W. J. Lazerus, President
Coeur d’Alene, ID
W. J. began his career as a cinematographer for independent features in Los Angeles, he then worked as Director of Photography for the world’s largest advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. He formed Lazerus Communications 25 years ago and since then he has been a Producer, Line-Producer, Director, Writer and DP for hundreds of productions.
He worked independently on projects for MTV, ABC, CBS, Propaganda Films and ESPN. His most recent projects include: DP for the second season of the TVOne series “Life After,” Writer and Line Producer for PBS award-winning special “WWII and the Mississippi Experience,” Line-Producer and Second Unit Director for the award-winning film “Teenage Dirtbag,” DP for Great Director’s Best Buy web series with Tim Burton, Martin Scorcese, etc,. DP for “Essence Festival” the top rated program in TVOne’s history, Director, Line-Producer and DP for SpikeTV’s World’s Sexiest Bartenders, DP for Showtime pilot “Wakeup Call,” as well as hundreds of marketing, training, viral and informational videos for Fortune 500 companies.
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Robynn Sleep, Vice-President
Spokane, WA
Don Thorin, Production
Hayden Lake, ID
Don Thorin is a legendary Hollywood cinematographer. His Director of Photography credits include Officer and a Gentleman; Scent of a Woman; First Wives’ Club; Against All Odds; Midnight Run; Shaft; Head of State; Tango and Cash; Mickey Blue Eyes, and many more. In 1993, he relocated to North Idaho and is a staunch supporter of developing the film industry in the state.
He is one of KNIFVES’ top educators, mentoring film productions and advising members on their individual projects.
Russ Simons, Public Relations
Coeur d’Alene, ID
Russ Simons is co-chairman of the Idaho Film Advisory Committee, and one of the original members of the Idaho Film Task Force. He was employed as Contract Administrator for the Disneyland Resort 1992-1999.
With a lifetime interest in the film and media industry, Russ began announcing play-by-play action as a football announcer for Los Angeles City College in the mid 60s. He later gained stage experience in community theatre in the 1970s in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. During the 90s he reviewed Inland Empire restaurants on the Elmer Dills Restaurant Show for KABC Radio.
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Marc Dahlstrom, Line Producer
Spokane, WA
Beth Bollinger, Secretary
Spokane, WA
Beth Bollinger is an author and lawyer. She lived all over the United States, as well as in England and Japan before settling in Spokane, Washington in 1994. She graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1983 with a B.A. in literature, and received her JD from the University of Maryland in 1990. Her law specialty is litigation with an emphasis on criminal defense and personal injury work.
Her writing specialty is fictional nonfiction. She authored a baseball novel entitled “Until the End of the Ninth,” based on the true story of the 1946 Spokane Indians team that died in a bus crash midway through the season. She also has several screenplays in progress.
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Andy Kemp, Marketing & Strategic Partnering
Hayden, ID
As a 25+ year veteran in the entertainment industry, Andy Kemp has an accomplished track record in the areas of Sales, Marketing, Promotion, and Distribution. During his tenure as a record industry executive Andy played an extensive role in developing and promoting artists such as Whitney Houston, ZZ Top, Dave Matthews, Carly Simon and many others.
Andy’s later years took him into the video arena, where, as Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Andy headed the Home Entertainment Division for a private media company. Some of Andy’s most notable achievements are household names; George Carlin’s HBO Specials, John Waters of Hairspray fame, Jackie Gleason’s Honeymooners, the epic film War & Remembrance, and the only daytime drama to be released on DVD in it’s entirety, Dark Shadows.
Andy’s product could be found in every major retail outlet such Best Buy, Borders, WalMart, Target, Costco, Netflix, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and multiple other web sites for entertainment. It was Andy that negotiated one of the first licensing deals with Netflix for their Watch Now program. Andy’s expertise in these areas took the company from $4mil annually to $16mil annually in just three years.
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Bernice E. Webb, Treasurer
Sandpoint, ID
Hobbies: Singing – Member of “Northern Exposure” a contemporary/country/
Film history: Treasurer on the board of kNIFVES Treasurer on the board of Sandpoint Films, Inc. Volunteer for several independent films and Lakedance Film Festival. During the last few years I have worked in various capacities as production assistant, script supervisor, craft services and as an extra. Films include “Don’t Call Me A Doctor”, “TAPS”, “One Kick Rule”, “It Must be in the Water”, “One More Time”, “Started by A Mouse” & “Whiskey”.
Bernice is a retired legal secretary who currently runs her own notary business, Notary Signing Agent Services. She has an Associates Degree in accounting, is a Certified Notary Signing Agent, a Reverse Mortgage Closer, and a Certified Idaho Industrial Commission Workers’ Comp Specialist.
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