JOSEPH M. BURGA (Manager, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, New York). Mr. Burga is a longtime Wall Street veteran and native New Yorker, who grew up in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. Although Mr. Burga has been in the financial markets for 20 years, he has always had a love for film. It was Mr. Burga’s daughter’s disappearance for over 8 hours on Sept 11th, which helped turn his love for film into creating more films that can be shared and enjoyed by the whole family. Thus, 'bel films was born. Mr. Burga will be responsible for all of our final financial and creative decisions.
J. EDWARD SHUGRUE (Investor and Advisor to CEO). Mr. Shugrue has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment industry, most recently as President of Loews Cineplex International where he implemented international expansion plans. Under his leadership, the company introduced state of the art megaplexes in Spain, Korea and Italy. Previously, he was an Executive Vice President for Sony Pictures Entertainment where he was responsible for implementing a strategy to produce films in the international territories. The creation of regional production offices led to several successful international productions including the critical and box office hit "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon". He was a Founding Executive and played a significant role in building the distribution capabilities for TriStar Pictures, later Columbia TriStar. Mr. Shugrue served for ten years as President of Columbia Tristar Film Distributors International. Columbia Tristar enjoyed five of its biggest years during his tenure in terms of overseas box office. Its performance was powered by such international hits as "Look Who's Talking", "Legends of the Fall", "The Net", "Bad Boys", "Philadelphia", "Bram Stoker's Dracula", "Hook", "Jumanji" and "Sense and Sensibility". Mr. Shugrue also managed distribution and sales offices for 20th Century Fox. Mr. Shugrue is a Vice President of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers and a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. It is anticipated that Mr. Shugrue will take a senior position with the Company upon financing.
CAROLYN DAHM MULRY (Vice President, New York). A writer by training,
Ms. Mulry spent several years as an executive for top Hollywood producers
Bernie Williams and Blake Edwards (“The Pink Panther” series, “Victor/Victoria”),
where she acquired vast development and production experience working
on such feature films as “Star Trek: Generations” and “The
Indian in the Cupboard.” Ms. Mulry will advise the company
on production and development while developing an array of both self-generated
and acquired projects.
M. GEORGE STEVENSON (Creative Director, New York). Mr. Stevenson,
a filmmaker, writer and critic, is a DGA/East award-winning producer
and director of short films, a leader in a comedy troupe that has
played Caroline’s, StandUp NY and other New York comedy venues
and has a wealth of experience in book and periodical publishing.
He has also been a distinguished book, film and theater critic for
such publications as the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Village
Voice, Esquire and Video. An MFA from Columbia University’s
prestigious Graduate Film Division, he will continue to advise the
company on the acquisition of potential properties from all sources
as well as play a significant role in their production.
IVY BROOKS (Creative Director, Santa Monica). A former freelance
music video producer for six years, Ms. Brooks worked with talent
such
as The Kotton Mouth Kings, Pennywise, Jurassic 5, and Victoria Williams.
Ms. Brooks graduated cum laude from New York University, Tisch School
of the Arts in 1995, receiving awards for "Excellence in Filmmaking," "University
Scholar" and "The Steven Tisch Scholarship". Ms. Brooks
has written and directed award winning theatre, music videos, documentaries
and film and will work in development.
MARK HOROWITZ (International Distribution Consultant, Santa Monica). Mr. Horowitz was President of Alliance Atlantis Pictures International, the international feature film sales division of Alliance Atlantis Entertainment. His experience ranges from commercial blockbuster films with high profile cast to independent art house from burgeoning directors including Academy Award nominee POLLOCK, starring Ed Harris and Marcia Gay Harden, WORLD TRAVELER starring Julianne Moore and Billy Crudup and the critically acclaimed DOGTOWN AND Z BOYS. Prior to Alliance Atlantis Pictures International Mr. Horowitz was Executive Vice President of International Distribution at MDP Worldwide. Mr. Horowitz brings over fifteen years of experience in the international distribution of feature films to ‘bel films.
STEVEN J. PEÑA (Business and Legal Affairs). Mr. Peña
has practiced in the Entertainment field for over 14 years. Originally,
he was Vice President of Legal Affairs at Twentieth Century Fox where
he oversaw all legal matters pertaining to the development, production
and distribution of theatrical motion pictures, including the engagement
of talent, literary property acquisition and exploitation of ancillary
rights. Mr. Peña worked on a variety of theatrical motion pictures
such as "Speed," "Nell," and "Nine Months." Subsequent
to working at Fox he was General Counsel at Warner Bros. Online and
then a partner in the Entertainment Department of Loeb & Loeb.
LAW FIRM: LOEB & LOEB (N.Y. and Century City Offices). Partners,
David Schaefer in the N.Y. office handles the company’s corporate
finance and securities work and Craig Emanuel in the Century City office
advises the company on entertainment matters. Mr. Schaefer is the Chair
of the firm's Corporate Department and Mr. Emanuel is Co-Chair of the
firm’s Entertainment Department.