DAN MARGULES (Writer, Producer, Director) – Noted jazz critic Dan Margules optioned his first feature-length screenplay, West of 5, within weeks of wrapping principal photography on Begleiter, his directorial debut. He was subsequently hired to pen the family film The Legend of Boomer Jack for Twinstar Entertainment. In 2005 he co-founded San Diego Filmmakers and served as its president until relocating to Hollywood in 2010. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Scriptwriters Network and is finishing his first young adult novel, which is expected to be released in late 2012.
JOEL DEUTSCH (Director of Photography) – Joel’s film career began while attending SDSU Film School. Now rated a top Hollywood cinematographer, he is a fixture of LA’s music video scene, live concert events, and independent narrative projects. Joel can be contacted through Evidence Productions, a collective of freelance film and video artists willing to do what it takes to provide the highest image quality for their clients.
ALPHONSE MOUZON (Original Score) – Famed multi-instrumentalist Alphonse Mouzon is best known as the innovative drummer of the pioneering 1970s jazz fusion bands Weather Report with Joe Zawinul and Wayne Shorter. Equally at home on keyboards, sax, trumpet, and guitar, Mouzon has recorded and/or performed with such music luminaries as Miles Davis, Dizzie Gillespie, Stevie Wonder, and Eric Clapton and was cited by Robert Plant as one of Led Zeppelin’s major influences. Begleiter is his first film score.
LEAH (Original Song, “Happy the Dog”) – Originally from Michigan, singer-songwriter Leah Grace Murray was discoverd on the set of Begleiter where she was appearing as an extra in the bookstore scene where Marion and Happy first meet Ken Osmond. Accepting Leah’s invitation to see her perform at a local coffee house, director Dan Margules was so impressed with her unique vocal stylings that he asked her to pen an original song for the end credits of Begleiter.
ROBERT W. MASON (Supervising Sound Editor) – Owner of Doghouse Productions, a San Diego-based digital recording and post-production company, Robert is the preeminent audio engineer of America’s Finest City. He has been creating and recording sound for over 30 years.
GARRETT KRNICH (Editor) – An independent filmmaker in his own right, Garrett has produced, directed, and edited over 20 projects for film, TV, and the Internet. He graduated in Film Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 2000.
GINA RAMIREZ (Associate Producer) – Prior to her invaluable contributions to Begleiter, Gina worked for the San Diego Film Commission, co-produced the independent feature film The Road Ahead, and worked on MTV’s “The Real World.” Entering USC film school shortly after Begleiter wrapped, Gina held positions at HBO Films, New Line Cinema, Disney, Brillstein-Grey, and ICM, all before her 21st birthday! She is currently the head agent for video games at UTA.
