Gigniks | Who We Are

instructor

Leonora Anzaldua Burke is a USC graduate and undergraduate level teaching assistant in editing, and a graduate-level cinematography instructor. Leonora holds a Bachelor of Arts from Yale College and will receive her MFA in Film and Television Production in 2013. She received the Sun Cinematography Award; the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Scholarship; the Rodolpho Montes Scholarship; and the Hispanic Scholarship Fund's Cheech Marin Award.

social media/
content management

Dick is a native Angelino who grew up with the rise of social networks, viral marketing, and the internet in your pocket. He developed a program of collaboratively shared resources for the Lewis & Clark College Environmental Studies Program, from which he graduated in 2012; he is also one third of the Super Mash Bros - a music project dedicated to getting people to dance. He currently a Digital Marketing Associate at Topspin Media, helping musicians connect directly to their fans. If there's a question about computers, the internet, digital images, or music, he probably answer it; if he can't, he'd be happy to look into it for you.

managing producer

Pedro Pablo has written, produced, and directed more than 30 documentaries, television specials, and pilot programs for such clients as KCET Channel 28, The Colburn School, The J. Paul Getty Trust, Bill Viola Studios, The City of Los Angeles, Malcolm Forbes Inc, Partners of the Americas, Museo Eduardo Carrillo, Eco Spies Productions, Genesis LA, Televisión Nacional de Chile and Univisión Televisión. He recently produced fifty 4-minute spots for LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, in Los Angeles.

web developement

Amzi Jeffs is a student at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. Amzi plans to major in Computer Science, and has co-authored a cryptography paper with professor Mike Rosulek of the University of Montana. Amzi is also interested in developing video games and theoretical math.

development director

Marilyn is a professional with more than 10-years experience managing all aspects of Nonprofit Fundraising and Development. Her skills include grant writing; special event design and operations; budget development; vendor/venue negotiation; staff and volunteer recruitment & management. She received her MBA in Nonprofit Management from the American Jewish University and a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Oregon, rumored to be the rationale for her bright green and yellow nails.

director, marketing and
external relations

Michael is a Los Angeles based media executive and social marketing strategist. His work experience includes senior creative positions at Fox, NBC/Universal, MTM and USA. He has also been a producer, and a writer for magazines, daytime soap operas and prime time episodic television. Most recently, he served as Executive Editor of Minerva Place, an online lifestyle magazine. He received a Telly Award for writing and directing "The Fire This Time", an HIV educational film for at-risk communities.

instructor

Jessica holds an MFA in film Directing/Production Program from UCLA's School of Film and Television. She recently completed the first fellowship program with Bad Robot Productions; she was also the Story/Content Producer for Cuentame, directing and producing multiple works including an LGBT Latino Youth Video Campaign. She has received the Director's Guild of America Student Film jury prize in the Latino category, the James Bridges Award, The Mary Pickford Award, The Jack Nicholson Distinguished Director Award, and the Motion Picture Association of America Award.

executive director/
founder

Simon is as UK-born writer (NY. Times, L.A Weekly etc) and producer. He has produced documentaries, award-winning films and online TV pilots, as well as developing ethics education content for the U.S Navy (Annapolis). He is most proud of creating a cartoon series to teach algebra to middle school students. He is a passionate advocate of teen potential, has two of his own in L.A public schools, and is convinced that everyone's job is a story worth telling.

instructor

Julius has studied psychology and philosophy in an attempt to fill the shoes of his psychotherapist father, who made him watch disturbing Ingmar Bergman films as a child. He is currently a fifth semester MFA directing student at USC's School of Cinematic Arts (All-University Honors Society, Phi Kappa Phi); his award-winning short film "Kristallnacht Sonata" screened at USC's TED conference in 2011. He continues to teach film production to high school juniors and seniors for his second year.

the intern

Ali has interned with Gigniks for the past two years, assisting high school film classes, filming, editing, researching, writing, brainstorming, and helping the grown-ups deal with problems far beyond their abilities (like fixing minor computer issues and relating to their teenage audience). She's independent and ambitious, has been taking public transportation around LA since she was twelve, excels particularly in math and english, and balances AP classes and college courses with her job in a pizza joint. Has been known to inform sponsors that she's "the brains of the operation".

instructor

San Antonio native Lindsey is currently pursuing her MFA at USC's School of Cinematic Arts, studying Film and Television Production with a focus in producing and documentary production. Prior to graduate school, Lindsey received a degree in Advertising and a degree in Radio, TV, Film from the University of Texas at Austin.

instructor

Faroukh is a Los Angeles based filmmaker, 2006 winner of the KET PBS Fund for Independent Production with a documentary exploring the lack of higher education for rural Eastern Kentucky youth. His viral documentary shorts won a 2007 Webby Award nomination for "Best Online Film & Video in News/Documentary/Public Service." He is currently pursuing an M.F.A. in Film Production at USC's School of Cinematic Arts.

ADVISORY BOARD

Eva Baker
director
UCLA CRESST
(Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing)

Terry Boykins
chairperson
Brother II Brother Mentoring

Steven Chao
ceo/founder
WonderHowTo

Barbara Freund
dean of health sciences
Pasadena City College

Steve LePore
executive director
lin6

Gail Levy
pillar business/ education coordinator
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

Carl Martellino
executive director/
Associate Dean of Students
USC Career Center

Julie Munjack
executive director
University Synagogue

Bob Rosen
immediate past dean
UCLA Film and TV

Bob Tyra
California Department of Education
(Formerly L.A County Education)

Dave Yanofsky
director youth development/media
ConnectEd