Heather Braden Writer/Director/Producer with 20+ years behind the camera across film, advertising and visual production while based in New York City. Braden worked internationally as a commercial photographer, producer then director for globally recognized brands, on large budgeted global campaigns, managed large teams of creatives in 22+ countries. Over the years, Braden worked across producing, casting, script supervision, lighting and grip, camera, director’s assistant and commercial directing developing a ground-up understanding of how productions move from concept through the final frame. That experience ultimately led her back to her greatest passion: narrative filmmaking and launching Dust Devil Film. Braden co-produced the award-winning feature "Ba Ba Bound" which went on to attract global sales, streaming, vertical offers. Today, she is the founder of "Dust Devil Film, where she is developing and producing feature films and television series across multiple genres, with a focus on strong characters, cinematic storytelling and distinctive stories designed for both independent and global audiences.

Heidi Stangeland is a award-winning screenwriter, producer based in LA. A multi-optioned screenwriter, Heidi has developed original material for film and television and worked across writing, producing, development and production. Her industry experience includes work on HBO’s Westworld, along with independent film and producing projects. Heidi is also the founder of a nonprofit dedicated to supporting and connecting storytellers through filmmaking and screenwriting education. Her writing and producing credits include UNschooled, TumbleGeddon, Light Foot, DreamCatcher and The Lost Son. Her work spans character-driven drama, psychological thrillers, science fiction and elevated genre storytelling, combining emotional depth with a distinctive international perspective.

Mike Hoy is an award-winning director, writer, editor and producer whose career spans feature films, television, digital entertainment, advertising and emerging short-form narrative platforms. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Hoy began his professional career while still in college working on Richard Kelly’s cult classic *Donnie Darko*. He has since directed approximately a dozen feature-length scripted projects, including films for Lifetime, Lifetime Movie Network and Lifetime Movie Club, with credits such as *Deadly Dating Game*, *Malicious Motives*, *Secrets Exposed* and *Kidnapped in a Small Town*. Hoy has also held creative and producing roles with **BuzzFeed, ATTN: and NBCUniversal**, developing scripted, unscripted and branded content that has generated more than **300 million views** across digital and social platforms. His commercial work has included campaigns for more than 100 major brands. More recently, Hoy has expanded into vertical-format storytelling for platforms including ReelShort and DramaBox. His experience as a director, writer, producer, editor and cinematographer gives him a comprehensive understanding of production from development through post, with a strong focus on performance, pacing, visual storytelling and audience engagement.

Antal Kalik is an award-winning stunt coordinator, stunt performer, actor and filmmaker with more than two decades of experience across major studio films and television. His credits include *Wonder Woman*, *Captain America: Civil War*, *Logan*, *Star Trek Beyond*, *A Quiet Place*, *The Dark Knight Rises*, *Iron Man 2*, *Ant-Man*, *22 Jump Street*, *Ambulance* and *The Lost City*. He has also doubled leading actors including **Chris Pine, Channing Tatum, Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth**. Kalik is a **two-time Taurus World Stunt Award winner** and has worked extensively in stunt coordination, second-unit action and fight choreography. His coordination credits include *The Lost City*, *Poolman* and *Way of the Warrior Kid*. More recently, he has expanded into writing, directing and producing, bringing decades of elite stunt experience into broader action filmmaking. His work combines technical precision, performance and cinematic storytelling, with an emphasis on creating action that serves character and story.

Lional Chance is a Los Angeles-based writer, producer, composer and songwriter whose work bridges music, film, sound design and emerging media. With more than a decade of experience in the music industry, Chance has worked across songwriting, composition, recording and music production, developing a strong understanding of how sound can shape emotion, character and story. His work in film includes serving as a **screenwriter and producer on *Ba Ba Bound***, where he also contributed extensively to sound design, sound editing, Foley and re-recording mixing. That combination of creative and technical experience allows him to approach storytelling from both the written page and the sonic environment of a film. Chance is also associated with **Hybrid Media Universal**, with interests spanning entertainment, technology and evolving digital platforms. Working across writing, producing, composition and post-production sound, he brings a distinctly multidisciplinary perspective to independent film and narrative development.

“Joey” Zhao is a cinematographer and visual storyteller whose work blends the sensitivity of fine-art photography with the technical precision of contemporary filmmaking. He began his career as a still photographer, with work exhibited internationally in **London, Beijing and Shanghai**, before transitioning into cinematography in the United States. His commercial experience includes work for brands such as **Toyota, Chivas and Coca-Cola**, while his narrative credits span independent film, documentary, music video and branded content. Zhao has continued developing his craft through advanced training including the **ASC Master Class**, ARRI large-format and HDR programs, and Hurlbut Academy cinematography training. His camera-department experience also includes work as a first assistant camera, focus puller, camera operator and gaffer on projects including *Ba Ba Bound*, *TumbleGeddon* and *UNschooled*. His visual approach emphasizes atmosphere, natural light, composition and emotional storytelling, using cinematography not simply to create beautiful images, but to deepen character and narrative.

Bella has attended 4 years of performing arts & technology school studying film production and editing along with theater and dance.