Robert Manganelli
Director - Cinematographer
Robert owned his first darkroom at the age of 7. By age 13, his photographs had toured more than 30 countries through the Photographic Society of America.
Among his numerous exhibits at home and abroad, he was selected to participate in a group show, "Pennsylvania Photographers" curated by Weston Naef,
Metropolitan Museum of Art and Founding Curator, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Dept. of Photography.
http://schomburggallery.com/works/wakingdivine/workswakingdivine1.htm
Robert graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photographic Illustration, and became a Photo journalist in Washington, DC. and Senator Ted Kennedy's "Inside the beltway" personal photographer.
MFA FROM UCLA Film School.
As a graduate student, Robert was UCLA'S nominee for the Paramount Pictures Fellowship. He also wrote and directed the award-winning short film, "Listen Carefully," which was selected by numerous film festivals, including: Sundance, AFI, Berlin, Haifa Israel, Porto Portugal, Cork Ireland, CINE Golden Eagle, Critics Choice/Peoples Choice – Tokyo, The Columbus Award, and the Spotlight Award –
UCLA Alumni. Robert was selected for Directors Labs at Robert Redford's, Sundance Institute (6 chosen from over 3,000 applicants) "Seeing in the Dark" ("After Image" 2001), a film starring John Mellencamp, Louise Fletcher and Deaf Actress "Terrylene". Miramax picked up the film for domestic distribution and Intermedia for International Distribution and can be found today streaming on Netflix and Amazon.
Mentor for Inner-city Filmmakers for 10 years "his take-away was far greater than his contribution. His students began to see their backyard as something inspirational or sacred, not something to be ashamed of.'
Current project- documentary in production "We Were Here",
In addition to Robert's love of storytelling and passion for capturing iconic photographs .Robert has wriiten 3 patents and working on securing location for motion picture and imaging science studio.
The technology blueprint for the studio is patent-pending, "Media Management System."
Noteworth Mentions
From Lew Hunter's bestselling book "Screenwriting 434:" Robert's work: "is not Lawrence of Arabia in scope, but Tennessee Williams spectacular in depth."
Deanna Cook, Producer
Deanna's professional journey is marked by a unique blend of entrepreneurship and creative ventures. From a young age, she aquired invaluable business management and marketing skills In her family businesses .Early on, she showcased her innovative, inventive spirit by creating signature cosmetic brands distributed globally under the brand "Bare Minerals."After the sale of her cosmetic line, Deanna returned to her roots in the culinary world, establishing a renowned 200-seat farm-to-table Italian restaurant on the waterfront in Baltimore. Recognizing the demand for healthy dining options, she expanded her business to California, founding a nationwide weekly meal delivery subscription service.
In partnership with Dr. Scott Stoll, Deanna wrote a comprehensive invention program for physicians to prescribe to chronically sick patients.
Combining her expertise in digital technology, business strategy , marketing and consumer psychology, and her passion for storytelling , Deanna discovered her joy in visual arts,, and photography, where she and director Robert Manganelli founded Sundagger Media, a multi media production agency that focuses on documentary story movements, docu-branding, docu-marketing projects.
Her educational background includes Towson State University, where she focused on design and marketing, business . Deanna attended multiple trainings at Dale Carnegie, mentorship with Peter Drucker and many others.
While timidly stepping into the role of a film producer, Deanna found her calling in film and mix media. The making ofbthe documentary film “We were Here follows the film maker and ‘delves into the origins of paternal grief and sheds light on the long-standing silence men have borne in the name of masculinity
. "We Were Here" offers a cinematic exploration of gender roles, where sorrow becomes a visual narrative . Despite systemic challenges in financing, Deanna's unwavering belief in the film's importance drives the commitment to its completion and distribution.
Your support is crucial in bringing "We Were Here" to fruition. Please consider making a donation below, specifying it for the film, and contributing to the powerful narrative it aims to
Our Advisors
Niels Mueller
Niels Mueller
Niels Mueller
Niels was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and attended Tufts University where he earned a BA. He subsequently attended film school at UCLA where he earned an MFA. His most notable work remains: The Assassination of Richard Nixon, starring Sean Penn, which he directed and co-wrote. Other writing projects include: Tadpole and 13 Go
Niels was born and raised in Milwaukee Wisconsin, and attended Tufts University where he earned a BA. He subsequently attended film school at UCLA where he earned an MFA. His most notable work remains: The Assassination of Richard Nixon, starring Sean Penn, which he directed and co-wrote. Other writing projects include: Tadpole and 13 Going on 30. He wrote The Defenders which was picked up by CBS. The series starred James Belushi. Niels is currently in post production on the film, Small Town Wisconsin which he produced and directed.
Jim Lane
Niels Mueller
Niels Mueller
Jim is Senior Scholar-In-Residence at the Emerson College Los Angeles Center. A filmmaker since 1982, his documentaries include: Women of Prague, Background Action, I Am Not an Anthropologist, and East Meets West. Jim earned an AB from Harvard and a Phd from UCLA Film School. He authored the book, The Autobiographical Documentary in Amer
Jim is Senior Scholar-In-Residence at the Emerson College Los Angeles Center. A filmmaker since 1982, his documentaries include: Women of Prague, Background Action, I Am Not an Anthropologist, and East Meets West. Jim earned an AB from Harvard and a Phd from UCLA Film School. He authored the book, The Autobiographical Documentary in America which established him as one of the nations' foremost academics in the field of journal-diary films.
Don Archiable
Dr. Keerthy Saunder M.D.
Dr. Keerthy Saunder M.D.
Don is an Equity Partner, Executive Vice President, Director of Technical Architecture, Engineering and Technology for Osborn Engineering. He has more than 25 years of experience in network television facilities, Olympic sports, entertainment, communication IT transition, motion picture, and new advanced technology "next gen" companies. H
Don is an Equity Partner, Executive Vice President, Director of Technical Architecture, Engineering and Technology for Osborn Engineering. He has more than 25 years of experience in network television facilities, Olympic sports, entertainment, communication IT transition, motion picture, and new advanced technology "next gen" companies. He designed and developed NBC systems of the 40 story 100 million NBC Tower in Chicago's miracle mile. He engineered the Rockefeller Center, NBC's World Headquarters. Don completed the 20 year, $308 million master Saturday Night Live 8H, David Letterman 6A, Nightly News 3A, Donahue and the redevelopment of the NBC Network Integration. Don also worked with the Architectural and Engineering design teams on George Lucas' "Big Rock Ranch" in San Rafael CA.
Dr. Keerthy Saunder M.D.
Dr. Keerthy Saunder M.D.
Dr. Keerthy Saunder M.D.
Dr. Sunder holds Diplomas from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He is also a Diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in London, He served his Psychiatry residency at the University of Bristol, England as well as the Western Psychiatric Institute and Cli
Dr. Sunder holds Diplomas from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. He is also a Diplomate of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in London, He served his Psychiatry residency at the University of Bristol, England as well as the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a Visionary Board Member of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Riverside School of Medicine and an Adjunct Professor at Southern California University of Health Sciences. Dr. Sunder currently serves as Chief Medical Officer for: "Tune My Brain," an Integrative Brain Optimization Center in California and is the Founder of Doctor Sunder's Brain Tune, Gut-Brain Optimization program - which includes cutting-edge Nutraceutical Supplementation, Meditation and Neurofeedback. Inspired by his beloved mother who suffered from Depression and who embraced integrative approaches from both Eastern and Western traditions, Dr. Sunder has devoted his life to optimizing mental wellness.
