Joel Franco tells compelling stories with an elegant voice, a crisp Italian sensibility and beautiful pictures. Franco’s experience, vision and intensity bring leadership, heart, and an eye for detail to his films. His understanding of the human condition and his passion for authenticity combine to create artistic, highly commercial works that draw the audience in and make them feel. Franco’s genuine desire to protect the integrity of each story and to bring out the best in the actors and crew have made him a trusted source for getting the job done. Colleagues trust his refreshing character and understand that he is a man of commitment and does what he says he will do, when he says he will do it.



Joel Franco was born in Italy and came to the United States in his late teens where he quickly immersed himself in American culture and film. According to Franco, “I have always admired American films. The American school of acting has a long history of producing great actors and I wanted to be a part of the world of film–a place where captivating stories are unveiled. The creation of film plays into my strengths: I love that magic is the result of the creative process. There must be passion to nurture the momentum of the story. And one must have intense focus to get the job done.” 



Influenced by American filmmaker Sidney Lumet for his vigorous storytelling and Italian director Robert Rossellini for his social realism, Franco is dedicated to staying true to the story in a fast paced, realistic and refined style. 



In 2006, Franco partnered with Solidaris LLC to found Chesapeake Films, LLC. Chesapeake Films has option agreements to produce several feature films and plans to produce two features per year in-house and to collaborate with established film companies for additional opportunities.



Joel Franco is a graduate of University of Maryland/Baltimore, a graduate of the USC-Universal Producing and Directing Program, and holds an M.F.A. in film production from the School of Film and Television at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

joelfranco@youthsports-themovie.com

Linda Schurman has had a private practice in Astrology for over 37 years. She serves an international clientele that includes corporations, financial service companies, and private individuals. Linda is currently editor and publisher of the online newsletter, "The SootheSayer". She is a long time member of the National Council for Geocosmic Research (a worldwide astrology organization). Her book, "What Next? A Survival Guide to the 21st Century" was published in June 2007 and many of her predictions with regard to the economy, climate change, political cycles, etc. have already come true. She has appeared on 'Coast To Coast' with George Noory for many years.

Books:

• What Next?
• Fast Forward: Surviving the Race to the Future

Patrick Wills is a 46-year fire service and law enforcement professional, serving as fire Captain/Investigator, with the Long Beach Fire Department, including 17 years as supervising investigator of the ATF Arson Unit. Wills was also involved in hundreds of arrests of adult and juvenile arson suspects, as well as testifying in state and federal courts as an expert witness.

His newly published book, The Reality of PTSD When Children Die, chronicles: a tragic and preventable fire that claimed the lives of three young sisters; his personal struggle with such tragedy; and how he made it back to the real world thanks to a police psychologist who took the time to ask a very basic question.

Scott S. Powell, has been an entrepreneur for 30+ years, founding two companies. He has been a fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution and is currently senior fellow at Discovery Institute. Having been a frequent guest on national radio and TV, he has also published 250 articles in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Barron’s Financial, New York Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Washington Times, Chicago Tribune, Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Chronicle, San Diego Union, Florida Sun Sentinel, USA Today and some two dozen other newspapers and journals in the U.S., Japan and Europe. He has been called on twice to provide expert witness testimony for the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

His background has been shaped by the school of hard knocks. After working and saving, Scott took a leave of absence from undergraduate studies, back-packing around the world for several years to some 48 countries—chronicling poverty, oppression and dysfunction. After returning, he graduated from the University of Chicago (B.A. and M.A.) and received his Ph.D. from Boston University. This is his third book.