Film School Instructors

INSTRUCTORS

Larry Brand, ”Horror, Roger Corman, and Me,” began his career as production assistant to the legendary Orson Wells. He went on to write, direct, and co-star in “The Drifter,” “Masque of the Red Death,” and “Overexposed.” His films have included the award-winning independents “Paranoia” and “Christina,” and studio productions “Halloween: Resurrection” and “Hard Luck.” In 2008 he formed 8180 Films with partners Rebecca Reynolds and James Carpenter. Their first feature, “Christina,” went on to win major awards on the film festival circuit, including Best Film, Best Director (Brand), and Outstanding Achievement in Writing (Brand). 8180 Films currently has two films in post-production: the comedy-doc “The Coexist Comedy Tour” and “The Girl on the Train.” 8180′s “A Perfect Man” is due out later this year.
Josh Koury, “Finding Your Story: The Process of Documentary Filmmaking,” is a documentary filmmaker living and working in Brooklyn, NY. His first film, Standing By Yourself, received critical acclaim after opening theatrically in 2002. His second feature length documentary, We Are Wizards, had its World Premiere at SXSW in March of 2008 and was later theatrically released in 5 cities across the country. His third film, Journey to Planet X, had it’s World Premiere at the Tribeca film festival, and is screening at festivals around the world. Additionally, Koury co-founded the Brooklyn Underground Film Festival where he served as Programming Director for four years. He also spent four years working at the Hamptons Int’l Film Festival as a Programmer and their Programming Manager. He is currently a faculty member at the Pratt Institute.
Jim Burnstein, “Film School Confessions,” managed to beat the odds and make it as a successful Hollywood screenwriter without moving from his home in Plymouth, Michigan. Mr. Burnstein’s screen credits include “Renaissance Man,” “D3: The Mighty Ducks,” and “Ruffian.” “AWOL,” written by Burnstein and Schiff, was made entirely in Michigan last summer. Other Burnstein and Schiff scripts in the works include “Helicopter Parents,” “Basketball Dad,” “Naked Shakespeare,” and “Time of Your Life.” In 1995 Burnstein returned to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to build one of America’s top undergraduate screenwriting programs in the Department of Screen Arts & Cultures. He served as a member and Vice Chair of the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council from 2003-2011.
Pamela Guest, ”Best Acting Class Ever,” graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Drama and an MA from Rackham. After teaching for some time, she moved to New York City and then California to act. Supplementing her acting career, Pamela became a Casting Director by day. Currently she uses her casting expertise as a consultant, assisting producers in attaching stars to independent films. Pamela has taught at the Lee Strasberg Theatrical Institute, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, SAG Foundation, the University of Michigan: Screen Arts and Culture, Musical Theatre, and Theatre Departments. She is currently writing a book about her experience of living a yogic life in Hollywood and can soon be seen in Henry Jaglom’s “The M Word” and “The Last War Crime.”
Michael Webber, “The TCFF Roundtable Answers Your Questions,” began his career as an award winning visual effects animator and commercial director. In the years to follow, his career would migrate to motion pictures, where he would serve as producer on five theatrical films for 20th Century Fox and Lionsgate. Michael was the director of the critically acclaimed documentary “The Elephant in the Living Room.” The film won five Best Documentary Awards and became the #1 Independent Film in the nation for three weeks straight. He is currently working on two new documentary projects, several scripted features and a television series. Michael is vice president and co-owner of MainSail Productions, as well as President of the motion picture company NightFly Entertainment.
Johamy Morales, ”Young Filmmakers Workshop,” is an instructor of Theatre and Comparative Arts department at Interlochen Center for the Arts, Blackbird Arts, and this fall she will begin teaching theatre at Northwestern Michigan Collage. She received a Masters in Fine Arts in acting from The Ohio State University. Johamy is an alumni from Arena Stage fellowships program in DC and the British American Drama Academy in Oxford, England.  In 2008, she had the opportunity to participate in an internship with the Seattle Children’s Theatre Company where she taught children of a vast age range.  In the summer of 2006 she was cast in “New World Jukebox” where she toured to South Africa and performed in the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.  In 2004, the San Diego State University invited her to perform in “Carnaval de Calaveras,” where she toured to Oaxaca, Veracruz, and Mexico D.F.
Tony D’Annunzio, “Music Docs Rock,” was born in Detroit, Michigan. With nearly 25 years in the Broadcast industry, Tony has worked with every major broadcast company at the technical and/or production management level including: ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, ESPN, CNN, MTV, VH1, Discovery, NFL Films, and HBO. Tony’s passion for Music was satisfied over the last 2 decades by working as a Director of Photography and Production Manager for hundreds of live events and concerts, with acts including: Aerosmith, KISS, Ted Nugent, Rush, Madonna, Guns And Roses, Metallica, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffett, Slayer and many more. “Louder Than Love: The Grande Ballroom Story” is the culmination of Tony’s multi-decade long affinity for the Detroit music scene and classic Rock & Roll.
Jeff Gibbs, ”Secrets of Making a Blockbuster Documentary,” has been a producer on “Bowling for Columbine,” “Fahrenheit 9/11,” “Shut Up and Sing,” and several environmental films. He also has served as composer for “Bowling for Columbine,” “Fahrenheit 9/11,” as well as “Capitalism: A Love Story.” He worked with Michael Moore on “Stupid White Men” and “Dude, Where’s My Country?” which he also named.  His writing has appeared on Alternet, Huffington Post, and Counterpunch. He has addressed the Nation Education Association, spoken at Columbia University, and also in the basement of Horizon Books in Traverse City where he currently resides. Jeff hails from Flint, Michigan. He is currently working on a film on the state of the planet and the fate of humanity. It’s a comedy. Sort of.
Robert Rayher, “Best Acting Class Ever,” “Film School Confessions,” is primarily a screenwriter. From the end of the ’70′s through the early ’90′s, he produced and presented experimental films and videos. Robert has had stints in the motion picture industry and with independent film productions. His films and tapes have been screened widely in North America, and occasionally in Europe and Asia. A number of his titles are available from the Canadian Filmmakers’ Distribution Center. Grants for filmmaking include NEA Regional Fellowships (’88 & ’92) and support from The National Film Board of Canada (’83-’85).