Zach Siegel // Writer and Director
Zach is an award-winning queer writer, director, and editor. He’s directed shorts including Why the Sea is Boiling, which played at film festivals internationally; plays including the musical comedy More Guns!, which ran at Second City for two years; and music videos for artists like Watchmen’s Philip Labes and emerging queer rockstar Maddie Ross. He’s edited a little bit of everything, from FX-and-Sundance-darling Quarter Life Poetry, to a concert film for Paul McCartney, to promos and branded content for Live Nation, Buzzfeed, Adidas, Gatorade, La Blogothèque, Snapchat, and many more.
Cookie Walukas // Producer
Cookie Walukas is a queer filmmaker and artist originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. She has produced films for fine artists, filmmakers and musicians. Clients include: Beyoncé, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Mariah Carey, Apple, ABC, Disney, Milk Makeup, Milk Agency, and all of the major record labels. She is also an alumna of University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and works in Los Angeles and New York City.
Dennis Noack // Director of Photography
Raised between Oregon and Germany, Dennis’ creative career began in photography in and around the Oregon wilderness. As an experienced outdoorsman, he began shooting stills on film in the forests and mountains of the cascades, studying the nature of light and composition. In the late 2000s he transitioned into filmmaking, working throughout Oregon. Dennis attended and graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Film & Television Production with an emphasis in cinematography, minoring in photography. His work has taken him all over the world, frequently shooting on film and always capturing the right angle, especially if that means hanging off of a hot air balloon, snow mobile, tractor, or horse. He’s a licensed diver and experienced underwater camera operator and drone operator, and is always looking forward to the next adventure.
Michael O’Konis // Composer
Michael O'Konis is a film composer and musician. Favorite past projects of theirs include the feature Dating My Mother, the animated short Black Hole Apartment for Cake FX, and the short Why The Sea is Boiling. Michael releases indie folk music with their solo project Lookalike, and writes comedic songs with their partner, actor and musician Marnina Schon. Michael’s original musical, More Guns!, has run at Second City for two years, where they also teach comedy and works as a music director.