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• Meet the Judges •
Judging begins March 6, 2007. We are pleased to have as judges are members of the Spotlight Team and two local filmmakers. All judges will use a scoring and comment sheet based on the Judging Criteria, and each film will be scored by at least 3 judges. If one of our judges has any connection with a participating school or student, that judge will not judge that entry.
James Carlson
James is Executive Director and founder of the School Factory, a non-profit organization that creates learning centers, schools, venues, and creative spaces for America, such as Bucketworks, a health club for the brain, and the Young Women’s Institute for Global Studies, a small highschool, both in Milwaukee.
James has over twenty years experience with business and information technology in a social context, from implementation through design and architecture. James has worked with the world’s largest corporations such as Proctor and Gamble, Best Buy, France Telecom, McDonalds, Sony Pictures, the IRS, and the US Army on their online global communications, marketing, and information sharing strategies. He has experience in leading both for-profit and non-profit corporations, and is now developing America’s infrastructure for cultural creativity.
James also serves on the Advisory Board of the Cardinal Stritch Leadership Center and teaches at Marquette University’s Institute for the Transformation of Learning.
Jeff Fitzsimmons
Jeff is an award-winning Milwaukee filmmmaker who attended college at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Evergreen College in Washington State, studying photography and film. He won the Grand Prize in the 5th Annual Milwaukee Short Film Festival with his film Gaucer. Nowheresville, on which Jeff was an Assistant Director, won the Audience Choice Award at the Las Vegas Film Festival and was purchased by Showtime. Last year, he directed the first winner of the Milwaukee International Film Festival (MIFF) Student Screenwriting Competition, Vinnie Balistreri’s She Never Screams.
Holly Moore
Holly is in her final semester at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, graduating with Film Production and Film Studies majors along with minors in Television Communications and English. She has coordinated the New Directors program for the 2005 Milwaukee International Film Festival and the 24-Hour Film Contest for the 2006 festival. She has judged films for Spotlight and the Milwaukee International Film Festival the last 2 years. Holly is currently working on 3 films. She plans to become involved in the growing Milwaukee film community immediately following graduation.
Toni Munsch
Toni is a frequent consumer of film and feels film is best experienced at the theater with other people. Toni is a graduate of Alverno College with a BA in Professional Communications and minor in Arts and Humanities. Toni has worked in the HR Profession for the past twelve years and is involved in a number of professional and community organizations. She is currently employed with Clifton Gunderson LLP, CPA and Consultants.
Jonathan Rovetto
Jonathan graduated from Regent University in 1985 with a Master’s Degree in Communications. Since that time he has worked in various positions in the New York City/New Jersey area, from Senior Video Editor and Videographer to Media Director. After moving to Milwaukee in 2003, Jonathan has been working as a freelance videographer, editor and media consultant, and is currently employed at MATA Community Media as a Project Manager in the Education Department.
Erin Wolf
Senior, Franklin High School
