Rhoda Jordan, Producer
Rhoda, who acted as a long-distance producer for Fiona from early pre-production through distribution, is an LA-based screenwriter, producer and actress. In 2005, Rhoda created, produced, and co-directed Macho, an explosive variety show that performed live at Hollywood’s Stella Adler Theater and filled the theater throughout its run. Rhoda has also starred in five feature films that have achieved substantial distribution in the consumer marketplace. Her body of acting work has secured her a cult following among thriller and horror fans alike. Most recently, Rhoda wrote, produced and starred in Rule of Three, an independent feature thriller that played in several film festivals and is currently in distribution negotiations for both the U.S. and Europe.
Brynn Gelbard, Producer
Brynn Gelbard accidentally got involved in film and commercial production after taking a screenwriting workshop that she read a flyer for while waiting for a bus on Haight Street. Since then, she has produced everything from short films, including LezBros, which had its world premier at the 2008 Frameline Film Festival, to music videos, pop songs, commercials, and feature films. Brynn has teamed up with many up-and-coming queer filmmakers from around the world to create work that explores the intersection of LGBT and straight existences. Through her work with diverse and daring colleagues, she hopes to decimate all phobias that inspire senseless laws against people just being themselves. Brynn is currently a student at UCLA's professional program in screenwriting.
Jason Mitchell, Cinematographer
Jason started his life behind the camera when he joined the Navy many years ago as a broadcast journalist shooting all over Asia. He wrote, shot and edited a myriad of stories, which were broadcast in Japan, the Philippines, on BBC and CBS. After seven years of ascending quickly through the ranks, Jason left the Navy and moved to San Francisco, where he worked as the Director of Production for a streaming media company, where he designed and built three live production studios and established and oversaw field, studio and post-production for their SF and NY offices. Jason’s more recent work has focused on narrative films as Director, Cinematographer and/or Editor. Notable projects include the short films Indiscreet (2006, DP/Editor), Filter (2006, Director/Editor) and Niedergang (2006, Editor) and the festival-favorite feature films The Sex Movie (2005, Editor) and Circulation (2007, Editor). He also enjoys a long-standing relationship with documentary filmmaker Mark Brecke, which includes producing and editing They Turned Our Desert Into Fire (2007), an award-winning feature documentary focusing on the crisis in Darfur. Jason heads Purebred Productions, a still and motion creative team in San Francisco, and is one of the most sought-after RED shooters in the Bay Area.
Jesse Kerman, Editor
Oakland resident Jesse Kerman's editing work has encompassed a wide variety of projects, short and long, including recent projects Mother Country, All About Evil (assistant editing), Indietro, and the upcoming feature-length documentary Public Sex Private Minds. His current day job is as Lead Editor for San Francisco's Kink.com. Jesse is also a writer/director, and his short films have screened at festivals across North America and internationally. In 2009, his co-directed short documentary Lorelei Lee took home three awards in the International Documentary Challenge.
Lisa Donohoe, Production Designer
Lisa Donohoe got her start in the Art Department thanks to meeting a couple of UK-based filmmakers in San Francisco for the 2005 Frameline Film Festival. Since her first assignment working on their award-winning film Ruby Blue, Lisa has designed and executed the look of music videos, short and feature films. When not on set, Lisa can be found faux-finishing lavish homes using environmentally-sound materials. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Lisa has called San Francisco home for over 12 years.
Cristin Shea, Location Scout & Manager/Co-producer
Cristin Shea is a producer with experience stemming from both film and print production. She has an extensive background in various production roles working throughout a wide spectrum encompassing multiple industries. Breaking away from the commercial world, Fiona's Script is her first feature film. She has recently relocated to NYC to establish Found Productions, a soon-to-be bi-coastal production and location scouting agency.
Sonia Montejano, “Fiona”
Sonia L. Montejano grew up in Austin, Texas, and later moved to California to attend college at Stanford University. During her sophomore year, a rigorous biology schedule and the yearning for a creative outlet pushed her into the exciting world of acting, where she took part in many campus and community theater productions, including "The Vagina Monologues", "Zuit Suit" and "In the Blood". After a two-year hiatus from acting upon graduating in 2006, she auditioned for the character of "Fiona", moving her acting from the stage to the screen. Fiona was her film debut.
Deirdre Renee Draginoff, “L”
Deirdre Renee Draginoff is returning to performing after a four-year hiatus. Favorite roles include Norma, "Flowers for Algernon"; Beatrice, "Much Ado About Nothing"; and Woman 2, "Home", for which she received The Arty Award for Best Lead Actress. She has been a featured singer for countless concerts with North Bay Opera, as well as singing in "Tales of Hoffman" and "Tosca". Deirdre Renee loves to cook and bake in her spare time and is currently writing two one-woman shows: "Black Women in Music History" and "Love Story", both cabaret shows.
Giovannie Espiritu, “Mara”
Giovannie Espiritu was nominated alongside Academy Award Nominees Alfre Woodard, and Amy Irving for Best Supporting Actress at Methodfest for her role as Mara in "Fiona's Script." Her primetime credits include a recurring role on ER (NBC), BONES (FOX), GILMORE GIRLS (ABC), and TRAUMA (NBC).
She has voiced characters in international video games and cartoons, directed several theater productions at the Herbst Theater and recently founded the SF Actors Workshop, a drama school specializing in Film and TV.
Kathreen Khavari, “Paloma”
Kathreen Khavari is a native of Oakland, California, and has loved acting since childhood. Her passion for acting came from an obsessive movie-watching regimen since early childhood, and her wild imagination, essential to her only-child status. Film influenced Kathreen’s life so much that after watching the movie Outbreak in the sixth grade, she became highly interested in the field of infectious diseases and went on to receive two degrees in the field. After completing graduate school in London, Kathreen came back to the Bay Area and decided to get serious about her love for acting. She has since been in local movie productions as well as theater, including a contemporary stage adaptation of Antigone. Fiona’s Script is her feature debut.
Melissa Valentine, “Henna”
Melissa Valentine is a native to Oakland, CA. She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where she studied theater and creative writing. Happily residing in the San Francisco Bay Area again, Melissa is currently engaged in her own writing pursuits. Melissa starred in Florencia’s short film “Belén” (2003).