NATASHA BESTE - DIGITAL VIDEO Instructor
Natasha is a veteran intern and huge supporter of the DFC. She is just as enthusiastic about Detroit, and strengthening connections between the city's numerous artists. As a Wayne State University graduate of Media Arts, she has continued her career by working on projects independently and collaboratively. Natasha's work has been internationally received at film festivals and art galleries. When she is not immersed in creating video and film, she's busy writing music and performing with her electro-pop band Perfect Summer.

JULIAN BOYANCE - SCREENWRITING Instructor
Julian is a graduate of two Michigan universities with dynamic Communication Departments combined with a solid tradition of Film/TV/Video production and  recognized professors - GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY, B.S. in FILM AND VIDEO  and WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY, M.A. in MEDIA ARTS (radio-tv-film). Also a filmmaker hailing from Detroit, Julian's cinematic journey traverses both academia and media arts. He embraces the social-political elements within his work, and proudly accepts accusations of being didactic as if they were a badge of honor. He is a philosopher with camera, Mont Blanc, and notebook.

SHAHER BATROUKH - FINAL CUT PRO Instructor
Shaher, Apple Certified in Final Cut Pro, earned his bachelor of arts in filmmaking at Western Washington University by combining aspects of film theory and criticism, photography, theater direction and independent video projects. He worked in the Los Angeles within the film industry for 10 years in a variety of positions ranging from Production Assistant, to Producer, later earning a Masters Degree in Education from Pepperdine University. He currently teaches production and editing at Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts.

JEFF CARLSON - FINAL CUT PRO Instructor
Jeff Carlson began working in video production by creating scores and sound effects for short films.  His musical interests and audio production skills eventually translated into a love for video production and editing.  He is a recent Masters graduate of Wayne State University with a focus in media arts production.  He also teaches various production courses at Wayne State, and in his spare time works freelance in many capacities for locally produced films and commercials. During the day you can find him at advertising giant J. Walter Thompson.  

CHUCK CIRGENSKI - SCREENWRITING MASTER CLASS Instructor

EMMY award-winner Chuck Cirgenski has written over 15 screenplays, two of which have garnered major screenwriting awards including; first place in the prestigious Malcolm Vincent Screenwriting Competition for his screenplay "Hoover" (AKA, "Stardust") and a "Discovery Award," under the auspices of the Christopher Columbus Society, for "The Tontine."  Two of his feature screenplays have been produced, "One Room Castle"(1993)and "Stardust"(1999), which is presently in distribution worldwide and was picked-up by HBO. Over the past eight years, he has taught over one hundred students screenwriting and advanced screenwriting at the Detroit Film Center.  Many of his former students are now winning major screenwriting competitions and finding representation for their work. He has produced three features and numerous award-winning shorts and documentaries. He is presently in production on a new sci-fi internet feature film and a feature documentary on the world renowned, Bootsy Collins, as well as, continuing to write "spec" screenplays.  "D-Town Screenwriters'," the group he help found with former students, is now in it's fourth year of existence and has over 30 members, who meet on a monthly-basis.

NICOLE MacDONALD is co-Director at The Detroit Film Center.
Nicole has worked in various non-profit art and media capacities. With Detroit Area Film & Television, she has produced animated video shorts with high school students from across Michigan; and with U of M's Prisoner Creative Arts program, she lead art workshops for youth and adults in Michigan prisons. Focusing on landscape and cityscape painting, and exhibiting in various group shows – she recently won Anton Art Center's 34th Annual Director's Award. This spring she'll begin a documentary on bee-keeping as part of Sweet on Detroit's urban bee-keeping initiative

ROBERT ANDERSEN - FILM ONE and Production MASTER CLASS Instructor

Robert Andersen is an artist/filmmaker/educator/
animator/media consultant and two time Emmy nominee. He has worked in both the industry and in education, most recently as general manager of a leading computer graphics and visual effects studio and as chair of the Department of Animation and Digital Media at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit from 2002-2006 where he was a fulltime member of the faculty since 1998. He initiated the digital cinema program at the college in 1999 and was recognized as an Apple Distinguished Educator in 2005. In 1993, he founded the Detroit Film Center, a film and video community resource center, and currently serves as President of this non-profit organization. He current is a fulltime member of the faculty at Oakland Community College teaching both filmmaking and film studies.

BRAD ERLANDSON – DOCUMENTARY
In 2001, Brad graduated at the top of his class from San Francisco State University, B.A. in Cinema. He immediately began freelancing as a documentarian and has since worked everywhere from Paris, France to New York City. Born and raised in Metro Detroit, he has returned to raise his family and share his experience with the DFC community. His work has been featured nationally on MTV, ABC, and multiple independent venues. Also an internationally acclaimed Spoken Word Artist and Hip Hop Producer, his music was nominated for a "UMA" 2004 Underground Music Award in the UK. Learn more about his passions at http://8bliss.com.