The Filmmakers
Nathaniel Hansen – Director/DP/Editor
Nathaniel Hansen is an award-winning filmmaker and media artist. His directed works include nationally broadcast commercials, short and feature-length documentaries, short narrative films, episodic television, web based media, and ethnographic film. His strong visual style has attracted commercial clients like Johnson & Johnson as well as small no-budget non-profit organizations.
His documentary film Into a Heart of Darkness, was recognized for outstanding contribution to ethics in media and his ethnographic footage has been retained by the collection of the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. His latest documentary series has received praise for its unique aesthetic quality and high caliber, provocative content. In 2004, Nathaniel completed a Master of Arts in Documentary Film from Emerson College in Boston.
Nathaniel is the owner of a boutique production company, Salmonrun Media, which has multiple independent projects in various stages of development and production.
Kristal Williams-Rowley – Producer
Kristal Williams-Rowley is an award-winning filmmaker based in Boston, MA.
A world-traveler from a young age, Kristal’s experiences growing up in Hawaii, Australia, Singapore, Brunei and the US, instilled in her a deep appreciation of culture, and a love for storytelling. Kristal went on to graduate from Brigham Young University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, after which she worked for NBC, Direct TV and XY TV. In 2008 she earned an MFA in Film Production from Boston University.
In 2009 Kristal’s short film, “Mind the Gap” screened at over 20 film festivals across the globe, and won numerous awards, including a CINE Golden Eagle award in the Student Drama Division. Also in 2009, Kristal worked as an Assistant Producer at Madrush Pictures, on the History Channel series, “Battles BC” and “Art of War” and was the Associate Producer on the History Channel pilot, “Brotherhood in Arms: Company F”. Currently Ms. Williams is based in Boston.
Marc Ford – Producer
Mr. Ford produces motion pictures for theatrical, home entertainment, television and digital distribution. Mr. Ford also serves as a business advisor for a number of United States and International Multinational Media and Entertainment Companies and collaborates with International Government Agencies, NGOs and Non-Profit Organizations.
Mr. Ford previously worked at 20th Century Fox Studios where for almost seven years he was an Executive in charge of International Distribution and Acquisitions of Feature Film, Animation and Television properties. He managed International sales and marketing initiatives for Fox event films, such as the Star Wars franchise. Mr. Ford is a part of the Fox team of executives to be the first to introduce the revenue share financial model, implementing the program in European & Asian markets with global trade partners.
Mr. Ford was also responsible for managing Fox’s high profile client relationships with Dreamworks, Paramount, MGM, MGA, DIC Entertainment, New Regency, and LucasFilm. He was a key member of the International marketing and sales team responsible for generating more than $1 Billion in foreign sales for Fox each fiscal year.
Mr. Ford’s network of Entertainment contacts extends from the major studios to the smaller independent studios and production companies. Mr. Ford has relationships with domestic and foreign producers, directors, talent, talent agencies and production companies worldwide.
Emeretta Cross – Associate Producer (Pictured with Kiribati President Anote Tong)
Currently employed in the HR division of Ernst & Young – Emeretta thrives in building relationships with Partners and the communities abroad. In the corporate sector – demonstrating integrity, respect and teaming is paramount to their success. These values, coupled with energy, enthusiasm and the courage to lead, guide Emeretta in making steps that build multicultural bridges for Oceanic Indigenous Regions.
Tuvalu and Kiribati are threatened by environmental changes. These realities have provided an opportunity for Emeretta to become an identity in the Climate Change sector by speaking on known conditions facing her people, including displacement and loss of land. Her goal now is to liaise with leaders and activist for sustainable options for all the low lying regions. She is an advocate and presents for Oxfam, CANA,Youth Coalition Australia, Friends of Earth, Melbourne University, Federation Square – Gift of Light annual project and Footscray Community Art Centre. Her links with leaders and Elders in all regions of the Pacific have been established over twenty five years, through constant demonstration of her pride in heritage. Through open and honest discourse.
Manuia te aso – Kamna bane ni tekeraoi n tai aka ana roko… now known as Aunty “M.”
Evan Leek – Virtual Environment Producer – Digital Artist
Evan’s work ranges from utilizing Virtual Environments as platforms for collaboration amongst globally distributed communities, to examining the temporal nature in which we understand space. His media encompasses three-dimensional environments and web-based art. Evan is also the author of the blog Authored Spaces.
Evan has spent the past four years working in three-dimensional interactive environments such as Second Life, Wonderland, and Unity. Through his work with the Office of Educational Innovation and Technology (OEIT) at MIT, he created various environments in Virtual Worlds and examined their benefit to augmented reality interaction and distance collaboration. Working with Hub2, a Boston-based organization centered around utilizing interactive environments to foster more meaningful discussions on public spaces, he was able to see first hand the benefits of group work in interactive environments.
Leek attended Wheaton College in Norton, Masschusetts. He graduated Cum Laude in 2005 with a double major in Studio Art and Art History. He received his Master of Arts in Media Arts from Emerson College in the Fall of 2007. He has been a contract worker in the Office of Educational Innovation and Technology (OEIT) at MIT, the Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (CEIT) at the University of Queensland, Australia, and many others.
Leek grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida but has called Boston, Massachusetts his home since 2005.