HOWARD GOLDBERG (writer/director/producer)Howard Goldberg is an award-winning filmmaker, novelist and artist who loves creating. After graduating from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where he majored in painting and filmmaking, he wrote, produced and directed the cult feature film “APPLE PIE.” He then wrote (book, music and lyrics), produced and directed the Off-Broadway musical “BUSKERS.”

He won a Fellowship at the SUNDANCE INSTITUTE, where he developed the screenplay for his feature film “EDEN.” He then found a producing partner in Water Street Pictures who saw his talent as a director and got the film made. “EDEN” was a big success! After being selected for the Dramatic Competition at the Sundance Film Festival, it went on to be in many other top festivals and got world-wide distribution.

His last project, “JAKE SQUARED,” a phantasmic meta comedy, starred Elias Koteas, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Virginia Madsen, Jane Seymour and Mike Vogel and again found festival success and worldwide distribution.

Goldberg was also known as a pioneer of music rock videos, filming Rod Stewart’s “SAILING,” for Warner Bros. Records. He also wrote the chilling cult novel “THE KING OF CLUBS.” In addition, his drawings and sculptures are in many private collections.

Howard’s most recent film is a surreal drama, DOUBLE EXPOSURE, exploring how past relationships can get in the way of present ones. DOUBLE EXPOSURE stars Alexander Calvert, Caylee Cowan and Kahyun Kim and will premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London in June 2024.
JULIA VERDIN (producer)
Veteran filmmaker Julia Verdin is a multi-hyphenate – she is known as an accomplished producer, award-winning director and has written a number of screenplays. Having been in the film business for 30 years, Julia has established herself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent producers, with over 39 critically acclaimed feature films produced to date. She founded and has been running Rough Diamond Productions since 1995.

Some of the memorable, acclaimed theatrical releases and top film festival favorites Julia has produced, includes 2 Jacks, directed by Bernard Rose, based on the Leo Tolstoy short story “Two Hussars”: the film starred Danny Huston, Jack Huston, Sienna Miller, Jacqueline Bisset, and Billy Zane; Stander, directed by Bronwen Hughes starring Thomas Jane, Deborah Unger, Dexter Fletcher, and David O’Hara; Sony Pictures Classics released The Merchant of Venice, directed by Michael Radford, starring Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, and Joseph Fiennes; and Riding The Bullet based on a Stephen King story, directed by Mick Garris, and starring David Arquette, Jonathan Jackson, Erica Christensen, and Barbara Hershey. Julia’s faith-based film, The Least Among You was a Lionsgate release, starring Lou Gossett Jr., Lauren Holly, and William Devane, and featured in major festivals, being nominated for two N.A.A.C.P awards. Julia also Executive Produced the 2015 Lionsgate release Born of War, directed by Vicky Jewson, starring James Frain and Sophia Black D’Elia. Julia’s films have been selected for many major film festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, AFI, Raindance, Vancouver International, and London.

Some other films Julia produced earlier in her career include: I Witness, directed by Rowdy Harrington, starring Jeff Daniels and James Spader, Blast, directed by Tony Hickox, starring Eddie Griffin, Vinnie Jones and Vivica Fox, Green Mail starring Steven Baldwin and Tom Skerritt, The Shipment starring Mathew Modine, Nick Turturro and Elisabeth Berkley, The Contaminated Man starring William Hurt, Peter Weller and Natasha McElhone and STYX starring Peter Weller, Angus MacFayden and Brian Brown, directed by Alex Wright, Ballad of the Nightingale with Virginia Madsen, Maria Cuccinota (Il Postino), Seymour Cassell, Michael Madsen and Harry Dean Stanton, Lone Hero directed by Ken Sanzel starring Lou Diamond Philips, Sean Patrick Flanery and Robert Forester, Slipstream starring Sean Austin and Vinnie Jones, The Set Up, a bank heist thriller based on a James Hadley Chase best-selling novel, directed by Strathford Hamilton starring Billy Zane, James Coburn, Mia Sara and James Russo for MGM/Showtime, and Temptation, an action-packed revenge thriller for Dino De Laurentiis Communications starring Jeff Fahey, David Keith and Alison Doody, also directed by Strathford Hamilton.

Julia received the La Femme 2015 Executive Achievement Award and was honored for her work in film and supporting female filmmakers. She served on the board of BAFTA LA for ten years and chaired the film committee and was instrumental in starting up the BAFTA newcomer program and encouraging mentorship of up-and-coming filmmakers. Julia founded and serves on the board of directors of Artists For Change, a 501c non-profit with a mission of raising awareness on key social issues through film and media. Julia is passionate about raising awareness on critical social issues through the powerful medium of film and encourages filmmakers to think about making content that contributes to a better world.
LAURA NICKOWITZ (associate producer)
Laura Nickowitz is a rising star in LA's entertainment industry. With a background spanning degrees in cognitive science and digital social media from USC, she leverages both analytical and creative chops in her work. Since joining Rough Diamond Productions in 2021, Laura has contributed to multiple independent films on budgets up to $7 million. She also dedicates time to uplifting underrepresented and youth voices through productions for nonprofits Kids In The Spotlight and Artists For Change. With a passion for filmmaking and mentorship, Laura continues to make her mark behind the scenes.

Some notable Associate Producer credits are on independent films “Maya”, directed by Julia Verdin starring Patricia Velasquez, Rumer Willis, Rena Owen and Gian Franco Rodriguez and “No Address”, directed by Julia Verdin starring Beverly d’Angelo, Billy Baldwin, Lucas Jade Zumann, Xander Berkeley, Kristanna Loken, and Isabella Ferreira. She is set to work on upcoming films “The Killing Machine”, “Amy and Angel”, “Lena’s Rules” and “The Patrolman”.

Laura has produced 2 short films for non-profit Kids In The Spotlight, working closely with foster youth and developing their stories into quality productions. “Scripted” and “In This House” were both written and acted in by foster youth in the Los Angeles area. She also casted and produced short film “Robin” in July 2023, directed by Luca Carvelli, created to demonstrate the short-term and long-terms effects of bullying on teens.

Laura is in charge of the Youth Ambassador program of Artists For Change, a 501c3 non-profit with a mission of raising awareness on key social issues through film and media. She consistently volunteers her time for their monthly events and other programming.
MAXIMILIAN SCHMIGE (director of photography)
Maximilian Schmige is a Los Angeles based director of photography originally from Berlin Germany. He is a dual citizen of Germany and Finland. He grew up in the industry and is the son of the well-known German movie / TV writer Hartmann Schmige. He spent his early years in Germany, Finland and the UK before moving to the US in 2003. Maximilian Schmige graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Film and Media Studies and later completed his MFA in cinematography from the prestigious American Film Institute in 2010. He was mentored by ASC cinematographer Karl-Walter Lindenlau.

Over the years, he has been fortunate to work on a variety of different projects for clients such as The CW, Disney, Netflix, BET, TVone, FOX, VH1, NBC Sports and National Geographic. He started off his career in documentary and unscripted TV. He has filmed over 100 aired episodes and received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for outstanding technical team.

His recent cinematography credits include commercial, music video, feature films and scripted TV such as The CW sci-fi series “PANDORA”, the Tribeca Festival Premiere of biopic feature documentary “Brian Wilson: Long Promised Road” and the Disney+/National Geographic series "COSMOS Possible Worlds" hosted by Neil DeGrasse Tyson (as the 2nd unit DP).

He is at home in the US but travels wherever work takes him. He has filmed in places such as Mexico, Colombia, Costa Rica, Malaysia, Norway, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia and India. Schmige holds a FAA Part 107 drone license and PADI Open Water scube diving certification for underwater photography work.
ROC CHEN (composer)
Roc Chen is one of the biggest names in China's film, television and video game industries. He's scored over 200 projects both within and beyond China's borders, proving that one can write film score in both western and eastern style. He has worked with major Chinese and Hollywood film studios such as Dreamworks, Disney, Universal, Wanda, and China Film Group.

Before he obtained his master degree of composition at Sichuan Conservatory of Music, he chose the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China for his bachelor degree, making him a master of both art and the technology world. He now works from his 2 cutting edge music studios based in Los Angeles and Beijing.

Barry Morrow (screenwriter of Rainman) speaks highly of his music for US-China coproduction film Forbidden Kiss, which was nominated for Best Original Score at the New York City International Film Festival. Jackie Chan spoke highly of Roc's music for his blockbuster film Chinese Zodiac at the film's premiere. Roc works with orchestras around the global and has access to session players who specialize in both Western and Eastern instruments. The soundtrack album A Bite of China, music by Roc, has reached top seller at Amazon China on their film music catalogue.

Roc's successes in China has brought him the attentions of Hollywood studios Dreamworks, which hired him as Chinese Music Consultant for Kung Fu Panda 3, joining music production process with Dreamworks music team.
RUDOLF BUITENDACH (editor)
Rudolf is an award winning Feature Film Editor and Director. From 1997 to 2011 Rudolf worked for some of the top trailer houses and commercial agencies, winning Golden Trailer and Key Art Awards, whilst working with some of the world’s top directors including Terry Gilliam, Werner Hertzog, Nicolas Winding Refn, Pedro Almodovar, Mike Lee, Ken Loach and Richard Linklater on their film trailers.

After this time Rudolf branched out to Directing and Editing feature films, winning several international festivals, including ‘Raindance’, ‘San Diego’, ‘Arizona’, ‘ECU Paris’, ‘a Black Reel Award' and an African Academy Nomination for editing on the Netflix Film ‘Angeliena’, with his work showcased theatrically and on major streaming platforms including HBO Max, Showtime and Amazon.
CREW
Unit Production Manager
ANTONIO MICHAEL
1st Assistant Director
JAVIER MONTOYA
2nd Assistant Director
LAURA NICKOWITZ

Script Supervisor
CAROLINE PLYLER
2nd Script Supervisor
TIFFANY HERBERT

Production Designer
MISEL CHRYSAFO
Art Dept Assistant
KAMIE LLOYD

Director Of Photography
MAXIMILIAN SCHMIGE
B Camera Operator
AAKASH RAJ
A Cam 1st Assistant Camera
RON BAHARA
B Cam 1st Assistant Camera
PAUL LAI
ALEKSANDER JOVIC
TED STEWART
2nd Assistant Camera
KEVIN WRIGHT
Production Sound Mixer
RICK MAYELIAN
Boom Operator
RICHARD HELOU
ALEX MCCOURT

Gaffer
ERIC ALT
Key Grip
MATTEO MARTIGNAGO
JAMIE SUMULONG
AYDEN MARCUS
Swing
JAMES CHOI
ERIK WEED
BOSCO LAI
OLIVIA NEIL
CEASAR FLORES
JACOB ALVARDO

Costume Designer
EMILYNA CULLEN
Costume Assistant
JESSICA TURNER
RAQUEL LOVE
Costume Consultant
SUZANNE BARNES

Hair & Makeup Head
GALAXY SAN JUAN
Key Makeup Artist
KATIE JACOBS
Intimacy Coordinator
MARCI LIROFF

2nd 2nd ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
MARTIN CARBONELLA
Key Production Assistant
RICHMOND KEELING
Production Assistants
MOLLY GROSS
ELLY ARONSON
SALWA AL-KHALIFA

Casting Director
JULIA VERDIN
Casting Associate
LAURA NICKOWITZ

Stills Photographer
SASHA DYLAN BELL
2nd STILLS PHOTOGRAPHER
BENJAMIN GOLDBERG
BTS Videographer
MIKE QUICK

Editor
RUDOLF BUITENDACH

Finishing Colorist
ROY SUN
Color & Finish By
REASON STUDIO
Finishing Producer
XI SHEN

Visual Effects Supervisor
JAKE AKUNA
Visual Effects Consultant
STEFEN FANGMEIER

Composer
ROC CHEN

Audio Post House
PRIVATE ISLAND AUDIO
Supervising Sound Editor
MICHAEL J. MCDONALD
Re-Recording Mixer
MICHAEL J. MCDONALD
Dialog Editor
SHAWN TAO LEE
Adr Recordist And Editor
SHAWN TAO LEE
Sound Design And Effects Editor
CASEY STIKKER
Sound Design And Effects Editor
DANIEL NAVAJAS
Sound Design And Effects Editor
BILL SLOYER
Sound Design And Effects Editor
MICHAEL J. MCDONALD
Foley Recordist
CHRISTIAN AVALOS-MUNOZ
Foley Recordist
SARA FINGER
Foley Artist
JOSHUA MURPHY
Foley Artist
ETHAN SHENHAR
Foley Editor
CHRISTIAN AVALOS-MUNOZ
Post Sound Coordinator
KIMBERLY HENRY
Post Sound Coordinator
ROBYN WHITNEY