Strange Case

FILMMAKERS

WRITER/DIRECTOR – Alex Horwitz
Alex Horwitz is a writer, producer, editor, and director with experience on film sets large and small. He produced House of Satisfaction, an independent feature and festival favorite. He edited and directed second unit on The Legend of Hallowdega, a short by renowned filmmaker, Terry Gilliam. He edits regularly for Academy Award-nominated documentarian, Joe Berlinger (Paradise Lost), and recently cut the acclaimed feature documentary, Whitey: The United States of America v. James J. Bulger. Alex’s other credits as an editor include Iconoclasts and Oprah’s Master Class, as well as commercials and branded content for some of the biggest brands in the world, including American Express, Cadillac, Bank of America, and IBM. Alex is the son of a Ringling Brothers circus clown and a classically-trained mezzo soprano. He graduated from Wesleyan University, after which he cut his teeth as a researcher and production coordinator for acclaimed director, Julie Taymor, before moving onto production jobs on the Spider-Man and Bourne franchises, as well as Martin Scorsese’s Shine a Light. Currently, Alex is directing and producing a feature documentary about the historical, hip-hop musical phenomenon, Hamilton. He lives in New York with his wife and son.

PRODUCER – Jacob Robinson
Jacob Robinson is the CEO/Founder of Brooklyn Abridged Films, a New York-based production company and filmmakers collective. In addition to producing Alice Jacobs is Dead, Jacob has produced two films currently on the festival circuit: a feature, The Distance Between the Apple and the Tree, and a short, Painting Abby Long. He has also directed award-winning branded content for a Fortune 500 company. Jacob is currently pursuing his MBA/MFA in Film Producing at NYU's Stern School of Business and Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to working in film, Jacob worked for several years in management consulting, focusing primarily on strategy and marketing for financial services firms. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University.

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PRODUCER – Ariana Mufson
Ariana Mufson, a Boston native, studied English and Film at Wesleyan University. She has worked in television development and production in London, Boston, and Los Angeles, and currently serves as Manager of Development and Production at Russell Simmons' company Simmons/Lathan Media Group. She got her start in television casting, where she helped cast USA's hit show Psych. Before joining SLMG, she worked for Infinity Media, Inc. as their Creative Executive in pre-production and development.

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PRODUCER/ASSISTANT DIRECTOR – Brian Schwartz
Brian Schwartz was raised by a mute swordsmith in a small village on the island of Okinawa. Isolated from the rest of society until his 18th birthday, Brian grew up with the training and philosophy of a Tokugawa-era bushi. Despite the protests of his master, young Brian ventured to the Japanese mainland to discover his only qualification, Suio-Ryu Swordmaster, made him nearly unemployable. After hijacking a Korean pirate ship and mistakenly navigating to the southern California coast, Brian stumbled onto the set of a feature film. An encounter with an overly forceful 2nd AD ended in bloodshed, and Brian vowed to take up the responsibilities of his worthy opponent to honor him in death. Years later, Brian still applies the same dedication of the samurai to his work as an independent producer, assistant director, and filmmaker - at least until the horse and ox headed demons of Meifumado come to float his soul down the River Sanzu.

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CINEMATOGRAPHER – Andreas Burgess
A Wisconsin native who now splits time between Los Angeles and New York, Andreas' feature credits include 2006 Independent Spirit Award-Winner Conventioneers (directed by Mora Stephens) and most recently the underground spy thriller subterraNYa, directed by Philip Farha. His non-fiction subjects range from bicycle-powered ferris wheels to electric shock survivors to one man's nine-year project to memorize John Milton's Paradise Lost. In addition to music videos for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Flesh, and others, he has shot numerous short films, including Austin Alward's Louis & Anne and Peter Glanz's A Relationship in 4 Days, which recently screened at Sundance and at Cannes. He is a graduate of Wesleyan University, a lifelong fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, and an avid barbecuer of marinated meats.

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PRODUCTION DESIGNER – Sarah Krainin
Sarah is a scenic designer, production designer, puppet artist, and object artist who works in New York and Los Angeles. Previous projects include three plays with director Richard Foreman, scenic design for Beyond the Horizon, directed by Chi-wang Yang, and collaborations with directors Maureen Towey and Bajir Cannon. Sarah recently assisted designer Susan Zeeman Rogers on Rachel Dickstein's Fire Throws, presented at 3LD. Her current projects include a series of installations involving tiny models of the Grand Canyon, a graphic score for object theater, and scenic design in a synagogue for Los Angeles site-specific dance company, Collage Dance Theater, directed by Heidi Duckler. Sarah is a graduate of Wesleyan University, and recently received her MFA in Scenic Design from CalArts.

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COMPOSER – Bill Sherman
Bill won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for In the Heights. He earned a Grammy as the co-producer of the In The Heights Original Broadway Cast Album. He earned a Drama Desk nomination for In the Heights Off-Broadway. He was also the composer for the second season of MTV's Gamekillers as well as Nike’s Kobe Mentu. Bill is a proud member of NY's premier hip-hop, improv and comedy group, Freestyle Love Supreme, which traveled to the Aspen, Edinburgh, Melbourne, and Montreal comedy festivals. Love to Mom, Dad, Rachel and Kristen.

COSTUME DESIGNER – Sarah Trost
Sarah is a product of generations of filmmakers. She studied at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising as a Fashion Design major, with a Costume Design focus. Sarah excelled in every program, graduating Magna Cum Laude. During college she began her design career with student directors from several film schools designing short films. These films eventually lead into creatively interesting independent films, in which Sarah took full advantage of opportunities to successfully apply intricate design concepts. Sarah has contributed her costume design skills to numerous films; including He Was a Quiet Man, starring William H. Macy and Christian Slater, Weather Girl, starring Mark Harmon, and The Salon, starring Terrance Howard and Vivica A. Fox. She most recently created the gang war universe of the upcoming dance epic, The F.P.

SPECIAL MAKEUP FX / KEY MAKEUP – Synapse FX
Synapse FX is a full service studio specializing in a wide array of special effects. Contributing to the film were Corinne Dutra (Key Makeup Artist/Co-Owner) and Josh Foster (Special Makeup FX Coordinator/Co-Founder). Josh and business partner Joe Cornell grew up in Southern California with a great love for horror. At the ages of 16 and 17 respectively, Josh and Joe made their way into the FX industry, working on films such as Carnasour and Revenge of the Red Baron. As their knowledge grew, so did the idea for Synapse FX, founded in 1999; the shop doors officially opened in 2007 after the film Transmorphers. On the set of that film they met Northern California native, Corinne Dutra. With a background and education in cosmetology, makeup, and special FX, Corinne joined the team to create the ultimate "one-stop-shop." Offering everything from beauty to special FX makeup, pyrotechnics, and mechanics, the Synapse FX team proudly offers all the answers to your practical and visual FX needs.

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