Erin Palmquist is an independent filmmaker who feels strongly about creating documentary film as a means for community outreach and education. She graduated from San Francisco State University’s Cinema Program with an emphasis in visual anthropology and cinematography. Upon Graduation she worked at Lucasfilm on the Young Indiana Jones Project assisting in the final year of a four-year project in which 94 historical documentaries were produced as one body of work. Upon completion of the Lucas project she joined with Bonni Cohen at Actual Films as her associate producer on the National Geographic Explorer documentary The Last Christians of Bethlehem. She was the producer, editor, and director of photography for BDSM: It’s Not What You Think! which was an official selection at the prestigious San Francisco International Frameline32 Film Festival in 2008. Erin was the director of photography for an Anthony Palombit film, Out on The Dance Floor – a film that explores the wounding and healing of the Gay Male experience – also an official selection at Frameline32 in 2008. She has also worked for companies such as PBS and the Leaky Foundation and is currently in the early production stages, as co-producer and director of photography, on From Baghdad to The Bay a feature length documentary about Iraqi Refugees in California.
Crew
Brad Vanderbilt has served on the frontlines of LGBT community activism for over 15 years. A recent graduate of San Francisco State University’s Masters in Public Health Program, he is currently a senior research associate for UCSF Gay Couples Study. In his work at UC, he has supervised outreach and recruitment of 1000+ participants for a study focusing on risk factors in primary relationships between gay men in the San Francisco Bay Area. He also recently produced Lo Que Soy: Experiencias de los Gay Inmigrantes, a film that lifts up the voices gay Latino immigrants. The film explores the strengths and challenges of a small but remarkably diverse and dynamic community, featuring the narratives of men deeply engaged in building a stronger and more supportive space for gay Latino immigrants in the Bay Area. Brad’s over-riding passion is to support and serve communities that have long been oppressed and marginalized. He holds faith in the belief that people of good will of every creed and color can work in solidarity to create healthier, more peaceful and more vibrant communities. Together, we can –si se puede!
Upon graduating from San Francisco State University with a B. A. in film, Wade Keye set out to travel the world. His quest continues today, though it’s more centered around the Pacific Northwest. Wade specializes in production sound and editing, is intensely devoted to the study of peanut butter sandwiches, and can beat you at Puzzle Bobble.
Trent is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University’s Cinema Program with an emphasis in film production; in addition, he took several courses above and beyond his degree requirement to study Middle Eastern and Islamic Cultures. While learning film production and techniques in the academic setting, he taught himself computer visual effects, including rotoscoping, motion graphics, and green screen compositing. Prior to attending college, Trent spent 20 years in the United States Air Force and is a retired Master Sergeant. During his time in the service he traveled extensively to North Africa and the Middle East. Currently he is studying the Arabic language and is working towards a Masters Degree in International Affairs with an emphasis on the Middle East. Trent hopes to combine his experience in the Air Force, his film degree and soon his Masters in International Affairs to break down barriers that exist between differing cultures.
It’s a formula as simple as three chords. Billy Veirs grew up playing guitar. He like it. Before long he was playing in bands, making records, and going on tours. If you ask, he’ll tell you rock’n roll stories that involve fireworks and caskets and hospital visits. After working in a recording studio, Billy started engineering and producing. Once he set-up his own studio, he started writing multi-layered instrumentals which led to film scoring. He is also a recognized expert in streaming audio and video over the web. For sound samples as well as the latest news, please visit www.billyveirs.com.
Jim McSilver has edited, written and produced numerous documentaries, shorts, and feature films since 1990. He recently finished editing and co-producing the documentary Blau Jeans. He cut the investigative documentary Drug Money for CNBC and the historical documentary, The Treaty of Versailles, for Lucasfilm/Paramount. He was one of the editors of the theatrically-released documentary, The Real Dirt on Farmer John, which garnered rave reviews and awards at festivals both domestically and internationally. In 2011, he co-wrote, produced, and edited the award-winning PBS documentary, The Split Horn: Life of a Hmong Shaman in America. McSilver holds a B.S. in Film from Northwestern University.
Ben Lunden is a 2008 graduate of San Francisco State University’s Cinema Program with an emphasis in production. Born in Seoul, he has lived in both California and Michigan during his education. He has experience in a variety of production and post-production techniques from sound mixing to cinematography. Ben is currently applying his skills in motion graphics and on-location camera wok.