About Us

Telling stories to explore life’s meaningful questions.

Inclusion

Celebrating Diversity

BraveMaker celebrates diversity and aspires to help foster justice and inclusion across communities through guided discussions and powerful authentic storytelling.

The world needs us to share brave stories. Making, discussing and applying art can be one of the bravest acts of our lives.

Partnership

Celebrating You

Are you a filmmaker? Do you have a brave story to tell? Let us help. The world needs a brave maker like you.

Do you love the arts and believe in their power to influence and shape culture? Great! So do we. We invite you to please donate today. Partner with us and invest in making brave films that lead to transforming conversations that effect change in our culture.

Meet Our Team

Tony Gapastione

Tony Gapastione

Founder & Executive Director
He/Him

Tony is a husband, father and filmmaker. He founded BraveMaker as a non-profit film arts organization to mentor, support and elevate brave voices through film and create space for transforming community conversations. His life is all about telling stories and collaborating with storytellers. He and his wife, three daughters and their Labradoodle, Cubby, live in Redwood City. Want to become a BraveMaker donor? Contact him. Want to make a movie, host a film screening or take classes? DM!

Priscilla Lam

Priscilla Lam

Director of Community Engagement
She/Her

Priscilla Lam is a talented actor based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has been passionate about acting since a young age and has pursued it with unwavering dedication. In addition to her acting career, Priscilla is also a film producer. She has produced several short films. Her passion for storytelling is evident in all of her work, and she strives to create content that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Priscilla through 11th Hour Creatives is constantly pushing the boundaries of her craft. She is a true talent and a rising star in the Bay Area acting scene.

Olga Gabris

Olga Gabris

Press Communications
She/Her

Olga Gabris is a Writer, Producer, and Content Creator based in the San Francisco Bay Area. A Linguist – turned Product Manager – turned Filmmaker, she creates stories with a focus on technology, mental health, and the meaning of life. Olga’s other passions include learning new languages, adding accessories to her “Luxury Goth” collection, and plotting her next home redesign. Olga finds her inspiration from getting lost in graveyards with a cup of black coffee

Stacie McClam

Stacie McClam

Press Communications
She/Her

Stacie McClam is a filmmaker, educator, and author. Her film production company, School Dismissed, focuses on K-12 education issues and solutions. As a law school graduate, Stacie uses film to raise awareness about education justice. She is in production for her directorial debut feature-length documentary.

Jessica Musgrave

Jessica Musgrave

Producer & Fest Progammer
She/Her

After earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Multimedia/Animation at Cal State East Bay in Hayward, Jessica quickly began her filmmaking journey gravitating toward the work of a producer. She has a true passion for bringing stories to life through film. Her experience also includes storyboarding, casting, animation, and production coordination/management. She currently produces with BraveMaker Media doing films, podcasts and film festivals. She resides in the Bay Area with her husband and daughter.

Marcellus

Marcellus

Information Technology Systems Analyst & Technician
He/Him

Marcellus, is an adventurer, a continual learner, a bicyclist, an advocate for social impact, and an actor and filmmaker. He supports BraveMaker with information technology infrastructure to keep organized, and on set as an actor and crew member to bring our pictures with potential to life. His hometown is Richmond, CA, and you can catch him around cars, planes, good music, plant-based food, teaching financial literacy, and connecting with people. A few film favorites: Star Wars, Heat, Training Day, the Ozark series, and the Power series.

Amy Cohen

Amy Cohen

Live Show Producer
She/Her

Amy is a producer and researcher with a passion for the arts and showcasing brave stories. New to the film industry, she loves being involved with all aspects of production, such as script supervising and photography. She believes that BraveMaker has the power to change hearts and minds, and is honored to be on the team as the podcast producer. As a University of Rochester graduate, she’s had extensive experience in event planning and working in TV/radio ratings at places such as Disney and Nielsen Media Ratings. Amy has hopes to soon create her own films featuring brave stories. She loves watching “General Hospital” and “Friends” with her family. She currently lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, daughter, and dog, but hopes to make California her permanent residence in the near future.

Kerri Alley

Kerri Alley

Social Media Producer
She/Her

Kerri is a filmmaker based out of Grand Rapids, MI who has a passion for producing projects that give those without a voice a platform. After graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Film and Video Production, she freelanced as an editor, camera operator, and producer. Since then she’s had the opportunity to be a wardrobe assistant for a feature film, and work with some incredible artists. In her spare time she loves to be outdoors, travel, find a local coffee shop, and immerse herself in movies and tv shows. After interning for Tony while she was in college, she’s thrilled to work again with him and the BraveMaker team to grow in her craft.

Barnell Amos

Barnell Amos

Podcast Editor
He/Him

Barnell is an Audio Engineer and Photographer based out of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the founder of Speak Media Services and has been working in audio for over ten years and photography for a little over six years. He loves to work with his clients and help produce podcasts. He enjoys helping others to accomplish their goals of being heard.

Diquan Richard

Diquan Richard

Film Fest Audience Support & Content Creator
He/Him

Diquan is an actor, director, producer, and content creator from East Palo Alto, California. He produces online shows for social media, in hopes to help motivate and inspire people to chase after their dreams and aspirations, by hearing from professionals in their respected fields. Diquan is committed to learning more about filming and how to apply what he learns to the everyday use of his iPhone, proving that you don’t need much to tell a brave story. Diquan attends San Francisco State University studying for his Master’s in Education, Equity and Social Justice, with the hopes to one day effectively teach what he’s learned to underserved, and marginalized communities worldwide as a global humanitarian.

Olesia Petrochenkova

Olesia Petrochenkova

Social Media Producer
She/Her

Olesia is a Content Producer and Artist Manager with international experience in the entertainment and music industry. She has produced and launched over 60 TV shows, documentaries, and music charts. From managing TV and digital content at Paramount Global to working with local musicians, Olesia is passionate about storytelling through music and video production. A fan of 80s rock, her vinyl collection is mainly dedicated to that decade. As a frequent concert-goer, she thrives on the energy of live performances and the connection they bring between artists and fans.

Our Board of Directors

Adrienne De Santis

Adrienne De Santis

Vice President
She/Her

Adrienne De Santis is a tech executive with a strong track record of leading and building high-performing operations teams. Adrienne is an experienced actor and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is excited to continue to feed her passion for film and making movies.

Ken Whittingham

Ken Whittingham

Board Member
He/Him

Ken Whittingham is a board member and advisor to BraveMaker. Ken is an award-winning American television director and executive producer with over 30 years of experience in the film and television industry. Ken recently directed and executive produced the pilot episodes of THE UPSHAWS , DAD STOP EMBARRASSING ME for Netflix and KENAN for NBC. His experience is vast and his resume is filled with television’s top comedic and dramatic shows most recently ABBOTT ELEMENTARY, THE WONDER YEARS on ABC, GRACE AND FRANKIE and ATYPICAL for Netflix and ST. DENIS MEDICAL and GOOD GIRLS for NBC. His work on 30 ROCK, THE OFFICE, and PARKS AND RECREATION has garnered him five NAACP Image awards.

Stacie McClam

Stacie McClam

Board Member
She/Her

Stacie McClam is a filmmaker, educator, and author. Her film production company, School Dismissed, focuses on K-12 education issues and solutions. As a law school graduate, Stacie uses film to raise awareness about education justice. She is in production for her directorial debut feature-length documentary. Stacie serves as secretary for the board of directors and works on corporate partnerships and sponsorship for the festival.

Open Seat – Board Members

Open Seat – Board Members

Join Our Board!
She/He/They

Seeking board members who align with our organization’s mission, vision and values. Board members must have a proven track record of arts involvement, strong organizational development with an emphasis on fundraising and the skills to create corporate partnerships.

Email below for inquiries.

Open Seat – Board Members

Open Seat – Treasurer

Join Our Board!
She/He/They

Seeking board members who align with our organization’s mission, vision and values. Board members must have a proven track record of arts involvement, strong organizational development with an emphasis on fundraising and the skills to create corporate partnerships.

Email below for inquiries.

Open Seat – Board Members

Open Seat – Secretary

Join Our Board!
She/He/They

Seeking board members who align with our organization’s mission, vision and values. Board members must have a proven track record of arts involvement, strong organizational development with an emphasis on fundraising and the skills to create corporate partnerships.

Email below for inquiries.

Our Sponsors

What Drives Us

Our Values

BraveMaker values the film arts as one of the most powerful mediums to create change in culture. We value diverse, brave voices and perspectives on all sides of the camera and production process. We value forward thinking, integrity, authenticity, quick and respectful communication with a high value on innovative and swift problem solving. BraveMaker thrives on creativity, compassion, second chances, truth telling and learning from our failures so that we might make the world a better, more equitable place for al through the arts.

At BraveMaker, within our teams, productions, and partnerships: there is no tolerance for racism, sexual harassment, homophobia, or any disrespectful treatment of any group of people, our teammates, clients, vendors, volunteers, and/or audience members. Such behavior is grounds for possible removal and severing of relationships. Harassment or intimidation of a BraveMaker client, staff person or guest because of that person’s race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion is specifically prohibited and may be grounds for termination. Harassment and intimidation includes abusive, foul or threatening language or behavior.

BraveMaker is committed to maintaining a workplace that is free of any such harassment and will not tolerate discrimination against staff members, volunteers or agency clients. Issues of discriminatory treatment, harassment, or intimidation on any of these bases should immediately be reported to the Executive Director or immediate supervisor and, if substantiated, prompt action will be taken.

BraveMaker is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment on account of race, age, color, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, or religion or otherwise as may be prohibited by federal and state law. Any BraveMaker employee, board member, volunteer or client who believes that s/he or any other affiliate of BraveMaker has been discriminated against is strongly encouraged to report this concern promptly to our organization’s event supervisor, supervising producer and/or Executive Director.

We share and uphold these value statements withlove and optimismfor a better, more welcoming and inclusive future for all.