound as well.

 

Maya Levy, Production Designer

Maya Levy, born and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, had first discovered the world of art before the world of filmmaking. Her love for drawing and painting evolved into a love for design and decor. Now she is emphasizing in Production Design as a Film Production major at Chapman University and has found the collaborative medium that melds her two worlds together. She hopes her creative endeavors take her across the globe on wild adventures.

 

Additional Film Crew

Line Producer: Katie Chilson
Production Manager: Paul Hextall
1st Assistant Director: Elliot Frahs
2nd Assistant Director: Kira Tamagawa

Editor: Andy Gress
Sound Designers: Ian Clark-Daugherty, Luke Lucas ,Tayah Geist

Director of Photography: Greg Cotten
1st AC: Lindsay Rappaport
2nd AC: Hannah Baker
Gaffer: Andrew Finch
Best Boy Electric: Paulina Bryant
Grip & Electrics: Ryan Bengford, J.T. Bijos, Austin Page

Boom Operator & Sound Mixers: Will Phelps, Zarina Khairzada, David Markun, Corey Campbell, Rick ANdrews

Make up Artists: Lauren Nodland, Krystal Dukes