Independent film director Dawn Cobalt was born on December 6, 1967 in Hawthorne, California. Raised in the suburban landscape of Los Angeles, she began her education in the fine arts and made a natural progression into film. After graduating from The New York Film Academy, Dawn founded the production company FutureView Entertainment. Her entrepreneurial spirit and knack for storytelling had her winning awards in categories such as best director, editor and special jury prize. Dawn’s unique perspective and styling has made her the auteur of her films since the beginning of her multi-creative career now spanning over two decades. Her films have been seen all over the world, and her stories strike at the very chord of the human spirit. They are emotional, inspiring, comical and always directed with a compelling message of truth and humanity. Winner of 8 awards, 7 nominations, and screened worldwide, Out Smart (2013) is a story of a boy coming out to his parents as smart. Viewed by over 50 PFLAG chapters, various church groups, and both public and private schools, Out Smart has helped ignite conversations for those that want to come out as part of the LGBT community. Featured on the Advocate.com and Huffingtonpost.com, Out Smart is courageously humorous in taking on such a deeply serious subject as homophobia and turning it on its head. Out Smart has not only been a beacon of inspiration and hope for young LGBT people all over the world, but also has made people laugh and think about how society views individuality and freedom of expression. Winner of the California Film Award for Best Director, SWALK (2013) has been proclaimed as an audience favorite throughout the 2014 festival circuit. This powerful short film controlled audience emotion in such a powerful way and in such short amount of time, (running time 4:53) that the visual portrait of love between the two characters was so deeply felt, the audience could not control their tears. The love comes through the screen. “One of the joys of filmmaking for me,” Dawn exclaims, “is the collaboration when working with actors, both seasoned professionals and new talent. Being an actor’s director is a role that I take seriously, letting them shine is my intention.” One of Dawn’s favorite filmmaking moments came when she worked onset with the great talent Mickey Rooney. “He spoke of old time filmmaking and what it was like being onset during those days.” she said, “When Mr. Rooney was acting, it was like watching a consummate professional: on point, precise, a real class act. It is that type of performance that I want to bring out in the actors that I direct.”

Mac McSharry is a British writer. Having worked behind the camera in various production jobs, he decided to grab a pen and attempt to emulate his writing heroes. S.W.A.L.K. represents his first attempt at writing a short film for which he was fortunate enough to win the London Screenwriters' Festival 50 Kisses writing competition which ultimately led to his collaboration with Dawn Cobalt. Mac is currently working on several feature scripts.

Marie has been part of FutureView Entertainment since its inception. She has taken on many roles in launching projects and maintaining the success of FVE throughout the years. She is inspired by the unpredictability of filmmaking and considers every aspect of production within her realm of responsibility. When FVE takes on a new film, music video or web series, she collaborates with a variety of talent to produce the story while maintaining the integrity and creativity that FutureView Entertainment has come to be known for. Marie is currently writing a book based on her life. You can contact Marie at: mariecobalt@yahoo.com.

Before becoming a filmmaker, Jeff was an actor in Texas appearing in commercials, television and films. His work in indies inspired him to develop his own creative vision and start making his own films. A full list of his credits can be found here. Ever since Jeff was a kid, he says, he’s always wanted to bring out the best in everyone around him. He taught every other kid on his block to ride a two-wheeled bike — even the girls (or maybe especially the girls). He brings that same infectious enthusiasm and honed professionalism to his work: “All I wanna do is make movies with my friends!”

After attending the Boston Conservatory and the Berklee School of Music in Boston and enjoying an early career in music, Jerry Lovell has spent the last 30 years in business selling advertising. Slowly but surely he’s finding his way back to the arts, singing a capella harmony, playing trombone, collecting limited-edition art prints, and he is particularly proud to help support FutureView Entertainment projects in every way he can.

Jon Wil Haynes lives in Los Angeles where he works as an actor/director. His list of credits includes the retro styled “Butter-Fly Pimp” and the action comedy “Breaking Cover.” Wil recently wrote and directed the critically acclaimed dramatic web series “Blue Code” and is slated to appear in a new sci-fi thriller set for release in 2014.

Louise Jameelah Nuriddin is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and began acting in films in her early teens, playing opposite such notable actors as Don Cheadle, Cicely Tyson, and Kimberly Elise. While in Atlanta, Jameelah worked with the Alliance Theatre and attended the Magnet School for Performing Arts; she has also studied in New York under Larry Silverberg — world-renowned expert of the Meisner Method — forming the foundation of her craft. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Jameelah holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre with a minor in Film. Over the course of her professional and college career, Jameelah appeared in over 18 TV spots and films, and performed in over 24 theatrical productions for the stage including: the Warner Bros. Feature film ATL, The DISNEY REDCAT Theatre’s Cut, and most recently starred in the Off-Broadway run of Innocent Flesh. A passion for teaching and inspiring in the arts, she’s taught theatre widely over the globe: a Children’s Orphanage in Indonesia, Middle-school students in MacArthur Park- LA, and even sessions with inmates of NORCO California State Prison. As a leader and innovator, Jameelah is the Artist Director/Co-Founder of a Los Angeles based Production Cooperative, Imaginese.

Having spent most of his youth on a small island in the Caribbean, Kenneth draws upon an array of experiences and imagery in his unique outlook on light and composition.Kenneth moved to Los Angeles in 1979 where he began his understanding of cinematography by working in motion picture film laboratories. “One can’t imagine the importance of understanding the inner workings of the film lab,” he says, “and how beneficial that knowledge is to the development of cinematography.”He was accepted to the American Film Institute in 1990. After one year, he began working in various crew positions for noted directors of photography including Janusz Kaminski. Stipe has lensed a number of studio and independent feature films. A full list of his credits can be found here. Recently Kenneth has shot documentaries for networks including History Channel, Discovery Channel, Nat Geo, Spike TV and Discovery’s Planet Green.

Special Effects Jaison Duell Wilson has worked as color stylist/compositor for Walt Disney Feature Animation on such projects as Lilo and Stitch, Brother Bear and The Princess and the Frog. As a motion graphics artist, Jaison has created opening titles for television and visual effects for the film and music industry. He’s been a Flash designer for an online magazine and won multiple awards for his editorial photo illustrations. While serving as an art director on several marketing campaigns in print, Jaison haMary Trahey Make Up Artists directed photo shoots, lighting setups and creative development. View his reel here.

Mary Trahey Make Up Artist Mary Trahey did her first make-up when she was 13 years old and has been working steadily as professional make-up artist and designer for the past fourteen years. She has also worked on a vast array of features, short films, theatre productions, web series, music videos, special events, and print work. Visit her at www.marytrahey.webs.com.