BRENDAN RANSON-WALSH // writer, director & choreographer

Brendan Ranson-Walsh is a Los Angeles-based director, choreographer and creative professional. A lifelong dancer, he was born with a smile on his face and began performing at four years old. While earning his B.F.A. from the University of the Arts, he toured across the country with the North American company of the acclaimed musical Cats. He continued to pursue his artistic dreams performing on cruise ships as well as working with various independent choreographers and filmmakers. At the same time he built a successful career in communications and public relations, working on projects including the iconic rebuilding of the World Trade Center. In 2010, Brendan and his brother, Kyle Ranson-Walsh, teamed up to create Dept. of Story, an incubator for narrative-driven, imaginative projects. Take the Initiative, their inaugural effort, focused on using digital media to foster community engagement. In all of his work, Brendan strives to inspire audiences through shared stories.

KYLE RANSON-WALSH // producer

Always a southerner at heart, Kyle Ranson-Walsh spent the past decade living in San Francisco, CA. As an undergrad at the University of Virginia, Kyle founded the state’s first collegiate LGBT Resource Center while crafting his own film degree out of classes in anthropology & digital media. In 2003, Kyle relocated to the Bay Area and has spent the last decade working in production at Pixar Animation Studios, helping to bring Ratatouille, WALL•E, UPand Cars 2 to the screen. He is currently the Production Manager for Pixar’s next theatrical short film which will screen along with Monsters University this summer. While working full-time at Pixar, Kyle completed an MBA In Design Strategy from the California College of the Arts.

ZOE BOXER // co-producer

Zoe Boxer is an independent media production specialist based in Brooklyn, New York. A directing and design graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, for the last 15 years Zoe has been involved in theater, television, film and event production throughout LA, the San Francisco/Bay Area and New York. Working with such institutions as Pixar Animation Studios, MTV, VH1 and the Presidential Inauguration Committee, as well as multiple independent companies, Zoe has engaged in everything from direction and set design to managing and producing. Whatever the job, Zoe prides herself on getting it done with a smile and a sense of humor.

DAGMAR WEAVER-MADSEN // cinematographer

Dagmar Weaver-Madsen grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area taking pictures of her family. As a young child, she began shooting short “films” for her sister, a hobby which grew into a passion for cinema and photography. This love was nurtered in the cinematography masters program at UCLA. Dagmar now works in New York and Los Angeles shooting films, music videos and commercials. She endeavors to make visually striking projects that compliment great stories and brands.

Dagmar has shot and worked on many films, but is especially proud of her work on Alex DeMille’s The Absence for which she won the prestigious American Society of Cinematographer’s William A. Fraker ASC Heritage Award.

SAMUEL SHENOVA // additional story & production design

Samuel Shenova is a New York City-based artist with an ongoing love affair for making pictures and writing words. His professional work as a graphic designer, painter, and art professor explores the interplay between image and language in both commercial communication and personal expression. As a story contributor and production designer on Cologne, Sam’s “2-D” concepts were given “3-D” life through film and dance, a truly unique and inspiring collaboration for which he is grateful for. Sam received his BFA from Pratt Institute in Graphic Design and an MFA from the New York Academy of Art with a concentration in Painting. He is also a Professor in Pratt’s Communications Design program where he teaches Typography and other courses. To learn more about Sam and his work, please visit his website, samshenova.com.

RYAN RICHARDSON // additional choreography & costume design

Ryan Richardson is a former drag queen turned bear gogo dancer with a B.F.A. from the University of the Arts. Television appearances include Showtime at the Apollo and RuPaul’s Drag Race (Season 3 Casting Special). Makeup and costuming credits include Cats 25th Anniversary Tour, The 101 Dalmatians Musical, and Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away. Ryan has lent his choreographic talents to Philadelphia’s Equality Forum and DancePhilly, and is proud to have shared the stage with Randy Roberts (Viva!, The Aids Foundation of Western Massachusetts), Hedda Lettuce (Bordello Saturdays, Comix NYC) and Mink Stole (The Ultimate Drag Off!).

BRADLEY FURNISH // editor

Bradley Furnish is an editor and storyteller working at Pixar Animation Studios. There he has contributed to several animated features and shorts, most recently Toy Story 3 and Brave. In addition to his work at the studio, Bradley has a hand in many short form productions: documentary, independent animation, music videos, PSAs and anything with a story to tell. He is particularly proud of the collaborations that produced Pixar’s It Gets Better PSA and now Cologne. He is actively involved with the Telluride Film Festival and San Francsico’s SF Shorts fest. Bradley is an alumnus of Louisiana State University’s Graphic Design program.

CATHERINE SCANLON // cast

Catherine Scanlon is a dancer and Pilates instructor with a passion for photography. Originally from Pennsylvania, her dance training began at the Ballet Theatre of Scranton followed by the Pennsylvania Governors School for the Arts and the American Academy of Ballet, where she studied with Violette Verdy, David Howard and Leslie Browne. She earned her B.F.A from the University of the Arts and danced for celebrated choreographers including Fernando Bujones, Roni Koresh, Brian Sanders and Curt Haworth. As a featured dancer, she has performed for Carnival Cruise Lines in extravagant production shows around the world. Catherine is now inspired by helping others connect with their own bodies. She obtained her classical Pilates comprehensive certification from Power Pilates in New York City and teaches for Physicalmind Studio and Chaise Fitness, where she is a certifying instructor. For more information, follow Catherine on Twitter @CatScanlon.

HAROLD FLOWERS // cast

Harold Flowers earned a B.F.A. from the University of Akron, where he studied Dance Performance and Music Education. He is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association, and currently resides in New York City. He performed as a guest artist with the Ohio Ballet in Salvatore Aiello’s The Rite of Spring, and has toured the U.S. and Canada, performing in every state! On the North American tour of EVITA, he was the Tango Dancer “Mario” with original Broadway Choreography staged by Tony Winner, Larry Fuller. Recently he was seen on stage with Chita Rivera in an Equity Fights Aids Benefit, produced by Dancer’s Over 40, in Ode to a Dance Belt. His first professional “gig” was as the Magical Mister Mistoffelees in CATS at the former Carousel Dinner Theatre. He has performed original choreography in musicals La Cage, A Chorus Line, and Guys & Dolls; some of his other regional credits include: All Shook Up, Singin’ In the Rain, Swing!, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and the Salt Shaker in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. On Holland America Cruise Line, he has performed dozens of different high energy full production shows on the high seas, and around the world. While not touring and performing onstage, he continues to to train in NYC, and teach master classes in Classical Dance and Musical Theatre in the Midwest and East Coast.

ALAN SEIDEL // executive producer

DIMITRI ALIFRAGIS // associate producer

RAY NINO MACIAS // associate producer

RYAN RICHARDSON // associate producer

CHRIS MOSSON // assistant camera

JORDAN T. PARROTT // gaffer

NOAH CHAMIS // key grip

MARA AUSTER // art director

CAMERON FOSTER // production coordinator

NIKKI CURMACI // production assistant

STEVE BISSINGER // sound designer & re-recording mixer

MARK DINICOLA & SUSAN BRUNIG // colorists

SUSAN MASON BRADLEY // title design

WINSTON GOOD // post production supervisor

SKYWALKER SOUND // post production sound services

Special Thanks