Halfway Home } Crew

	PAUL FREEDMAN - DIRECTOR/WRITER/EDITOR Peabody award-winning and Emmy nominated filmmaker, Paul Freedman, began his career as an editorial assistant for television commercials. As an editor and director, his commercial credits include spots for Nike, Diet Coke, Southwest Airlines, Nissan, Lexus and Budweiser and many more. Paul's first documentary role came as editor on a film about minor league baseball. Since then, his love of the documentary form has led him to win numerous awards covering a vast array of subjects. More recently, he has directed and edited episodes for the History Channel Series, "Food Tech". He is also creator of the America's Army Real Heroes program "mini-films" profiling men and women of the US Army and Army National Guard who have been awarded medals for valor in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. View the mini-films at: http://www.americasarmy.com/realheroes/ Paul's Film Credits: 2009 -" "Unbeaten" written and edited by Paul Freedman. The spirited story of wheelchair athletes competing in the "toughest race in the world" through the mountains of Alaska. Distributed by Polaris Media. Narrated by Dan Aykroyd. 2009 - "Voices of Uganda" written and edited by Paul Freedman. A powerful message of hope is delivered to child soldiers in Northern Uganda by an American theatre troupe. Featuring Martin Sheen and Allison Janney. 2007 - "Sand and Sorrow" directed, produced, written and edited by Paul Freedman. An examination of the human tragedy in Darfur, Sudan. Featuring Barak Obama and Elie Wiesel. Distributed by HBO. Narrated by George Clooney. 2004 - "Rwanda - Do Scars Ever Fade?" Produced, directed, edited and co-written by Paul Freedman. A study of the Rwandan genocide and its aftermath. Peabody Award, two Emmy nominations. History Channel. Narrated by Jeffrey Wright. 2003 - "Such's Life" Written, directed, and edited by Paul Freedman. Narrative short, day-in-the-life of a suicidal man at the center of a murder investigation. Silver Award at Houston's WorldFest, 2004. 2002 - "Testimony: The Maria Guardado Story" Edited by Paul Freedman. Riveting account of a Salvadoran activist who survived torture. Best Picture, 2002 New York Latino Film Festival. Directed by Randy Vasquez. 2001 - "Pol Pot's Secret Prison" Edited by Paul Freedman. Disturbing look at the infamous Tuol Sleng Prison in Phnom Phen. History Channel. Nominated for two Emmy Awards. 1994 - "The Tears of Peleliu" Edited and co-directed by Paul Freedman. A survivor's account of the brutal and controversial battle in World War II.




	KATY S. FOX - PRODUCER Katy Fox began her production experience in independent films, with credits including the classic independent film "The Last Supper",and associate producer of "Campfire Tales". She gained experience within studio production on DreamWork's film "Paulie: A Parrot's Tale" and then moved into television as production associate on Taken, the Emmy award-winning SciFi Channel hit produced by Steven Spielberg and Leslie Bohem. Katy has also worked on the production team on several of Christopher Guest's films including the most recent, "For Your Consideration". After a year and a half in graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, Katy returned to filmmaking to produce a documentary, "Voices of Uganda". This film follows an American theater troupe to northern Uganda where they work with Ugandan teens living in an IDP camp. Through this drama program these teens share their experience of growing up in the grips of a 22-year rebel war. The film culminates in their writing and performing two dramas about HIV/AIDS and peace and reconciliation. Katy is completing her thesis and will soon graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, with a Masters of Science in Organizational Dynamics. Her thesis is titled: Advocacy through filmmaking: Producing Voices of Uganda.

	NATALIE LUM FREEDMAN - PRODUCER Natalie Lum Freedman has worked in every facet of television commercials since launching 2POP Editorial, Inc., a post-production company with offices in Hollywood and Dallas, that counted Nike, SWA, Honda, and Bank of America as it’s primary clients. In 1996, she was tapped by Rock the Vote to produce their commercial campaign that included celebrities, musicians, and the NFL Quarterback Club. As a commercial producer, she has overseen productions that include AT&T, U.S. Air Force, Caesars Palace, AARP, John Deere, Novell, Marshalls Department Stores, and Chili’s Restaurants. In addition to producing “Halfway Home”, she served as Executive Producer of “Tears of Peleliu”, “Sand and Sorrow”, and the “America’s Army Real Heroes” online video campaign.


	WARREN LAM - CO- PRODUCER / ASSISTANT EDITOR Warren's career began on Madison Ave, as an award winning advertising copywriter working for blue chip clients like AT&T, General Motors, Philip Morris, Reebok, Kellogg's and Pepsi. In 2001, he produced, wrote, directed and edited one of the first digital web series, "The Wendy Channel." In 2002 he moved to Los Angeles to work in entertainment, starting in post production as an assistant editor/post supervisor on network shows, such as Endurance (Discovery & NBC), Extreme Makeover/Home Edition (Endemol/ABC), The People's Champions (Endemol/FX), Game Show in My Head (Katalyst Media/CBS). Currently Warren is producing and developing a variety of episodic television shows. His feature, "Carded" - Warren is also attached as writer & producer - is currently in pre-production with a budget over 20 million.
	ALEXANDRE NAUFEL - CINEMATOGRAPHER Alexandre Naufel is a Brazillian born award winning director of photography with experience in all corners of the globe in all formats. Some of his recent projects are the indie film "A Marine Story", directed by Ned Farr, starring Dreya Weber and Paris Pickard; the documentary series "History Made for Tomorrow", about ancient sustainable techniques still used in India and China today; the acclaimed HBO documentary "Sand and Sorrow" produced by George Clooney; commercials for Coors/ESPN/V-Tech and Tide; and the award-winning PSA campaign for USDT.
	GREGORY STROM - PRODUCER Gregory Strom is a multi-award winning Director, Producer, Editor and Writer. In the mid-1980's Strom began producing and directing television commercials, documentaries and short films in New York. After moving to Los Angeles, he directed an award-winning feature film, numerous music videos, and several national television commercial campaigns, and also directed a series of television commercials in which the legendary Fred Astaire danced with a modern day vacuum cleaner product. The spots debuted in front of over a billion viewers during the Super Bowl. In addition, he has produced, directed and edited numerous commercial, documentary and corporate broadcast projects. His documentary producing credits include Birth of a Racer for Discovery HD, Unconquered: Allan Houser and the Legacy of One Apache Family for PBS, Comedy: The Road Less Traveled, Unbeaten, Surfing With The Enemy, Kids With Cameras and Halfway Home. He is currently the head of worldwide media for Polaris Media Group. Strom is the recipient of many international awards including 4 New York Film Festival, 5 Clio, 15 Belding, 8 Telly, 10 Addy (including Best of Show), 1 Platinum Aurora Award (Best of Show), 4 Worldfest, 3 Prism Award and numerous LA and NY Art Director Awards.

	SHANE KRIDER - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Shane Krider is CEO and visionary of Polaris Global Media, a worldwide media company specializing in entrepreneur education. Halfway Home is one in a series of high-profile documentary partnerships with award-winning documentarians that explore many facets of human spirit.

	JAMIE DUNLAP - COMPOSER After being onthe road in cover bands from Seattle for much of the 80's, Jamie made the move to LA and graduated from the Musicians Institute in '89. There after working for the Latin jingle house AZ Productions for four years, Jamie sharpened his composing skills writing music for numerous National and Regional commericials. Then breaking away in 1997 to form the successful music post company Mad City Productions with Partner Co-Owner Scott Nickoley writing and producing score and source cues for film and TV. Recent clients include South Park, MTV, CMT, The History Channel Maris Entertainment (Independent Feature Films).
	MELISSA FITZGERALD - CO EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Melissa Fitzgerald is an actor, producer, and social activist. Her acting career has included film, theater and television. She is best known for playing the role of Carol on the award-winning political drama, The West Wing. Melissa produced the award winning short film Hope Not Lost, narrated by Martin Sheen, about her experience as a volunteer working with malnourished children in war-torn northern Uganda. Melissa returned to northern Uganda with a group of American actors to work with 14 war-affected teenagers, on a theater program, and to produce the recently completed documentary, Staging Hope: Acts of Peace in Northern Uganda. Melissa remains deeply involved in advocating for peace in northern Uganda and the surrounding region.