Writer, Director, and Producer
MARY MAZZIO
In all of her films, Mary Mazzio (an Olympian and recovering lawyer), explores the concept of overcoming obstacles, whether it is a fight for social change (A Hero for Daisy, I Am Jane Doe), or issues of poverty and lack of opportunity (Ten9Eight, The Apple Pushers, Underwater Dreams). Her mission of shedding light on compelling narratives of social significance has made her one of the country’s most prominent filmmakers. The impact of her work is deep and profound. For her film Underwater Dreams, Mazzio collaborated with the White House and raised more than $100 million dollars in public and private partnerships for underserved students. Her last film, I Am Jane Doe, elevated the voices of young sex trafficking survivors, catalyzing bipartisan federal legislation signed by the President in 2018. All of Mazzio’s films are about ordinary people doing extraordinary things – defying expectations and challenging assumptions of who and what they can achieve.
Narrator and Executive PRODUCER
Common
Chicago born and raised, Common received his first Grammy award in 2003 for Best R&B Song. Since, he has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including Erykah Badu, John Legend, Kanye West, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill. Common has been recognized not only for his music, for which he has earned an Academy Award and numerous Grammy awards, but also his acting which won him an NAACP Image Award. In 2012, Common founded Freedom Road Productions where he sits as an Executive Producer on The Chi, a show which aims to depict the true lives of Chicago residents. Common is also the founder of Common Ground Foundation, a non-profit serving Chicago youth from the South and West Sides.
Executive PRODUCER
Grant Hill
A seven-time NBA All-Star and recent Hall of Fame inductee, Grant Hill is a household name across the country. Now retired from basketball, Grant is an owner of the Atlanta Hawks. He continues to excel off the court – from sports broadcasting, to real estate, to founding a private equity mezzanine fund. A true believer in community, his contributions to charity work, academic scholarships, and national initiatives for healthier lifestyles demonstrate Grant’s heart. While all his charitable work inspires, Grant’s lifelong love of art has become his most benevolent endeavor.
Executive PRODUCER
Dwyane Wade
Dwyane Wade, one of the Miami Heat’s most celebrated players, is an Olympic medalist, dedicated father, thirteen-time NBA All-Star, Sports Commentator, and well-known philanthropist. On the court, he is recognized for his leadership, making history with Miami’s first NBA Championship and delivering a gold medal for the men’s basketball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Off the court, Dwyane is known for supporting several philanthropic organizations. In 2003, he founded the Wade Family Foundation, a community-based organization that promotes education, health, and social skills for children in at-risk situations and in 2016 he launched his Spotlight On initiative which seeks to highlight youth who are actively working to inspire change. He hosts a variety of community outreach programs in Chicago and South Florida.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
9TH WONDER
Patrick Douthit, known professionally as 9th Wonder, is a Grammy Award-winning producer who has worked with Mary J. Blige, Drake, Destiny’s Child, Kendrick Lamar, and Jay-Z, among many others. The focus of two documentary-films, 9th Wonder has long been acknowledged for his cultural impact on hip-hop. A few of his contributions include serving on the executive committee of Hip-Hop and Rap at the Smithsonian, acting as the NAACP’s National Ambassador for Hip Hop Relations and Popular Culture, and working as a W.E.B. Dubois Fellow at Harvard University. In addition to his work in the music industry, 9th Wonder is a prominent figure in academia and currently works on faculty at both North Carolina Central University and Duke University. Jamla Records is 9th Wonder’s independent label.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS
Bill Hudson
John H. Carlson
Bill McNabb and Katie McNabb
Ginny Gilder and Lynn Slaughter
Derek Dudley
Bryan White and Christine White
Bruce Herring and Tricia Herring
Ted Dintersmith
Cameron Winklevoss
Tyler Winklevoss
Doris Casap
Ashley Bekton
Chaz Ebert
Rick Lane
WITH FURTHER SUPPORT FROM
official apparel and footwear partner
LAURIE TISCH AND THE LAURIE M. TISCH ILLUMINATION FUND
LINDA CABOT AND THE ANGEL FOUNDATION
SUE WAGNER
Nicole Stata
WILLIAM WALTON
JOHN CHATZKY
featuring
ARSHAY COOPER
ALVIN ROSS
PRESTON GRANDBERRY
MALCOLM HAWKINS
RAY “POOKIE G” HAWKINS
TAVARES “POOH” GOODMAN
ELLIOTT MOORE
ARTHUR WHITE
TERRY MEEKS
LINDA MEDLEY
BLANCHIE HAWKINS
MECHELL GRANDBERRY
ANGIE ROSS
FRANCES HAWKINS
ISAAC COOPER
SHAUNDELL COOPER
KEN ALPART
ARNE DUNCAN
CRAIG NASH
DR. KERRY RESSLER
ROSEANNA ANDER
DR. DEBORAH GORMAN-SMITH
DR. KATHERINE FLANAGAN
MIKE TETI
DAVID BANKS
ANITA DEFRANTZ
URIAH HALL
MIKE CARROLL
TIM FITZPATRICK
LOUIS GREEN
MATT ROBEN
JAMES OBALDO
JOHN DAY
JENNIFER BONJEAN
TRISH BRUBAKER
MARC MANDEL
TIM FIELD
VICTOR FINLEY-BROWN
AMANDA RAMDEHOLL
KEVIN GRIFFITH
EDITORS
ANDREW ELDRIDGE
TOM COLE
MARY MAZZIO
hip-hop producer
9TH WONDER
orchestral composer
Alex Lasarenko
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
JOE GRASSO
AERIAL DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
AARON GRASSO
Production Crew
| STORY EDITORS | ALEC SOKOLOW BOB FITZGERALD |
| STILL PHOTOGRAPHY | RICHARD SCHULTZ ANDY ANDERSON CLAYTON HAUCK |
| ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY | AARON GRASSO DAN FISCHER JUSTIN HAYWARD MARY MAZZIO |
| ASSOCIATE PRODUCER | ANDREW SANDERSON |
| PRODUCTION COORDINATORS | MICHELLE TOCASH HUGHES LES MILNE BRANDON SUQUET DAMIAN HUCK |
| ASSISTANT CAMERAPERSONS | KEITH JONES WILLIAM DAUEL MELISSA DABBACK DAVE JUNE KC CAPEK CHAD MATTHEWS |
| DATA MANAGEMENT | MIKE PAVISLAN CHASE PARSONS ADAM MCDONALD |
| SOUND RECORDISTS | NAJI AL-AWAR LOU WISKES RICH MACH CARLOS MAEDA |
| GAFFERS | TJ CLOUNIE MARC ANDERSON ZACHARY KIND JOHN ALDRICH |
| ASST. DIRECTOR | RUSS GENTRY |
| KEY GRIPS | MIKE CHO JAY COAKLEY JOZEF JOZEFOWSKI |
| SECOND ASSIST. CAMERAPERSONS | ABRAM GALVIN CHASE PARSONS |
| SWING/DRIVER | PATRICK WALSH HAI NGUYEN MELISSA REVELS |
| HAIR AND MAKEUP | PAULINE BARRY NORA HESS KAREN KOENIG DRENNAN LUCIA |
| CRAFT SERVICES | ANNA DELOREFICE MICHELE KITAGAWA JOSEPH GIOVANETTI |
| PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS | ANA PEREZ-TERNENT KELLY BRIGHT FRANCIS DEWEY JULIANNE MASON ELLA WAHLESTEDT JARRETT MOORE HILLARY ANDREWS MCKENNA MORRIS NATALIE NOVAK GABRIELLE ALIAS EMILY PAIGE JANE WILLIAMS KENDALL BREWER DANNY ALVARADO MATT BETTE MARLON BRACAMONTE WILL CAMPISANO CHRIS FORSTON JASMINE GARCIA MARC INDELICATO PRATT MAJMUDAR BIANCA MOON AUBREY MURRAY MIKE PLUCHINO RICH REYNOLDS JOEY SANTORE SABRINA THOMPSON LOUIS TOGNA EDGAR VEGA ANTHONY WILLIAMS |
| ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR | LEAH C. ABRAMS |
Post Production
| COLORIST | ROB BESSETTE |
| TRAILER EDITOR | TOM COLE |
| SOUND DESIGN/RE-RECORDING MIXER | GREG MCCLEARY |
| MUSIC MIX/MASTERING – ORCHESTRAL | DAVID LITTLE |
| DESIGNER/ART DIRECTOR | MICHAEL FREDERICK |
| ANIMATION ARTIST | DONALD DAYS |
| ADDITIONAL EDITORIAL | GILLE KLABIN CHRIS HORNE |
| STORY EDITOR – TRAILER | DAVID BERNSTEIN |
| POST PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR | NOREEN MOROSS |
| ASSISTANT EDITOR | LIA GRIFFIN |
| NARRATION ENGINEER | CAMERON PERRY MICHAEL MOSS |
| ORCHESTRAL LIVE RECORDING | TYLER SUMMERS – THE RED ROOM |
| HIP-HOP LIVE RECORDING | JAMLA RECORDS/BRIGHT LADY STUDIOS |
| ONLINE/EDITORIAL FACILITY | ANOTHER AGE PRODUCTIONS |
| SOUND MIX FACILITY | HEART PUNCH STUDIO |
| MUSIC FACILITY | TONAL |
| NARRATION FACILITY | THE CUTTING ROOM |
| STRATEGY/PUBLICITY | BETSY SHERMAN TERI KANE MEREDITH GEISLER RICK LANE |
| LEGAL SERVICES | PAUL HARTNETT, ESQ. DENNIS ANGEL, ESQ. |
| INSURANCE SERVICES | TAYLOR & TAYLOR |
| MUSIC CLEARANCES | JEANNE FAY |
| ACCOUNTING SERVICES | GARY MCDONOUGH SUE GOETZ |
| TRANSCRIPTIONS | MULBERRY STUDIO |
