Ashley Beyer is an award winning writer/director who originally hails from Colorado. With a BA in film from Boston's Emerson college, Ashley has been living/working in LA for the past two years. Having directed numerous short films, Ashley will direct Print, her first multi-million dollar feature for Upload Films and William Morris Independent in early 2008. When not writing, directing or teaching, Ashley enjoys spending time with her partner, Adam and their cat, Ripley. Ashley loves teaching and is honored to be a part of the Freshi family.

Freshi Trainer and filmmaker Timothy Linh Bui was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States as a child after the 1975 fall of Saigon. Now based in Los Angeles, he is an active writer, director, producer and now film distributor who frequently travels far and wide on a wide array of interesting film projects.

He recently wrapped a 5-week film shoot titled FINDING GAUGUIN using Maui to double as the location for Tahiti (circa1900's). FINDING GAUGUIN is a fictional tale about the last years of Paul Gauguin, world-renowned post Impressionist painter born in Paris. A young American sailor comes to the island in search of the master to learn about art. Instead, he gets lessons on love and life while helping Gauguin finish his final masterpiece before syphilis takes his life.

Adding to his credits, Timothy co-produced and co-wrote THREE SEASONS, a triple award winner at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. It is the first film to win both the Grand Jury and the Audience Award in festival history as well as the Cinematography Award. The film was also in official competition at the 1999 Berlin Film Festival. THREE SEASONS was the first American Film to shoot entirely in Vietnam; features Harvey Keitel, and released theatrically by USA films/October Films.

In 2000, Timothy made his directorial debut with GREEN DRAGON starring Patrick Swayze and Academy Award Winner Forest Whitaker who also served as executive producer. The film made its world premiere at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival in the Dramatic Competition. It is the recipient of the 2001 Humanitas Prize Award, and the 2001 Austin Film Festival Audience Award.
It was theatrically released in 2002.

In 2004, he produced INSIDE OUT starring Eriq La Salle, Steven Weber and Kate Walsh; it had its world premiere at CineVegas 2005 and is distributed domestically by Anchor Bay Entertainment in June 2007.

In 2006, Timothy executive produced THE OWL AND THE SPARROW, a feature film set in Vietnam about an orphan girl who plays matchmaker to a flight attendant and a lonely zookeeper. The film world premiered at the 2007Rotterdam International Film Festival and received the Audience Award Best Narrative Feature at the Los Angeles International Film Festival.

His directorial follow up to GREEN DRAGON was an original work titled POWDER BLUE, about four lost souls desperately searching for love and miracles within the underbelly of Los Angeles. The picture stars Forest Whitaker, Jessica Biel, Ray Liotta and Lisa Kudrow.

In early 2009, Timothy and longtime writer-director collaborator Stephane Gauger founded their own distribution company with a few Vietnamese American filmmakers. Their company -- the first of its kind for Vietnamese Americans -- is called WAVE RELEASING. THE OWL is WAVE RELEASING’s first distributed film. Timothy hopes to create a space where Vietnamese pictures can thrive, inside and outside Vietnamese enclaves.

In between his film projects, Timothy teaches Freshi’s educational approach to filmmaking in Los Angeles area school districts and enjoys the one-on-one experience of working with kids. In 2007, he also traveled to India (New Delhi and Calcutta) to establish Freshi Filmmaking programs in Indian schools and orphanages.

Learn more about Tim HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Raised in a walnut orchard in Chico, California, Rachel is currently a UC Santa Cruz Film and Digital Media student. Her interest in film-making has evolved from mostly two things: one, a passion for writing; and, two, a unique four-year program at her high school that focused on digital media and communications technology. There she gained significant skills and won peer-voted awards for writing and acting.

Rachel has already completed one screenplay, and is currently developing ideas for more stories. She also finds time to draw, paint, and is teaching herself piano.

Working with very young film-making students and sharing their enthusiasm has been a rewarding experience for Rachel. She is extremely grateful for the opportunity to join the Freshi team.

Find out more about Rachel here.

Javier was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He finished his BA in 2003 with a degree in Telecommunications. In 2001, he studied film editing at the New York Film Academy and continued his film studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles, California, where he graduated with a master’s degree (Film Directing) in 2005.

While in California, Javier wrote and directed his latest work entitled De Pura Cepa, currently screening at select theaters worldwide. This film recently won the prestigious Best Foreign Short award at the Big Island Film Festival in Hawaii.

Ever honing his filmmaking skills in Los Angeles, he also had the opportunity to work for Ventanazul (Selma Hayek's Film Company) where he worked in the area of story development.

Javier often travels back to his native Puerto Rico to lead Freshi Film camps for youth and helm his own production company named Spanglish Films. He is currently expanding his film short De Pura Cepa into his first feature film.

Jeff came west from Illinois to attend California Institute of Arts. He was immediately drawn to the Hollywood music scene, where he worked as a keyboard player for numerous rock bands throughout the 80¹s and 90¹s. He studies sword fighting at the Academy of Theatrical Combat and enjoys coordinating the fights for Shakespeare plays. He is interested in acting, performing action stunts, and any facet of the film industry.

Enrique brings his energy, charisma and unique personality to Freshi, as he is eager to work with young minds in the field of movie making. “For me, movie making is really about story-telling.  Freshi gives young minds the opportunity to tell their own stories, letting their imaginations run free, their ideas soar and their creativity expand. Its also a great way to interact with other people who share the same passion as you do and discover the different talents that you might possess in the incredible world of film making, excuse me, in the incredible world of story telling” 

Originally from the Boston area, Jacqueline is interested in art direction and documentary filmmaking.

She is currently working on her senior thesis and looks forward to graduating from the Rochester Institute of Technology next spring for film and animation.

Jacqueline has always loved working with children and is having a great
time teaching film for Freshi.

Learn more about Jacqueline at www.jkernproductions.com.

Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Mike left the south to attend Emerson College in Boston.  There he received a B. A. in Theatre Studies with a Primary Emphasis in Acting and a Secondary Emphasis in Media Studies.  After receiving his degree, Mike headed to Hollywood where he immediately earned an internship at Cheyenne Enterprises, Bruce Willis's and Arnold Rifkin's production Company.  Now, he works as a teacher for Fresh i Film Worx while still finding time for his burgeoning acting career.

Known mostly for his parts in horror films
such as "Grim Reaper", "Ed Gein" and "A Dead Calling", he can also be seen in the romantic comedies "Dear Me" and "A Christmas Proposal." Also, those who saw the Steelers beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl might recognize him from his GoDaddy Commercial.

See Mike in action here and here.

May is an actor from NY where she received her training from The Stella Adler Studio. Her latest role as the lead character "Lucie" in the "The Other Way Round" has been an official selection at L.A shorts, Durango International Film Festival, NY International Latino Film Festival, Disorient, and The San Diego Film and Art Festival.

May is bilingual in English and Cantonese and hopes to add French to that list. She counts traveling as one of her great passions, having travelled to 11 countries by herself, her latest escapade being a wilderness safari in Africa. 

She is thrilled to be working with Freshi films as a teacher. “I think it’s so fulfilling to engage and nurture a child’s creativity. I love seeing that spark in their eyes when they realize that only do they have a story to tell but that we can make a movie out of it. I’ve witnessed my students really just come alive in the process with ideas just pouring out of them. It’s amazing.”

May is represented by The Truman Gold Company.

Born in San Bernardino, CA, Jason began his training at the Looking Glass Studio of Performing Arts under Gloria McMillan. It was this training that got him accepted into UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television in 1997 and introduced him to Los Angeles. Performing in and directing multiple productions at UCLA, Jason didn’t discover his true passion until he met Ed Monahan and Jacques Heim. With over a decade of martial arts study and a taste for the more wild (a.k.a. – dangerous) side of the performing arts, Jason pulled his focus from pretending to play the action and trained to live the action.

Jason often presents at trade shows, schools and online for Freshi.  Catch him in action here, here and here.

When Joy is not writing and directing television commercials, she storyboards and works as a first assistant director on feature films and television sitcoms.

While a student, Joy was recruited at age eighteen as a storyboard artist for an award winning feature film that aired on HBO. This was her first footing into the industry. After completing her BFA, she went onto studying film production at the Academy of Art University where she was granted her MFA in a concentration of commercial directing and copywriting.

Other than having been affiliated with sixty plus commercials, music videos, and films over the past 8 years (not including the two national radio spots she wrote copy for) her proudest achievement was getting to work for her childhood film hero, Sir Ridley Scott.

As a commercial director, Joy’s primary source of inspiration is people watching at the locale bookstore or Starbucks. A big fan of classical literature, Joy exercises her imagination with the readings of J.D. Salinger and Amy Tan. Oddly enough, being a director, Joy always prefers books over their adapted films. The infamous Webster Dictionary remains to be her favorite book.

This Ohio native’s beloved pastime is watching Spanish films. She finds Spanish films insightful, brilliant, and sexy.

Joy approaches life with a positive attitude. Personally and professionally she exerts an infectious energy that would welcome her anywhere.

Micah Mucklow is currently enrolled in a multiple subject teaching
program while working on a Masters in Educational Technology at CSU East Bay. Aside from his work with Freshi, he is a student teacher in Union City and a substitute teacher in Oakland CA. His teaching experience also includes international assignments teaching ESL in Romania, South Korea and Spain.

Micah obtained his bachelors degree from San Francisco State University with
a degree in Visual Anthropology. After graduating in 2006, he worked for a number of film and television projects including the Amazing Race and created several short documentary films.

Micah shares, “I enjoy teaching youth because it helps stoke the fire of their creativity, ingenuity, and passion towards life. Freshi allows students to explore and develop their artistic abilities while preparing for a functional job in the future. Preparing for this digital age is what it’s all about.”

Check out Micah’s YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/user/turntec

Nikki Nanos has worked in the theatre, television and film industry for over 25 years, teaching acting, field producing and directing. As a production coordinator in theatre she had the opportunity to work with such greats as Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald. She came to Texas in 1991, taught acting and studied Cinematography under Victor Duncan to expand her knowledge of film. Nikki has directed short films and commercials; field produced for The Disney Channel, EXTRA and B.E.T., did locations for the TV series, Walker, Texas Ranger, and still dabbles in acting.

Most recently Nikki found a way to utilize what she has learned in theatre and film and transfer that passion to the public speaking arena where she began a coaching career.

Nikki graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.S. Degree in Speech/Drama from Northern Michigan University in 1978. Staying at Northern one extra year she did a graduate directed study in Directing and Acting. She completed her graduate studies in 1981 at California Institute of the Arts where she received an M.F.A. Degree in Acting. In 1989 Nikki received the Outstanding Young Alumni Award from Northern Michigan University for her accomplishments in the entertainment industry.

Nikki grew up in Michigan, lived in California for 12 years and from there moved to Texas where she currently resides. And yes…”Y’all” has become part of her vocabulary.

Kevin "Kev Kenestetic" Paige was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. His passion for music began at the age of 15 after he formed his first group (3-D). He went on to found and play with several other groups before defining and launching a successful solo career. He hasn’t looked back since.

Over the years, Kev Kenestetic has performed in clubs throughout Los Angeles and today enjoys a large underground following worldwide. Collaborating with other top-notch talent, he’s worked with the producers of Yuckmouth, E-40, Dr. Dre., Deathrow, Outlaws, W.C., Coup DeVille to name just a few.

Kev is a prolific songwriter. In 2004 and 2007, he wrote the theme songs for YAMS (Youth against Multiple Sclerosis). Those songs, Clap 4 YAMS and Dedicated 2 You debuted at the M.S. Walk and the Rose Bowl for Kid City respectively.

To date, he’s completed a comprehensive Demo and two hot singles. He’s now hard at work on his first full-length CD entitled You Gotta Give Me Credit. Kev is a fast rising M.C./Songwriter/Producer and is starting a music company to help up-and-coming artists develop and perfect their craft.

Since the company’s inception, Kev’s been involved with Freshi Films teaching kids from ages 8 - 18 how to make their own movies, animations as well as soundtracks for their films. He’s traveled all over the U.S. helping teachers in other school districts learn and teach Freshi in their classrooms.

In addition, he’s very active with the IFFF (International Family Film Festival) and the Freshi Film Festival (youth festival), supervising all sound equipment and stage operations. "I Love what I do - music, film, teaching, but most of all working with Freshi,” states Kev. “This is truly a way for artist like myself can give back."

Check out Kev in action HERE and HERE and HERE!

Jamie Parker is a graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in theater focusing on acting. After graduation he moved close to New York to pursue acting. While there he started performing stand up comedy and improv at various clubs. At the time he paid the bills by entertaining children at birthday parties and other special events as a Clown, Barney, Pokemon, Elmo and as a Magician. As much as he enjoyed New York/New Jersey he wanted to give Los Angeles a try. He moved to LA for a month and since he liked it so much, never left. That was almost five years ago.

Cory Reeder was born and raised in Fullerton California. Since the age of ten he has been making films, beginning with his father's Super8 movie camera to currently mastering the latest HD technology.

He received his degree in Television and Film from Cal State University Fullerton, where as a side job he worked in various after school children's programs. After an internship at Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions, Cory moved on to found his own production company Renaissance Man Productions. RMP creates a variety of programming including; narrative features, TV shows, web series, documentaries and live events.

When not fulfilling his duties for RMP, Cory also freelance directs, writes, acts, edits, produces and trains youth in new media with Freshi.

For more information on Cory or RMP please visit: www.renaissancemanprod.com

Patty hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and has a B.A. in Theatre Arts from UCLA.

Jason graduated from Fullerton College in 2003, and Long Beach State (2005) majoring in Film. He recently sold “Midnight,” his first screenplay.

While working at Clear Cannel Outdoor (CCO) for two years, he produced marketing and promotional videos for its new Digital Outdoor Network in Los Angeles, CA.

In addition to working with Freshi, possesses an extensive documentary production background having worked as an Associate Producer and researcher

I've worked in many different occupations as a graphic designer, waiter, and most recently, acting in film and television. I think my greatest asset is making sure whoever I'm working with recieves a quality service. These kids are not just students to me. They have shown me what a bright future that lays before them. I'm honored to have the privilege to be a part of their development.

Growing up in Rio de Janeiro shaped the Anne thinks and feels about life.
The rhythm, music, open hearts and lyrical language of Portuguese all enter one’s spirit and never leaves. That spirit translates into all of her work.

With a Masters in Education and twenty plus years in film and television, Anne Turley enjoys inspiring and facilitating creativity in young minds.

She has worked for CBS, NBC, and edited films for Paramount Pictures. Her current projects include a documentary about a ranch called El Dustberry that uses equine therapy to reach troubled youth and cancer patients.

Learn more about Anne at www.anneturley.com, here, and here.

Erick was born and raised in Central California. Pursuing his dream of becoming a filmmaker/sportscaster, he moved to Los Angeles and graduated from Cal State Los Angeles with a Bachelors Degree in Television/Film.

After graduating, he was soon hired by Freshi Films to begin his work teaching students how to make movies, animation and video game design. Erick shares, "The Freshi experience led to another educational opportunity at a Prep School teaching Introduction to computers and Physical Education. Being a role model, coach, mentor, and counselor for children and teenagers has changed my mentally about what life is all about. I'm grateful to be part of it!" He believes that students of all ages are very creative and open-minded. Working with Freshi has enabled him to teach at a variety of elementary and middle schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Beyond his time in the classroom, Erick is often found on the road as an instrumental part of the Freshi Road show Team, Freshi's community outreach effort that has traveled to cities and communities across the United States. By attending local and regional events, the Road show teaches the fundamentals of digital filmmaking to youth and families. "I’ve traveled to Seattle, Portland, and San Francisco and other Los Angeles based venues sharing Freshi’s unique passion for storytelling. I love seeing people’s stories come to life."

Erick’s future plans include earning a Master’s degree, advanced teaching credentials and working professionally in the sports industry.

See him in action HERE and HERE!

Janice Wessner is a director, performer, playwright, and teaching artist.  She earned her BA in Theatre from The Ohio State University in 2009, specializing in performance, directing, and the creation of new works. 

Before moving to the Bay Area, she ran the flagship branch of the Urban Renaissance educational theatre outreach project in Columbus, OH, working with elementary and middle-school aged students living in underprivileged areas of the city. 

Janice currently works with Freshi, and as the Director of Development for Bindlepunks, a theatre company she started with two other former OSU students.  Recent credits include A Night of Irish Theatre with T.O.T.T.S. in Columbus, OH (assistant director), X at The Ohio State University (playwright, director), Godspell at The Ohio State University (assistant director), Prometheus Bounces with En Flambe (director, production manager), and Dearly Beloved with the OSU chapter of Alpha Psi Omega (director.)

Jeannie is a student at Reed College and an avid student and creator of film.  She is thrilled to work with Freshi in sharing the art and love of cinema and feels lucky to be able to work with so many imaginative and interested students!