EVAN BLANK (Writer/Director/Producer)
Born and raised in Southern California, Evan Blank first began working in the entertainment industry as a college intern, where he studied under the auspices of several feature film executives and producers at New Line Cinema, Mandalay Pictures and Lionsgate Films.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Judaism, with a Bachelor of Artsdegree in “Film, Communications and Media,” Evan immediately began work as a production manager on the independent feature, The Little Traitor starring Alfred Molina. Evan worked with the film’s writer/director/producer through all three phases of the production process, as well as its development, and was heavily involved with the project’s day-to-day aspects of its business affairs.
Once the film wrapped in the summer of 2007, Evan was hired at The MPI Fund, an entertainment hedge fund in Beverly Hills. His responsibilities included: reading and recommending screenplays for company investments, developing projects for the fund to self produce, attracting independent producers to the fund, and playing a key role in furthering company projects. That same year, he also directed and produced a Heinz Ketchup internet commercial.
From 2008 – 2010, Evan worked for Academy Award nominee John Stevenson (director of Kung Fu Panda) who, at the time, was making the transition into live-action features. Evan helped develop many of Mr. Stevenson’s projects, which included adapting existing properties.
In the summer of 2011, Evan’s career path took another turn when he was hired to write a Sci-Fi Action screenplay for independent producer Carl Gregory, which is based on his original idea. After developing and writing Mr. Gregory’s feature, Evan was then hired to write a family-friendly comedy that is based on a classic toy franchise for Gama Entertainment and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles producer, Galen Walker. Besides writing for others, Evan has written and continues to write his own original screenplays and teleplays that cover various genres.
By May 2012, Evan successfully completed Prisoner 614 — a short film he produced about an interrogation with a supernatural twist. The film went on to screen and place in several international film festivals.
In April 2014, Evan once again attained success by completing Twinkies & Donuts — a short comedic film he wrote, directed and produced about an inquisitive seven year-old girl who demands to learn about “the facts of life” from her reluctant father. Starring actor/comedian Elon Gold, Twinkies & Donuts has already screened at the Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival, the Charles Aidikoff Screening Room in Beverly Hills, the Just For Laughs Festival in Montreal, the World Famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood, and it won an Audience Award at the Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival. Evan is currently developing his short film into a television series.
DAVID A. PORTORREAL (Producer)
Born in Parma, Ohio to an American mother and Dominican father, David Portorreal is an actor and award-winning filmmaker. He has written, produced, and directed several short films, including Prisoner 614 (award-winner in the Shorts Competition at the 2012 Festival de Cine Global Dominicano), The Things We Do For Love (awarded Best Comedy at the 2002 Flicker Film Festival, as well as receiving honors at the 35th Worldfest Houston and Rochester International Film Festival) and Guarded Visions (a featured selection at the Ohio Independent Film Festival). David was also the Unit Production Manager on the Student Academy Award winner, Lector.
Prior to moving west, he was Production Supervisor at the College of Motion Picture Arts at The Florida State University. There he oversaw more than 500 short films and taught Production Management. He also has taught high school Spanish in Cleveland, Ohio, and avidly nurtured artistic creativity in young people by associate producing and directing high school theatre for several years. David holds an MFA in Film Production from The Florida State University College of Motion Picture Arts (with a Blockbuster Fellowship), an MA in Spanish Language and Literature, and a BA in Political Science.
As an actor, he has completed a two-year acting program, specializing in Meisner Technique at the Baron/Brown Studio and has also studied at the Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles. David made his LA Stage debut and originated the role of Sheriff Caplan in the play Before a Fall, and he can be seen in the film The Social Contract, which premiered in 2014. And recently, he co-starred on CBS’ Criminal Minds. David has written several feature-length screenplays, including Maite, a crime/drama/thriller, which he plans to shoot in Miami and the Dominican Republic as his feature-directing debut.
DAVID BUCHWALD (Producer)
David Buchwald was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Southern California. While in school at the University of Judaism, he took up an internship at 7ate9 Entertainment where he was put on set for several projects that the company was shooting for Disney Channel and MTV. From that day on, David fell in love with the set and decided to pursue a career working in film production.
After graduating from college, David took it upon himself to begin working as a production assistant. He worked on such shows as Hell’s Kitchen, The Bonnie Hunt Show, The X Factor, and The Voice. While gaining experience and exposure on set, he became greatly interested in the Assistant Director department and learned as much as he could about the roles of all AD positions on set. Eventually, he worked his way up to 2nd Assistant Director. As a 2nd AD, David worked on several independent feature films, as well as on commercials for such companies as Sprite and Mike’s Hard Lemonade. And it wasn’t long until he became a 1st Assistant Director on several independent shorts and features, web series and music videos.
In July 2013, David’s career took an exciting turn when he was accepted into the DGA Trainee Program (a prestigious program for aspiring assistant directors that is overseen by the Directors Guild of America). Since being accepted, David has worked as a DGA Trainee on such TV shows as Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Shameless, Pretty Little Liars, Sons of Anarchy and Ray Donovan. Because of his vast knowledge and experience in production and with his strong work ethic, David earned his first producing credit on Twinkies & Donuts.
JOSHUA BLANK (Co-Producer)
Born and raised in the shadow of the Hollywood sign, or at least in the vicinity, Joshua Blank has always been fascinated with pictures that moved. He appeared more comfortable at a young age in a dilapidated, broken-down chair in a theater or in front of a television than simply just sitting in the most comfortable lazy-boy.
Having attended and graduating with a B.A. degree in Cinema and Television Arts from California State University, Northridge, while primarily focusing on his writing prowess and production abilities, his senior screenplay thesis was chosen over a pool of qualified candidates for production.
Josh interned under producer Donald DeLine (Green Lantern, I Love You Man, The Italian Job) and legendary comedy manager/producer Barry Katz (Employee of the Month, Good Luck Chuck, Last Comic Standing).
Josh is currently developing his own projects he hopes will entertain and bring joy to the masses and believes that one must love what one does on a daily basis; and he’s doing just that.
LEONARD MORGANTI (Associate Producer/Storyboard Artist)
Leonard Morganti has been working in the motion picture industry for over 30 years; having worn many hats on over 120 movies. His experience includes, but is not limited to: set and prop designs, character designs, and VFX animation. But his “bread and butter” has always been storyboarding for both live-action and animation features. And the projects he has storyboarded have ranged from spellbound independent films, to blockbuster hits, as well as Oscar-winning classics. Originally from Boston, Len has lived most of his life in the Los Angeles area. Wanting very much to break into the industry, he was fortunate enough to showcase his artistic talents to the prolific independent film producer, Roger Corman. As a result, Corman hired Len to work at his company, New World Pictures. It was there where Len honed his craft as a storyboard artist and illustrator for low budget indies. After leaving New World, Len finally made the jump to working on studio projects at all the majors.
Len’s wide-range of storyboarding credits and other art department credits include: Conan the Barbarian, Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, The Thing, Critters, Child’s Play, Predator 2, Dances with Wolves, Sleeping with the Enemy, Cool Runnings, The Good Son, The Body Guard, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Casper, The Indian in the Cupboard, The Cable Guy, The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, Pleasantville, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Cats & Dogs, Ocean’s Eleven, Seabiscuit, Garfield, Monster House, Blades of Glory, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Warrior, The Hunger Games, and Edge of Tomorrow. Len also illustrated the storyboard props that were seen in the Oscar-winning hit, Argo.
As for film auteurs, Len has had the honor and privilege to storyboard and illustrate concept designs for renowned directors like: Francis Ford Coppola, Ron Howard, Kevin Costner, Katherine Bigelow, Gary Ross, Steven Soderbergh, Ben Stiller, John Carpenter, Joe Dante, Tom Shadyac, Frank Oz, Ben Affleck, and Barry Levinson.
