Emma Canalese founder
Emma is a film and theater director, based in New York City and working internationally. She has a passion for creating work that is real and raw, while being irreverent, challenging and entertaining. Work includes the short film 13 (Awarded Best Screenplay and nominated for Best Direction, Sparrow Film Project). She directed and produced the web series Kate Plus Date in collaboration with Martian New Media, was Associate Producer for the short film Blink: The Observer (Backslash Bomb Productions), producer on HIV and AIDS: Let’s keep talking PSA (GLAAD). In 2020 Emma directed Holiday’s From The Heart produced by Bravehearts for Broadway and streamed on Playbill.com for The Actors Fund. Selected theater credits: Blithe Spirit (nominated Best Director/Best Play, Broadway World Regional Awards), When We Were Young and Unafraid (nominated Best Director/Best Play, Broadway World Regional Awards), Peter and The Starcatcher (nominated Best Musical Director, Broadway World Regional Awards), Silent Sky (Naples Weekly Top Pick), Einstein and Mileva (World Premiere, Theatre Row), Hollywood, Hollywood (MITF, nominated Best Direction/ Choreography). Co-writer and director of 100 Years of the History of Dance, a Western Australian Critics Choice winner at Fringe World Festival with seasons at Brisbane Powerhouse and La Boite. In 2023, Emma was a recipient of Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award. For Ensemble Theatre Uncle Vanya (World Premiere of adaptation by Joanna Murray-Smith) Assistant Director to Mark Kilmurry, Midnight Murder at Hamlington Hall Choreographer and Assistant Director to Mark Kilmurry, Suddenly Last Summer Assistant Director to Shaun Rennie. Associate Director for the new musical Maggie, US Premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in August ’24.
Maggie Champagne founder
New York based actress, comedian, VO artist, writer/director and producer. She has performed at Standup NY, NYCC, The Stand, Broadway Comedy Club and The Comedy Store. Television appearances include Inside Amy Schumer, Law and Order SVU, FBI and Life and Beth. Movie credits include The Changed, Diane, The Exorcism of Fleet Marsh, Look Like You, The Joneses, Henry Sessions, The Rainbow Experiment, Crowddating, and Pasta Light.
AEA + SAG-AFTRA
Naomi Warner
Naomi studied at The William Esper Studio, under Bill Esper. She has performed at the Tennessee Williams Festival (Provincetown, MA); The Bank Street Theater; Ensemble Studio Theatre; 45th Street Theater; The Red Room; Center Stage NY; Teatro Circulo; and the McGill/Cazale Theater (New York City). Film/TV credits include Inside Amy Schumer; Lara (winner Best First Time Director 2018 Independent Shorts Awards); Turtleface (winner Audience Choice Award, 2016 Soho Int’l Film Festival); The Rainbow Experiment; and The End of Something. VO: Sound of Siren. Producer: Sound of Siren (audio play); Collective-NY C:10 Play Festivals. First AD: Henry Sessions; BOO.
Neil Halpin
A grizzled veteran of the NYC music scene, Neil Halpin writes, records, and performs in rock’n’punk band The Last Throes and alien skate rock trio Chilton. He has always been drawn to the immersion of music in film, from the groundbreaking soundtracks of John Hughes and Alex Cox to the powerful scores of John Williams and Michael Nyman and is excited to currently be involved with Guided By Glow (app, composer/sound design), Sound Of Sirens (fictional podcast COMING SOON, composer/sound design) and The Joneses (short film, sound design/editor).
Sarah Lally
Sarah Lally is an Irish filmmaker based in New York, who has been working in film and television for the past 9 years. She has extensive experience in the art department, post production and producing and has worked in Ireland, UK, Canada, USA, and Australia.
Selected TV Credits: Smother (BBC), Dominion Creek (Netflix), Nightflyers (Netflix), and Ros na Rún (TG4).
Selected Film Credits: The Glass (director - winner best short Roma Doc Film Festival), Chicken, The Henry Sessions, The Joneses, Death of a Ladies Man, I Never Cry, The New Music, The Clock Makers Dream, The Binding, and Everything Looks Better in the Sunshine (nominated best Production Designer at the Underground Film Festival).
Audio work: Dark Tales for Dark Times, Sound of Siren, and Returns & Renewals Podcast
Selected festivals: The Texas International Film Festival, European Cinefest, Miami Independent Film Festival, Berlin Flash Film Festival, and Script Awards Los Angeles.