TOM EDDINGTON
Tom Eddington has worked three decades in business as a consultant, educator, entrepreneur, and strategic advisor. He is a student and teacher of board, leadership, and organization effectiveness – focusing on how they grow, achieve, and sustain effectiveness while remaining stewards for their stakeholders.
Tom has lived, worked, and studied on six continents, working with leaders across all industry sectors and organization stages of development. As a student, mentor, coach, and advisor, he has focused on the area of consciousness and conscious leadership over the past two decades.
A pragmatic optimist who’s driven by intellectual curiosity, Tom has sought out opportunities to teach and work in the private, public, academic, and non-profit sectors. He has worked with industry leaders and most-admired organizations including HP, W.L. Gore, MBNA Corporation, Royal Dutch/Shell and Taproot Foundation.
He holds B.A. degrees in Business and Psychology and an M.S. degree in Organizational Dynamics from the University of Pennsylvania.
He has worked with board members and senior executives at hundreds of organizations. In addition, he has been an adjunct professor in the City University (London) M.B.A. program.
Tom has founded and co-founded four organizations including FutureShapers, My Broker Donates, and Eddington Advisory Services.
PAUL MCCARTY and MARINA GUTMAN as NON DUO
Paul McCarty + Marina Gutman = Non Duo
Non Duo = Not Two… We are one.
Paul is from New Orleans (the swamp of the south) and Marina is from Moldova (the swamp of Europe). Their musical influences — gypsy/russian and cajun/rock — mix into an eclectic stew of styles. Their life stories and world views mix into a wild, poetic, non-dualistic brew of lyrics. Genres vary from bluegrass to ballads to folk to rock to who-knows-what-that-is. But always a different and memorable melody with haunting vocal harmonies. Cliches are shunned. Each song allowed to explore its own world.
Paul McCarty sings and plays guitar and harmonica. He was raised in a musical family in New Orleans. Son of a composer/music professor and a singer/voice teacher, he became a music composition major at Loyola University of New Orleans and has written some scores for independent films and other productions.More recently, Paul was frontman and the main songwriter for Wicked Saints, which recorded two albums, played around Los Angeles and toured some up the West Coast.
Marina Gutman is a singer and novelist, who writes her own songs. Her musical education and aspirations came from her grandmother. She was born and raised in Moldova, a small eastern European country, and came to America at the age of eleven.Though her creative endeavors are influenced by her eastern European roots and American upbringing, she attributes her creativity to the Source of all creativity, and lives the philosophy of the beloved teacher Eckhart Tolle: “I am awareness, disguised as a person.”
YOICHI UTEBI
Yoichi Utebi, Happy Science Head Minister, Producer and Vice President of HS Productions
Born in Japan in 1968, Yoichi Utebi grew up in Beirut, Lebanon and New York City. Raised in a rare Japanese Christian family, he was deeply touched by Muslim culture and the beauty of Lebanon during his formative years in Beirut. However, the Middle East also exposed Utebi to the horrors of war, as he and his family dodged bullets and bombings before fleeing to New York, leaving everything behind in a sudden evacuation. The next 10 years in New York exposed Utebi to friends from multiple cultures and ethnicities. His rock band produced a popular album and gained quite a following in the city before Utebi decided to forego his musical pursuits and return to Japan.
After 12 years of experience in marketing and senior management at various American IT companies in Japan, Utebi joined Happy Science in 2010, where he quickly rose to Director of International Communications. In 2015, he was appointed Head Minister of Hawaii, and in 2018 he led the temples in Okinawa. Utebi is currently leading Happy Science’s International Media Division and is the Vice President of HS Productions and producer of “Immortal Hero.”
ABOUT IMMORTAL HERO
Makoto Mioya, a highly successful Japanese author and publisher, has a life-threatening, near-death experience. Powerful spiritual beings with whom he has communicated most of his adult life visit Makoto to remind him he has the power within to heal himself. Reborn, Makoto commits his life to sharing the almighty wisdom he receives from the spiritual realm. As doubters, including some of his own family, challenge and question his new-found ardor, Makoto must find a way to connect with his family and the ‘family of man’ to inspire a better world.
RASPIN STUWART
Singer/songwriter/song stylist Raspin Stuwart’s life and career can best be described as a Tale of Two Cities – Chicago and Los Angeles, that is! However, these two cities are just starting points for a performer with truly universal appeal..
A singer who sings to your soul…
Born and raised in the Chicago area, Raspin was surrounded by the influences of the blues and jazz music greats of the era, as well as the popularity of the singer-songwriter music genre of the 1970s that begat one-of-a-kind talents such as Joni Mitchell, Bruce Springsteen and Cat Stevens. His music is equally informed by the entirety of his adult life in Los Angeles, measured by his professional successes over the decades since arriving in the City of Angels to seek his fame and fortune at the tender age of 17. Like the music heroes who today remain relevant, serious music lovers of all ages relate to Raspin’s performances, his complex and intriguing lyrics, and inspired covers of classics.
Raspin’s emotional vocals, striking lyrics impact brightly on the listener, a stark contrast to his hypnotic melodic background. As evidenced on his new CD, NY2LA , his eclectic mix of theatrical, captivating and soulful music provides the perfect follow-up to his critically acclaimed, Starbucks-endorsed CD, We Do What We Do. Tracks on his NY2LA include a reggae version of “Smoke the Hookah,” the jazzish “New York 2 L.A.,” “Love Along the Way” (a unique pop hybrid rooted in the 1960s), the soulful, down-home warmth blues of “Mama’s Got the Blues,”.
Keeping Raspin in demand after long ago establishing himself in the music world is the fact that he remains the newest and freshest “veteran” musician, singer, songwriter and song stylist working today. His appearances at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) in recent years, as well as his inclusion in the stellar lineup for Southern California’s Make Music Pasadena concert at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena, underscore his continued relevance in these unpredictable times, are the latest high points
Raspin’s unique style allows him to be right at home anywhere, from the smallest, intimate theater to an energetic blues club. Raspin was the opening musical performance for author Marianne Williamson, and has been described as “a music guru… who makes us think,” by the Life Changes Network BBS. His fans are mesmerized when they attend his live shows and absorb his soulful music into their hearts and minds.
“A tremendously soulful singer and songwriter” who has been described in recent reviews as a force ‘of nature’ who is ‘in the business of show stopping,”-Paul Zollo songtalk/blueline
RYAN MOORE
Producer Ryan Moore is the founder of Experience 360°, a Burbank-based Virtual Experience Design Studio that has been creating branded and narrative immersive content since 2015.
In the spring of 2017, the company produced its first feature Speed Kills VR with John Travolta and TopDog VR.
Mr. Moore’s career within film production experience includes experimental branded content (Disney, Toyota, GoPro), TV commercials (Pepsi, Jack In The Box), music festival coverage (Fuse Media), and Reality TV (Bachelor/Bachelorette).
DTLA FILM FESTIVAL DOME SERIES – OCT 23-27, 2019
“Someday, in the not too distant future you’ll be able to go to a movie and the movie will be all around you. The movie will be over your head, it will be 360 degrees around you.”
– Steven Spielberg, TIME Magazine in 2006
Predicted 13 years ago by Steven Spielberg, we know what the next ‘Big Thing’ in film presentation is: Dome Films. Using 360-degree camera popularized by VR and AR productions, dome filmmakers create a unique, immersive experience by screening the films in specially built dome theaters (not unlike planetarium theaters that can be found in observatories around the world).
In the DTLA Film Festival’s Dome Film Series — the first-ever in Los Angeles — we’ve selected the best films across the globe with a focus on narrative storytelling. Co-Presented by Vortex Immersion Media, the series includes several Dome Film World Premieres of narrative features from internationally known filmmakers including Randal Kleiser, Lena Herzog, Robot Koch, Darcelle XV, James Hood, Grammy-winner Jacob Collier, as well the first feature-length dome-film documentary to be released in the U.S
All screenings will take place October 23-27th at the Vortex Dome Theater at L.A. Center Studios in DTLA and the Wisdome Immersive Art Park in DTLA’s Arts District.
HENRY PRIEST
Henry Priest is a Educator, Motivator, Producer of film, TV and live events, actor, and Co-Founder and Festival Director of Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA) Film Festival.
Known for Veritas (2007) and Beyond the Mat (2013).
Having produced many film, TV and live events, Mr. Priests work has been showcased all over the world including some of the most prestigious film festivals as Festival De Cannes in France, Tribeca Film Festval in New York and AFI Fest in Los Angeles. Henry began his career in the film industry in 1989 when he was featured as an actor in Walt Disneys feature wrestling film titled Spooner, starring Robert Urich and Jane Kazmarik. The film called upon Henry’s knowledge of collegiate wrestling as he choreographed wrestling scenes for the production team.
Since then he has established himself as the go-to person to produce scenes that require Collegiate, Greco-Roman, or Freestyle wrestling. He has written, directed, choreographed, and cast wrestling scenes in international and national commercials for companies like Nike, Adidas, SBC Global and others. Henry recently served as a wrestling consultant to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). His film “Legendary,” stars WWE superstar John Cena, Oscar nominated actors Danny Glover and Particia Clarkson; Devon Gray and Tylor Posey. Early in his career Henry produced the awrd winning film titled UnderDog. The comedic wrestling film has been featured in the prestigious AFI Fest and in many festivals across the country including the Tribeca Film Festival in New York.
With the success of UnderDog, Henry received an award as an Outstanding Producer during the 2004 National Association of Latino Independent Producers Conference (NALIP) in February 2004. Recently, Henry Produced the wrestling Documentary titled Veritas. The story of NCAA All American wrestler John Trenge. His latest film titled American Identity received a standing ovation on closing night at Festval De Cannes in France, considered to be the most pretigious film festival in the world.
In November 2010 Mr. Priest served as executive Producer of the 44th Annual NWCA All-Star Wrestling Match. The event was broadcast in 40 million homes on the Big Ten Network in an effort to raise funds to save the Cal State Fullerton Wrestling team. Thanks to many supporters that participated in the event such as actor Billy Baldwin, UFC superstars Randy Couture, Uriah Faber, Hector Ramirez, Mark Munoz and the cast of the new wrestling movie Beyond the Mat, the event raised over $200,000 for the struggling program.
Henry also serves the industry as a film festival director of the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles. With his knowledge of film in front and behind the camera Henry serves on the Screen Actors Guild Diversity Committees, nationally and locally. He serves on the advisory board of the Silverlake Film Festival, American Latino Film Festival and Skid Row Films. He is also the executive producer of National High School Coaches Associations Productions. Mr. Priest is an advocate for the arts. He is has been a guest speaker and panelist at events hosted by the Screen Actors Guild, Showbiz Expo Los Angeles, Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival and many other industry organizations.
He has appeared on radio shows on ESPN Radio, Radio Disney, KPFK Radio, 92.3fm and many more promoting his various films and events. He has also been featured on LATV, The Disney Channel, SiTV, TV Guide and many other TV spots. As an advocate for education Mr. Priest created and produced the Future Estrellas Young Latino Performers Conference, an event presented by The Walt Disney Company, Latin Heat Entertainment, Nostros and the Ricardo Montalban Foundation.
“Beyond the Mat,” releases early 2011 as part of Tribeca Film festivals All Access program. The film is edited by Academy Award winner Scott Conrad (Rocky, 1976) with the former Paramount Pictures senior marketing executive Susan Wrenn spearheading our marketing team. In her 20-year tenure at Paramount she constructed the campaigns for 300+ feature films, including for Titanic, Forrest Gump, Braveheart and Mission Impossible. Beyond the Mat stars Sara Fletcher, who is currently hosting her own TV show on Comedy Central titled Secret Girlfriend. You may have seen her in Maxim Magazine too! Also, Mark Hapka who plays one of the male leads, and is a regular on TV shows such as the Ghost Whisperers and Days of Our Lives. The lead actor John Wynn, was host of the hit TV show CD USA. Beyond the Mat also features UFC Hall of Fame member and World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Ken Shamrock and US Olympic Wrestling Champion and TNA Superstar Kurt Angle!
GIADA VALENTI
Singer and songwriter Giada Valenti is born and raised in Venice, Italy. Her career started in Europe where she was signed as a young singer with record label Sony BMG and had hits climb directly to the top of the charts. She has received critically acclaimed awards such as the prestigious San Remo Giovanni Talenti Nel Mondo and Festival di Castrocaro.
In the United States she is most known for her stunning music special aired by PBS, entitled “From Venice With Love”. Because of the success of this television special, she has performed at theaters and performing arts centers all over the country.
In November 2017 she made her debut as a headliner in Las Vegas with a concert at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. In October 2018 she made her debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
One of her recent career highlights is being asked to perform with Andrea Bocelli. She sang several duets with him at a concert benefitting the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
For the past eleven years Giada, currently a resident of Las Vegas, has released her CDs “And I Love You So, “Italian Signorina” and “My Lullaby”, “From Venice With Love”, garnering rave reviews. She is currently working on new recordings with multi Grammy-winning producer Cheche Alara and Jorge Calandrelli.
Giada is also a Tiramisu expert. She has been featured on morning shows of ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC television doing cooking demos on how to make this famous Italian dessert. Giada is very passionate about food. She is a longtime member of the Accademia Italiana Della Cucina, a by the Italian government recognized cultural organization that checks out Italian restaurants around the world. Giada loves to go out for dinner with friends but can also be found in her kitchen experimenting with recipes.
More Detailed Bio
Born and raised in Venice, Italy, Giada Valenti started to sing and play piano at the age of seven. She began touring professionally with a band by age twelve. She studied piano and music theory at the Santa Cecilia music school in Venice and received her music degree at the G. Tartini in Trieste. She also studied jazz with American singer Dawn Mitchell.
In Italy she has won several important music awards like the prestigious La Grande Occasione and Festival di Castrocaro. While she was studying psychology at the University of Padova, she met the love of her life and moved to The Netherlands. She participated in the song contest San Remo New Talents in the World, a contest held annually for Italians living abroad and won with her pop ballad Solo Con Te (Only With You). This led her to a record contract with BMG Ariola in Europe and she had several hits in the charts. One of her songs was even used in a radio and television commercial for Piaggio-Vespa scooters.
When in 2004 her music got serious interest from a major record label in New York she decided to move to the United States. In December 2005, her self-released CD Italian Signorina was launched in the USA to great reviews. Italian Signorina featured the song Caruso that she performed on the red carpet at the Columbus Day Parade in 2005, 2006, and 2007 in New York City, broadcast every year live on NBC Television. She has been featured in the editions of this prestigious Parade in New York City, which is broadcast every year live on ABC Television, every year ever since.
Producer Sonny Grosso and musical director Phil Ramone selected Giada for a role in the Broadway musical Be My Love, based on the life story of tenor Mario Lanza. In 2008 iTunes has selected her version of the song Caruso as one of the 50 best songs in the Italian language. In 2005 and 2006, she performed her own original shows La Dolce Vita Swings and Moonlight and Romance, in sold out-theatres in New York. During these shows, she takes her audience on a journey across the Atlantic, singing the most beautiful Italian and American love songs. In June 2007 she made her debut at the premiere cabaret room in the United States: Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel in New York City. With her show Tribute To The European Divas, featuring the music of such great female singers as Edith Piaf, Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Mina and Ornella Vanoni, she had become a regular performer at this prestigious venue, till it’s closing in 2012. In 2009 she made her debut in Atlantic City, at the Hilton Casino Hotel.
The Italian television reported several times about her successes in the United States. In 2008 the channel Sky Italia made an hour long documentary about her life as an Italian in the United States. In 2011 she was the protagonist in an hour long reality docu on Rete4 about her life and work in the United States. Over the years she was also featured in many interviews on RAI and Canale 5.
In the United States Giada’s talent and contributions to culture has been recognized by several organizations. In October 2008 Giada was named Woman of the Year by the Organization of Italian Charities In America. In February 2010 she was honored by the Commission for Social Justice of the Order Sons of Italy in America for being a good Italian role model. In October of 2011 Giada was awarded the Merit of Honor by the Borough President of Queens, NY for her outstanding cultural contribution to the Italian community in the USA. In April 2012 she was honored by the Saint Brigid Parish for he Distinguished Service in Promulgating the Beauty and Value of Italian Culture and Heritage. In November 2012 she was honored by the Italian American Labor Council for her Work, Achievements and my Life Dedication to Music. Giada is also a seven times recipient of a Grant of the NIAF Sergio Franchi Music Foundation.
Currently she is working on the post-production of her television special From Venice With Love, filmed partly in Venice Italy and partly in New York. The television special is expected to air on Public Television starting in August 2015 in support of a 40 dates tour to start in April 2016 in the USA. In this television special she will take her audience on a romantic virtual journey to her beloved Venice and she shares with her audience her memories of this magnificent city. In her show Giada performs some of the most beautiful love songs of the last 30 years.
For this project she is working with some of the best professionals around, like music arranger Chris Walden (Andrea Bocelli, Rihanna, Josh Groban, Barbra Streisand), Grammy Award winning music producer Gregg Field (Natalie Cole, Arturo Sandoval, Gloria Estefan), television director Alex Coletti (MTV Unplugged, PBS Special Celtic Woman, National Christmas Tree Lighting), Emmy Award winning line producer Frank Garritano (MTV Movie Awards, Rock’n Roll Hall of Fame Awards, Justin Timberlake), set designer Tom Lenz (Lady Gaga, ESPN, MTV, BRAVO), lighting director Chris Landy (PBS special Annie Lennox, Jimmy Fallon Late Night).
Giada’s charismatic and charming personality is touching the heart of her fans all over the world. At her concerts she loves to share with her audience the stories of her life in Venice and in New York. With her honest and open spirit, her bubbling and funny personality is able make them laugh, make couples hold hands, make them sing-a-long and even sometimes have them shed a tear. It is her dream in life to promote with her music the beauty of her Italian heritage and her beautiful Venice. She likes to share her positive attitude and her strong believes. She loves to inspire young women to follow their dreams like she always did. One of her favorite quotes is from Walt Disney “If you can dream it, you can do it”. And she adds to that: “but be ready to work hard, smart and to make sacrifices”.
KENNETH “KAYO” ANDERSON
Kenneth Anderson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After studying Music Education at Jackson State University with a concentration in Voice, Kenneth founded the Mosaic Singers of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit. Ken grew his group from 8 voices to an astounding 100 voices, and they transformed into one of the most acclaimed and sought after youth choirs in the world, and took to world stages to prove it. Under his direction, the student choir performed in 30 states, seven countries, and at such prestigious venues as the White House, The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, La Salle Sia in Singapore, Le Maison De Sclaves in Senegal and the Millennium Dome in England, among others. They were invited to give command performances for US Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and for acclaimed author Maya Angelou, who remarked that the Mosaic Singers were “the most amazing youth troupe I’ve ever seen.”
Kenneth’s work has been featured in “The Wall Street Journal”, “The New York Times”, on Public Radio’s and PBS “All Things Considered” and on NBC ‘s “The Today Show”, and he was also one of the featured subjects of “And They Flew,” an Emmy award winning documentary.
In 2009, Kenneth left Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit, after serving his final five years as their Artistic Director and Vice President. During his tenure, he and co-founder Rick Sperling nurtured Mosaic into an Internationally acclaimed arts organization. As he moved forward to pursue new passions, he proudly turned the group over to one of his former students, who has since taken the Mosaic Singers to higher heights. His philosophy of legacy is rooted in his belief in sowing seeds and allowing them the sunshine to blossom. Since moving to Los Angeles to work in the Television/Film and music industry, Kenneth has continued his legacy of ushering deep community involvement. He formed the Leimert Park Choir under the umbrella of the Harmony Project, anarts organization that provides free arts training to over 2000 at risk youth in Los Angeles. Since Ken’s founding it, the Leimert Park Choir has grown from 2 members to over 50 young voices from across South L.A., most of whom are African American. Recent performances include The Grammy Museum, the Vision Theatre, and a star studded concert celebrating Jazz Legend Barbara Morrison. The group was featured as the Opening Act for Tavis Smiley at Temple Israel’s King Day Celebration, all developed and organized by Michael Skloff, television composer most noted for composing the theme song to the show “Friends.” Kenneth’s impressive a capella youth choir was featured in “Exagogue”, produced by Jewish Theatre Dybbuk at Temple Israel of Hollywood, UCLA and as part of Grand Performances in downtown LA.
Kenneth is known also for his voice and performance coaching with adults; having worked with many artists at various levels, including artists for Universal Recording Group and LIVE the Music Group, and an elite Hollywood clientele that include stars from “Glee” and “Grey’s Anatomy”, just to name a few. Kenneth has directed and produced shows in Los Angeles, as well as in Detroit, Washington, D.C., New York City, Atlanta, Georgia, London, UK, Copenhagen, Denmark, and Dakar, Senegal, and has collaborated with some of the greatest artists in the world on a variety of projects, including Aretha Franklin, John Legend, Amber Riley, B Slade, Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Al Green, just to name a few.
A multi-talented artist of many mediums, Kenneth’s award-winning photographic work has appeared in several fashion/contemporary magazines, newspapers and global publications, CD/album and LP covers. His striking photography was recently featured in an article in Time magazine. His unique artistic eye and his keen belief in social justice give his images an international appeal. In his occasional spare time, he enjoys singing and performing gospel and Opera. He has appeared in Opera favorites including Verdi’s “Nabucco” and Gazzaniga’s “Don Giovanni” at the Detroit Opera House and also appeared alongside living opera legend Denyce Graves in librettist Toni Morrison’s “Margaret Garner” at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.
His current photo exhibit “blaque boi bleu”, which features his coveted images of diverse African American men in America, is actively touring to galleries across the nation. He plans to publish his first book of photography, humor and poetry in 2021.
Kenneth “Kayo” Anderson is currently embarking on his MOST exciting endeavor as the “Minister of Culture” at Los Angeles Community Action Network. This is a dream job! He has already formed the “Freedom Singers”, a multi-dsciplinary performance troupe, based out of LA CAN in downtown’s Skid Row neighborhood. After a personal bout with homelessness, Kayo realizied the immense need for targeted supportive services for the MANY artists who reside in Skid Row. The LA CAN arts and cultured initiative takes a holistic approach to the redevelopment and reintroduction of artists into viability.
Ken has received numerous honors, awards and recognition, including Crains Business Top Twenty in Their Twenties in 2007, the Spirit of Detroit, Alpha Kappa Alpha Distinguished Community Leader Award, and he was named as one of the 100 Distinguished Gentlemen of Detroit, by the Detroit Conversation. Most recently Ken was given an award from the National Arts Education Forum for his Creativity and Innovation in arts education.
Ken has been a continuous advocate for human rights, with a particularly spirited focus on young people, LGBT and women’s rights. He’s written several scholarly articles, including a feature in “Swerv Magazine”, garnering crucial national attention to the Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit, which provides much needed support for homeless and exploited LGBT youth.






