KELLY KRAUSE
DIRECTOR
KELLY is a filmmaker specializing in atmospheric, character-driven stories. Her consistent goal with her filmmaking is to foster empathy, especially amidst uncomfortable backdrops or circumstances. Kelly’s psychological horror short, Storage (2023), was backed by Couper Samuelson, President of Feature Films at Blumhouse (Get Out, Whiplash, M3GAN). The film won "Best Dark Drama" at Oregon Screams Film Festival and was a finalist in several other festivals around the world. Kelly is also a guest director on forthcoming surreal comedy web series Bernadette the Brave. As the Co-founder of Nyx Horror Collective, she has partnered with Stowe Story Labs to create a fellowship for woman-identifying horror writers, and with streamer SHUDDER to produce anthology film series 13 Minutes of Horror (2021 - 2022), which won “Best Short Film” at the 2022 Rondo Hatton Awards, the only women-led project nominated in that category. Kelly is a former archaeologist and a practicing witch who isn’t afraid to use her powers for good.
KAIA ALEXANDER
WRITER
KAIA is the CEO and founder of the Entertainment Business School, and host of the Hollywood Wolfpack Podcast. She was a development executive on movies like Just Friends (2005), starring Ryan Reynolds, Peaceful Warrior (2006), starring Nick Nolte, The Good Night (2007), starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz, and Hachi: A Dog’s Tale (2009), starring Richard Gere. She also worked for and was mentored by comedian Garry Shandling. A lifelong history nerd, she’s the award-winning novelist behind Written in the Ashes (Harper Collins, 2016), which follows the events behind the burning of the Great Library of Alexandria. As a writer/producer her brand is badass, adventurous women. She’s a passionate advocate for diversity, parity and inclusion. If you ever corner her at a party, be sure to ask her about surfing. She’s neurodivergent, and proud to the “BQ” in LGBTQ.
LUNA ZHANG
PRODUCER
LUNA is an independent producer and business development executive specializing in deal-making, investor relationships, finance, sales and distribution, and strategic partnerships, including with top agencies and management companies, producers, and other above-the-line talent. Her slate of films, television series, documentaries, and animated features reflect her passion for meaningful storytelling, including minority representation and social consciousness. Luna is also a financier of short-form content, largely supporting marginalized creators. She executive produced the drama short Not Afraid, which won the Indigenous Film & Culture Award at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival Windrider Summit, and has executive produced feature films with budgets exceeding $100 million. Luna is a women empowerment advocate, and will speak as a panelist for World Woman Foundation at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where she will address equity for women in entertainment and advocacy against domestic violence.
STUART VOLKOW
PRODUCER
STUART is a producer and immersive media consultant. He has served as a producer for a variety of projects and clients that include Phoenix Pictures (The Thin Red Line, Zodiac, Black Swan), the 50th Anniversary United Nations Multi-Media Encyclopedia, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and Bloomsbury/ABC-CLIO. As an immersive media professional, Stuart loves projects that challenge the status quo and encourage new ways of thinking through compelling storytelling and innovative techniques.
ELLE SCHNEIDER
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
ELLE is a cinematographer who often selects projects that feature dark and unconventional stories that resonate with her interest in time period, texture, and color. Her work has screened at SXSW and the Short Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival, and has been featured in Vanity Fair, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, MovieMaker, and Rolling Stone. Her diverse portfolio includes History’s acclaimed docu-series The Food That Built America, the multi-award-winning documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, streaming on SHUDDER, music videos for Speedy Ortiz, Allie Goertz, and Isla June, narrative feature 18 ½ (2022), starring Willa Fitzgerald and which premiered theatrically in 60 cities and is now streaming on Starz, and narrative feature My Life is on the Line (2024) for Lifetime. She is a member of the International Collective of Female Cinematographers.
KATIE TAYLOR
CASTING
KATIE is a casting director with nearly 30 years’ experience across commercial and independent film projects. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a stuntwoman on productions like Spider-Man 2 and Boston Legal before transitioning into talent recruitment. The founder of Taylor Casting, Katie sources diverse, authentic talent for a wide range of projects. Her commercial casting credits include campaigns for Apple, Toyota, Bank of America, Nordstrom, Nokia, Uber, American Airlines, and Visa. Known for her ability to find real people and unique talent, she thrives on projects requiring hard-to-find or unconventional casting choices. Her independent film work includes casting for titles like Grizzly Night, Social Animals, Alta Valley, and Periodical, an MSNBC Films documentary exploring menstruation and gender equity, featuring Gloria Steinem and Naomi Watts. Katie’s broad experience allows her to support directors and producers in finding talent that fits both their creative and practical needs.