ANNA WEXLER Co-Writer, Co-Director, Co-Producer, Co-Editor
Anna is a science/travel writer and documentary filmmaker who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at MIT in the STS (Science, Technology, and Society) Program, where she is studying the social, ethical and legal implications of neuroscience advances. She graduated from MIT in 2007 with two Bachelors’ of Science degrees, one in Brain and Cognitive Science and the other in Humanities and Science with a focus in Writing. Afterwards, she was selected as a 2007-2008 filmmaker-in-residence at WGBH for Unorthodox. Her writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including Maxim, Budget Travel, Unpious, and has been anthologized in outlets such as Best Travel Writing 2012 (Vo. 9) and Best Women’s Travel Writing 2011. For more: www.annawexler.com
Anna is a science/travel writer and documentary filmmaker who is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at MIT in the STS (Science, Technology, and Society) Program, where she is studying the social, ethical and legal implications of neuroscience advances. She graduated from MIT in 2007 with two Bachelors’ of Science degrees, one in Brain and Cognitive Science and the other in Humanities and Science with a focus in Writing. Afterwards, she was selected as a 2007-2008 filmmaker-in-residence at WGBH for Unorthodox. Her writing has appeared in numerous outlets, including Maxim, Budget Travel, Unpious, and has been anthologized in outlets such as Best Travel Writing 2012 (Vo. 9) and Best Women’s Travel Writing 2011. For more: www.annawexler.com
NADJA OERTELT Director of Photography, Co-Director, Co-Producer
Nadja is a scientist and filmmaker interested in the intersection of science and the arts. She is currently a HarvardX Fellow, producing and creating a multimedia, interactive, educational open-source documentary on topics within neuroscience. She graduated from MIT in 2007 with a BS in Neuroscience. She has studied visual arts, film, archaeology and anthropology, directed and produced short documentaries for Vice/VBS and published research as a neuroscientist at MIT and Harvard. She has conducted archaeological fieldwork in South Africa and investigated the evolution of primates while at UCL in London.
Nadja is a scientist and filmmaker interested in the intersection of science and the arts. She is currently a HarvardX Fellow, producing and creating a multimedia, interactive, educational open-source documentary on topics within neuroscience. She graduated from MIT in 2007 with a BS in Neuroscience. She has studied visual arts, film, archaeology and anthropology, directed and produced short documentaries for Vice/VBS and published research as a neuroscientist at MIT and Harvard. She has conducted archaeological fieldwork in South Africa and investigated the evolution of primates while at UCL in London.
MARK JUERGENS Co-Editor
Mark Juergens has been a filmmaker in New York since 1982. His work as an editor has allowed him to stumble into documentaries, feature films, music videos, episodic television and experimental film productions, as well as editing his daughter’s birthday videos. Some of these projects have aired on HBO, Comedy Central , MTV, Bravo, A&E, Discovery, History Channel, MSNBC, Logo, Lifetime and PBS, among others broadcasters. Films he’s edited have ended up at Sundance, the New York Film Festival, South by Southwest, and Berlinale.
Mark Juergens has been a filmmaker in New York since 1982. His work as an editor has allowed him to stumble into documentaries, feature films, music videos, episodic television and experimental film productions, as well as editing his daughter’s birthday videos. Some of these projects have aired on HBO, Comedy Central , MTV, Bravo, A&E, Discovery, History Channel, MSNBC, Logo, Lifetime and PBS, among others broadcasters. Films he’s edited have ended up at Sundance, the New York Film Festival, South by Southwest, and Berlinale.
SHIRA KATZ Co-Writer, Associate Producer
Shira is an actress, teacher, and voice-over artist based in Jerusalem, Israel. She has over 15 years of experience performing and teaching improvisational theater, and prior to her move to Israel in 2005 she spent seven years performing with one of Baltimore and DC’s most popular improv groups. She has appeared on popular Israeli television (including the hit show Srugim) and was an ensemble member of Israel’s only professional English speaking theater company. Shira has a degree in Exercise Physiology, is a certified massage therapist, and maintained a private practice and taught in the health and wellness industry for many years.
Shira is an actress, teacher, and voice-over artist based in Jerusalem, Israel. She has over 15 years of experience performing and teaching improvisational theater, and prior to her move to Israel in 2005 she spent seven years performing with one of Baltimore and DC’s most popular improv groups. She has appeared on popular Israeli television (including the hit show Srugim) and was an ensemble member of Israel’s only professional English speaking theater company. Shira has a degree in Exercise Physiology, is a certified massage therapist, and maintained a private practice and taught in the health and wellness industry for many years.
DANIELA SHERER Animator
Daniela is a 2d indie animator and illustrator from Tel Aviv. She is a 2013 MA Animation graduate from the Royal College of Art, London, and a 2009 Animation and Digital Arts graduate from USC, Los Angeles. Having worked on many projects ranging from documentaries to short films and visual music pieces, Daniela had the great pleasure of collaborating with other artists from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Her work has been shown in festivals worldwide. Most recently, she's been animating for a HarvardX MOOC, and illustrating a novel which will be published in Israel in February 2014. She is an obsessive drawer and a lover of animated movement. For more, visit Danielasherer.com
Daniela is a 2d indie animator and illustrator from Tel Aviv. She is a 2013 MA Animation graduate from the Royal College of Art, London, and a 2009 Animation and Digital Arts graduate from USC, Los Angeles. Having worked on many projects ranging from documentaries to short films and visual music pieces, Daniela had the great pleasure of collaborating with other artists from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Her work has been shown in festivals worldwide. Most recently, she's been animating for a HarvardX MOOC, and illustrating a novel which will be published in Israel in February 2014. She is an obsessive drawer and a lover of animated movement. For more, visit Danielasherer.com
MARK SUOZZO Composer
Mark composes music for feature films and documentaries. He’s had the pleasure of working with many independent filmmakers and greatly appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Anna and Nadja on Unorthodox. Feature credits include Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan, Barcelona , Last Days of Disco and Damsels in Distress; Shari Springer-Berman and Bob Pulcini’s American Splendor and The Nanny Diaries; Mary Harron’s The Notorious Bettie Page. Documentaries include Off the Menu, The Young and the Dead, Sound and Fury, Shelter Dogs, Unknown Soldier, Well-Founded Fear, and the series How Democracy Works Now. He is an Associate Professor of Film Scoring at the NYU/Steinhardt.
Mark composes music for feature films and documentaries. He’s had the pleasure of working with many independent filmmakers and greatly appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Anna and Nadja on Unorthodox. Feature credits include Whit Stillman’s Metropolitan, Barcelona , Last Days of Disco and Damsels in Distress; Shari Springer-Berman and Bob Pulcini’s American Splendor and The Nanny Diaries; Mary Harron’s The Notorious Bettie Page. Documentaries include Off the Menu, The Young and the Dead, Sound and Fury, Shelter Dogs, Unknown Soldier, Well-Founded Fear, and the series How Democracy Works Now. He is an Associate Professor of Film Scoring at the NYU/Steinhardt.
ALLEGRA DE SOUZA Sound Mix, Assistant Music Editor
Allegra is an accomplished musician, having been featured as a cellist on many recordings and in numerous music videos. But it wasn’t until she was doing research for her Masters’ at Sorbonne University – Paris IV that Allegra developed her passion for music in film and television. Since her return to Los Angeles, Allegra has pursued a career both in sound and music editing, and has worked on various television shows, documentaries and independent films.
Allegra is an accomplished musician, having been featured as a cellist on many recordings and in numerous music videos. But it wasn’t until she was doing research for her Masters’ at Sorbonne University – Paris IV that Allegra developed her passion for music in film and television. Since her return to Los Angeles, Allegra has pursued a career both in sound and music editing, and has worked on various television shows, documentaries and independent films.
