Luke Pilgrim (Left) & Brad Kennedy (Right): Luke and Brad are award winning filmmakers based in Dahlonega, GA. Since their creative partnership began in 2014, the two went on to create Sozo Bear Films, a  production company responsible for multiple successful short films such as: The Apology Service (2015), Sunnyside Drive (2017), and The Amazing Anti-Fart Formula (2018).

Outside of their short film work, the directing team has produced a myriad of commercials, music videos, and documentary-promotional films through their production company, Sozo Bear Films. The Sozo Bear mantra is to tell creative, cinematic stories and the pair strive to produce compelling films that people can connect with by embracing the human element that is integral to good filmmaking.

Currently, Luke and Brad are working on their anthology series Encounters which will showcase a different alien encounter each episode, all under the central theme of 'Be Careful What You Wish For.' This direction gives the pair a plethora of creative freedoms, that will lead to a unique twist on the science fiction genre.

Terrell Sandefur (Producer): Terrell Sandefur was Born in Columbus, Georgia, but grew up in Macon, Georgia. He graduated from Valdosta State University with a B.A. in Speech Communications and went on in 2005 to form his own business, Terrell Sandefur & Company. Through his company, Terrell began working on a host of exciting projects such as opening the SoChi Gallery in 2008, which now serves as an ideal venue for parties, press conferences, casting calls, and corporate functions for upcoming movies and more.

In 2006, Terrell was baptized into the indie film world through the Macon Film Festival. Over the years he's served as the festival president, marketing chair, and emcee. Many filmmakers have come to Terrell, asking if he'd take part in their films; which has given him a large portfolio of roles like: Producer, Location Scout, Casting Coordinator, Production Manager, and more.  

With his knowledge, connections, and skill in marketing; The Encounters Team is excited to have Terrell Sandefur come aboard and serve as Producer to the new anthology series Encounters.

Ethell Nunez-Suazo (Unit Production Manager): Ethell Nunez-Suazo is a passionate planner when it comes to the filmmaking process. Always one for wanting to tell an inspiring  story and being a great team player, her skills for getting the job done behind the scenes are what make her essential.

Her favorite films are dialogue driven, Sneakers being her all time go to. Coming from a theater and screen acting background, there was an interest for recreating human behavior but her true passion was awakened when she went to film school and was placed in a group project as Producer. From then on, Ethell has been on a mission to experience as much as she can when it comes to the film business and learning the ins and outs of seeing a project from inception to completion.

Working on different sets ranging from commercials, music videos and television, supporting and working for the indie scene will always be her preference. She has helped and donated to several indie projects here on Seed & Spark and cannot wait to see what else the community has in store for audiences.

Phillip Arthur Simmons (Composer): Phillip Arthur Simmons was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1994. He graduated from Truett McConnell University with a B.A. in Music Composition, and in 2017 he graduated from the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama in Dublin, Ireland with an M.A. in Scoring for Film and Visual Media.

Phillip currently works on commissions for choirs and orchestras across the nation, composing concert pieces for various ensembles. This has led to his work being featured in short films, video games, commercials, documentaries, and stage plays. 

In 2011, Philip founded PAS Music, which serves as his music composition company that specializes in creating unique music for film and visual media. Encounters is the third film collaboration between PAS Music and Sozo Bear Films.

Ellis Treece (Editor/Visual Effects Artist): Ellis Treece has had a keen interest in visual storytelling that stems all the way back to his early childhood. He was fascinated with how computer graphics could be used to tell a story and take the audience on journeys that conventional live action filmmaking could not always do. In 2019, he graduated with a B.S. in Film and Digital Media from the University of North Georgia with a focus in Visual Effects.

Ellis came aboard the Sozo Bear Films team straight out of college, where he currently creates visual elements for short films, commercials, and music videos. His main focus is on compositing CG effects with in- camera footage as well working with 3D models and incorporating them into scenes. Ellis also serves as an associate editor, assembling timelines and putting together rough cuts for client videos and short films. 

Tylere Brown (Camera Operator): Tylere Brown grew up in Middle Georgia. During his adolescence, one could typically find him outside playing with sticks, climbing trees, and going on small adventures. That same imagination and sense of discovery is what led him into filmmaking.

Tylere received a degree in Film and Digital Media Production from the University of North Georgia in 2018. Although his degree was important, Tylere learned all of his hands-on filmmaking experience by being eager and accepting of every set he worked on. Tylere has worked in the camera department on award-winning short films including, The Amazing Anti-Fart Formula, directed by Luke Pilgrim & Brad Kennedy and Dead Winter, directed by Jason Winn. In 2017, And Beyond, a film he worked on as cinematographer won the Audience Award at the Athens 24 Hour Film Competition. He is currently working as Director of Photography on a Documentary, Dusk Weaver: What's in a Name and as a freelance videographer in the Georgia film scene.

Chase Yarbrough (Gaffer): Chase Yarbrough is a graduate from the University of North Georgia and now works full time in the film and television industry. He has worked as a gaffer on several award winning music videos, feature films, and commercials. He is also a member of the local 479 union and has worked on television shows such as the Walking Dead, The Resident, Stranger Things, and Doom Patrol. Chase has worked with the Sozo Bear team on numerous occasions and is very excited about continuing to work on the Encounters series.

Catherine Dyer (Actor): In the last two decades Catherine Dyer has built an impressive resume on both sides of the camera. As an actress she is best known as the evil Agent Connie Frazier on the Netflix megahit Stranger Things. Catherine is currently a recurring Guest Star on the hit Fox series, The Resident and will be seen later this year in the new Netflix series Heartstrings. In the past year Catherine Guest Starred as Dr. Ashton Conley on Black Lightning, and starred in the highly rated Lifetime Original Movie, Psycho In Law. Recent feature films: The Founder, Dirty Grandpa, The Darkest Minds, Forever My Girl, Cell, Reckoning, Nappily Ever After and as the ex-wife of Jeremy Irons in An Actor Prepares.

Catherine also appeared opposite Sandra Bullock in the Oscar-winning film The Blind Side, Demi Moore in The Joneses, and as Arnold Schwarzenegger’s wife in the action thriller Sabotage. Catherine has had recurring roles on Lifetime’s hit series Army Wives, and Necessary Roughness on USA Network. Other television appearances include: A Sister’s Secret, Greenleaf, Halt and Catch Fire, The Originals, Finding Carter, Sleepy Hollow, Queen Sugar, Complications, Satisfaction, Reckless, Drop Dead Diva, House of Payne, The Gates, Raising Izzie, Devious Maids, Past Life, Party of Five, Zoe Ever After, The Inspectors, and on the hit CBS show Scorpion.

Jason MacDonald (Actor): Jason MacDonald is a Co-Founder/Owner of Atlanta’s premiere acting studio, Drama Inc. as well as the founder of Drama Inc. Films. In 2018 Jason wrote and directed the short film Mr. Goody which has been selected to 30 film festivals worldwide and has received 7 awards including Best Short Film at the Prague Independent Film Festival. Jason’s was also a co-producer and star of Color Blind which won the audience award at Atlanta Film Festival in 2018. In partnership with Rite Media Group and Debonair Films Jason has produced, directed and acted in 9 short films in the last two years.

As an actor Jason has worked extensively in commercials, industrials, print and voice over in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta for over twenty-five years. Feature film credits include The Accountant, Life As We Know It, The Family That Preys, Beacon Point, The Joneses and the upcoming biopic The Luis Palau Story. Television credits include: Miracle Workers, Bull, Good Behavior, The Inspectors, Kevin Probably Saves the World, Outcast, Born Again Virgin, Necessary Roughness, Drop Dead Diva, House of Payne, Single Ladies, Magic City, Witches of East End, Criminal Behavior, and as Grayson Gilbert on The Vampire Diaries.

Gina Velazquez (Marketing Manager): Gina Velazquez joined the Sozo Bear team this May as a social media / marketing intern. She is currently an Art Marketing major at the University of North Georgia and will graduate this upcoming December. She is excited to be a part of the crowdfunding campaign for Encounters and will use her social media marketing expertise to help promote our crowdfunding efforts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.