About Us
Jerry Spinelli
//Executive Producer and Author
“Milkweed” author Jerry Spinelli is a Newbery Medal and Newbery Honor winner. His young adult novel, “Maniac Magee,” was made into a Nickelodeon television movie in 2003. His “Stargirl” is being made into a feature film by Disney; his sequel, “Love, Stargirl,” spent time on the New York Times bestseller list to rave reviews. When published in 2003, Milkweed won the prestigious Golden Kite Award.
Gail Rosenblum
// Producer
Gail is a newspaper columnist, author, speaker and president of Minneapolis-based Roseberry Entertainment, producer of “Enough Already!” named one of the best children’s videos of the year by Child Magazine. (gailrosenblum.com)
Annita Soble
//Artistic Director
Annita Soble runs her own successful animation and illustration studio in Brooklyn NY. She is lauded for successfully translating abstract concepts into visual forms. As a parent of five Jewish children she is particularly invested in this project. AnnitaSoble.com
AUDREY ROBINSON FAVORITO
//Animation Producer
Audrey is an animation and video producer. Owner of Wild Carrot Productions, she works with nonprofit organizations to help tell their storis. Her video about Japanese Barberry won 2016 Innovative Program Award from Minnesota Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals. Her recent series of videos with University of Minnesota Extension highlight the research of K-12 students conducting citizen science in their schoolyards and introduces them to conservation biologists conducting research in the field. Experienced with managing animation production teams, Audrey served 12 years as executive producer for Reelworks Animation, a commercial animation studio known for high quality traditional hand-drawn animation. Clients included top-tier advertising agencies producing national commercials for Target, Time Magazine and Hersheys. She produced 3D animation projects at Lamb & Company for six years, working with the team that pioneered the use of motion capture technology for dramatic narrative animation. She served as producer for Lamb’s 1996 critically acclaimed short film Huzzah, Bobaloo the Beast Boy, written and performed by Kevin Kling.
BRUCE McFARLAN
//Animation Consultant
Bruce has over thirty-five years of experience in producing animation for broadcast, web, and theater. His roots are in traditional, hand-drawn animation and cover all aspects of character animation — from storyboarding and character design, to layout and producing hand-drawn key-frame animation. His other areas of expertise include directing digital 2D and 3D animators on motion and timing of digital productions. Bruce was co-owner of Reelworks Animation, which was an advertising industry mainstay, from 1981 through 2012. In 2012, he founded his new production company, Rowboat Animation, and has continued on with the same love of craft that created the many memorable award-winning productions which were the hallmark of his Reelworks years.
TOM LIEBERMAN
//Music Superviser
Tom was music supervisor for Ali Selim’s debut feature, “Sweet Land,” (2006) starring Alan Cumming and Ned Beatty. “Sweet Land” was on numerous Top 10 Films lists, and won the 2006 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature, the Audience Choice Award at the 2005 Hamptons International Film Festival, and “Best Soundtrack” recognition from the 2005 Nashville Film Festival. Tom contributed original music to Sweet Land’s soundtrack, including a performance of his composition, “Eskimo Kisses,” which was described as “a triumph of inventive storytelling” by Variety reviewer Ronnie Scheib. (www.liebermania.com.)
MATT HERBST
//Composer
Multi award-winning composer Matt is rapidly carving out a name for himself in the Hollywood film music landscape. His musical style has drawn comparisons to John Williams, Danny Elfman, and Alan Silvestri. His extensive scoring experience has led him to the best recording stages in Hollywood including Capitol Records and Warner Brothers. In addition to his work in film, he has written music for such brands as Samsung and Durex. Matt studied film scoring at the University of Southern California’s world famous Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television program where he learned the techniques and processes of modern film music. He has won the prestigious BMI Award for Achievement in Film Scoring and is a distinguished member of ASCAP and works from his studio in Los Angeles.
CHRIS BARTLE
//Screenwriter
While this is his first full-length feature screenplay, Chris is an award-winning writer and commercials director in London. He found his way to Milkweed the novel more than a decade ago, quickly realizing the impact a movie would have. He is excited and honored to be on the Milkweed team
SAM FISCHER
//Creative Consultant
Sam has more than 25 years of feature film and episodic television experience that has taken him from best boy, gaffer, camera operator and director of photography to director—most recently working with Oscar-nominated actor James Cromwell in Memorial Day. The film has won many awards including Best Narrative Feature at the GI Film Festival, the Audience Choice Award for best Narrative Feature at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival, and several Best of Fest awards from festivals across the nation. samfischer.com