Ali Tahani
DIRECTOR
Ali Tahani is an inspirational director and filmmaker who has spent a significant number of years working in the film industry. Ali was born and raised in Iran and currently lives in Los Angeles, California. Ali received his B.A. in Theatrical Directing from Tehran Film University. At the time he was completing his B.A., he started his career in the motion picture industry by working as an assistant film editor. With his ten years of experience in Iran, Ali worked in different projects such as TV shows, award-winning films and his first independently produced documentary, "The Last Turtle".
Ali moved to Los Angeles in September 2016 to work in the heart of the film industry, and immediately began his career by directing and producing various projects. As a rock-climber and outdoor enthusiast, Ali has always been inspired by his passion towards adventure and nature. This has led him to go on to create several documentaries about rock-climbing, and yoga, among other outdoor activities. Being a dreamer himself, he established Free Mind Pictures, a production company which endeavors to be a world-class production house dedicated to translating dreams into pictures. Since the launch of Free Mind Pictures, Ali has begun production for a TV series as well as other short films and documentaries. In 2019, he wrote, directed and produced "A Simple Family Gathering" - a poignant yet innovative story of the typical mid-life challenges facing an American housewife. His next project he has started , called “ORFAM”, comedy series where foster youth are trying to find their perfect forever home, while they end up with bizarre and unconventional adults that lead them to adventures and drama.
Kat Nilsen
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Producer, creative director Katherine Nilsen was born in Seattle, Washington and raised on Whidbey Island. Prior to attending college, Katherine studied cinema and non-profit media at Reel Grrls Film Studio. Before graduating high school, Nilsen wrote, directed, and edited three humanitarian themed award-winning shorts. Throughout college, Nilsen pioneered the non-profit artist advocacy agency Santa Monica Cooperative Mediamakers—along with CMD_MEDIA, a collaborative, student-run new media studio.
Along with a passion for expressive arts therapy, international exploration and facilitation of human-centered creative development projects; she has completed degrees in Critical Film Studies, Film & Television Production, Broadcasting, Communications, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Public Policy at Santa Monica College. Her first editorial work upon transplanting to Los Angeles was at UCLA School of Theatre, Film and Television as an apprentice to documentary filmmaker Kristy Guevara-Flanagan on the post-production of several award-winning short films. As a production designer and arts-counselor, Nilsen's work centers on the healing elements of human nature, comedy, neurolinguistics, lucid dreaming, and the unraveling of consciousness.
Kit Dezolt
CASTING DIRECTOR
Kit is primarily a performer, but also enjoys writing and casting. Some of his acting credits include Hulu's TV pilot Citizen (Jie), Eric Stoltz's Confessions of a Teenage Jesus Jerk (Kien) on Amazon Prime, Moon Manor (Nox), Jack Henry Robbins’ VHYes! (Dash), and other indie films. The weirdest role Kit played so far, was a condom in a MTV commercial, but hey everyone has to start somewhere right? Kit has been in 13 commercials, 4 music videos, a performance art piece, computer software program, and multiple professional theatre productions including working for Broadway Across America & the Walt Disney Company.
When Kit isn’t performing, you might find him in the casting room. Kit has worked for Dream Big Casting for the past three years. He freelances as a session runner or camera operator for other casting directors. Kit graduated from Loyola Marymount University's Theatre Program (Summa Cum Laude) and completed both the sketch writing and improv programs at UCB. Kit also studied at M.i. Westside, Impro, iO, Comedy Sportz, The Pack, & Revolution Improv. Kit is a directing student in Second City’s directing program. Kit’s academic study in the world of comedy has gotten him into writing. Outside of essay writing, Kit has fallen in love with writing short sketches. If you see him improv around town, then catch out him and the teams he’s playing on, writing on the spot.