MARCELO PONTES Producer/Director

Marcelo Pontes is one of the most in-demand independent film directors in Rio de Janeiro. He has worked on almost 100 projects involving musicians, painters and sculptors as well as tv and film pieces produced by corporations and government agencies. May 2006 saw the release of his most recent work, a large expose of psychiatric reform in Brazil, a project which began two years ago. This series has gone on to win Special award for 3 consecutive years as the best cable television (Prêmio Qualidade Brasil). numerous prestigious awards. Marcelo has worked with many Brazilian producers over the years. A native of Brazil, he trained in NYC graduating with honors from The New School in 1999. During his time in NYC he worked on projects produced/directed by Madeline Schwartzman, Flavia Fontes and Mark Stolzenberg.

Marcelo Pontes
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil
marpontes@gmail.com

RECENT WORKS

May 2006 - January 2004 "Hearing Voices Speaking Truths" Director/Editor A documentary about the psychiatric reform in Brazil. (Centro Psiquiátrico do Rio de Janeiro)

September 2005 Producer/Director "ABC & Arte" (9 min), Cipó Produções, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil for Instituto C&A about music schools in Acari Rio de Janeiro

July 2005 "30 Anos de Punk", Plebe Rude Music Video, Rio de Janeiro Co-Editor

May 2005 "Isadora.Orb", Andrea Jabor e Ricky Seabra performance in Belgium Editor

November 2004 "Caminhos de Palelno" (5:34min.), Rio Design Center/DrumVideo Co-Director/Editor/Photographer Sergio César (Sculptor) Promotional video about Brazilian artists in France

August 2004 "Espaço de Luz" (10:17min.) Direçno, fotografia e ediçno do video promocional para Cia Carlota Portella/Vacilou Dançou. Teatro Carlos Gomes. RJ

May 2004 "Dia dos Namorados" (8min.), Tec Cine/Tibet Filmes Director/Editor tv commercial for Casas Bahia

February 2004 "Em Casa" Vídeo-dança (6min) Direçtor/Editor Presents Dança Brasil at CCBB, Rio de Janeiro and Brasília

SUSAN WILLIAMSON
Senior Script Consultant
www.susanwilliamson.com

Susan Williamson is a documentary filmmaker based in Connecticut. She has been working in television for over ten years, having started at ABC in the Daytime Department. Her range of work includes producing, directing and writing independent documentaries such as her most current project TALKING STICKS, about a vibraphone/marimba player, and the award-winning OFF THE CURB, about a group of hip hop dancers. Susan has also worked as an associate producer on feature length television documentaries such as EASY RIDERS, RAGING BULLS, which aired on the USA/Trio Network and was shown at the Cannes Film Festival and HOLLYWOOD, D.C. which premiered on Bravo Network. Susan began her career freelancing at ABC television, HBO and working at Nickelodeon for Producer/Director, Todd Kessler, co-creator of the animated show Blue's Clues. In between projects, Susan studied Cultural Theory and Media Studies at New York University and took time to raise a family with her husband of ten years.

ARTHUR LIPNER
Performer/Composer
www.arthurlipner.com

Arthur Lipner Lipner has emerged as one of the leading vibes and marimba voices of today. As such he is one of the few musicians carrying the message of jazz mallets into the 21st century. Arthur’s live performances and recorded projects convey an exuberant drive of creativity and depth. His travels around the globe as a jazz musician and percussionist have delighted audiences and critics alike. Of a live performance in December 2006, the Chronicle Herald (Nova Scotia) wrote, “Lipner belongs to that rare category of master player that includes Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson...who packs his improvisations with cascades and fountains of notes...” In 2006 Lipner's schedule included concerts in Norway, Iceland, Brazil, Ghana, the USA and Canada. He has appeared in most of the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Costa Rica, England, Scotland, Morocco, Malaysia, the Caribbean and throughout Europe. In April 2005 Arthur performed the Orchestra World Premiere of his concerto HYBRIDISATION during two concerts in Rio de Janeiro with the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil (UFF), conducted by Ligia Amadio. In March 2004 he performed the Concert Band premiere in Winona Minnesota. That concert featured Arthur with The Winona State University Wind Ensemble and a 30-member childrens’ choir. Arthur recently completed his eighth tour in Brazil where he has performed and taught many times in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Campinas, Santa Maria, Niteroi and Porto Allegre. Brazilian music has become an integral part of Arthur’s activities in recent years. He has recorded two cd’s with woodwind artist Ze Luis. He recorded in Rio de Janeiro with guitarist Nelson Faria (currently with Joao Bosco) for Faria’s 2002 release “Nelson Faria.” Of this Album, MusicaBrasileira.org wrote, "Rio" is a true jazz performance, showing why Arthur Lipner has emerged as one of the leading vibes voices in jazz..." Arthur released his fifth solo project “Modern Vibe” in July 2004, a contemporary and refreshing mix of R&B, Funk and Brazilian. Billboard magazine said, "On Modern Vibe Arthur Lipner wields his mallets as if they were extra limbs. What makes it such a joy...it's polished but it's got edge.” Arthur was joined by NYC and Brazilian musicians including Nelson Faria (Joao Bosco), Joel Rosenblatt (Spyro Gyra) and David Finck (Paquito D’Rivera, Rod Stewart).

Lipner’s prior album is “Portraits In World Jazz,” released 1998. Percussionist Glen Velez replaced the traditional role of drumset, with Vic Juris and Fred Hersch making considerable contributions. Of this album Cadence magazine wrote, “Lipner is fully in command of his instruments, with improvisations that swing perfectly. His note placement on vibes and marimba is ideal...a tight, cohesive group that performs flawlessly...”

The solo project THE MAGIC CONTINUES... was released in 1994. Chelsea News (NYC) wrote, “ One of the most successful performers in the adult contemporary field is monumental vibraphonist Arthur Lipner. After a notable career and significant recording achievements, Lipner has put together a cd with some of the most important musicians in adult contemporary music...A really must-buy...”

Going back to 1993, the acclaimed cd “ART OF THE DUO: Liquide Stones” was released on the German label ENJA-Tutu records, recorded by Lipner and with guitarist Jack DeSalvo. "Guitar and vibraphone in a thrilling duo recital with timeless, inflammable ideas...Warm ballads burgeon beside provoking, avant-garde sound plasma, forming their own integrated musical system of co-ordination.." CD Tips, Germany.

Lipner's first solo project, IN ANY LANGUAGE, was released in 1991 by Palo Alto Jazz. In 1992, JVC Tokyo released this album in Japan as part of their Music Of The Mother Earth series. This album was supported by concerts in Tokyo and Osaka. Released in 1998, 1999 and 2003 were cd’s Arthur produced for the publishing company MalletWorks Music.

Over sixty of Arthur’s compositions have been released on recordings. His music has been used on radio, film and tv soundtracks in such places as Finland, Japan, Belgium, The Netherlands, and England. His compositions have been recorded twenty times by various groups. Arthur’s appearances as a NYC session player has led to tracks for everything from Bluegrass to Brazilian to Christmas albums, the tv shows Sesame Street, Designing Women, Bill Cosby's It's A Different World, Japanese tv, a French film score, and dozens of radio and tv commercials.

Arthur has presented over 300 workshops throughout the world, with invitations to teach at some of the most prestigious universities in the USA and Europe including The Juilliard School (NYC) and Sweelink Conservatory (Amsterdam). He has been on the Faculty of The Brabants Conservatory in Tilburg, Holland, Drummers Collective (NYC), State Univ. of NY (Purchase) and Univ. of Bridgeport (CT). He is sponsored by the Conn/Selmer Company and Mike Balter Mallets as an artist/clinician, and has performed at three PASIC conventions.

His text THE VIBES REAL BOOK (1996) is the most comprehensive guide to jazz vibraphone. “Jazz Mallets: IN SESSION” (2000) is the first-ever play-along folio for jazz vibes and marimba. His new improvisation play-along “From Lead Sheets To Hip Solos” for all instruments was released in 2003 by Carl Fischer Music. Arthur is a former member of the Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors, and is a Contributing Editor for the PAS magazine “Percussive Notes.”

LOCAL FILM CREWS IN GHANA and BRAZIL To be properly credited in the final documentary...