John Disher Cinematographer, Director
John
Disher spent a large part of his career working in the camera department
in feature and commercial film production. His passion for documentary
film led him study documentary at the International Film and Video Workshops
in Rockport, Maine. He also has served on the board of several organizations
focused on helping those with special needs including: The Brain Injury
Association of North Carolina, Residential Support Services and The ARC
of Mecklenburg County.
John has been able to combine his passion for philanthropy and production by
producing and directing video and film projects for such non-profit organizations
as Hospice, United Family Services, The ARC, United Way, Residential Support
Services and the Children’s Miracle Network.
Currently he is residing in Charlotte, North Carolina. Currently, John is
directing a new documentary on “The
Merry Pranksters,” a theatrical group in South Carolina made up of
adults with mental disabilities.
Mitzi Corrigan Producer
As the
mother of Emma, Mitzi always believed that Emma would touch people’s
lives in a very special way. The making of the documentary "Emma’s
Gifts" enables Emma, and other children with special needs,
to have an even greater impact on the world around us. Thus, ENDLESS
HORIZON PRODUCTIONS was created. It is our mission to produce
works that will continue to challenge stereotypes, increase awareness,
and inspire us to re-evaluate ourselves rather than try to fit others in
our often narrow definition of success.
In addition to being co-producer of ENDLESS HORIZON PRODUCTIONS,
Mitzi currently co-owns Corrigan & Johnston
Casting, Inc. with her partner, Paige Johnston. As casting directors, they
work with production companies and ad agencies throughout the U.S., casting
talent for commercials, films and industrials. Some of their credits include "The
Last Brickmaker In American” starring Sidney Poitier and “Body
Count” starring Ving Rhames and Forest Whittaker. National
commercials include American Express, Tylenol and State Farm Insurance.
Just prior to establishing the casting agency, Mitzi worked as a free lance
script/continuity supervisor. She served as the Production Manager for the
Charlotte Repertory theater for eight years and was also the Production Coordinator
for the Performing Arts Center in Charlotte when it first opened. Mitzi has
a love for the theater and will always be an actor at heart. She was a founding
member of the Charlotte Shakespeare Company and has acted in, directed, and
stage managed numerous productions both in Charlotte and New York City. She
majored in Theater and Psychology at UNCC and spent four years in New York
studying acting under Uta Hagen at HB Studios. She also worked as stage manager
with Herbert Bergoff with the New Playwrights Foundation in NYC.
She serves as co-chair of the ROOTS & SHOOTS committee with the Down Syndrome
Association of Charlotte, is a part of the Parent Support Network of the ARC,
serves on the Mecklenburg Preschool Interagency Coordinating Council and is
a member of the Charlotte Mothers of Multiples Club.
She is very much in love with her husband, Michael, and their beautiful twin
daughters, Emma and Abigale. They continue to inspire and open the doors of
possibility!
Susan B. Harden Producer
Susan B. Harden, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor in the Teacher Education
program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her area of
research deals with education for social and personal change, addressing
issues such as Critical Pedagogy, Moral Education, and Special Education.
She has edited the book The Institution of Education and has authored
numerous articles. Her passion is teaching and she enjoys education both
as a student and teacher. Involvement with Endless Horizon Productions
offers the possibility of in-depth research of socially meaningful issues
and enacting social change on a larger scale beyond the scope of the
classroom.
Susan has a Masters degree in Economics from the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte and Undergraduate degree in Finance from Clemson
University.
She worked for three years at Bank of America in Economics Forecasting,
and three years as an Economics, Accounting, and Financial Management
instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College where she was the program
chair for the Business Administration program. Susan presently is the
director of the Library’s Initiative for Youth in Business at the
Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. Susan is married
to Brian and they have a beautiful daughter named Anna.
Dorne Pentes Editor
Dorne
Pentes is one of the South’s leading independent
filmmakers. His films, "Confessions of a Southern Punk", "The
Great Unpleasantness", "The Closest Thing
to Heaven", and the soon-to-be-released
"Lullaby," have
won awards and critical acclaim across the country. A filmmaker of uncommon
tenderness and humor, Dorne makes films that are uniquely Southern but
have wide audience-friendly appeal.
A veteran of over ten years in the film business, Dorne has shot, directed,
and edited numerous television commercials, music videos, plus numerous
corporate image and marketing videos. He has written over a dozen screenplays,
many for hire, and has seen several of them actually produced. He has
a strong ear for dialogue and a unique gift for visual storytelling.
Dorne holds an MFA in Filmmaking from New York University, and a BA in
English and Creative Writing from UNC-Chapel Hill. He is married to his
partner of over ten years, Wendy Fishman, and together they are raising
their son Elias, now three years old and their baby daughter, Eden. Read
more about Dorne, his films, and his presentations to audiences across
the country at www.wildwildsouth.com
.
Wendy Fishman Line Producer
Currently
the Film and Video Programmer for The Light Factory, Charlotte’s
contemporary arts organization specializing in light generated media,
Wendy Fishman has agreed to come on board for "Emma’s
Gifts" as Line Producer.
After graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a BA in
Radio, TV and Film, Wendy started her radio career with producing stints
at national 50,000 watt clear channel stations W, in Boston, MA and KMOX
in St. Louis, Missouri. After returning to her hometown of Charlotte,
Wendy moved into commercial production as a production assistant. As
the feature film and made-for-TV movie industry began steadily filming
in Charlotte in the mid-80’s, Wendy segued into the Locations Department
and soon was one of our region’s premier Locations Managers. Around
this same time, she began producing experiences led to a change of focus
in the commercial industry for her as well, and she then became a production
manager on scores of national and local commercials.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the late-80’s, Wendy worked as an
Executive Producer’s Assistant on television shows such as Steven
Bochco’s "Brooklyn South" and "The
X-Files." After the birth of her
son Elias, she and her partner returned to Charlotte where she was then
recruited by the Charlotte Film Commissioner to take on her current position
at The Light Factory.
Tony D. Elwood Creative Consultant
Tony D. Elwood is the President, Lead Designer, and a majority shareholder with Indievision, a full service creative, public relations, and communications firm headquartered in Charlotte, NC. Mr. Elwood has been President of his own company for 11 years, growing, in the last year, from a three-person shop to a company that employs 10 full-time staff. Through Indievision and Electro Entertainment Group, Mr. Elwood has directed, created, and designed marketing campaigns for a diverse list of clients, including Duke Energy, First Union, and the Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection. Several of Mr. Elwood efforts have won awards, including the Communicator Award, the Telly Award, and the Malcolm Baldridge Award of Excellence. Mr. Elwood has also directed and produced two feature film which have been distributed world wide and have been shown on HBO, Showtime, and The Movie Channel.
Mr. Elwood has often given his time, expertise, and equipment to new independent filmmakers, helping to make sure their projects go smoothly. Mr. Elwood has worked, either as Director or Art Director, on several PSAs, and has often volunteered time to the Charlotte Repertory Theater.
Through Indievision and Electro Entertainment Group, Mr. Elwood has worked extensively with the Mecklenburg County Department of Environmental Protection and the NC Division of Air Quality on a variety of educational awareness programs, directing and producing both ozone and clean water commercials and videos. "The Ozone Zone," a 20-minute program creating awareness of ozone pollution, won a Communicator and Telly award, and is still shown extensively in schools throughout the state.
Beth Lennox
One of Beth's dearest friends while growing up in New Jersey was a young
neighbor with Down syndrome. Growing and playing together, attending birthday
parties and running through sprinklers together helped form a strong bond
between Beth and Jeanne. This friendship sparked a life-long interest in
individuals with special needs. From working at day camps for developmentally
delayed youngsters to toying with the idea of becoming a special education
teacher, Beth has always saved a portion of her heart for individuals with
special needs. What better surprise then to find that her youngest child
Hannah was born with Down syndrome.
Beth received a Bachelors Degree in
Psychology from Goucher College. Her professional experience includes primate
research and clinical early childhood cognitive research and analysis projects.
She is married to James, and is the mother of three children. Beth has
been a home school educator for 10 years. Mentoring and supporting families
as they discover their own educational alternatives has been the focus
of her professional activities over the past decade. Along with her husband,
she has been very active on the Board of the Down Syndrome Association
of Charlotte. She currently co-chairs the committee for families with babies
and toddlers with Down syndrome. Her greatest joy is spending time with
her family and watching children grow and learn.
Julie Raburn Professional Consultant
Julie Millea is the Executive Director for the Arc of Mecklenburg. The Arc's mission is to enhance opportunities for persons with mental retardation to pursue an excellent quality of life through advocacy, support and education. Julie has always been a staunch advocate for people in need, beginning with her first job in human services as an activities director in a home for adults with schizophrenia. She has directed residential and day treatment facilities for people with intense physical and cognitive support needs. She was an ombudsman within the Area Mental Health Authority, navigating the sometimes unwieldy and unfriendly government systems alongside persons with disabilities and their families. Julie has a Master's of Education from UNCC in Community Health and has taught at Central Piedmont Community College in the DD Technology program.
