Category: People

As a full-time production assistant at Committee Films, Ian frequently has to get weird. On any given day you can find him… anywhere. From keeping production materials organized and ready to working on any number of sets to loading and unloading the many and strange necessities of TV production from a box truck – he does it all. In a recent development he’s also developed into a development role, keeping scripts for new projects nice and crispy, updating and tracking projects, and doing research – the ever-present partner of development after all. A true team player here and on the ice – he was also a hockey goalie in an earlier life. Sort of similar duties in a way. Nothing gets by him.

Ian graduated from the University of St. Thomas with a double major in Digital Media Studies and Film Studies. He was born a fraternal twin so it seems like this double thing comes naturally to him. At St. Thomas he was also president of the Film Society and spent his free time analyzing films and editing various projects. What can we say? He’s a consistent guy, which probably explains why he’s also a fantastic bartender with a deep interest in mixology when he’s not working at Committee. This is a help to all of us after a long hard day of filming as well. We call that a win-win in the biz.

Ian was born in Brainerd, MN, which you probably guessed due to the hockey. During his life he’s moved upwards of 10 times – definitely NOT because he’s on the run from Johnny Law – but currently lives in Minneapolis, which Is quite lucky for us. The commute from Brainerd would be daunting.

Mallory Chaudhry is the Director of Development at Committee Films. That means she is always digging into stories both wonderful and incredible – sort of like Dirty Dancing, which is her favorite movie. Her “super power” is her ability to connect with others and is tempered by a professionalism that can only be described as impressive. Not so impressive: The fact that Mallory hates ketchup. I mean, come on. Makes you wonder how she is so darn good with people doesn’t it?

Mallory hails from Kenilworth, Illinois and studied video production and film at Ohio University before launching into a career as a producer that took her to New York, LA and eventually to Committee Films. While she is a steady and thoughtful voice here, she frequently lets it all out while teaching High Intensity Interval Training classes where she literally screams for an hour. We can hear it now: “Lift those arms higher! Good! Now prep that camera!”

Her advice to her 10-year-old self would be: “There are many paths to where you want to go”. That checks out. She has walked many different paths in her time, allowing her to be the well-rounded and knowledgeable production force she is. Those paths have taken her all over the US and to India – her very favorite place in the world. Paths still on the list? Sicily, Mallorca, Prague, Hong Kong, and Hawaii. Yeah, that’s a lot of paths.

When not rocking all types of production Mallory enjoys the company of her husband Surge and her son Asa in their Minnetonka home. Side bar: She also has a passion for… mustard. That is NOT a typo. She loves it so much that she has plans to create her own mustard company in some yet-unseen-future. Mallory’s Mustard. The world could only be so lucky.

Did you know Bonney is Anglo-Scottish with French origins and means “good”? We do, because Bennett Bonney is the best. How’s that for alliteration*? As a post-production* assistant at Committee Films, Bennett manages many* of the projects we film. He keeps the footage nice and organized and moves data around like a dancer, which it turns out he was for 2 ½ years in college – The U of M in case you were wondering, where he majored in Communications.

While Bennett is one of the newer employees here at Committee, he’s quickly proven to be an invaluable one. There is no footage he can’t find. No file he can’t retrieve. No transfer he can’t make. The guy’s a post-production powerhouse*. Give it a shot. Call up and ask to speak to Bennett about retrieving a file. Hint: It’s already in your inbox.

Although he looks Scottish with his dark red hair and his name sounds about as Scottish as it gets, he actually lives in Minneapolis – which isn’t really that Scottish at all. There he boasts a large collection of shoes and still plays Pokemon Go. He probably still dances too, but in secret. Quite possibly to the tunes of Dolly Parton, his favorite musical artist. He also plays guitar. He also hates wet socks. Know what? Bennett actually seems like a pretty complicated guy, but like good complicated, not complicated complicated.

Chadwick might be the only person who has ever worked at Committee that is officially ambidextrous. We imagine that comes in handy (pun) in his role as editor. Maybe that’s why he’s so darn good at it…? It could also be why he was offered a basketball scholarship at a small Christian College in his early years. Thankfully, he decided to take an editing scholarship instead. That is probably untrue, but honestly? The guy deserves one. He’s truly got a gift for cutting compelling pieces that extends across all genres from documentary to reality to narrative to the probably-overbroad “other”.

Another benefit of being ambidextrous? He can juggle with the best of them. Who “the best of them” are is still an open debate. As it turns out, being a deceivingly good juggler is a skill that also transfers over to being a deceivingly good editor as he frequently has to manage multiple types of footage, deadlines, and styles. This also helps him in his life as a drummer. Yeah, he’s also a drummer for multiple bands in the Twin Cities. Sort of seems like if it’s rad, it’s for Chad. See the continuity in it all? It’s like he’s edited his own life to be awesome. Totally meta.

Outside of the office Chadwick loves riding his motorcycle and eating Indian food – not at the same time. He lives in Hopkins, MN with his dog Copper and, apparently, a pretty cool motorcycle. He allegedly can sleep through anything as well. Not sure what that has to do with being ambidextrous.

Try this. Go home and ask whichever digital assistant you prefer to define “backbone of Committee Films”. The answer will be Cindy Barber (if not please update your settings). Cindy is our Director of Administration and that means she has her hands in literally everything we do from bookkeeping (fun fact: the only word in the English language with three double letters in a row) to budget management to keeping releases filed and organized to booking travel to maintaining a functioning office to… well, you get the idea. We could keep “to-ing”, but this bio would never end. Let’s just say we need her more than a hat in a Minnesota winter. Have you been in Minnesota in the winter? Give it a shot. See?

As a lover of cleanliness and order and a hater of tomatoes she is the perfect person to manage the massive amounts of “things” a production company gets into. Speaking of getting into stuff, she once let former (possibly current) teen heartthrob David Cassidy in the back of her hatchback to help him flee a stalker. True story. Although – isn’t that what a stalker would want David Cassidy to believe? Just saying.

Prior to coming to Committee Cindy was a high-end shoe buyer for Nordstrom’s and other boutique stores. But, lucky for us, that wasn’t a good fit (get it?) and we landed her at Committee Films.

When not saving our lives each day, she saves guinea pigs. Again, true story. She once saved their family guinea pig from cancer. Although – isn’t that what a stalker would want David Cassidy to believe? The aforementioned family consists of herself, her husband, and two boys who all live in Waconia, MN and have a happy life.

At Committee Ryan is the master of Photoshop and graphic design. Outside of Committee he’s a master of all sorts of things from building elaborate cornhole boards to winter jib parks to support his extreme sports habit (yes, that’s rea). Don’t worry. We had no idea what a jib park was either. Turns out it’s a snowboarder thing – ramps, jumps, and other stuff that would make a normally coordinated person a bit nervous. One should note his favorite band is Built to Spill however, so take that how you will before going full-send off one of his jumps.

After studying art and mass communications at St. Cloud State + Mankato State he promptly found his way to Committee Films to help create mass communication and art – so that worked out. He’s been with Committee since 2012 and is currently the employee who has been with us for the longest consecutive timeframe. That’s over a decade of working with one of the nicest people in world! (By that we mean Ryan if that wasn’t clear).

While he’s not making amazing visual treatments for Committee’s myriad projects, Ryan can be found enjoying burritos or skateboarding. Hopefully simultaneously at some point. It’s also worth noting he can tie his own bowtie with his eyes closed, which comes in handy when… well… it just does. When he’s not enjoying life with his family in Victoria, Minnesota there is a good chance you can find him at the Kentucky Derby, which he has attended six times and counting! But we’re guessing you’d have to want to find him pretty badly to go all the way to Kentucky just to look for him. Maybe send a text?

Paul Hunter is a force in post-production here at Committee Films as Online Editor aka the most underappreciated role in post-production. It’s safe to say that if we’ve shot it, he’s fixed it up and made it ready to air. Basically, he does all the computery stuff that makes everything fit nicely together. We’re telling you – the guy is essential.

Paul was born in St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, but grew up in River Falls, Wisconsin as most people who are born in paradise do. After studying Video and Digital Arts at MCTC he eventually found his way to Committee Films (we think by Google Maps ®) and has been an integral part of the team ever since.

When he’s not toiling away in the edit room at Committee, Paul enjoys skateboarding and eating awesome food. Among his favorite dishes: Jamacian Oxtail with peas and rice, sushi, and of course various offerings from Cinnabon. He’s also a DJ and has been spinning (spun?) Reggae and Hip Hop since 1997 – colloquially known as the year of the best DJs. Perhaps obviously, he also works on his own music in his free time in his home studio.

He currently lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his daughter Yolanda and a drum set where his guilty TV pleasure is Wheel of Fortune – colloquially known as the show preferred by the best DJs.

Normally we take the time to write up a bio for someone, but we think Curt’s answer to the question “What’s your background?” is pretty good by itself:

I was born in Fargo, ND and I’m half Canadian. When people make fun of Canada in front of me, there are repercussions. I went to film school to avoid sitting at a desk all day.  Ironic, eh?  Also, I joined the Army after High School but didn’t pass my physical.  I was voted most likely to win an Oscar in high school. I dig the outdoors. I’m an Eagle Scout, how’s that for all-American (but half Canadian)? 

That sums it up, except for one thing.  Curt is just ridiculously tall.

He’s as tall as any two other Committee employees combined.

We say 6’10”.

This allows us to constantly shower him with praise puns: “If you left we’d have big shoes to fill,” or “You take editing to new heights,” or “You’re super tall Curt.”  Wait, that last one isn’t quite the same…

Despite his stature, he’s crap at basketball and has a tiny dog – a 6lb Chihuahua named Paco. He is, however, a fantastic editor despite the small keys.

Outside of work Curt likes to be outside in the woods. He may be solely responsible for 1/5 of the sasquatch sightings in North America.

In the past, Curt has been a cart pusher at Target, a truck driver and a homebuilder. He was also once a door-to door meat salesman – a common path for editors. Whatever the path he took to get here, we’re happy he’s here now. He was a huge hire for Committee Films. There we go again…praise punning.