Special Guests

Born and raised in Indiana, Pennsylvania (the hometown of Jimmy Stewart, in case you were wondering), writer/director David Altrogge produced his first feature-length film in high school. Since then, he has established himself as an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker whose work is inspiring, entertaining, and deeply human. In addition to directing content for some of the globe’s most influential brands (Netflix, Google, and the Discovery Channel, to name a few) his films have been featured by the LA Times, HuffPost, CNN, BBC, and NatGeo. When not on set, David enjoys writing sappy songs for his wife and their two children. 

Steven has been involved in the film and entertainment industry for more than 25 years, which includes work on over 60 feature films and television productions, in both studio and independent production. He worked in development at Universal Pictures and at the Pittsburgh Film Office. He most recently was a producer on the feature film Unsinkable which won numerous accolades in the United States and Europe after debuting at the Three Rivers Film Festival in 2023.  Steven is a master's graduate of prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, where he received an Adamson Award for screenwriting as well as the University of Pittsburgh, receiving a BA Degree in Literature and Theater.

The 2019 season marked Steve Blass' 60th year of involvement with the Pirates and his 34th and final season behind the microphone as a color commentator. He has been associated with the club since signing his first professional contract on June 27, 1960. The former right-handed pitcher spent 10 seasons (1964-1974) with the Pirates,
compiling a record of 103-76 in 282 games. He ranks seventh on the club's all-time list in strikeouts (896) and 14th in wins.

A member of the 1972 National League All-Star team, Blass won 78 games during a five-year period from 1968 through 1972. He was a Pirates hero in the 1971 World Series against Baltimore when he picked up complete-game victories in Game Three and Game Seven.
On the mound for the final out in 1971, Steve went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in the '71 World Series (18.0ip/2er).

A native of Canaan, CT, Steve and his wife Karen have two sons, David and Christopher, and five grandchildren. In 2002, Steve became the 13th recipient of the "Pride of the Pirates" award, a yearly honor (since 1990) that recognizes a member of the Pirates family who has demonstrated the qualities of sportsmanship, dedication and outstanding character during a lifetime of service. Steve continues to serve the organization as an Alumni Ambassador.

A.D. Calvetti is a writer, director, and editor who is known for his ability to tell nuanced, human stories.  He is in post-production on his debut feature, Wild Dogs. Outside of making films, Andrew enjoys woodwork and longboarding. 

Roberto Clemente Jr. is the eldest son of MLB icon and humanitarian, Roberto Clemente. He is a baseball broadcaster, former professional baseball player, and, like his parents, a humanitarian. 

David Conrad lives between London and his hometown of Pittsburgh. He starred in The Ghost Whisperer on CBS from 2004-2010, and was a regular on Relativity, Miss Match, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.S, Boston Public, and Roswell. His film credits include Desperate Hours, Men of Honor, Wedding Crashers, and many more.  He may work and live abroad but he always comes back to the ‘Burgh and to live theater. He sits on the boards of local charities and has performed locally at barebones productions and Quantum Theatre along with major regional theatres.

Sherise Dorf is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, producer, and the founder of TralaLoo Productions LLC. Sherise spent her early career in the world of New York City magazine publishing, where she realized her love of writing about authentic women, their journeys, storied relationships, and complex family dynamics might be ripe to explore in Final Draft. After returning to her native Los Angeles,  she continued to freelance for various publications (and enjoyed a brief but unforgettable stint as a ghostwriter for a San Francisco-based dominatrix with a book deal) while diving into the world of screenwriting and raising her daughter. Sherise first jumped into independent filmmaking to co-produce a micro-budget feature. Her feature directorial debut, The Everything Pot, enjoyed its World Premiere at The 2024 Tribeca Festival.  Sherise recently received the award for Best Feature Director at The 2024 Cordillera International Film Festival. 

A Streamy Award winner, Justine Ezarik is one of the top female tech and lifestyle personalities online with over 14M social fans. She was named one of the top 50 Creators by Forbes, one of the Hollywood Reporters 50 most powerful digital players as well as one of Maxim Magazine's Hot 100. Justine has been on Time’s Most 100 list and was ranked the #6 most influential personality by The Daily Beast’s Digital Power Index, amongst the rankings of Lady Gaga and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley. She published her first book, I, Justine: An Analog Memoir, under Simon & Schuster and is a New York Times Best Seller. Justine has worked with partners such as Google, Microsoft, LG, Sony, Intel, Microsoft, P&G, Starbucks, Samsung, amongst others and has been featured in numerous magazine and publications from The Chicago Tribune to Fast Company and Maxim Magazine and appeared on Chopped, The Celebrity Apprentice, Dr. Oz, The Talk, The Rachael Ray Show, The Vampire Diaries, Criminal Minds, Law & Order, E!, and MTV.

Daryl Freimark is an Independent Spirit Award-nominated Producer for the critically acclaimed two-part feature film A Bread Factory. Recently, he produced A. Rimbaud (in post-production). Daryl is the creator and executive producer of the hit podcast Operator. Some of Daryl's other projects include House of Darkness directed by Neil LaBute and starring Justin Long and Kate Bosworth; Giving Birth to a Butterfly; Some Velvet Morning starring Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve; Five Star, which premiered domestically at the Tribeca Film Festival and internationally at the Venice Film Festival; Allegiance; A Rising Tide; Framing John Delorean starring Alec Baldwin; The Sound of Silence starring Peter Sarsgaard and Rashida Jones, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival; and the musical film Hairspray.

Nuked, produced by Daryl, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival (2024).

Lead actress Sophie Guest performed in The Great One earlier in her career – (nine years ago!) - and is excited for its release!  Sophie was recently featured in another Pittsburgh based movie – coming of age indie dramedy Dear Zoe opposite Sadie Sink (Stranger Things). In 2021, Sophie appeared as Doris in Amazon’s critically acclaimed, horror anthology series Them. She made her feature film debut in 2012, opposite Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher and in 2014 appeared in Lionsgate’s sports drama Draft Day. Additional credits include: Lionsgate’s’ Love the Coopers, Lifetime’s The Good Nanny and Those Who Kill and CBS’s long-running hit comedy series Two and a Half Men.

Brian Hartman is a film producer and screenwriter who has overseen countless productions from the Hollywood studio backlots to the open ocean and the alleys of New York City. He began his career in Pittsburgh working at nearly every capacity on dozens of major studio features before expanding into Los Angeles and beyond with national commercials, television specials and everything in between. Recognized for a very hands-on approach, Brian has produced works that have screened at major festivals and markets such as Toronto and Sundance and have been sold to some of the top studios and distributors in the industry.

Michael J. Hartnett, the son of a NASA scientist and mural painter, has lived his life at the intersection of art and science. A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Michael is a co-founder of Vinegar Hill. With a prolific career as a cinematographer, he has filmed in more than fifty countries and specializes in capturing moments of human connection and transformation that resonate with diverse audiences. When not on set, Michael enjoys eating sushi and playing LEGO with his four kids.

Tess Higgins is a LA-based writer, producer, and actor. After working in professional musical theater for five years in Washington D.C., she began pursuing comedy and film in LA. She performs improv regularly and was on a house team at the Upright Citizen's Brigade. Her training comes from The College of William and Mary and The London Dramatic Academy. She has appeared in numerous indie comedies and shorts, including the 2021 dark comedy Kringle Time. She is developing two new feature scripts that also highlight the topic of reality television.

Alex Ifft is an aspiring actor who began his acting career at 14 years old.  Alex is a Pittsburgh native who played Danny Trillo in the film The Great One, a story about childhood dreams, baseball and Roberto Clemente. Ifft has also had parts in I Am Not Okay with This and Dear Zoe. Alex (23 years old) graduated Magna cum laude in 2024 with a degree in Journalism and News Information, with a minor in Sports Management from the Scripps College, at Ohio University.

Actress, director, producer, and writer Beth Lane is a second-generation Holocaust survivor.  Her directorial debut, UnBroken, had its world premiere on October 8th, 2023, at the Heartland International Film Festival where it was awarded Best Documentary Feature Premiere. UnBroken has screened in over 17 states and received the Best Documentary Audience Choice Awards at the Julien Dubuque, River Run, and Berkshire Int’l Film Festivals. Beth was voted Best First Time Filmmaker at Hot Springs International Women's Film Festival, and she received the Madelyn’s Choice Award at Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival. She is a keynote speaker, curates and serves on panels nationwide, and hosted over 40 episodes of a weekly Instagram Live on-camera podcast, Banter with Beth. As the president of The Weber Family Arts Foundation, her mission is to combat antisemitism, bigotry, and hate by driving awareness, engagement, and activism, across a wide variety of mediums through the arts by sharing stories of hope.

Terese LaVallee joined the Caring Place in 2001 and has held the position of Director since 2004. As a licensed psychologist for 15 years, Terese has extensive experience in the fields of death and dying, group process, and family systems with an emphasis on child development. Prior to her work with the Caring Place, Terese worked in various sectors including private practice and an inpatient mental health setting. Terese has been the recipient of the Spirit of Goldstein Humanitarian Award from Perseus House (2009) and was named one of the "Women Making History" by the Mercy Center for Women (2010). In addition, under Terese's leadership, the Caring Place received the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (2008). Terese is constantly inspired by the courage of the kids who come to the program and go on living in the face of tragedy. 

Manuel Rafael Lozano is an actor, best known for his recurring role as Officer Tejada on "9-1-1" and appearances in shows like Casa Grande and Criminal Minds. He frequently appears in commercials and films, including Teen Wolf The Movie and Holiday in the Vineyards. Born in Puerto Rico to a Mexican father and a Cuban mother, Manuel transitioned to entertainment in his late forties after successful ventures in music education and telecom software sales. His debut as executive producer on the feature film Isabel’s Garden, which he also acted in, is a hopeful family drama that has garnered significant recognition, with selections and awards at prestigious international film festivals. Scheduled for release in January 2025, Isabel's Garden is the first of several films Manuel is currently developing as co-partner of Iris Tuesday Productions. A UC Berkeley alum, he resides in Santa Monica, CA, with his wife and their 11-year-old daughter.

Melissa Martin is the producer, writer, and director of The Bread, My Sweet, a critically acclaimed, award-winning, commercially successful independent film. Martin is co-writer of Dear Zoe, a feature film adaptation of Phillip Beard’s novel by the same name starring Sadie Sink. She has written and directed multiple short films and web series. Martin’s most recent directing project is Basic Psych, an indie feature with Michael Cerveris, David Conrad, and Cotter Smith. Sumerlings, a coming-of-age drama, is Martin’s next feature project. Martin lives in Pittsburgh and teaches Graduate Screenwriting and Graduate Directing for Film at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. 

A dedicated multi-instrumentalist, composer, and music educator, Brett embarked on his musical journey while living in Prague, Czech Republic. He began playing the piano at the age of four, discovering a lifelong passion for melodies. Later excelling as a saxophonist and percussionist leading marching bands and ensembles, Brett remains grounded and committed to nurturing emerging talents. After studying music education at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, his genuine love for music education led him to guide high school marching bands post-graduation. He is now a Band Director at Mt Lebanon High School, just outside Pittsburgh, PA. Teaming up with long-time friend and collaborator June Bracken, Brett recently co-produced the EP The Ocean – Five Years, a resonant orchestral pop masterpiece. The project showcases his brilliance, featuring notable musicians like Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra members and Chris Jamison from The Voice.

Bruno Mourral is a writer, director, and producer who studied film in Paris at EICAR. In 2007, he returned to Haiti and co-founded Muska Group, a leading company specializing in audiovisual production. Bruno directed over 50 commercials in the Caribbean and Africa, winning several awards for best commercials. In 2015, he co-founded Muska Films to change the narrative through cinema and develop the Haitian film industry. In 2017, Bruno wrote, directed, and produced Kafou, a mid-length film that won several awards and nominations. In 2018, Bruno was featured in MovieMaker Magazine as one of 25 Screenwriters to Watch. In 2024, Bruno presented his first feature, Kidnapping Inc., at the Sundance Film Festival.

Kelsey Myers attended Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh, where her passion for filmmaking took off, launching her on a path toward storytelling through editing. Now based in Los Angeles, she has established her career in television and film, working as both an Editor and Assistant Editor. Her recent credits include work on popular series such as the Max Original The Sex Lives of College Girls and Netflix’s Never Have I Ever. In her spare time, she enjoys editing short films, exploring the city, and biking around the streets of LA. Driven by her love for storytelling and the belief that a single cut can transform an audience's emotional experience, she looks forward to furthering her craft in editing. Last year, Kelsey collaborated with Director Rebecca Wahls to edit her first feature film, Him. Excited that the journey has come full circle, she returns to Pittsburgh to share this same film with audiences at the Three Rivers Film Festival.

Edward Rawson is Executive Director of Haiti Friends. His career has been defined by his love for the arts, non-profit leadership, business development and fundraising in the US and Haiti. His diverse professional experiences include large scale public art projects, infrastructure work programs, major development projects, agroforestry and reforestation in Haiti. Most recently in his role at Haiti Friends, he has put together a year-long Haitian Art Exhibition now on display at the Latin American Cultural Center.

Kit Rich, the writer and director of her debut feature film Isabel’s Garden, has earned numerous awards on the international film festival circuit. Renowned for her work as a celebrity fitness trainer, she has empowered high-profile clients like Jennifer Lawrence and Kesha while also fostering a vibrant online community through her inspiring message of body positivity and wellness. A multifaceted talent, Kit is also an accomplished writer and playwright, with essays featured in esteemed publications such as the LA Times and SELF Magazine. As she continues to break boundaries and inspire others, Kit is currently developing two new films as Co-Partner of Iris Tuesday Productions, marking an exciting new chapter in her flourishing career.  

Duane Rieder is an acclaimed photographer, winemaker, and founder of the renowned Clemente Museum. Despite national exposure, Duane continues to work, invest, and live in Pittsburgh with his wife and two daughters.

Raised in a family of musicians, and an accomplished flautist in her own right, Mary has been enthralled by the arts her entire life. Upon graduating from university, she cut her teeth on Capitol Hill, where she worked as a legislative researcher. Feeling the need to return to her first love, Mary walked away from politics and transitioned into film producing. Outside of work, Mary is an active aunt to 12 nieces and nephews.

Emmy-nominated, award-winning filmmaker, director, producer and writer, Jennifer Schlieper didn’t start her career in film. She cut her teeth as a Creative Strategist at one of the largest PR firms in the world launching products and services for Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies. In 2017, out of a need to do something that mattered for those who matter, Schlieper and executive producer Courtney Gumpf partnered to create Flying Scooter Productions. The intent is to impact through client partnerships, mission-based nonprofits and stories silenced by those that fear the truth. Schlieper has written, directed, and co-produced hundreds of stories with Gumpf in the last seven years. The Ocean – Five Years is their first film festival release winning Best Documentary at VIFF and Officially Selected at Milan FFI, Documentaries without Borders International Film Festival, Red Rose Film Festival, Toronto International Women Film Festival, Venice Shorts and Pittsburgh Shorts. 

Cotter Smith has spent the majority of his professional life in New York and Los Angeles, and has now happily settled in Pittsburgh. He has appeared in many plays on and off Broadway, and his television and film work ranges from his debut in 1982 as Robert Kennedy in the mini-series Blood Feud to the President in X2: X-Men United. Over the years his television series work has spanned from the early days of Hill Street Blues to his more recent roles on Mindhunter, The Americans and Madam Secretary. He also portrayed the lead Senate prosecutor in last year’s Three Rivers Film Festival premiere of the Titanic trial film Unsinkable. He has been teaching acting for over 20 years and served as Department Head of the MFA Acting Program at the New School for Drama in NY.

In addition to practicing pediatrics in Pittsburgh for over 40 years, Jim Tucker published four medical murder mysteries with Penguin-Putnam: Abra Cadaver, Hocus Corpus, Tragic Wand, and Silent Samaritan. He also blows glass and plays golf. Basic Psych is his first screenplay.

Rebecca Wahls (she/her) directs, writes, and produces film, theatre, and new media. She is the Artist in Residence at Duke University and has served as Artistic Associate for Acting for Young People since 2015 where she has directed and written over 50 plays for children. In 2017, she founded the non-profit theatre Who What Where Productions, where she produced and directed the world premiere play Spills by Ruthie Rado, which has since run in NYC and London. Works in progress: found-footage queer horror feature GOLEM.AI and this old haunt, a new musical co-created with Maggie Kane, SMJ, and Dillon Feldman. MFA, Carnegie Mellon University (John Wells Fellow). BFA, George Mason University. She is also a TEDx speaker.

Deana White is the Executive Director of the West Virginia Alliance for STEM and the Arts. She has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kentucky and worked at a refinery/petrochemical plant in various roles including process design and environmental/safety compliance. She also home-educated her children, helped design a theme restaurant, and advocated for the Green Bank Observatory during recent NSF funding decisions with the public and key members of Congress. She now dedicates her time and passion to working on education projects, including leading a STEM and the Arts Film Festival, co-developing a web-based learning game platform called STEAM Trek, and working on other programs that promote curiosity and engagement in STEM and the Arts. She loves learning and hearing other people's life experiences, hiking and kayaking, playing games, and spending time with her family. 

Ellie White (she/her) is a graduate student and longtime science geek. She is currently working on a master's degree in physics at Marshall University, where she also teaches introductory astronomy and physics classes. Through the years she has worked on research projects in the fields of astronomical instrumentation and the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) with the Green Bank Observatory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the UC Berkeley SETI Research Center, and the SETI Institute, for which she received the 2021 SETI Forward Award. Her other passions include astronomy and STEAM outreach and DEI efforts, and she is a founding member of the nonprofit, West Virginia Alliance for STEM and the Arts. In her free time, she likes spending time with her family, friends, and pets, enjoying the outdoors, baking obsessively, reading, and watching too many rom coms.