Director/producer: Michael D. Nes, MFA

Michael is an award-winning filmmaker with experience across diverse platforms. He’s married to a dedicated social worker who inspired him to make this film. Michael’s short films have screened at festivals across the United States and internationally. His latest short film, Soldier’s Horse, was selected to screen at numerous festivals, winning the award for Best Picture Western and the Sirocco Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the Action On Film Festival.  He has also been a volunteer Adult Supporter with California Youth Connection, empowering youth to transform the foster care system through advocacy and legislative change.

Producer:
Jennie Nes, MSW

 Jennie has worked in public child welfare since 2006, first in Texas and now in California.  She has been a social worker, supervisor, and administrator - with a passion for helping youth aging out of foster care.  She also runs resource pages on various social media platforms (accessible from linktr.ee/la_youth_resources) for youth in Los Angeles County, especially those who have experienced foster care or the justice system.  She has also been a volunteer Adult Supporter with California Youth Connection, empowering youth to transform the foster care system through advocacy and legislative change.

Producer:
Aaron LEE Dowell, MFA

Aaron Lee Dowell is a filmmaker and professor from Compton, CA. He’s made more than half a dozen short films as well as worked on several feature films and web series. His work tends to explore the mundane in the lives of Black American. He's currently an Adjunct Professor of Film/Video at different community colleges in Los Angeles. He has a B.A. in African-American Studies from Morehouse College and an M.F.A. in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University.