VIRGINIA BOGERT, President
Virginia Bogert has directed, written, edited and produced award-winning film and video for over 20 years, ranging from feature film, shorts, and commercials, to corporate image, documentaries, and programming for public television. After three years as lead producer of a top media production agency in Seattle, she launched Laughing Dog Pictures, LLC in 1993 (laughingdogpictures.com). Some of Bogert's credits include her documentary: Pike Place Market: Soul of a City, which garnered four Emmys, a Telly, and a Nell; commercials and PSAs which have broadcast nationally and internationally; and her Emmy nominated documentary Fields of Plenty which also screened at environmental film festivals and on KCTS-9 About Us series. Her narrative short Tootie Pie, was an Official Selection of Seattle International Film Festival 2006 (tootiepie.com) and her Fly Film The Delivery (deliverymovie.com) screened at SIFF 2006 as well. Other work includes writing web content for PBS, field production for “The Today Show” and The Food Channel. Virginia holds a BA in English, an MA in Communications from NYU and is the Producer/director of Film & Video at Experience Music Project and Science Fiction Hall of Fame Museums. She curates the Post Alley Film Festival (postalleyfilmfestival.com) and teaches at UW Extension Certificate Program.

BARBARA BROWN, Vice-President
For over 20 years Barbara has worked as a script supervisor/continuity professional on feature films, television, regional and national commercials, independent shorts, and corporate web content. Some of her credits include: Valley of Light (Hallmark), The Diary of Ellen Rimbauer (Victor TV), Sherman Alexie’s The Business of Fancy Dancing, Rose Red (2nd Unit); the TV series Northern Explosure, Dangerous Minds, Metropolis, The Fugitive (2nd Unit), Elementary, Providence, Players, and Orleans; and the independent shorts Full Disclosure, Tootie Pie, and Geek Like Me. In addition, she is a writer of a feature length script and is currently at work developing two shorts. Barbara is also on the board for Lake Washington Girls Middle School, helping to develop the next generation of women in film.

HEATHER MORADO, Secretary
Heather Morado is an intellectual property and entertainment attorney and a cum laude graduate of Seattle University School of Law. Heather has formerly worked in the legal departments at the Experience Music Project and KCTS Channel 9 as well as for a boutique intellectual property law firm. Prior to law school, Heather was the recipient of a full tuition scholarship to the University of Puget Sound and also performed as a professional violinist with the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra. Heather currently manages her own law practice and teaches a small studio of violin and piano students.

SUSAN LASALLE, Treasurer
While graduating from Evergreen State with a degree in Documentary Filmmaking and serving on the board for the non-profit organization, INFACT, Susan was instrumental in leading that organization and its fundraising efforts to produce Deadly Deception, an exposé of General Electric, nuclear weapons and their effect on the environment. Deadly Deception won the Academy Award (yes, the academy award) for “Best Documentary Short of 1991.” Not a bad start!

Susan is an experienced independent producer; among her many accomplishments are: It’s Your Choice, a dramatic short which won a World Gold Medal at the New York Film Festival and has been in distribution nationally for over ten years. Susan was a producer for Reuben Gonzales’ film Mambo Café, executing a production deal with Kushner-Locke, (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind). Mambo Café is distributed by Unapix Entertainment Inc. and HBO. Susan was an Executive Producer on Boy Wonderz (2000) which is distributed by Liberty International Entertainment and available through Blockbuster.

Susan recently produced three short films: Tootie Pie, an official Seattle International Film Festival (2006) and Langston Hughes African American Film Festival selection (2007); Full Disclosure, SIFF Golden Needle Audience Choice Award 2006, and 2006 IFP Spotlight Award winner and 2007 SIFF selection, Diggers.

LAURA JEAN CRONIN, Membership Committee Chair
Laura Jean Cronin is an award winning filmmaker and an accomplished artist and educator. Her eclectic education includes a BFA in Photography, Painting and Printmaking, a three year sojourn studying art in Florence Italy, an MA in Italian Language, Literature and Cultural Studies, and a Ph.D. ABD in Comparative Literature at the University of Washington. She learned Film Production at 911 Media Arts in Seattle working with John Jacobson. During her Doctoral studies she specialized in Cultural Criticism with an emphasis in representations of minorities in Film, Literature and the Media, Gender Studies, Queer Theory and Film Studies. During her Graduate work Ms. Cronin taught Italian Language for six years and English Composition, History of Film, and Film Analysis for four years. Her artwork has garner awards at the Seattle Urban League’s Annual Minority Art Show, The Pound Gallery Competitive Group Shows and has been exhibited in Washington from Bellingham to Olympia. Her short films John Gill, 2000, Block Party, 2001, Leave It, 2002 and Free Parking, 2006 have earned national attention and have screened worldwide. Her feature length screenplay, Princess and Buddha, was a finalist in the Slamdance, Sundance and Washington State Screenplay Competitions. Ms. Cronin has also used her arts, film, and language background teaching in the Bilingual P-3 (Preschool through Third Grade) Teacher Education Program at Pacific Oaks College Northwest. She currently teaches Film, Composition, and Communication courses at the Center for Linguistic and Cultural Democracy and is experienced with the Soy Bilingüe Adult Dual Language instruction model.

SUE CORCORAN, Special Events Committee Chair
Director Sue Corcoran is the owner of Von Piglet Productions www.vonpiglet.com based in Seattle. She started her career by making a 16mm short that told the epic story of a love triangle between two clowns and a mime -- not the break-out hit Sue expected but she continued undaunted. Her debut feature film "Gory Gory Hallelujah" is currently in worldwide video release. Sue was named "One to Watch" by the Seattle Stranger's Genius Awards in Film and has been called a bankable Yankee blond by the London Standard. Her most recent short film won the Nell Shipman award for Best Short and also won the Accolade Award. Sue believes in the art and craft of filmmaking and is dedicated to her vision: human drama told through comedy and fantasy. Sue is in development of her next feature film slated to shoot in 2008.

REBECCA VAN PELT, Program Committee Chair
Rebecca has an undying love for the visual arts stemming from a heavy background in theatre and dance. She is an active member in the Seattle Film Community often lending her knowledge and support to local independent filmmakers. After graduating from the Art Institute of Seattle in 2003, she co-ran the Equipment/Studios Department at Victory Studios where she also used her talents as a Production Coordinator/Manager, Camera Operator, and Teleprompter Operator. She has worked for several major corporations such as Washington Mutual, Starbuck’s, Microsoft, University of Washington, T-Mobile, Nintendo, and on many significant political campaigns. Rebecca currently works as a Producer for Pravda Studios on Capitol Hill. Future aspirations include producing documentaries, work related international travel, and facilitating her growth as a writer.