JW Myers, Creator, Executive Instructor

JW is a seasoned veteran of the Los Angeles independent film arena, having worked extensively in nearly every capacity on various productions, his skill set ranging from directing, producing, writing, acting, production coordination, office managing, and production accounting. Most notably, he has written, directed, and/or produced several features and shorts, including “Jack Fell Down,” “Flamingo Dreams,” “The Accountants,” “To Make a Stiff Drink,” and the upcoming feature, “Transition.” Along the way, he appeared in numerous television and independent film projects over the years, including “Live Shot,” “America’s Most Wanted,” and “Angels Among Us.” Unwilling to exit the entertainment industry upon moving his family to Ohio, in 2008 he quickly established ReelMovieKids.com, a successful online/offline venture where he teaches improvisational comedy to children, which culminates in the casting and production of filmed “sketch” comedy. With Executive Writer Ty DeMartino, he has produced, composed, edited, and directed (to date) 43 filmed sketches for ReelMovieKids.com. But who’s counting?

In between film and television projects, J.W. also founded IdiotCentral, an improvisation school, where he taught improvisation to thousands of students over the course of a decade in Los Angeles. He recently taught at the prestigious Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in Los Angeles, and has also taught for the Academy of Cinema and Television. He has also directed and performed with several traveling improvisational groups, playing such venues as The Comedy Store, The Laugh Factory, and The Ice House.

J.W. holds a B.A. in Theatre from Frostburg State University in Maryland, and an M.A. in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica in California. He currently resides in Ohio with his wife, Tess, and two kids, Benjamin and Gillian.

 

Ty DeMartino, Executive Writer

Ty DeMartino is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter with both Off- Broadway and international credits to his name. Over the past decade, Ty’s plays have been performed from Connecticut ("Life After Pie") to California ("Objects in the Mirror May Be Closer Than They Appear.") In 2004, he co-authored two satires – "He's No J.F.K.," which ran Off-Broadway at NYC's Kirk Theatre in Times Square, and "Soap Scum" for NJ's Spotlight Theatre. His stage drama "The Blessed Mothers of War" was given a staged reading at the 2005 Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights in Abingdon, Va., before receiving a full production at the 2007 Baltimore Playwright's Festival. For his BPF show, Ty was named "Best Playwright for 2007" by the Baltimore City Paper.

His latest play, "Finding Fossils" was produced by 2008 Baltimore Playwrights Festival and was named the outstanding production of the year.

DeMartino has also been honored by the Maryland States Council with an Individual Artist Award in Playwriting in both 2003 and 2007. In addition to dramas, Ty has written the books to two original musical comedies -- "Furry Tales" which made its debut in Pittsburgh in summer of 2007 and "Cougarland," a show about older women who date younger men.

Ty’s film writing credits include the shorts "Basic Emotions" for Shouting Cow Productions (screenings in New York, Los Angeles, Paris) and "On Paper" for Kelly Entertainment (screenings in New York, Washington, D.C., and Toronto).

Ty is a graduate of Frostburg State University in Maryland where he met ReelMovieKids.com's Creator & Executive Instructor JW Myers. Together, they are the "creative co-dependents" who have shot 43 sketches (and counting) for ReelMovieKids.com's, and established the creative blueprints for the organization.

 

Ryan Schlagbaum, Cinematographer

Ryan Schlagbaum has been a cinematographer for over 7 years. After graduating from Ohio University with a video production degree, Ryan and his new wife set out for Colorado. Ryan also had a great opportunity to work as a freelance soundman and cameraman for all kinds of different productions, including The Dr. Phil Show, The Discovery channel, Backpacker Magazine, Intuit Software, and ESPN. Ryan saw the inside of the prototype replacement for Marine 1 (the Presidential helicopter), sat in for NBC at the Kobe Bryant hearings in Eagle, CO, and was a jib assistant for the final episode of the Amazing Race season 9. If you don’t know what being a jib assistant means, it involves hauling heavy equipment all over Red Rocks amphitheater at 4 in the morning while it’s snowing.

Ryan returned to the Midwest and spent a year working as an electrician on feature films that shot in and around Pittsburgh as well as continuing his freelance company, Quickdraw Media, and creating various programs for old and new clients. He met Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jensen Ackles, Jamie King, and a whole slew of other folks that aren’t famous, but are fantastic people. The lighting experience he gained on the film sets proved to be invaluable, both for the work he was then doing, and for his current work at ReelMovieKids.com.

Currently Ryan produces three local programs on channel 17 WDEM in Columbus, OH. He still maintains some freelance jobs that are close to his heart, and is in preproduction on 2 short films that he is co-writing with other local filmmakers in Columbus. His next music video project involves miniature guitars, cotton batting, 2,250 watts of lights, and 2 toy penguins. It is sure to be a hit.

 

Greg O’Rourke, Website Manager

Greg has nearly twenty years of experience in the Marketing and Graphics field. He has served as an Art Director for several award-winning ad agencies in Annapolis and Laurel, MD.

Getting his start as a Commercial Photographer and Graphic Designer in Washington, D.C., Greg quickly adapted his skills to the digital age and has worked in all aspects of the marketing field. Greg's extensive background in photography, and his years of computer experience have made him an expert in Photoshop and Illustrator.

For the past two decades Greg has worked with a wide variety of clients including the banking, pharmaceutical, entertainment and commercial industries, having been involved in everything from the "Mom and Pop" shops to some of the largest companies in America. He creates everything from logos and Annual Reports to websites and advertising. He is also a partner in a web hosting and design company in Frederick, Maryland. He is a founding member of the Reel Movie Deal, Inc., as well as ReelMovieKids.com.

Greg is a longtime member of the Art Directors Club of Washington and holds a degree in Commercial Photography from the Ohio Institute of Photography and Design.

Brett Born, Production Consultant

Brett Born is a seasoned entertainment industry veteran, with nearly two decades of experience in all aspects of production. His wide array of skills and titles include Accounting, Staff Writing, Producer, Production Office Coordination, Transportation, Location Management, Art Department, and Post Production Supervision.

He has worked with many of the major studios, including Paramount, Warner Brothers, Fox and Disney. For nine years, he served as Production Controller / Accountant and as Staff Writer and for the hit Fox series, "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" and spent two seasons as the Production Controller / Accountant for Disney Channel's "Hannah Montana." His work with Fox and Disney has given him extensive experience with all aspects of budgeting, cost reporting and motion picture union contracts. He is a member of IATSE, Local 871.

He was a member of the development team for another Fox children's series, "W.I.Z.A.R.D.S." He has co-written and co-produced several short films, including a project for Dr. Pepper and the American Taekwondo Association, and he has written several independent feature scripts. He is currently writing a featurette for the DVD release of the Warner Brothers film, "Sesame Street Presents - Follow that Bird.” Brett holds a B.A. in Television and Radio and a B.A. in Psychology from Texas Tech University.