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JUDGES
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Cynthia Filetto - Cynthia Filetto graduated from Syracuse University with a BFA in Art Education. She did her graduate work at Binghamton University and has been an art teacher in the area for twenty years. Currently Ms. Filetto teaches Advanced Placement Art courses and Studio Art at the Rod Serling School of Fine Arts at Binghamton High School. In addition, Ms. Filetto has coordinated the Imaginative Images/Crayola Dreammakers Art Show, one of the largest annual student art shows (K-12) in New York State at the Roberson Museum. She has an avid interest in student’s creative endeavors. |
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Mark Levy - Mark Levy is an intellectual property attorney and has been an amateur movie maker for 25 years. Originally working in Super 8mm film and now using video, he has won awards in national and international competitions for his documentaries and short pieces. For the last 15 years, his articles have appeared in “Videomaker” Magazine covering subjects relating to movie making and the law of copyright, privacy and publicity. He also lectures on these topics at video conferences, college seminars and community service organizations. He is a member of an amateur movie making club and the Society of Amateur Videomakers and Cinematographers (SAVAC). |
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Sonja Stark - An award-winning freelance videographer, Sonja Stark of PilotGirl Productions has shot and edited with a variety of producers, production companies and tv networks. Her background includes shooting and editing news, episodic programming, documentaries, features, series, half-hour shows, sports, politics, PSA's and training videos for over 15 years. Founder of PilotGirl Productions, Ms. Stark tackles assignments, big or small, with a degree of perseverance, passion and commitment rarely seen in the television industry. She's shot documentaries in dozens of countries including Myanmar, Vietnam, China, Japan, South Africa, India and Italy. She has the physical and mental strength to fly solo as well as the spirit and personality needed to work as part of a larger crew. Her uncanny eye for detail and quick reflexes make for the ideal videographer for news, reality-driven content and documentary-style programs. From trekking the ripe eco-systems of the Panamanian jungles to capturing the intensity of poverty in Africa to battling below freezing temperatures in Greenland, Sonja thrives in challenging and unpredictable locations. |
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Gregory Keeler - Greg has been involved with media since he was little... making movies on silent Super 8 film including a silent five-minute version of The Invisible Man. His media interests led him to Ithaca College, where he was named "Freshman of the Year" by the IC chapter of the broadcasting honor society, Alpha Epsilon Rho... and he hosted "How Could You Forget?" a TV trivia game show on WICB-TV. He joined the staff of WSKG Public Broadcasting in 1985, and over the years has worked as a classical music announcer, production coordinator, operations manager, radio program director, TV program director, computer geek with a side of web, membership producer & pitchman, and a resident conductor of the "WSKG Swamproot Festival Singers", among other duties. Greg is often seen as EmCee for local non-profit fundraisers, including the Southern Tier Music Teachers' Association and the YWCA. He sings with the Madrigal Choir of Binghamton and performs Gilbert & Sullivan with The Summer Savoyards. Greg and his wife Pamela live in Binghamton with their cross-eyed cat, Cleo. |
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Howard Fisher - In 2008, Howard Fisher retired from teaching biological sciences after more than 38 years; 35 of them for the Binghamton City School District. Born and raised on Long Island, Mr. Fisher received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from the University of Bridgeport. In addition to teaching biological sciences, at Binghamton High School, he was National Honor Society advisor and coach to Binghamton High’s New York State Science Olympiad and High School Challenge teams. For ten years he coached Odyssey of the Mind teams and was the lead teacher in the district for the Marine Studies Enrichment Program at Montauk Point, NY. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Binghamton High School Crisis Response and Intervention team. During four summers, Mr. Fisher was a People to People delegation leader traveling through Europe and Australia for three weeks with over 30 middle school students. Mr. Fisher is still actively engaged as a member of both The Cornell Institute for Biology Teachers and the Binghamton University Institutional Biosafety Committee responsible for recombinant DNA experiments at the university, as well as a member of the educational grant panel of the Community Foundation of South Central New York. In 1987, he was Binghamton City School District's Teacher of the Year. When not in a Binghamton High School classroom substitute teaching, you can find him in a movie theater or riding his Harley. |
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Judi Hess - Judi Hess is the Manager of Tourism & Special Events for the Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau. The Convention & Visitors Bureau works to promote our community as a destination for meetings, sporting events, and vacation getaways. While marketing the community, Judi has the opportunity to engage the use of a wide variety of media ~ print, web, and video. Experience has helped her to develop the creative energies. Judi has been with the Bureau since 1995. She is a graduate of Herkimer Community College with a degree in Travel & Tourism as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from Binghamton University. A lifelong resident of Broome County, she is proud of her hometown and loves to share her enthusiasm for this wonderful community. |
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Gary Ingraham - Gary Ingraham is a documentary film and video producer/director, a freelance writer, and a lecturer at Ithaca College's Roy Park School of Communications. He also plays bass guitar and sings in Reprise 60s, a "British Invasion/American Response" cover band. Gary takes great pleasure in encouraging young directors, cinematographers and editors to develop their filmmaking skills, and he is thrilled to be associated with the Rod Serling Video Festival. He spends his free time watching movies with (and without) his wife, Patricia, or tossing a Frisbee to his two dogs, Exley and Dobie Gillis. |
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Jim Ehmke - Jim Ehmke studied independent filmmaking at Binghamton University in the late 1980's before starting a career in television news. He joined WICZ-TV in 1989 as a photojournalist. He became Chief Videographer at WIVT NewsChannel 34 in 1998 and subsequently News Director in late 2004. Ehmke has won numerous awards from the New York State Associated Press for his interviews and twice was named best photojournalist in the state. He also sits on the planning committee for the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally and the marketing committee for Southern Tier Celebrates. Jim Ehmke resides in Binghamton with his wife Stacey and son Aidan. |
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Ken Harris - Upon receiving his B.A. in Mass Communications from Buffalo State College in 1977, Ken worked in industrial video production shooting and editing projects for a number of major corporations. In 1983, his focus shifted to cable production where he managed the local production facility in Binghamton, NY for Time Warner Cable. In this role, Ken was responsible for the production of numerous local commercials. He was also Producer/Director of various local programs including professional sports, college sports, high school sports and music events, political debates, parades as well as many other local events and special programs. Ken is currently an active free-lance cameraman involved with the coverage of professional a sporting events and entertainment programming for ABC, CBS, ESPN, FOX Sports, The Golf Channel, USA, MTV and other regional sports networks around the United States. |
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Elizabeth Rechtin - Elizabeth Rechtin received her BS in Art Education from Nazareth College and completed her Master's Degree at Binghamton University. She began teaching Graphic Design and Ceramics at Dryden High School in September, 2002. Since then she has been actively developing a Media Arts Sequence option, which now includes five digital media courses, for high school art students interested in pursuing careers in video, film and graphic design. This is her first year as a judge for the Rod Serling Video Festival and she is honored to be a part of such a great opportunity for aspiring filmmakers. |
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Doug Mosher - A native of the southern tier, Doug’s love for music started at the age of 4 when he could be found sitting in a corner spinning 45’s on a coke bottle. The love affair(Radio) started in the 80’s and his still going today. Doug has worked for several radio stations in the Binghamton Market over the past 20+ years, WAAL, Q102, WNBF and WHWK in 1987. In 1996 he helped put a new radio frequency on the air WYOS (Oldies) where he was Ops Manager and morning personality (as The Mojo Man) and 1998 introduce another new frequency WBBI (Today’s Country 107.5). He is currently the Morning show host on 1075 The Bear Pure Classic Rock and Program Director for WINR AM 680 while handling Public Affairs for Clear channels 6 stations in the Binghamton market. Doug is a big fan of Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone and Night Gallery, and directors Hughes, Carpenter and Spielberg. Doug is also a local musician and has played in several bands as well as solo performances. |
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Christina Rockhill - Christina Rockhill has a degree from Syracuse University in Journalism and Communications. She is the Creative Services Director at WBNG-TV and oversees the commercial production for the local CBS affiliate. Rockhill has been a journalist for more than eight years and has been the editor of four publications. Before moving back to Binghamton, she was a broadcast journalist and covered Operation Iraqi Freedom II in Baghdad, Iraq. She was awarded the national Thomas Jefferson Award as producer of the Best Local Television Newscast. While in Baghdad, Rockhill shot video footage that was used by CNN, Fox News and other international media. She currently resides in the greater Binghamton area with her husband Chris and cat. |
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John Gregory - John has had a fascination with both horror and science fiction since early childhood spending much of his youth on the streets of Rod Serling’s West Side Binghamton neighborhood, hearing stories about the famous writer/producer. John is honored to serve as a judge for the Rod Serling Video Festival, and thoroughly enjoys the talent he sees on display year after year! John is an IT specialist for Time Warner Cable and also serves as an Assistant Theatre Manager/Sound Engineer at the Rod Serling School of the Art’s Helen Foley Theater, participating in countless productions, plays and musicals, His sound engineering talents took him to Italy in the mid- 90’s with a touring musical production: several standout moments - shaking hands with Pope John Paul II, running sound with his back against priceless Fresco paintings adorning the walls of the Basilica of St. Francis during a standing-room-only performance. John’s an avid reader/writer of horror fiction stories. He also boasts a large memorabilia collection from the iconic 60’s show Lost in Space. A long-time local musician, John’s played in numerous bands over the years recording music and touring the East Coast. John and his wife Jennifer have two young girls, Gracie and Emma and currently reside in Pennsylvania. |
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Ariana Zbrzezny - Ariana teaches Drama at Binghamton High School’s Rod Serling School of the Arts. She is a board certified music therapist. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from East Carolina University in Music Therapy and one in Voice Performance. She received her Master’s Degree from Binghamton University in Opera and is certified in education through New York State. Ariana has worked providing music therapy to populations including special education, integrated preschool, Alzheimer’s, Neonatal Intensive Care, general counseling, Pediatrics, and Behavioral and Emotional Disorders. In addition to teaching theatre she directs the Serling Players, the school’s drama organization and the annual musical production at the Serling School. Ariana has been seen on local stages singing with Tri-Cities Opera and has performed throughout the country. |
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Lawrence Kassan - [Founder & Director] Mr. Kassan served as Instructor and Assistant Technical Director at Adelphi University on Long Island, NY, before moving north to Greater Binghamton. His theatrical credits include Production Stage Manager for The Prop Trunk Players and Technical Director for the Fine Arts Committee of the XIII Winter Olympic Games held in Lake Placid (1980). Professional associations include Ice Follies Holiday On Ice, Dorothy Hamill ABC-TV Special, and residencies with Long Wharf Theatre, and John Houseman's The Acting Company. He holds a degree in Theatrical Technology and Design from SUNY, Plattsburgh, and is currently the Director of Special Projects for the Binghamton City School District. He also serves as Managing Director for the Rod Serling School of the Art’s performing arts department, Production Manager and Designer for the Rod Serling School’s Helen Foley Theatre, and Founder and Director of the Rod Serling Video Festival started in 1995 (www.RodSerlingVideoFest.com) to promote media arts in classrooms throughout New York State. Mr. Kassan has produced numerous promotional and educational videos for the Binghamton City School District, and has coordinated video location projects with PBS American Masters and Court TV's YOUR TURN. Mr. Kassan served on the Opening Ceremony Organizing Committee for the New York Empire State Games 2000 and as Technical Director / Production Manager for the 2004 and 2008 games. In October of 2009, Mr. Kassan coordinated a four day national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Rod Serling’s THE TWILIGHT ZONE and spoke about Rod Serling’s legacy at The Paley Center (The Museum of Television and Radio in NYC) and as a featured guest on NPR for the nationally broadcast series “On The Media”. Mr. Kassan lives in Binghamton, his daughter Deni is a Physical Thearapy student at Ithaca College, and he may have the largest PLAYBILL collection west of the Hudson River! |
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