LAURINA FILM PARTNERS
We're lucky to have a growing family of amazing artists in-front and behind the camera helping us bring Laurina's story to the screen. We're proud to tell you a little about our current team.
SYLVIA CAMINER, Director, Producer
Sylvia is an Emmy Award-winning director with extensive credits in theatre, film and television. Over the past twenty years she has filmed on five continents, beginning her career directing theatre. She made her feature directorial debut with the multi award winning and critically acclaimed documentaries Rick Springfield: An Affair of the Heart, andTanzania: A Journey Within, which also screened at the White House in Tanzania for the President and leaders of the nation. She is currently directing the narrative thriller, Follow Her, starring Luke Cook, Mark Moses and Dani Barker.
For television, Sylvia recently won her second Emmy® Award for producing the travel series Samantha Brown’s Places To Love. Sylvia was also nominated as best director and previously won the Emmy® Award for directing the popular Discovery/Travel Channel program Great Hotels (which she also produced and co-wrote). She earned a fourth Emmy nomination for directing Passport To Europe and produced and directed Passport To Latin America (all hosted by Samantha Brown). She has also produced various programs for TLC, WE, Lifetime & PBS and also directed/produced several web series.
As a producer, Sylvia has been a fixture on the New York independent film scene for the past 20 years. She produced three features, Blue Moon, The Deli and Men Lie for director John Gallagher, as well as Animal Room, and Mixing Nia. Her production company, DolGer Films, was the U.S. production company for the Harvey Keitel film, Chosen. Sylvia also co-directed the scripted pilot Laying Low. Additional films she produced through DolGer include Aftermath, Love N’ Dancing, Grace, Breaking Point and Dutch Book. Sylvia has worked with talent including Neil Patrick Harris, Amanda Peet, Gretchen Mol, Tom Berenger, Busta Rhymes, Chris Penn, Tony Danza, Anthony Michael Hall, Matthew Lillard, Amy Smart, Billy Zane, Ice T, Jerry Stiller, Chris Noth, Sharon Lawrence, Annika Marks and legends Betty White, Ben Gazzara & Rita Moreno.
DolGer Films has several projects in the works that Sylvia is attached to direct including Blackout Girl based on the award-winning, critically acclaimed memoir tackling the relevant topics of youth, addiction and sexual violence.
LORA LEE ECOBELLI & TOM ECOBELLI, Writers, Producers
Lora Lee Ecobelli is an award winning actress, writer, director and teacher. She has performed both on and Off Broadway and in film and television. She is the winner of the Harold Cluman award for best leading actress.Lora Lee is the Artistic Director of The Blue Horse Repertory Company, a professional theatre company in New York’s Hudson Valley and she teaches drama at The Theatre Institute at Sage College. She directed and produced the short film, LaTransazione exploring the experiences of immigrants passing through Ellis Island at the turn of the century that has been featured in numerous film festivals across the united states.
As a writer, her plays have been produced throughout the United States. Several are published by Art Age Publications and Smith and Krause. She is also the author of several screenplays and radio plays in addition to co- authoring Laurina with her brother Tom Ecobelli. Lora Lee and Tom are also the authors of a popular Italian cookbook: Laurina’s Kitchen published by Square Circle Press and written to support their film Laurina. Member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, http://Bluehorserepertory.com
Tom Ecobelli is a producer, writer and actor. As an actor, Tom attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and has performed in regional theatre, independent films, improvisational comedy, television sitcoms and national commercials. His notable guest star roles include the CBS sitcom, “Still Standing,” and Disney’s, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”
Connie Stevens is attached to direct his feature drama, “Prairie Bones,” co-written with Susan Touchbourne. Danny Glover, Paige Howard and Franco Nero will star. Tom is producing with Susan Touchbourne, It Starts With A Story Productions, (IsWas). Tom and his co-writer Heather George are producing, “Animal Lovers Only,” a scripted television pilot, that gives a behind-the-scenes look at emergency veterinary care, and animal rescue.
"You're Right, I'm Dead,” a full-length comedy stage-play, written by Tom and Peter Marino, has been produced in New York, Los Angeles and regionally. Tom co-wrote the cookbook “Laurina’s Kitchen” with Lora Lee Ecobelli. "Laurina's Kitchen" is full of family stories and Italian-American recipes gathered at the feet of Laurina, (heroine of Laurina) matriarch of Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter Inn, a small-town restaurant run by their family for over forty years. It was published by Circle Square Press and released June 2012.
MICHALINA SCORZELLI, Executive Producer, Producer
Michalina Scorzelli is an award-winning film and television Producer, Director and Actor. She began her career in the entertainment industry over 20 years ago as an Actress. Soon after she began acting she went on to Produce and Direct. As an actor she has been seen in All My Children, Sex and the City, Sopranos, Law & Order and the feature film, Nate Dogg, which won Best Debut Feature at the Raindance Film Festival.
Her body of works includes the children’s TV show The Adventures of Snow White and Rose Red that she Directed and Produced. It secured distribution and was turned into a Feature Film that can be seen on Amazon Prime. Currently a Feature film Michalina Executive Produced and acted in titled "Girl in the Palms" is in the last stages of Post-Production.
Michalina is currently attached to several projects in various stages of development including the short film Laurina, based on a controversial 1920’s landmark case, Through Sky Valley, Pain & Sympathy and more.
Past projects include Directing the multi award winning shorts "The New Weapon" starring Rachel Resheff, Jamie Harrold and Kaili Vernoff and Distractions for the BET. As a Producer her film, Aftermath, premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival and went on to receive a theatrical run. Her work has screened in top festivals worldwide, theaters and all streaming platforms. She has been featured in such publications as Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and the L.A Times and had the pleasure of working with stars Christopher Penn, Anthony Michal Hall, Jamie Harrold, Tony Danza and Kaili Vernoff.
CHRISTOPHER GAUNT, Executive Producer, Producer
Chris is an American actor, producer, director and writer. He has performed in seventeen films, episodics, several commercials and a music video. Chris has written several full- length screenplays with many more in the works. Chris is a true team player and is working "his tail off" to help deliver the vision of 'Laurina'. Chris acts, produces, directs and writes for the LOVE of the craft, and for the love entertaining.
A big believer in giving back, Chris is an active board member as well as a very active volunteer for four- non profits in his community. When not acting, producing, directing or writing Chris enjoys athletics as well as spending time with his wife, two children and two dogs.
Venance Ndibalema, Co-Producer
Venance found himself thrown into the world by Lake Victoria in Tanzania. Since he became conscious of his existence he has been a great admirer of literature and science. It all became apparent when he moved to the U.S.A, originally inclined towards natural sciences he was later moved by the world of film after being a subject of the documentary, “Tanzania A Journey Within”, produced and directed by Sylvia Caminer. This experience transformed his passion for understanding matter and energy to making an impact on the world through moving images. He has co-authored the book “Being Tanzania” and is in the process of publishing “The curse of reflection.” Venance has partnered once again with Sylvia on the feature documentary, “2 B Me” and is honored to be a part of the “Laurina” team.