About the Team

​

Doug Cole - Executive Producer and Writer

Doug served in strategic marketing communication leadership positions for the Hewlett-Packard Company and the J.R. Simplot Company.  Under his tenure, HP launched its branded entertainment program with high-profile relationships including DreamWorks Animation, the Sundance Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, MTV, and Gwen Stefani.  Doug teamed with Academy-Award winning documentary director Ben Shedd on a Make-A-Wish film titled "Star Waiters" which won the 2009 Make-A-Wish National Foundation Infinite Award for being the best wish out of 13,200 wishes granted.  He is an advocate for inclusion for those with disabilities and serves as Volunteer Vice President and Co-Founder of IncludeAbility Inc, a 501(c)3 charity.

​

Gregory Bayne - Director, Producer and Writer

​

Gregory is a filmmaker with work spanning features, shorts, documentaries, and digital series.

In 2010 he produced and directed the acclaimed, fan-funded documentary Jens Pulver | DRIVEN, about the legendary mixed-martial-arts fighter. The project was one of the earliest Kickstarter success stories, raising $27,210 in just 20 days. He followed that up with Bloodsworth–An Innocent Man, which chronicled the remarkable true story of Kirk Noble Bloodsworth, the 1st death row inmate exonerated by DNA evidence in the United States. In 2014 he co-created (with Christian Lybrook), and directed the pilot for the award winning series Zero Point, which was developed through the IFP Screen Forward Lab, and premiered in the 2015 Tribeca N.O.W. program.

A 2012 Sundance New Frontier Storytelling Fellow, and 2015 IFP Screen Forward Lab fellow, Gregory has been a guest speaker discussing the evolving landscape of film, media, crowdfunding, and digital distribution at Columbia University, the Los Angeles Film Festival, Lone Star Film Festival, and London Film School, and has written for Filmmaker Magazine, WorkbookProject.com, and NoFilmShool.com. 

Most recently, Gregory managed the release of his debut feature as a writer/director, 6 Dynamic Laws for Success (in Life, Love & Money), which the Hollywood Reporter called “A fresh, enjoyable, stylish, neo-noir.” 

​

Advisory Committee

​

An advisory committee was established for the film comprised of the following individuals:

 

Jesse Cordtz, AV Manager and Play Studio Coordinator at JUMP and indie filmmaker

Beth Cunningham, Executive Director, Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Trace Dandrea, President of Includability.org and Idaho Director of Racing for Orphans with Down Syndrome

Neva Geisler, Community Engagement Director, One Stone school

Dana Gover, ADA Specialist in Training & Technical Assistance Consultation, Northwest ADA Center-Idaho

Heather Hill, Former Communications Officer, J.A & Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation and former Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games

Angela Lindig, Executive Director, Idaho Parents Unlimited

Tom Magnuson, 30-year AT&T former executive, paraplegic and motivational speaker

Catrine McGregor, CEO of Life Tale Films and casting director for 40 years

April Matson, Actress and Founder of Platform, LLC, an acting studio and film & theatre production company

Laura Mehlhaff, Director of the Sun Valley Film Festival Initiative

Natalie Podgorski, Strategist and Founder of Foresight Public Affairs

Steven Snow, Executive Director, Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Willie Stewart, spokesperson, Challenged Athletes Foundation

John Wee, owner of Lucky Studio 13 independent production studio and creator of Idaho Indie Filmmakers group

Dr. Rulon Wood, Assistant Professor of Communications at Boise State University and filmmaker

 

 

“Making Sense” engaged top production talent in Idaho to provide mentorship to aspiring filmmakers in the community with a special emphasis on people with disabilities.  Understudies in the following disciplines  learned the craft through working hands-on with the film.  These opportunities were comprised of the following areas:

 

• Directing

• Producing

• Acting

• Set Design

• Location Scouting

• Costumes

• Editing/Special Effects

 

​