a 501 (c) (3) non profit
SEPTEMBER 22, 2011                                                                  

POWER UP's mission is to promote the visibility and integration of gay women/men in entertainment, the arts and all forms of media

POWER UP does Classes, Workshops, Consulting,   Mentorship, Fiscal Sponsorship, Producers Program, Script Coverage, Development Program & more!    

 



POWER UP HONONARY
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1 Jehan Agrama
2 Roberta Bennett
3 Dustin Lance Black
4 Q. Allan Brocka
5 Debra Chasnoff
6 Bruce Cohen
7 Donna Deitch
8 Jim Dobson
9 Gina G. Goff
10 Robert Greenblatt
11 Michael Lombardo
12 Jan Oxenberg
13 Peter Paige
14 Kimberly Peirce
15 Lee Rose
16 Andrea Sperling




The 2011 POWER UP Amazing
Gay Women & Men in Showbiz

THE WOMEN:

Katherine Brooks

ran away from her small town home in Louisiana to pursue a career in television and film when she was just 16 years old; with only 150 dollars to her name, Katherine slept in her car in the parking lot of a Hollywood motel.


Katherine's extensive list of film and television credits include three seasons of the Emmy-Award winning show "The Osbournes", the highly-acclaimed show "Newlyweds" starring Jessica Simpson, and MTV's groundbreaking "The Real World". She helmed MTV's "There and Back", the latest season of "Meet the Barkers" with Blink182 drummer Travis Barker, and directed and produced "The Simple Life" starring Paris Hilton.

Katherine moved into directing feature film several years ago, Katherine's first feature film, Loving Annabelle (writer/director), starring Erin Kelly, Diane Gaidry and Academy Award nominee Kevin McCarthy, made its premier at the prestigious Cinequest Film Festival in 2006, and won both the "Audience Award" and "Best Actress Award" at Outfest. Katherine just wrapped the documentary film, Face 2 Face in which she traveled the country to meet 50 random facebook friends.
Katherine is a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA). 

Jessica Clark
first came to public attention as a fashion model in Europe and NYC, working with acclaimed photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier, Michel Comte and Terry Richardson. While she still occasionally models for exceptional assignments (she was featured in the pages of Vogue magazine just this year) her focus is now on her burgeoning career as an actress.
2011 has already been a fruitful year for Jessica with appearances in ABC's 'State Of Georgia', HBO/Cinemax's 'Chemistry" and her starring feature debut in director Nicole Conn's newest film 'A Perfect Ending'. Proudly and publicly out as a lesbian, Jessica is happily married to Lacey Stone.  Jessica is known for being in communication with her fan base. She is humbled to be of contribution to those who are young and coming to understanding about their own identities.

Lesley Goldberg
is a Los Angeles-based writer/reporter covering television for

The Hollywood Reporter. She got her writing start covering entertainment for theLGBT community for outlets including AfterEllen.com, Frontiers in L.A. Magazine and The Advocate. The self-professed pop culture junkie can be found with a

remote control in one hand and a softball bat in the other. In addition to herwriting work, Goldberg has spent time on the news desk at the Los Angeles Daily News and can tell you anything you need to know about baseball cards - and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Sunny Hodge

Born in Laguna Beach and raised between there and Sun Valley, Idaho, former singer songwriter, Sunny Hodge, moved to Los Angeles in 1997 to pursue a career in film editing. Starting as a Post PA on a tv series, she worked her way up the ranks, landing her first series editing job just 2 years later on USA Network's Good vs. Evil. There she met director, Tim Hunter, who helped launch her successful career in editing. As Director/Editor team they collaborated on Showtime's miniseries 'Out Of Order', as well as multiple features and MOWs, including MTV's Anatomy of a Hate Crime - the story of Matthew Shepard. She has also worked alongside directors, Joss Whedon, John Badham, John Stockwell, Rob Bowman, and Michael Engler. Working for nearly every major network, Sunny's other editing credits include, Melrose Place (original series and remake), Firefly, Men In Trees, Without A Trace, Dollhouse, The Vampire Diaries, Private Practice and The Big C.

As a musician/singer songwriter, Sunny's original music has been placed on Melrose Place, Out of Order and ABC Family's, Beautiful People. She attributes much of her knack for editing, as well as, her sensitivity to the natural rhythms of story telling through film, to her passion and natural ear for music.

Laura Karpman
A composer who brings to her music feverish imagination, impeccable musicianship, complexity, versatility, unbridled joy, and fearlessness,Laura Karpman is, in the words of George Manahan, music director of New York City Opera, "a rare combination of heart and groin." With four Emmys, a GANG award and numerous nominations, Karpman's credits include scores such as Steven Spielberg's 20-hour miniseries Taken, Odyssey 5, Masters of Science Fiction, The Tournament, Craft in America, Man in the Chair, The Annihilation of Fish, and The Living Edens, video games like Microsoft's new Disneyland Adventure, Everquest 2, Kung Fu Panda 2: The Kaboom of Doom, Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom, Field Commander, additional music for Halo 3 and Jericho, among others. Commissioned by Carnegie Hall, Karpman's multimedia opera ASK YOUR MAMA, written for Jessye Norman, The Roots, jazz singer, and orchestra, on a text by Langston Hughes, premiered to critical acclaim. Karpman was named one of the most important women in Hollywood by Variety Magazine. She received her doctorate from The Juilliard School where she studied music composition with Milton Babbitt, and is currently a professor at UCLA in the School of Theater, Film and Television.
Michelle Knudsen 

is a manager and producer at MXN Entertainment. After graduating from Columbia University she got her start working for agent Sarah Self at Gersh NY before moving with Sarah to LA.   She then went to work for manager/producer Mason Novick, jumping immediately into production on 500 DAYS OF SUMMER.   Since then she has established herself as a manager of feature and TV writers.   In addition, with Mason Novick she has a myriad of feature and TV projects at various stages of development. Soon to be in production is Diablo Cody's directorial debut, LAMB OF GOD

Denise Pleune
Ms. Pleune has worked as a producer in post production for over 16 years. Some

of the highlights of her career include: "The Black Donnelly's", where she worked closely with Academy Award winners Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco; "The Sarah Silverman Program"; "The X Files", where she worked with Chris Carter; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", with Joss Whedon, and Marti Noxon; and "The Riches" where she worked with Dawn Prestwich and Nicole Yorkin. Pleune also oversaw post production for Adam Sandler on the film "Eight Crazy Nights". Recently, she co-produced the television series "The Good Guys" for Matt Nix and produced the short film "Commerce" for Director Lisa Robertson. Currently Pleune is co-producer of "The Protector" for Lifetime.

Tracy Ryerson
A New Jersey native, Tracy Ryerson received a degree in Biology and Film from the University of Miami.  Almost ten years ago, she made the long-awaited trek out to Hollywood and immediately started working for a top literary agency in Beverly Hills.  Eventually, Tracy found her way to Jerry Weintraub Productions on the Warner Bros lot, where she oversaw the development and production of several movies, including Oceans 13, Nancy Drew, and Tarzan.  Around the time that she sold Speedy Gonzales and also started playing in the television development game, Tracy was approached to star in the hit Showtime reality series, The Real L Word.  The experience was cathartic, necessary, and most importantly, has made an impact in media where LGBT visibility matters.  
Tracy has since hosted several charity events and comedy shows, which include JQ International's Single de Mayo, GirlBar's Dinah Shore Weekend, presenting at the GLAAD Awards, and more.  She is a producer, commercial actress, model, and is currently penning a semi-autobiographical book detailing the trials and tribulations of being an "Insta-Mom".  (Her girlfriend, Stamie, has 3 kids!)  A former band geek and pop culture junkie, she has finally embraced her chicken legs and realized that you can achieve just about anything once you're comfortable in your own skin.  Tracy has been interested in collaboration, story-telling and photography from a young age, and is an active advocate for equal rights, especially when it pertains to the gay community.  Mostly, she loves challenging stereotypes and demonstrating that you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.       
Most recently, Tracy has created a website called www.OurFifteenMinutes.com that caters to building a safe and welcoming community where people can upload their coming-out stories and just be themselves.  She's currently developing and pitching tv shows, trying her hand in the hosting world, and figuring out how to negotiate with 4 year olds.
Patty Schemel

Drummer, songwriter and teacher, Patty Schemel has worked with a myriad of notable artists and producers such as PINK, LINDA PERRY, IMPERIAL TEEN, COURTNEY LOVE and JULIETTE LEWIS. Patty anchored the rhythm section for HOLE and earned two platinum records in the process. 

 

In 2007, director P. David Ebersole embarked on a documentary project chronicling Patty's time in HOLE. HIT SO HARD premiered at SXSW 2011 and is slated for a 2012 theatrical release.

 

Current projects include: ROCK & ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS; a member of the all-women super-group A MOMENT OF LOUDNESS, which debuted at the Grammy's MusiCares Benefit; her bands GREEN EYES and CANYON PEOPLE; and as a guest drummer for PSYCHIC FRIEND and THE COLD & LOVELY.

Haviland Stillwell 
She is an out actress, singer, and producer, and feels living your truth in the open, with love and enthusiasm, is the way to true fulfillment. Growing up in Georgia, she started her advocacy work at the age of 13; marching, writing letters, and acting as the president of her school's GSA. After graduating with honors from New York University, she made her Broadway debut in the original cast revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, followed by LES MISERABLES. She relocated to Los Angeles in 2008, and has since been seen in films & television shows like SINGLE LADIES, THE CLIENT LIST, CSI:NY, EASTWICK and BELOW THE BELTWAY. Along with Ashley Reed and Sarah Croce, she created, wrote, produced and acted in the webseries UNICORN PLAN-IT, currently shown on the website,Autostraddle.com. She contributes as a writer to the National Organization for Women, sits on the board of the One Dollar Project, and teaches voice and acting privately, and in master classes at places like New York University, Pace University and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. In 2010, she released her album, HOW I ROLE, and she often plays with the band Plutonic Lovers, as well as in concerts across the country with Steven Jamail. 
THE MEN:
Brickson Diamond

is an activist, philanthropist, investment industry veteran and Chief Executive Officer of Music Foundry, LLC, a

multi-platform family entertainment exhibition enterprise focused on the stories of late 20th century music and musicians. He is founding board chair of The Blackhouse Foundation, an organization focused on expanding opportunities and access within the independent film industry for black filmmakers. Mr. Diamond serves on the President's Leadership Council of Brown University. He has served on the boards of the National Hospice Foundation and the Liberty Hill Foundation. He is a graduate of Brown University and the Harvard Business School.

Dan Bucatinsky
is perhaps best known for writing and starring in the indie gay romantic comedy All Over The Guy. Since 2003 he and partner Lisa Kudrow have been running Is Or Isn't Entertainment which produced the cult comedy "The Comeback" in which he co-starred with Kudrow as her publicist. They are now in production for the third season of the acclaimed docu-series "Who Do You Think You Are?" and have garnered critical and audience attention for their groundbreaking, web-to-TV version of "Web Therapy" for Showtime in which he Bucatinsky also stars. As a writer/producer he Co-Executive Produced the NBC dramedy "Lipstick Jungle". As an actor, Dan's recent roles include the new Shonda Rhimes series, "Scandal", "In Plain Sight", "Grey's Anatomy" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm". Film roles include I Love Your Work, Under the Tuscan Sun and The Opposite of Sex. His autobiographical tales of parenthood, Does This Baby Make Me Look Straight? is due out 2012 from Touchstone Books. He lives with his husband, filmmaker Don Roos and their two kids.
Oliver Goldstick

is currently the executive producer of ABC-FAMILY's smash hit, Pretty Little Liars. Mr. Goldstick has written and produced many series for television, including Ugly Betty, Lipstick Jungle, Desperate Housewives, Popular, Everwood, and American Dreams. His films for television include Plainsong, starring Aidan Quinn and Rachel Griffiths, the CAMY-award winning Crossroads, and Emmy-nominated Bailey's Mistake, starring Linda Hamilton and Joan Plowright. Mr. Goldstick's television work has earned him a Golden Globe, Writers Guild Award, GLAAD award, the NAACP Image Award and a Peabody. His musical play, Dinah Was, based on the life of rhythm & blues legendDinah Washington, received Obie, Barrymore, and Jefferson awards, and was later broadcast on National Public Radio. Goldstick's plays have been produced at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Arena Stage, Philadelphia Stage Company, Dallas Theatre Center, among others. He is a long-time member of The Pacific Resident Theatre, who recently mounted a workshop of his new play, Wild Boy. A graduate of the University of Michigan and Columbia University, Goldstick lives with his partner, Bud Leslie, and their sons, Jonathan and Simon, in Los Angeles, California.

Alex Goldstone

Born and raised in London, England, Alex began his career working in production at Phoenix Pictures. There, he was involved in the development of: 'Urban Legend', 'The Thin Red Line', 'Dick' and 'Lake Placid'.

In 2001, he segued into literary management, and in 2004 he helped launch Fuse Entertainment.

In 2008 he began working as a manager/producer at Anonymous Content. In 2010, Alex was named one of the Hollywood Reporter's 'Top 35 Executives Under 35'.  This year, as a producer Alex has set up 'Game Theory' at Summit with Neils Arden Oplev attached to direct and 'Plan This' at ABC.  

Kevin Iwashina

is a Managing Partner of Preferred Content, a film, television and digital production, sales and finance company.  Prior to Preferred Content, Iwashina spent 10 years at the Creative Artists Agency (CAA), where he was a talent agent, specializing in film packaging, financing and distribution. Iwashina holds a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in French Language and Culture from U.C.L.A. He currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) and is a member of the Board of the International Documentary Association (IDA).  He began his career at United Talent Agency (UTA).

David Levine

is currently a Vice President of Original Programming at HBO, covering the smash hit True Blood as well as overseeing a number of projects in active development.  Prior to HBO, Levine was a VP, Development and Production at Mandalay Entertainment and previously served as a Producer at Fuse Entertainment where he developed and co-produced the pilot for USA's Burn Notice.  Additional executive stints include Zucker-Netter Productions, Out of the Blue Entertainment, Konrad Pictures, and Cinergi Entertainment.     

Donald Martin

has been writing movies for the big and small

screen since 1988 when his TV movie NO BLAME, the first ever to deal with AIDS from a woman�s perspective, won awards around the world. Originally from Canada, he now has over 35 produced movies to his credit, such as the  

award-winning DIM SUM FUNERAL (HBO), SHACKLES (Sony), FAMILY SINS (CBS), THE CRAIGSLIST KILLER (Lifetime), CELINE (CBC), and NEVER TOO LATE, the Canadian feature film starring Cloris Leachman in her first (and only) lesbian role. His feature film MASTERPIECE is set to
shoot next year, starring Al Pacino.   

In 2010, Donald received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Gemini Awards

(Canada�s Emmys) for his contribution to the international profile of

Canadian television. In 1989, he took on two foster sons in Colombia,

sending one to medical school and the other to dental school. In honor of

such a commitment, Donald was the recipient of Canada�s inaugural Gemini

Humanitarian Award in 2001 and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth�s Golden Jubilee

Medal in 2002. He was a board member of L.A.�s now-shuttered charity GLASS, which sheltered homeless LGBT youth. He has twice been recognized for his  

contributions to the mission of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. Donald is a

member of the Writers Guild of America�s Gay & Lesbian Committee, and he is

committed to mentoring emerging writers. 

Blair Taylor

has worked in the entertainment industry managing on-camera talent for the past 14 years.    In 2001, with over 3,000 commercials under his belt, Blair began focusing on product endorsement and direct response opportunities for celebrity hosts, athletes, and experts. To date, Blair has generated over $1.5 Billion dollars in television product sales for hundreds of companies including Jack Lalanne Juicer, Hip Hop Abs, the Magic Bullet, Oreck Vacuum and Bare Minerals. In 2009, Blair worked closely with Dr. Phil and Stage 29 Productions to place Dr. Andrew Ordon as co-host of the Emmy Award winning internationally syndicated show, "The Doctors." Most recently, Blair negotiated Proctor & Gamble's most successful ad campaigns of all time by representing Isaiah Mustafa as "the man your man should be" in the mega hit Old Spice Campaign.

Kirkland Tibbels

has produced or consulted on more than 25 independent motion pictures and entertainment productions. He is the Founder of Hollywood Farms - a comedy production banner and Funny Boy Films -a company solely dedicated to producing life affirming content for the LGBT community. FBF films include Latter Days, Adam and Steve, and The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me. FBF is currently developing the feature adaptation of Neil Miller's Sex Crime, Panic with producer Glenn Williamson and director Peter Paige. FBF is also dedicated to helping emerging LGBT filmmakers secure production funding and/or distribution commitments; assisting recent films including Redwoods and Just Say Love released in 2010.   

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW for the 11th Annual Power Premiere - November 6th in Hollywood
The Power Premiere

The 11th Annual Power Premiere gala and fundraiser will be November 6th, 2011 in Hollywood, CA from 7pm to 9pm with a Power Ticket holder pre party at 6pm.

 

Celebrate the Amazing Gay Women & Men in Showbiz and so much more!
 

GET TICKETS HERE!