Laura Perez  |  Director, Producer, Writer

Laura has worked on a diverse range of feature films, music videos, educational videos and documentaries.  She co-wrote, co-produced, and was the lead actress in one of the first nationally distributed bi-lingual features “Harvest of Redemption” which won the Best Foreign Feature award at the International Family Film Festival in Hollywood.  She considers “Harvest” her film school, because it taught her the nuts and bolts of filmmaking while utilizing a modest $25k production budget.   Laura has a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a minor in Communications, and an Associate’s Degree in Theatre.  Along with “The Place in Between,” Laura is currently producing and directing a feature documentary entitled “American Orange,” which explores a cancer-ridden citrus producing community that housed an Agent Orange producing plant during the Vietnam War.  Laura has been a screenplay judge for Final Draft’s Big Break Script Competition, The American Screenwriter’s Association International Screenplay Competition, and Scenarios USA’s “What’s The Real Deal” Screenplay Competition.  When she is not making indie films, Laura loves her full-time job teaching computer science and technology at an Austin area middle school.

Valerie Villarreal Michelson  |  Producer, Writer, Actor

Valerie has been a SAG/AFTRA actress in both Los Angeles and Austin for over ten years.  Studying under acting coaches like Connie Cooper, Brian Reise and Anthony Meindl, she has showcased her skills in various television pilots and films.  Some of her credits include films such as Welcome to Hollywood…Florida, Blanco Boys, Birds of a Feather, Blood Shot, Let Me Eat Cake, Sixufus, The Lucky 7, and The Meat Market, as well as theatre productions including Agnes of God, The Importance of Being Earnest, and Extremities. Valerie’s performances in The Lucky Seven and The Fantastic Escape garnered her a best supporting actress nomination and best ensemble cast award respectively. While in Los Angeles, Valerie opened up her own talent agency and represented high caliber actors, several of which gained roles on Shameless, Chuck, Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty, and Modern Family, to name a few.  Valerie has a BA from The University of Notre Dame and a masters degree in Education.

Sarah Grace Villarreal  |  Producer

Sarah Grace Villarreal earned her bachelors and masters degrees in Communication Arts from St. Mary’s University and the University of the Incarnate Word with focuses on film and video production. She has worked as a PA on a number of national television series including American Idol, and interned in the story development department of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios. She has worked as a faculty associate for National High School Institute's Film and Video Program in Chicago for three consecutive summers.  She currently works as the office manager for an indie co-working space in San Antonio, TX, and edits videos in her spare time.

Melinda Marroquin  |  First Assistant Director

Melinda started her film career as a runner and production assistant in the indie film scene in Austin, TX.  Her communication and organizational skills quickly positioned her as a First AD after working as a Location Manager and Production Office Coordinator. Melinda garnered the majority of her AD experience while working with veteran First AD’s including Stewart Young on the indie film The Secret at Arrow Lake and Lifetime’s Network Web series Inspector Mom.  Her AD credits include two of Robert Rodriguez’s films including Planet Terror and Shorts and the action packed Dolph Lundgren directed feature Missionary Man working side-by-side with David Eric Chapman (her mentor).  She has worked in the film industry for over 15 years and is DGA West Coast eligible for Third Area Second Assistant Directors.

Chris Hoover  |  Arial & Drone Photographer

Chris Hoover is the founder and owner of Critical Concoctions, a media company focused on drone, interactive VR, and high risk media productions and works as a technical consultant for high-tech media companies.  After serving in the military for 8 years as a naval officer, Chris taught engineering, leadership, and naval operations at The University of Texas in Austin.  Chris holds a BS in computer science from the United States Naval Academy, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.  

Tyler Groft  |  Conductor  |  Composer  |  Pianist

Tyler began touring internationally at age 15.  While serving as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, he performed with the Marine Corps Band, and thereafter graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duquesne University's prestigious Mary Pappert School of Music. He has performed in and served as the music director for many Austin musicals including Oliver, Once Upon a Mattress, Grease, Chicago, Assassins, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hairspray, Shrek, and The Fantasticks, to name a few.  Tyler currently directs an award-winning choir at Pflugerville I.S.D., where he also teaches guitar, piano, and musical theatre.  

Veronica Marquez  |  Marketing Strategist

Veronica Marquez is a senior partner at Moroch, a hyper-local advertising Agency and a marketing professional with 21 years experience specializing in the US Hispanic and Urban markets. She began her career with Leo Burnett and WPP’s The Bravo Group and was instrumental in leading the onboarding of the Buena Vista and Miramax Studios business at Starcom USA.  There she worked on marketing initiatives for films including Gangs of New York, Chicago, Kill Bill Vol. 1, Toy Story and Return to Neverland.   Veronica’s strategic planning and creative passion has contributed to her sharing in the coveted Gold Effie Award.  She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a B.A. in Sociology and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology and Change Leadership from Columbia University.

Donald Pierce  |  Marketing Strategist

Donald is a marketing professional with 25 years of marketing experience.  He has worked with several well-known brands including Nabisco, Stop & Shop, Polaroid, Target, CVS, Walgreens and McDonald’s. Donald is currently a Partner at Moroch Partners with a focus on McDonald’s in Philadelphia and New York Metro.  He graduated from Bryant University with a B.S. in Marketing and Computer Information Systems and a M.B.A with a concentration in Marketing and has also earned certification in Brand Mastery from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management.