Andre Torres
Best known for: Founder of Wax Poetics,
In just seven years, Wax Poetics has become the premier hip-hop and funk publication by illuminating the golden era of music while re-contextualizing today's music world. In 2007, Wax Poetics began expanding its editorial vision past the magazine across books, records, films, and online with their digital music download site at waxpoetics.com. Andre Torres is the founder of Wax Poetics and its Editor-in-Chief.
Scott Sanders
Best known for: Black Dynamite: The Animated Series, A Different World and The Wayans Brothers
Originally from North Carolina, Scott Sanders is a screenwriter and film director who began his career as a television writer working on shows such as A Different World, Roc, and The Wayans Brothers. Sanders' directorial debut came on the 1998 HBO film Thick as Thieves. His latest film, Black Dynamite, was released by Sony Pictures on in 2009.
Bill Jones and Ben Timlett
Best known for: MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH
In 2010 Bill Jones and Ben Timlett both received 2 Emmy nominations for directing and producing MONTY PYTHON: ALMOST THE TRUTH (THE LAWYERS CUT). A 6 X 1 hour documentary series and 100 minute theatrically released feature film about the story of the Monty Python team for their 40th anniversary. Early Bill and Ben productions include documentaries NEVER MIND THE SEX PISTOLS, REBEL TRUCE: THE HISTORY OF THE CLASH and WHO KILLED NANCY. Drama productions include MOCKINGBIRD staring Olivia Williams, THE WEST WITTERING AFFAIR and CHEMICAL WEDDING starring Simon Callow.
John Landis
Best known for: An American Werewolf in London, The Blues Brothers and Michael Jackson's Thriller
John Landis has directed some of the most popular movies of all time including The Blues Brothers, Trading Places, National Lampoon's Animal House, Three Amigos!, Spies Like us, Coming to America and the 2011 Ealing black comedy Burke & Hare. He wrote and directed the classic An American Werewolf in London and the groundbreaking Michael Jackson's Thriller.
Landis has directed documentaries including the Emmy winning Mr. Warmth, The Don Rickles Project, and has done extensive work in television. Landis is married to costume designer and noted costume scholar Deborah Nadoolman and has two children.
Judah Friedlander
Best known for: The Wrestler, Feast and Zoolander
Judah Friedlander is a stand-up comedian known as The World Champion. He is the greatest athlete in the world, a master of the martial arts, hooks up with 40 women a day, and he's a role model to children. Judah is an extra-dark black belt in karate. Although he is currently more well-known for his TV & acting work (30 Rock, Letterman, Conan, Fallon, The Daily Show - and movies like American Splendor (based on the comic books by Harvey Pekar; Judah played Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff), The Wrestler, Feast, Zoolander, Wet Hot American Summer), stand-up is what Judah does best & he's been doing it just about every night since 1989. Judah has just written an instructional karate book "How To Beat Up Anybody" which is jam-packed with jokes, photos & artwork that he made 100% himself without any ghostwriters. It is the greatest book in karate history. Judah will be signing and selling his book at Comicon as well as some other items. And Judah does not charge for photos! For more information go to http://www.judahfriedlander.com and @judahworldchamp on twitter.
Sandeep Parikh
Best known for: The Legend of Neil, The Guild and The Webventures of Justin & Alden
Sandeep is truly a product of the YouTube/multi-hyphenate era of content creators. He wrote and directed Comedy Central and Atom.com's highest rated and most viewed web-series The Legend of Neil, which has had multiple television runs on Comedy Central and MTV2. It was rated in the Hollywood Reporter as one of the Top 10 Webisodes to watch. Neil has garnered over 6 million views online was nominated for 8 Streamy Awards including Best Director for Sandeep. Time.com notes that Neil gave "birth to a new star that has brightened the firmament of nerd culture."
Sandeep acts as the series regular, Zaboo in the acclaimed and multiple award winning webseries The Guild, arguably the most successful online series to date which has been viewed over 100 million times. He's been nominated for 2 Streamy Awards for Best Comedic Actor. He has also appeared on Showtime's Californication, NBC's Community as well as their companion webseries Abed's Films and as a host on Comedy Central's AtomTV.
Sandeep is also on the cutting edge of branded entertainment producing and writing The Webventures of Justin & Alden a branded web series for Trident Gum and directing an episode of Suite 7 for Lifetime which is sponsored by The Better Sleep Council. Sandeep's successes have led Comedy Central to sign one of it's first combo new media/television deals for the creation of 2 more webseries as well as a blind-script television pilot, which he is currently in development.
Charlie Sanders
Best known for: MTV's Death Valley, When in Rome and Shitty Jobs
Charlie Sanders was born and raised on the mean streets of St. Paul, Minnesota. While still in high school he began doing comedy at Comedy Sportz in Minneapolis. In 2001 he moved to New York City where he performed at the UCB Theatre doing improvisational and sketch comedy and frequently appeared onLate Night with Conan O'Brien. He was a proud member of the award-winning sketch groupsPolice Chief Rumble andBuffoons. In 2009, Charlie moved to Los Angeles where he now performs a weekly comedy show at UCB LA with his improv groupShitty Jobs. Sanders co-wrote and starred inThe Big Dog, Funny Or Die's first long form film and has appeared onThe Office,Funny or Die Presents,Children's Hospital, NBC'sCommunity, Fox'sTraffic Light, and in feature filmsWhen in Rome and Cedar Rapids. Charlie is psyched to soon be shooting zombies.
Andrew Johnston
Best known for: Creative Director - Superfad
A native of Washington D.C., Andrew attended George Mason University and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2003 with a B.F.A in Studio Art and a Minor in Art History. He began work at DC based Henninger Media Services as a designer/animator working for clients such as Discovery Channel, PBS, National Geographic and various political campaigns. While at Henninger, he attended a Flame certification course with Discrete at their LA training facility. In 2005 he won a Gold "Poli" award for Best Animated Promo for a Democratic Candidate.
In 2005, Andrew moved to New York and coincidentally was able to harness his political design background almost immediately by designing the show open and logo for Comedy Central's Emmy nominated Colbert Report while at Verb! Media. Shortly after Andrew began working at Süperfad New York, where he is now a Creative Director.
While at Süperfad, Andrew has worked on countless design projects in all stages of the process: from designing boards, to shooting live action, editing, and animating. Projects include the redesign of the HBO Sports show open, Summer and Winter X Games campaigns as well as commercials for Etrade, American Express, Pepsi, and many others.
Most notably, Andrew Art Directed Süperfad's Durex - Get It On Viral. It went on to win 2 CLIO Awards, sweep 4 AICP Awards including the coveted "Humor" category, a Cyber Lion at Cannes, was a D&AD nominee, and additional awards at the One Show, and Art Director's Club of New York. It also received a record 12+ million views online, was named one of the "Best Virals of 2009". It has recently been included in the MOMA permanent archives as well as the global ACT Responsible Exhibit of the best social responsibility advertising in the world.
See Andrew at the Liar's Autobiography Session on Sat, Oct 15 from 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm at the IGN Theater.