ABOUT the FILMMAKERS

TARIQ JALIL (Writer / Director / Executive Producer)
Tariq Jalil began his career working for creative affairs at Disney. After a brief stint at Carsey/Werner he became a story analyst for various companies before producing on his own. His first feature film “A Galaxy Far Far Away” won several awards and was released nationwide. It included stars Joe Pesci, Andy Garcia and Meatloaf. He then worked for NBC and Telemundo in Los Angeles for six years. He has won an Emmy and several Golden Mike Awards. Most recently, Jalil created the production/management company “Intrigue”. Under the banner, he has created several television shows for network television.

He recently produced the American version of the British show “Spaced” from the makers of “Shaun of the Dead” with director McG for Warner Brothers and Fox Broadcasting Company. His current Spanish format, “Pedro El Escomoso”, was sold in a bidding war to the Fox Broadcasting Network.

He is currently producing two high profile projects “Pocholo” and “Sex & Other Secrets” with Televisa. He also executive produces the reality show “Operation Repo” for TruTV. He is also producing a grand mini-series based on the best-selling novel “Shogun” by James Clavell.

Jalil is also currently producing the feature film “The Book of Leo” for Universal with Sean William Scott attached to star. He’s also producing the live action “Dilbert” movie (based on the comic strip) at Warner Brothers with Chris Columbus (director Harry Potter, Home Alone, Mrs Doubtfire). He is involved in the “Marmaduke” project (based on the comic strip) at Fox and is producing a narrative feature of the colonial-era documentary “Prince Among Slaves”.

Mr. Jalil has been honored as a guest speaker for San Diego State University as well as the Washington University. He has been a programmer for the Slamdance Film Festival and a judge for the Scriptapalooza Screenplay Competition. He also works with the AFLCIO as well as several other organizations like Human Rights Watch. Jalil has been a source for the London Times, Associated Press and The Post.

TERRY TOCANTINS (Producer)
Terry has won an Ovation and an LA Weekly Award for his work in LA Theatre. He studied at NYU with Stella Adler and spent his 20’s touring the country doing Shakespeare, Improvisation and standup. Since settling in LA he has starred in many independently produced films, most recently Red is the Color Of, which was recognized with The Merchant Ivory Award as Best Feature at The Oxford International Film Festival.

He was the Banana Man in those Blink 182 videos, but his proudest moment in TV was when he was cast as a recurring character in the fifth season of Ally McBeal. This resulted in what was widely believed to be the show’s “jump the shark” moment, leading to its inevitable demise. Currently he hosts Serial Killers, the late night hit at Sacred Fools Theatre, now in its fourth year.

BIAGIO MESSINA (Editor / Producer)
Biagio can currently be seen Saturday nights on Nickelodeon’s “Kenan and Kel” as Marc Cram, and also appears on Nick’s “All That”. He wrote, directed and starred in the Off- Hollywood Oscar nominated “Me and Grandma”, based on his award winning stage play. Currently, Biagio and Kenen are working on a screenplay. Biagio is also a professional editor.

JOKE FINCIOEN (Producer)
Joke was named Best Young Actress in Belgium. Once in America, she produced the independent feature, “Me and Grandma”, and worked for two prolific producers (Gail Anne Herd, “Terminator”, and Harry Uffland, “The Last Temptation of Christ”.) She is currently running her new production company, AccessDV.