MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS
TANNER BUSCHMAN
Color Correction 101 Instructor
Senior Colorist Tanner Buschman has worked his way up the ladder of MTI Film's color team by working hard and proving himself over and over again. Demonstrating a true passion for what he does, Tanner has reached new heights of expertise by applying his talents to each project he works on. Tanner's color on The Affair, The Politician, Kidding, The Story of God, Through the Wormhole, among other TV and feature projects, has provided the diversity of work needed to gain "chops on the box” as well as refining his eye. Tanner has extensive experience in coloring, working on several Ryan Murphy projects including: American Horror Stories, Pose, Watched, The Political, and Hollywood. He has worked on projects with many incredible film members including Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, Malin Akerman, and more! Often coloring on weekends on his own time, Tanner has demonstrated his commitment to be the best he can be, which has paid off with several productions such as American Horror Stories, The Affair and The Politician.
Shannen Doherty
Acting Workshop
Shannen Doherty is an actor, producer, and director, best known for her roles in various television series, including Beverly Hills, 90210, Charmed, Little House on the Prairie, and Our House. As Beverly Hills, 90210’s Brenda Walsh and Charmed’s Prue Halliwell, Doherty became a household name as a key member of each hit series.
Shannen has starred in movies such as Michael Lehmann’s Heathers, and Kevin Smith’s hit comedy, Mallrats. Shannen was also a part of the 2017 horror film Bethany. In 2018, she reprised the role of Heather in the television series reboot of Heathers and in 2019 she was a part of the BH90210 reboot series on FOX.
Most recently, Doherty starred in Lifetime’s Dying to Belong and List of Lifetime, which was nominated for Best Movie Made for Television at the 2021 Critics Choice Awards.
Doherty’s recent film credits also include the Hot Seat opposite Mel Gibson and Fortress with Bruce Willis.
Shannen’s philanthropic work showcases her love for animals through organizations like Sea Shepherd and the California Wildlife Center. She is devoted to protecting the wildlife, as seen through her notable trip with the Sea Shepherd Cove Guardians in Taiji, Japan.
Off screen, Doherty is an inspiration to all through her battle with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in February, 2015, sharing her diagnosis publicly so others might gain courage from her journey. In August, 2016, Shannen announced that her breast cancer had spread to her lymph nodes, that she’d undergone a mastectomy, and was scheduled for radiation and chemotherapy.
Through Shannen’s iconic roles and bravely public battle with breast cancer, she continues to instill courage and hope within all the family, friends and fans surrounding her.
JAMES CULLEN BRESSACK
Directing Workshop
James Cullen Bressack is an American producer, director, and screenwriter and son of three time Emmy-award winning writer Gordon Bressack and voice actress Ellen Gerstell. At the age of 18 he received critical attention from audiences and critics alike when he made his debut feature, My Pure Joy.
One to push boundaries, James followed up with the bold and unapologetic Hate Crime which forced audiences along for a brutal home invasion, the first found footage feature ever to be made in the style of having no cuts. The entire film plays out painfully in real time. It was promptly banned in the UK for its fearless story telling, one of three films to be banned in the last 25 years and remains so to this day.
Ahead of his time, he then started the To Jennifer series, the first feature film to be shot entirely on the iPhone 5. He produced the next three installments. The prolific filmmaker refused to slow down, completing seven more features including Pernicious, 13-13-13, and Blood Lake, starring Shannen Doherty and Christopher Lloyd, which made James the youngest director to ever direct for television.
After writing and directing the haunting Bethany, a film that garnered rave reviews and limited theatrical release, James shifted his focus to producing. He has now produced forty-eight features including releases for Lionsgate and Cinedigm and is a member of both the PGA and SAG/AFTRA. His impressive body of work has won him numerous Best Picture and Best Director awards on the film festival circuit.
James has achieved all this at the age of 28 and refuses to slow down as he continues to push the envelope and make films no one thought possible. One of his previous directorial features, Beyond The Law, had a theatrical release that reunited Steven Seagal and DMX, and continues to be a best seller topping charts. He just completed producing two back to back films including the directorial debut and the follow up feature by punk rock legend, Glenn Danzig of the Misfits and Danzig, Verotika, based on the comic book series of the same name, and Death Rider In The House of Vampires, a vampire spaghetti western bloodbath epic from the twisted mind of Danzig. He is considered to be one the best up and coming Directors in Hollywood working with such names as Mel Gibson and Bruce Willis in the last two years.
DEVENIE GRAHAM
Acting Instructor
Devenie Graham is an award winning actress and previous owner of D. Graham Entertainment where she partnered with business executives, professional actors, and cinematic productions, developing film and television around the nation. After graduation, Devenie launched her production career by cofounding an off-Broadway theater company in New York City and continued to perform in multiple films developed by the New York Film Academy. Her knowledge in producing and management landed her in Los Angeles, CA as the Creative Executive at Glendale Studios. Mrs. Graham collaborated with Warner Bros. studios and consulted with Creative Artists Agency on Entertainment branding and talent. Currently, Devenie is the Chief Creative Officer at Sharpened Iron Studios where she is the Producer for their upcoming kids series, the Sharpened Iron liaison for the Amarillo College School for Cinematic Arts, and leads the talent department for casting production in the surrounding areas. In addition to her extensive production experience, she is the acting coach for several actors in union and non-union projects.
KIRK MANTON
Film Technician 101, Grip and Bootcamp Instructor
Kirk Manton has over forty years of experience in the film, video, and live event production industry. He started working grip and lighting on film sets in the 80's and then moved on to equipment, facility, and people managing. Whether working in a business or ministry environment, from Southern California to the flatlands of the Texas high plains, Kirk brings a unique mix of tech savvy, relational maturity, creative energy, and administrative excellence to everything he does.
DESTINY PEET
Acting Instructor
Destiny Peet began her acting career at a young age starting out in stage acting and transitioning to film. She attended Oklahoma State University to earn her degree of Bachelors of Arts in Theatre. While continuing her professional acting career post graduation, she began to turn to education for those in the industry. She has taught and assisted with Theatre programs in schools throughout the Texas Panhandle while also teaching in the Cinematic program at Amarillo College. It is the happiness she gets from bringing joy and laughter to others through her acting and career that makes what she does worthwhile. She hopes to allow others to see and love the opportunities and excitement acting and this industry has to offer.
TONY PERIJA
Film Technician 101 Guest Speaker
Tony Perija is a Key Grip and Orange County California native. Mr. Perija is known for wearing many hats in the film industry and using his skills to specialize in areas such as dolly grip, camera operations, car rigging, metal fabrication, photography and general broadcast technician.
Tony began his career in the eighties at Chapman College while interning under Key Grip, Kirk Manton and Cinematographer, Ralph Linhardt. Tony’s credits consists of hundreds of infomercials, commercials, feature films, television shows, and video games. He has worked on projects such as God of War, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Star Wars: Battlefront II, D.E.B.S., Days Gone, Horizon, Light & Magic and many more.
Currently, Tony is working as a Key Grip, Broadcast Technician for Disneyland Resort and Disney’s broadcast partners ABC, and AAA video games. Because of Mr. Perija’s grip skills and experience, when he is not working for The Mouse, he is freelance all around the world.
NATHAN SCOGGINS
Screening Writing Course Instructor
Nathan Scoggins recently wrapped production on “What Remains.” His list of credits include “The Least of These,” released in 2011 by Universal and starring Isaiah Washington (“Grey’s Anatomy”) and Oscar-nominee Robert Loggia, as well as the TV movie “The Perfect Summer” starring Eric Roberts and the independent feature film “Red Line.” He collaborated with a team of filmmakers to win the Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest in 2012 and 2013 with “Sling Baby” and “Fashionista Daddy.” He recently directed two episodes of an upcoming television series for Sony Affirm to premiere in 2023. Currently, Nathan Scoggins resides in Los Angeles, California.
TOM VOELPEL
Film Technician 101 Guest Speaker
Tom Voelpel is an Emmy award winning Chief Lighting Technician with Hollywood IATSE Local 728. Approaching 40 years of experience within the entertainment industry, Mr. Voelpel began his career in 1983, kicking off the golden era of music videos. His expertise expands from approximately 250 music videos, 1400 commercials, short films, feature films, tv shows, and many more. Tom has worked with various artists including Janet Jackson, David Bowie, Mariah Cary, Stevie Wonder, Van Halen, Beyoncé, Fleetwood Mac, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Ariana Grande, Snoop Dog, Paula Abdul, Luther Vandross, Billy Joel, Celine Dion, John Malkovich, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Bacon, Tom Hulce, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow and numerous other professionals.
After years of dedication to various entertainment industry avenues, Tom decided to concentrate more on commercials and worked for several products/services including Old Navy, Clairol, Revlon, McDonald’s, JC Penny, Burger King, Budweiser, Panda Express, Lowes, Sears and magnitudes of other distinguished brands. Additionally, Mr. Voelpel worked on the NBC tv series Heist and Sesame Street, lighting up the characters we all know and love