Our Crew

We've pulled together real talent, people who work professionally in the industry, and those who are just starting to get their foot in the door.

JOSHUA SALLACH (Writer/Director) was born into a family of artists and grew up hanging out in animation studios. He has always had interests in media in motion and storytelling and he moved from animation to visual effects and finally rested on narrative, live-action film. Joshua started writing and directing his own films in his early twenties.

This will be Joshua’s fourth film that he has directed (the others being The Journal of Mr. Willaby, Running in Place and Mnemo:Sign), and his third that he has written. The inspiration for this film is, of course, Joshua’s favorite childhood book, “Peter and Wendy” by J.M. Barrie. Joshua’s smart writing style and propensity to ask “what if” sorts of questions will combine together to make this film truly remarkable.

KAREN A. HARRIS, (Producer) Before starting a film career, Karen worked as a project coordinator for the Latin American Institute with the University of New Mexico and the International Boundaries Research Center with the University of Durham, in Durham, England. Thanks to local producer, Alton Walpole, Director, Jennipher Goodman, and New York Producer, Anthony Bregman, Karen landed her first film job on "The Tao of Steve" as a product placement coordinator and assistant in extras casting. Moving between coordinating and supervising, Karen has worked on a wide variety of projects from low-to-no budget commercials and shorts to high budget feature length films with companies such as Mountainair Films, Warner Bros., Paramount Vantage, Bob Yari Films, This Is That Productions, Echo Lake Productions and Lucasfilm. Karen is honored to have worked with some of today's most talented producers such as; Alton Walpole, Anthony Bregman, Marty Ewing, Jonathan Filley, John Machione, Ed Cathell, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy. Karen is a member of IATSE Local 480 and the Producer's Guild of America.

KAROLINE BOTA (Producer) spent 20 years working in various management and project management positions for a Fortune 500 company after receiving a B.A in Marketing and an MBA. The growth of the film industry in New Mexico encouraged her to actively pursue her interest in film. She originally trained as a script supervisor and has used that position as an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of filmmaking. This is her third film with Director Joshua Sallach and her second as a producer.

CARLOS A. MONTOYA (Producer) began acting at age thirteen and worked with the League of United Latin American Citizens to help form Teatro Consejo (Theatre Influence), a theatre group aimed at presenting difficult situations to teens and offering possible solutions, as well as consequences. In college Carlos helped to form and operate O.C. Connection, a program that took at-risk high school students into the college environment to present possible careers in exciting fields, while emphasizing the fundamental need for education. Throughout college Carlos studied acting, lighting, sound design, technical production, radio and television broadcasting, as well as computer science.

After college, Carlos worked for various high-tech companies, but continued to perform in community theatre until his start in film. Since then, Carlos has participated in over thirty-five feature films and has worked on music videos, television shows, documentaries, and short films as a writer, director, actor, assistant director, stunt performer, prop master and production assistant. He has collaborated with Director Joshua Sallach on several films.

JAMES KWAN (Director of Photography) graduated from the University of New Mexico where he majored in Art Studio with an emphasis in Photography and minored in Media Arts. Since completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2006, he has shot a variety of films exploring combinations of animation and live action techniques. In addition to working as a Director of Photography with other filmmakers, James continues to use his experience to create his own work.

SCOTT CLARK (Production Designer) was born to a Canadian mother and American father and grew up on both sides of the 49th parallel. He received his formal art education in Toronto and Victoria, Canada, and laid the groundwork for becoming an exhibiting expressionist painter. Eventually, a desire to create more movement in his paintings lead him into fine art animation, where he received several awards for the unique quality of his shorts. Scott began storyboarding for other people’s films, which paved the way to Production design. Production design combines everything Scott has learned in the past as an artist, craftsman, and observer and he loves the collaboration required in the art of storytelling, using practical means to create atmosphere, in conjunction with lighting and acting, to bring a story to life.

ADAM DURANT (First Assistant Director/Assoc. Producer) often facilities projects as producer and has been the first A.D. on several films, including most recently I Was A 7th Grade Dragon Slayer, starring Lea Thompson.

GILLIAN EAST (Costume Designer) has worked as both costumer and hair and makeup for many television shows and films in L.A., and has recently moved to the Albuquerque area. She worked with Joshua on The Journal of Mr. Willaby, and will be heading up both the costuming and the hair/make-up department with several artists working under her.

BUM KING (Composer) worked with Joshua to create the sound track for The Journal of Mr. Willaby and the song “Take a Breath.” Bum King will return with his musical talents, and will bring with him the artist Gramberg, known for his electronic and grudgey styling.