Key Staff & Personnel
Jason Brown
Jason Brown, born May 5, 1983, in Henderson, North Carolina, is a former professional football player whose career and post-retirement ventures have made a significant impact both on and off the field. Known for his leadership, dedication, and philanthropy, Brown has transformed his success in the NFL into a mission to serve his community.
Brown excelled academically and athletically at Northern Vance High School, where he was a National Honor Society member and an accomplished track and field athlete, earning four state championships in discus and shot put. His football talent earned him a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where he became a cornerstone of the Tar Heels’ offensive line. During his collegiate career, he played multiple positions before settling as the starting center, earning First-Team All-ACC honors in 2004.
In 2005, Brown was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. He quickly proved his value, becoming the team's starting left guard and later their starting center. In 2009, Brown signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams, making him the highest-paid center in NFL history at the time. Over a nine-year career, Brown established himself as one of the league’s most reliable linemen before retiring in 2012.
Despite multiple offers to continue his football career, Brown chose a different path. He returned to North Carolina and founded First Fruits Farm, a 1,000-acre operation dedicated to feeding the hungry. Remarkably self-taught, he learned farming techniques through online resources and has since donated hundreds of thousands of pounds of produce to local food banks. His work has earned widespread recognition, and he has become a symbol of using personal success for social good.
Jason Brown's story is one of resilience, reinvention, and unwavering commitment to helping others. His journey from NFL stardom to community leadership exemplifies the power of purpose-driven living, inspiring countless individuals to make a difference in their own communities.
Kelly Lynn Reiter
Kelly Lynn Reiter is a North Carolina native with bootlegger blood in her veins. Being a producer, actor, and writer, she migrated to Hollywood after studying biomedical engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from age 15. With over 100 credits to her name, she has worked with household names such as Oliver Stone, Bruce Willis, Mel Gibson, and the icons of the silver screen. Kelly has a zest for life, passion for film, and an energy that just never seems to run out. As a multi-talented creative, she brings a wealth of experience in producing, writing, and acting to White Lightning with a local knowledge, expertise, and further, a personal passion for guiding film to the Carolinas. She wants to give projects their home. With a keen eye for storytelling and a vision for bringing projects to life, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the studio's vision. Whether behind the scenes or on camera, Kelly is committed to delivering compelling, original content that resonates with audiences worldwide. Kelly’s connection to the world of White Lightning runs deep - her paternal lineage includes the legendary white lightning outlaw, Popcorn Sutton, arguably the most famous moonshiner of all time.
William Nix
William Nix, Chairman/CEO, Creative Projects Group® is a Producer with extensive experience in the entertainment, media, sports, and intellectual property fields. He is also a Partner in the social and environmental impact investment firm, LOHAS Advisors and Capital. He is a member of the Producer's Council of the PGA, a founding member of its Social Impact Entertainment Task Force and member of its Diversity, Education, Independent Film, Documentary and Animation Committees. He is also a lifetime voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, serving on its Grants Committee, as well as a member of the Television Academy. Will was the Co-Chair of Baker Botts' Entertainment, Media and Sports Practice Group, VP of Legal and Business Affairs for NBA Properties, and COO of the MPAA's Global Content Protection Group.
Robert Rippberger
Robert Rippberger is a filmmaker with a broad array of creative and executive experience. He most recently directed and produced the film “Those Who Walk Away” starring BooBoo Stewart (Descendants, X-Men) and prior to that directed and produced the Harlem drama, “Strive,” with Danny Glover. Both were released theatrically and received dozens of accolades worldwide.
Rippberger has also directed and produced critically acclaimed documentaries, including the 2019 film “Public Enemy Number One” from Executive Producer ICE-T, exploiting the U.S. war on drugs. Prior, Rippberger directed and produced the 2015 film “7 Days in Syria”, an exploration into the human side of the war in Aleppo, Syria. The film was championed by Angelina Jolie, screened at Britain’s House of Lords, to senior members of the U.N., and was released on Hulu and Amazon.
Rippberger is a member of the Producers Guild of America and is on the PGA's Social Impact Entertainment Task Force. In addition to heading SIE Films, Rippberger is the founder and co-executive director of SIE Society, a leading global alliance of Social Impact Entertainment filmmakers. In 2022 he published his second book, “The Power of Storytelling: Social Impact Entertainment” available through book sellers everywhere October 25th.
Rippberger’s current projects include producing the documentary "How to Build a Truth Engine" with Executive Producers George Clooney and Grant Heslov, producing the documentary “The Mouse That Roared” from Academy Award-nominated director Judith Ehrlich, producing the stop-motion animated film "The Inventor" from "Ratatouille" writer Jim Capobianco, starring Daisy Ridley, Stephen Fry, Marion Cotillard, and Matt Berry, and executive producing the horror film "Float" by former Blumhouse executive Zac Locke. Rippberger also has two upcoming director projects to be announced soon.
Nathan Edwards
Partner, business magnate. In 1979 his father Derrill Edwards started Edwards Inc. that expanded into a leader in crane rental and full-service heavy industrial contracting in North Carolina. By continuing to provide quality work and service, Nathan now runs the company as CEO expanding Edwards Inc. into the largest full-service industrial contractors and crane rental companies in the Southeastern United States.
Roger Goff
Roger Goff is an entertainment lawyer and producer in Los Angeles, California. In over 35 years as an entertainment professional and attorney, Roger has handled hundreds of transactions across the entire industry spectrum including film, television, music, digital media and entertainment technology. He has represented financiers, as well as producers, directors, writers, actors and other artists and entrepreneurs.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Roger worked in radio and television broadcasting, commercial production, advertising and as a studio musician. He holds an FCC license as a broadcast engineer and graduated from the studio guitarists program at Musicians Institute (in addition to receiving his B.A. from UCLA and his law degree, with honors, from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles). He began his legal career as a corporate attorney handling mergers and acquisitions and private securities transactions. He quickly transitioned to the music industry and spent many years representing independent record labels.
As an attorney in the film industry, Roger has handled financing and production for over a hundred films, including the Academy Award winning Dallas Buyers Club (Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto), Welcome to the Rileys (produced by Ridley Scott), Splinter (directed by Toby Wilkins, starring Shea Whigham, Jill Wagner and Paulo Costanzo), American Gun (Forest Whitaker, Marcia Gay Harden, Donald Sutherland, Amanda Seyfried), and The Space Between (Kelsey Grammer, Julia Goldani Telles, William Fichtner).
Roger has also been an executive producer on several films, including most recently Man Down (Shia Labeouf, Gary Oldman, Kate Mara, Krystal (directed by William H. Macy and starring Rosario Dawson, Kathy Bates and Nick Robinson), Cut Throat City (Ethan Hawke, Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, Kat Graham, and The Tiger Rising (Dennis Quaid, Queen Latifah).
Roger is a producer of the recently released feature The Locksmith (Ryan Phillippe, Kate Bosworth, Ving Rhames).
Board of Directors
Michelle Chubarov McIntosh
Former Senior Executive at Universal Studios Hollywood and current CEO/producer of Willow Creek Pictures
Jeff Chao
Jeff Chao is the Vice President of Finance and Business Development at Digital Domain. In his role, he connects Content Strategy, Business Affairs and Finance to identify new and innovative business opportunities that accelerate the growth of Digital Domain’s global studio. Jeff is a strategic thinker who listens to clients with the aim of achieving a win-win partnership. His extensive background in finance and sales drives him to align corporate goals with those of clients.
Prior to joining Digital Domain, Jeff was Senior Director, Finance at Participant Media. There he managed film investments for a $250 million film fund between Participant Media and Image Nation Abu Dhabi. He had direct involvement in investments for over 31 films with budgets ranging from $2 million to $75 million, such as “Lincoln,” “The Help,” “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel I & II,” “Contagion” and “Snitch.” In addition, Jeff supervised the growth of Participant Media’s Digital division from a blog to a Multi-Channel Network with 10 million views per month. He also aided in the acquisition and set up of Pivot Television, a cable network for social good that won an Emmy award for Joseph Gordon Levitt’s “Hit Record.”
Jeff is part of a dynamic global team at Digital Domain.
Tobias Deml
Tobias is aн Austrian Filmmaker best known for his directorial debut "Gaming Wall Street", a docu-series on HBO Max. He has more than 15 years of experience in creating digital visual arts. He co-founded Cinema of Change in 2013, and runs the LA-based Social Impact Entertainment production company Prodigium Pictures since 2011.
His main interest is how film influences us - and how this impact can be used effectively and ethically. He graduated with a BA in Film Studies from UC Berkeley, where he wrote his thesis "Cinema of Change: The Persuasive Impact of Narrative Motion Pictures on Society and Individuals".
Tobias is both a Cinematographer and Producer and has shot, directed or produced more than 100 short-form and feature film projects. Tobias has developed and taught the only class in Cinematography at UC Berkeley.
His artistic principles are PPCEQ - Purpose, Productivity, Creativity, Ethics and Quality Control.
Jeff is part of a dynamic global team at Digital Domain.
Dave Lugo
A 15 year industry veteran with over 20 films produced with combined budgets over $100m. Additionally, he has experience in studio installations, streaming/OTT platforms and all areas of film equipment.
Scott Rosenfelt
Scott Rosenfelt is one of Hollywood’s most successful independent producers. On the strength of such films as Smoke Signals, Home Alone, Mystic Pizza, Teen Wolf and Extremities, Scott has garnered international acclaim and recognition.
Home Alone is one of the highest grossing films of all time, and has generated over $1 billion worldwide. Smoke Signals was the winner of the Audience Award and the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Mystic Pizza launched the career of Julia Roberts and went on to critical and commercial success, while Teen Wolf, starring Michael J. Fox, is one of the highest grossing independent films of all time. Extremities, starring Farrah Fawcett, garnered international, critical and commercial acclaim as well.
Mr. Rosenfelt is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a graduate of NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Rebecca Graham Forde
Rebecca is an Executive Producer and Writer, and her work spans across Commercials, Television, New Media, and Publishing. She has spent much of her career creating and developing work in the non-fiction space and has produced hundreds of hours of compelling TV for Discovery Channel, OWN, CBS, A&E, and History Channel. After many years of uncovering amazing true stories in her non-fiction work, Rebecca founded GRANDI STORIE, Inc. to develop these “great stories” in the non-fiction and narrative space. Currently, she has partnered with major production companies in Los Angeles to execute these visions. A Colby College alumni, Rebecca started her career in Boston, producing commercials for brand giants Chevrolet, Fidelity Investments, Pizzeria Uno, and Howard Johnson Hotels. Rebecca is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles. Rebecca is a member of the Producers Guild of America, having once served as a Vice-President of the Guild and, most recently, Co-Chair of the Education Committee. She is a long-standing Power of Diversity workshop mentor and a founding member of the PGA Social Impact Entertainment Task Force. She is a WGA West member and serves on the Producers Executive Peer Group Committee for the TV Academy. Rebecca is represented by UTA..
Michelle McIntosh
Michelle Chubarov McIntosh is a producer, production executive, writer, and entrepreneur with film and television production expertise, creative abilities, and business acumen. Ms. McIntosh is currently the CEO of Willow Creek Pictures, and formerly ran the Production Services division at Universal Studios Hollywood for seven years where she supervised up to 450 productions per year, including Mission Impossible 3, Desperate Housewives, and Ellen, and surpassed revenue quota by over 100% annually. Prior to that, she worked on- and off-set in production on various feature films, TV shows, music videos, and commercials, such as Scorched with Woody Harrelson and Alicia Silverstone, According to Spencer with Giovanni Ribisi, and Resurrection Blvd with Elizabeth Pena. She was also a producer on the Ivan Sergei directed film Rebellion with Patrick Dempsey and Joe Viterelli.
Ms. McIntosh is currently a producer of marketable, studio-caliber projects with international appeal, such as the 2015 feature film Last Knights with Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman, an executive producer and advisor to a global group of production companies and investors, and a screenwriter of feature films and television series.
Jarnell Stokes
Jarnell D'Marcus Stokes is an American professional basketball player, known for his powerful presence on the court and his impressive skill set as a forward. Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Stokes rose to national prominence as one of the top-rated high school players in the class of 2011, attracting attention for his strength, agility, and competitive spirit. He went on to play college basketball at the University of Tennessee, where he earned All-SEC honors and became a pivotal player for the team. During his time at Tennessee, he averaged impressive stats, establishing himself as one of the most consistent players in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Stokes declared for the NBA draft after his junior year and was selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Utah Jazz, who then traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies, bringing him back to his hometown. Over his professional career, Stokes has played in the NBA, G League, and overseas leagues, showcasing his talents globally. Known for his rebounding skills and aggressive play style, Stokes has continued to adapt his game, making him a valuable player in various competitive leagues.
Anthony Argento
Anthony Argento has been immersed in the film industry from a young age, with filmmaking deeply rooted in his identity. His early career involved working on various productions, from commercials for major brands like Macy’s to projects with renowned TV networks such as NBC, Nickelodeon, and Saturday Night Live. In addition, Anthony actively participated in school film groups, which eventually led him to join the Astoria Performance Arts Center (APAC), where he worked for several years and was honored in 2018 for his contributions. His time at APAC spanned multiple roles, inspiring him to pursue technical design studies at Pace University.
Following his education, Anthony founded ROLLIN STUDIOS, driven by a vision shaped by his immigrant background. He focused on expanding into the international market, quickly securing projects from around the globe. Early milestones included INDIANA, with a Spanish crew, and KILL ME, HEAL ME, involving Korean collaborators. Twelve years of dedication saw ROLLIN STUDIOS shift its emphasis to narrative feature-length films. Anthony has supervised a diverse array of projects, including MAPPLETHORPE (2018), DETECTIVE CHINATOWN 2 唐人街探案(2018), THE CAT AND THE MOON (2019), and PAINT (2022). His role as a producer expanded to some of Asia’s most significant cinematic works, such as LOST IN RUSSIA 囧妈 (2020), KILL ME, HEAL ME, and the blockbuster THE WANDERING EARTH 2 流浪地球 (2023).
Under Anthony’s leadership, ROLLIN STUDIOS has collaborated with top-tier companies and talent from Asia, producing projects across the United States with internationally diverse crews. Committed to fostering the next generation of filmmakers, Anthony emphasizes the importance of empowering youth to pursue their creative visions, believing they are the architects of the industry’s future.
