Jonathan Green, MFA Director / Writer
Darby Barton, MSOD
Producer / Co-Writer
Caroline Ellenthal
Co-Producer
Juan Chavez
Dir. of Photography
Jonathan Green is a multi-talented filmmaker, renowned for his expertise in directing, producing, and editing award-winning documentaries and advertisements. With a diverse portfolio, he has collaborated with prestigious clients such as Unicef/Lucasfilm (Star Wars Force for Change), ESPN (Monday Night Football), and the NFL (NFL Draft).
His public narrative directorial debut, sci-fi short film, Crystal (2023), not only clinched the Best VFX award at the SFO Short Film Festival but also garnered recognition at five additional festivals. Other recent productions include Aftering (2022, Grand Prize - Best Webisode at Golden State Film Festival, co-producer and cinematographer), Making Movies’ “XOPA” music video (2022, producer), How to Become a Hitman (2021, co-producer, cinematographer, editor). Prior to his narrative and advertising career, Jonathan earned the coveted “Best of the Knot” award as an in-demand wedding cinematographer.
Shaped by a personal journey with disability (ichthyosis), Jonathan is deeply committed to elevating underrepresented narratives and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in film, especially for the disabled community. Jonathan's unwavering dedication to showcasing the richness of human experience, and to leading equitable and inclusive productions, positions him as a trailblazer in the industry, inspiring and empowering others both on and off the screen.
Jonathan also dedicates himself to championing the next generation of filmmakers as a film production professor at Pepperdine University and the Los Angeles Film School. He holds an MFA in Film Production from Full Sail University and BS in Film Production from University of Missouri Kansas City.
Raised in the Entertainment capital of the world, Darby has decades of diverse experience in music and film. Revered for her creativity, wit, and strong attention to detail, Darby has worked with artists such as Collective Soul, Victoria Justice, and Chaka Khan. She has further showcased her artistic talents by music-directing and performing in various acapella productions, including an LGBTQ Netflix musical special.
Darby's diverse portfolio encompasses the production and marketing of national tours, engaging conferences, and influencer campaigns for leading CPG brands including L'Oréal and Clorox, and government entities, consistently yielding millions of views and igniting high engagement rates. Darby channels her experience into spearheading diverse, equitable, inclusive, and empowering projects that prioritize people and challenge industry norms.
In addition to her work in film, she drives team effectiveness, well-being, and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies, crucial in supporting Kaiser Permanente's commercial sales teams to secure multi-million dollar B2B deals.
Outside of her professional endeavors, Darby finds joy and inspiration in the rhythm of swing dancing, the art of collecting pressed pennies, and the spirit of community through active participation in her local Buy Nothing Project.
Darby holds a BA in Organizational Studies and Ethnomusicology from Pitzer College, an MS in Organization Development from Pepperdine University, and is an ICF-trained coach. Her multifaceted creative background and process expertise make her a valuable asset in shaping the entertainment industry and driving positive change.
Raised in the vibrant indie filmmaking hub of Austin, Texas, Caroline is an accomplished film, television, and music producer and has been producing since 2014. She has held development positions at Mandalay Television, Seasick Studios, The Arlook Group and with independent industry veterans.
Her work has led to selections at multiple Oscar-qualifying film festivals, shopping agreements, contracts with Amazon, Netflix, and Apple TV, and a packaging deal with the Gersh Agency. She has also supported pre-production for a series of live music videos for WizTheMc and Aliana Lohan.
She currently provides marketing and production consulting to influencer and animator Maddi Winter (4.5M followers), overseeing development of organic and sponsored posts and viral content which regularly generate engagement rates over 20% and millions of views.
Furthering her passion for storytelling, Caroline is also a published music artist and marketing expert. Her single earned over 1,000,000 plays across streaming platforms and she has achieved a sync license and been played in retail stores nationwide, including Nordstrom.
Caroline aims to add diverse voices to the big screen, especially in Horror. She holds a BA in Screen Arts from Pepperdine University where she studied film development and production, post-production, marketing, and distribution.
Juan Chavez is a visionary cinematographer and camera operator known for his sharp storytelling and dynamic visuals. His commercial projects, generating millions of views, have elevated major brands such as Buick, Vogue, Four Seasons Hotels, Ben & Jerry’s, Good Morning America, and more.
In the documentary realm, Juan has contributed to acclaimed series like They Call Me Magic (2022), Behind the Mac: Skywalker Sound (2022), River School Africa (2022), Assets Over Liabilities by REVOLT TV (2023), and Mix with the Masters (2023).
His narrative work boasts collaborations with top-tier artists including Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Lizzo, Christina Milian, Jordyn Woods, Antonio Brown, Soulja Boy, Ari Fletcher, Schoolboy Q, ZHU, Bad Bunny, laufey, and Rosa Linn. Notably, his short films E875 (2023) premiered at the Micheaux Film Festival and Mainline (2017) premiered at Screamfest.
Originating from Guatemala City, Juan infuses a community-centric approach into his productions. His early career in live broadcasting has honed his skills for fast-paced environments and action-packed sequences, making him a versatile and impactful force in the industry.
He holds a BA in Film Studies from UC Irvine.
Interested in a filmmaking career, rooted in DEI? Hit us up!