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About BraveMaker

BraveMaker exists to elevate brave voices for justice, diversity and inclusion.

Supporting the Artist's Calling

Artists and storytellers are prophets, creative forces in our world that speak to our need for justice, beauty, diversity, equality and spirituality. This is a painstakingly difficult calling. We are here to support and elevate these voices.

We curate and make provocative, life changing media that creates meaningful culture impacting experiences. We not only want to entertain but to incite dialogue, awareness and bravely shape our culture. We believe in the power of story relayed through films and we want to empower others who have these same aspirations.
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Meet the Team

Founder & Executive Director

Tony Gapastione

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!
Director of Community Engagement

Priscilla Lam

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
Fest Programmer/Curator

OPEN ROLE

He/She/They
TBD


@BraveMakerFilmFest


 Fest@BraveMaker.com

Producer & Fest Progammer

Jessica Musgrave

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, Information Technologist
Information Technology Systems Analyst & Technician

Marcellus

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.


Marcellus@BraveMaker.com

Live Show Producer

Amy Cohen

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.


@Cohen.Amy

Social Media Producer

Kerri Alley

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.
Podcast Editor

Barnell Amos

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.
Film Fest Audience Support & Content Creator

Diquan Richard

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 learn 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.
Nick Musleh
Acting Teacher

Nick Musleh

He/Him
Nick Musleh is co writer/creator of THE ROSY CROSS series being developed in Europe by Lasse Hallberg, with Sir Derek Jacobi leading a host of British A-list talent. This past year he acted in the Off Broadway World Premiere of OUR MAN IN SANTIAGO, by Emmy Nominated Mark Wilding, and played the titular role in the highly critically received HAMLET at Marin Shakespeare Company. He is from San Francisco and has worked extensively in television, theatre, and film in Los Angeles. He is currently producing the feature film Love’s Labour’s Lost based on his short film that was an official selection at the Bravemaker Film Festival.

Nick has acted for 30 years, served on artistic boards and has had a part in developing countless works. He has starred in several original productions, many of them roles he created, at Theatre West in Los Angeles and briefly at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco. He is returning to the Bay Area to continue his work as a Shakespearean dramaturgical researcher at Marin Shakes and with the Fusion / DaMT Space in Oakland. His work in Shakespeare instruction ranges from professional development workshops at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica to workshop moderation at Theatre West, which he did for almost 10 years. He attended and did theatre at Solano Community College, Santa Clara University, and the UCLA School of Theater, Film & Television and also holds a Master’s in Education. He has studied acting at various studios in Los Angeles under teachers like Ivanna Chubbuck, Larry Moss, Lesly Kahn, Margie Haber and Mark Rylance.

Nick’s acting course at BraveMaker is the grounded in the techniques he developed performing on television, in film, and in groundbreaking theater productions.

Our Board of Directors

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.

Instagram: @adesantis9  | Email: Adrienne@bravemaker.com

OPEN SEAT | Treasurer

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. INQUIRIES email: adrienne@bravemaker.com.

Instagram:

Email: 

OPEN SEAT | Secretary

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. INQUIRIES email: adrienne@bravemaker.com.

Instagram:

Email: 

OPEN SEAT | Board Member

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. INQUIRIES email: adrienne@bravemaker.com.

Instagram:

Email: 

OPEN SEAT | Board Member

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. INQUIRIES email: adrienne@bravemaker.com.

Instagram:

Email: 

OPEN SEATS | Treasurer  | Secretary | Members

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. INQUIRIES email: adrienne@bravemaker.com.

Instagram:

Email: 

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors, Partners, and Grantors

Celebrating Diversity. Celebrating You.

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. 

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.

BraveMaker's mission is to invest in filmmakers and coach creators to tell their stories and gather audiences to engage in essential conversations and explore life's meaningful questions.

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