Robert Townsend, Director and Executive Producer

Robert Townsend is a Hollywood-pioneer well ahead of his time. A Chicago native, he is often referred to as one of the "Godfathers" of the Independent Film World. With over 30 years in the business, he has made an indelible mark in Hollywood with an extensive list of credits.

Townsend wrote, directed, produced and starred in his own first film, the critically acclaimed Hollywood Shuffle, a satire, depicting the trials and tribulations of black actors in Hollywood. He directed Eddie Murphy in Eddie Murphy Raw, and he wrote, directed and starred in The Meteor Man, another huge success.

The movie that landed Townsend the credit of a lifetime was the popular tearjerker classic The Five Heartbeats. In between features, Robert created and produced his ground breaking Cable Ace award-winning Partners In Crime variety specials for HBO and highly praised Townsend Television for FOX television. He also created and starred in the WB Network hit series The Parenthood. Townsend has directed numerous television films such as Carmen: A Hip Hopera for MTV, Up, Up And Away for the Disney channel, The Little Richard Story for NBC, 10,000 Black Men Named George for Showtime, and Holiday Heart for Showtime just to name a few.

In 2004, Townsend added President and CEO of a television network to his resume called the Black Family Channel. He ran the channel for four years and created over 15 different television series until the network was sold in 2007. Townsend considers it one of the highlights of his career.

Townsend has made history by being nominated for over 30 NAACP Image Awards for film and television.

Cheryl L. West, Screenwriter

Cheryl West was the librettist for Play On! (ran on Broadway and aired on PBS's Great Performances) and the author of several plays including Addy: An American Girl Story, Holiday Heart, Birdie Blue, Jar The Floor and Before It Hits Home. Her plays have been produced in England and at off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club as well as in numerous regional theatres that include Seattle Repertory Theatre, Arena Stage, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Old Globe Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, and the Goodman.

Her awards include the Susan Smith Blackburn prize, the Helen Hayes, AUDELCO and the NAACP Playwriting Award. As a film and TV writer, Ms. West has worked on projects at Sony, Paramount, TNT, HBO, MTV, Disney and CBS. Ms. West adapted her play Holiday Heart as a co-production of Showtime, MGM and Robert DeNiro's Tribeca Productions. The 2000 film directed by Robert Townsend earned a GLADD nomination and a Golden Globe nomination for Alfre Woodard.

Ms. West is currently working on a commission for off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre, a musical commission for Seattle Rep and a commission for Minneapolis Children's Theatre.

Messiah Jacobs, Producer

Messiah Jacobs is an independent producer with a diverse body of work in film, television, commercials, and new media webisodes. His film credits include the independent film Skyler starring Broadway’s Tony Award winning actress Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, Dreamgirls) and the zany comedy The Urn.

On television, Jacobs produced The Musical Theater of Hope for the Gospel Music Channel. Directed by Robert Townsend, the broadcast became one of the highest rated shows in the channel’s history.

Respected throughout the industry as a leader in the new media landscape, Jacobs produced the award winning web based series Diary of a Single Mom directed by Townsend and starring Monica Calhoun, Valery Ortiz and Janice Lynde along with veteran actors Billy Dee Williams, Richard Roundtree and Leon. The series is currently in its second season and can be seen exclusively at www.pic.tv.

In January 2010, Jacobs was named the Head of Production of V-Studio, a division of One Economy Corporation. Helmed by Robert Townsend, the venture is charged with the mission of making public purpose media for the Public Internet Channel.

Jacobs’ producing roots are grounded in finance having worked in auditing at Harlem’s Carver Federal Saving Bank while earning his Bachelors of Business Administration degree from Bernard M. Baruch College (CUNY) in his hometown of New York City.

Monica Calhoun, as Ocean

Monica Calhoun is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native who began her professional acting career at the age of 14. On stage and screen, she has worked with and learned from with some of the industry's most talented performers garnering the respect of many entertainers.

Her film credits include The Best Man, Park Day, The Players Club, Sister Act II :Back in the Habit, Love and Basketball, Jack the Bear, The Salon, Justice, Gang of Roses, Love Chronicles, Pandora's Box, Civil Brand, Final Breakdown, and Faux Pas.

On television, she appeared in numerous made-for-TV films including, The Jacksons: An American Dream, The Ditch Digger's Daughters, Rebound: The Legend of Earl 'The Goat' Manigault, The Ernest Green Story, Intimate Betrayal, Nature Boy, CBS School Break Specials (What About Your Friends, Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love, 15 and Getting Straight), She Stood Alone, Heart and Soul, Out of Rosenheim, and Children of the Night.

A television favorite, Calhoun has appeared as a special guest on Cold Case Files, Everybody Hates Chris, Grey's Anatomy, Strong Medicine, NYPD Blue, Malcolm & Eddie, the Jamie Foxx Show, the Wayans Bros Show, A Different World and Bagdad Cafe.

Recognized for her outstanding achievement as an actress, Calhoun was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her role in the CBS School Break Special Different Worlds: A Story of Interracial Love, and an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in the feature film The Best Man. Calhoun in the recipient of the Best Actress Award for the feature film Pandora's Box at the 2002 American Black Film Festival.

Valery Ortiz starred as "Madison Duarte" on the original teen drama South of Nowhere on The N, the nighttime network for teens. The N, which is now Teen Nick, is a programming arm of MTV Networks and is currently available in 43 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite television. In addition, she has had guest star appearances in ABC's acclaimed series, What About Brian? as "Roxanne," CBS series Cold Case as "Marisol", and most recently she played "Kelli" on Teen Nicks first scripted series, Gigantic. On the big screen, Valery appeared opposite Alyson Hannigan, Carmen Electra and Jennifer Coolidge as "Jello" (a spoof of Jennifer Lopez' role in The Wedding Planner) in Twentieth Century Fox's Date Movie, which opened #1 at the US box office and topped the DVD sales charts. In addition to her TV and film gigs, Valery was seen hosting the shows: LATV Does Hollywood (LATV), On the Up (SiTV), the groundbreaking daily broadband show, E! New Now for E! Online and has recently replaced Daisy Fuentes in the nationally syndicated show, American Latino. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Valery was raised in Orlando, Florida. Always encouraged to express her creative spirit, she attended the prestigious Dr. Phillips High School, the visual and performing arts magnet for artistically talented students in Orange County, Florida. Valery's first big break came hosting the "anything goes" kids show Splat! on Nickelodeon. After the show wrapped, Valery moved to Los Angeles and landed a hosting gig on the popular music show LATV Live. Within months, producers tapped her for the role of South of Nowhere's "Madison." Always wanting to use her celebrity for good causes, Ortiz joined hostess Natasha Henstridge, and Vivica A. Fox, Illeana Douglas, Janice Dickinson, Bai Ling, Yolanda Adams and numerous other celebrity models in the acclaimed Lloyd Klein fashion show that benefited Sheila E's Elevate Hope Foundation. Valery was named "One of the Top 25 Latinas of 2006" by Maxim en Espanol for her accomplishments in both TV and film. She has been profiled by numerous other outlets, including EXTRA!, EXTRA! en Espanol, Inside Edition, People en Espanol, New York Post, and OK! Magazine, among others. Valery lives in Los Angeles and spends her leisure time hiking, reading, writing and playing with her puppy.

Born in Houston, Tex. and raised in Lake Charles, La., Janice's arrival into show business came at an early age as a child prodigy concert pianist. Her picture appeared on Life Magazine for winning (in the same year) the prestigious Van Cliburn Piano Competition, and the talent competition in the Miss Teenage America Contest. She then opened for Vladimir Horovitz, (the Russian-American classical pianist, at Carnegie Hall. Later a Metropolitan Opera Scholarship brought her to New York, where she was accepted by the famed Actor's Studio. In the same year, she made her European Operatic debut, at La Scala, in La Boheme. Other stage highlights include starring in Broadway's Butterflies Are Free, Applause, Nine, and Pippin, directed by the legendary Bob Fosse. Fosse also directed her night club act. Lynde won Off-Broadway's Obie Awards for her work in the Joe Papp's productions of Sambo and Picnic. She originated the lead role of Carnelle in The Miss Fire Cracker Contest, receiving the Drama Critics Circle Award (Best Actress), and 5 Dramalogue Awards for Best Actress.

Her eclectic career led to her return to the operatic stage for San Francisco Opera's premier production of The Merry Widow, starring Frederica von Stade and Rodney Gilfrey, which aired on PBS' Great Performances.

A sampling of her film work consists of Garry Marshall's Pretty Woman, Missing Pieces, as well as, Sundance favorite The Marriage Undone. Janice returned to her love of physical comedy in 2 Dudes & A Dream, soon to be released, and Father Vs. Son. In Letter To Dad, she earned the Cannes Film Festival Palm D'Or Award as best Supporting Actress.

When TV initially beckoned Ms. Lynde, she joined the original cast of popular drama, The Young And The Restless. Her portrayal of Leslie Brooks, (the tortured concert pianist), garnered her first Emmy Award, as well as four consecutive wins as The Most Popular Female Star in TV's Annual Readers' Poll. Her second Emmy Nomination came on One Life To Live. Other credits include Oscar's younger, girlfriend on The Odd Couple, Quincy, Who's The Boss, Sledgehammer, and Night Court, (for which she received The American Comedy Award). Other screen roles span such shows as: CSI, Cold Case, Boston Legal, Nothing Sacred, Touched By An Angel, The Office, Resurrection Blvd. Janice is renowned for creating the unforgettable character of Loretta Smith Sibley, opposite James Cromwell, on HBO's Emmy winning series, Six Feet Under.

Janice's best-selling book, 10 Minutes To The Audition, won rave reviews from the New York Times, and received a 5 Star Rating from Amazon.com.

Billy Dee Williams grew up in the Harlem section of New York City in a family that nurtured artistic expression in all forms. At his mother's urging, at the young age of seven, Billy Dee made his acting debut on Broadway in a Kurt Weill production called the Firebrand of Florence, starring Lotte Lenya. Billy attended public school including the High School of Music and Art. He was awarded the prestigious Hallgarten Award Scholarship to attend the National Academy of Fine Arts and Design.

Billy has acted in over 100 films, and is immediately recognized for his significant role as the dashingly handsome Lando Calrission in the Star Wars epics The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Billy has received critical acclaim for his portrayal as the elegant romantic lead in both Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany, with Diana Ross. He has played pivotal roles in Nighthawks, Batman and the historically based story Bingo Long Travelling All-Stars & Motor Kings. His acting talent enriched the comedy Lady's Man as well as the compelling drama The Visit where the Independent Spirit Awards acknowledged Billy's superb performance as Best Supporting Actor.

Billy is recognized for his outstanding performances on Broadway in A Taste of Honey with Joan Plowright and Angela Lansbury, Fences and as Martin Luther King in I Had A Dream. He has also played in The Exonerated, Maintenance Man, and If These Hips Could Talk. Nominated for an Emmy for his memorable work in the made-for-television film, Brian's Song, he has created roles for numerous television series including Dynasty, The Jefferson's, Gideon's Crossing, The Hurley's, Half and Half, Street Time, Scrub, and That 70s Show.

Billy, distinguished by his natural charismatic and urbane charm, became the perfect choice to be the spokesperson for Colt 45's satirically entertaining commercials, making Billy known as the smooth "Colt 45 Guy", and for Avon to develop a new fragrance in his name, UNDENIABLE by Billy Dee Williams. He continues to be the commercial spokesperson for ATT and Colt 45. Billy is a return guest on comedic episodes on the Jimmy Kimmel show.

Versatile and multi-talented, Billy has written three novels, Psi/Net and Just In Time co-authored with Rob MacGregor, published by Tom Doherty Associates and a romance novel, Twilight co-authored with Elizabeth Atkins Bowman. Like his paintings, Billy's accomplishments transcend artistic and cultural boundaries; in recognition he has been honored with many awards including the Diversity Award for Lifetime Achievement, the Prism Award and the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award.

With consistency being the benchmark for stardom in Hollywood, Richard Roundtree has proven his star power in every sense of the word. As a leading actor for over the last thirty years, he has established himself as a constant force in the entertainment industry.

Discovering that he enjoyed the spotlight while on a football scholarship at Southern Illinois University, Richard signed with Johnson Publications to model in their annual Ebony Fashion Fair, touring 79 cities in 90 days. Roundtree then returned to New York, his home state, began acting lessons and later became a member of New York's acclaimed Negro Ensemble Company. A succession of Off-Broadway roles resulted in his starring role as Jack Johnson in The Great White Hope.

Richard initially received international fame when Gordon Parks chose him to star as John Shaft, private detective and supercop hero in the feature film Shaft. That role catapulted Roundtree into the world arena as one of the hottest new actors on the scene. He continued the franchise with Shaft's Big Score, Shaft In Africa, and the television series, Shaft.

But Roundtree was just beginning to stretch his talents as a movie star. He quickly moved on to star with some of Hollywood's most well-known actors, including Clint Eastwood, Robert Shaw, Peter O'Toole, Richard Harris, David Niven, Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier, naming just a few. Richard was in the summer release of Speed Racer with John Goodman and Susan Sarandon. Among his more than 70 other feature films is the smash hit Seven, the critically acclaimed Once Upon A Time...When We Were Colored, the remake of Shaft reprising the role that made him famous, Steel, with basketball superstar Shaquile O'Neal and George Of The Jungle for Disney Pictures.

Richard's television credits have included series regular roles on 413 Hope Street where he garnered an NAACP Image Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Series, and Buddies with Dave Chappelle for ABC. Other movies for television include the top rated Having Our Say portraying Booker T. Washington, Christmas In Connecticut directed for Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Starz production of Joe And Max and Hallmark Channel's production of Ladies Of The House. Starring opposite Pam Grier. He has recurred on the ABC smash hit series Desperate Housewives and Heroes. Richard is the recipient of a Peabody Award for his narration on the PBS documentary The Rise And Fall Of Jim Crow.

Leon, multi-talented performer, continues to please his fans and sway newcomers with his memorable performances as an actor and singer. In 2008, Leon had fans and critics buzzing with his provocative turn in 20th Century's Fox much talked about thriller Cover directed by Bill Duke, a national touring schedule for the Je'Caryous Johnson's play 3 Ways to Get a Husband, and in 2009 will be starring in the Indie comedy Capers directed by Jullian Kiel. In 2007, Leon received an International Reggae and World Music Award nomination for his band Leon & The Peoples debut CD The Road Less Traveled and completed a 36 city US tour with Reggae super stars Beres Hammond & Marcia Griffiths on the For The Love Of It Tour. Leon was a frequent surprise guest on Beres Hammond's 2008 "A Moment in Time" US tour.

Many fans first were wowed by his appearance in Madonna's video "Like a Prayer," but more and more fans flocked to the theatres to see him in Disney's blockbuster hit Cool Runnings. He soon graced many excellent storylines such as Above The Rim, Cliffhanger, Waiting To Exhale, HBO's Oz, and Crossing Jordan. During 2004 - 2005, Leon crossed the country while packing houses performing in the theatrical version of New York Times best-selling novel Friends And Lovers where he sang the feature cut from the CD Road Less Traveled titled "Will You Be My Wife." Leon had made his film singing debut playing a reggae singer in The Price Of Kissing, in which he produced and starred in and sang a memorable rendition of "Daddy's Home." He proceeded to further his musical roles in the dramas of Robert Townsend's Five Heartbeats, The Temptations, as David Ruffin and the authorized biography of Little Richard as Little Richard himself. Leon was also in Merchant Ivory's Side Streets and Miramax's Buffalo Soldiers and his memorable cameo role in Michael Mann's Ali. Leon continued attracting fans when he hosted and produced BET's L-Bow Room.

Born in Austin, Texas, Nieko Mann developed a love for the camera at an earlier age. For three seasons Nieko portrayed the sassy, tell it like it is Noannie Williams of the critically acclaimed NBC series, Friday Night Lights. From acclaimed writers/directors Peter Berg and Brian Grazer, the series is based around a small Texas town where High School Football is more than just a sport; it's a way of life. Nieko's character, the mouthy younger sister to Brian "Smash" Williams, played by Gaius Charles. The show boasts an all-star cast headed by Kyle Chandler, who portrays the newly appointed head coach to the Dylan Panthers High School Football team. Additional television guest roles include CSI: Miami and Lie to Me.

Logan Grove is a native of Palmer, Alaska, who fell into acting at the age of six. His sister was invited to attend the annual Actors, Models and Talent Competition and Logan was subsequently entered as well. Showing promise by winning several categories at the annual Actors, Models, and Talent Competition, his family moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting as a career for him. Logan's appearances include lead and guest starring roles in Suite Life of Zack and Cody, CSI: Miami, ER, Medium, and Untold Stories Of The Er,

Zach Callison hails from St. Louis, Missouri. His all American look and vivid personality have earned him a number of roles. He began acting at the age of seven and has worked on a number of projects. He began in theater in adaptations of Music Man, All My Sons and Macbeth. He also used his musical talents in the Wizard of Oz, and Oliver and Peter Pan at the historic St. Louis Muny. He then discovered his love of film when he played the role of Dominic in Kingshighway, directed by Clayne Crawford. Zach's second film credit was for Will Ferrell's "Land of the Lost". Zach can currently be seen on the popular game show "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader". He also added a number of voiceover roles to his credits for studios/companies such as Warner Bros., Catroon Network, BBC London, and Focus on the Family.

Some of Zach's many hobbies include his love of baseball, reading, drawing, video games, parkour/martial arts and all things medieval and magical.

A veteran of film and television despite his young age of fourteen, Jonathan Biggs hails originally from West Palm Beach, Florida and now resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he makes his mark on the world not only in acting, singing and dancing but also as a motivational speaker for children and young adults.

Jonathan started his career doing commercials and later compiled several film credits which include the Wool Cap with William H. Macy, Bolden!, and The Great Observer. He has also guest starred on many primetime and cable hits shows including, The Mentalist, Girlfriends, Unfabulous, Chocolate News, and Cartoon Friday for the Cartoon Network. Jonathan has had the opportunity to work on two videos, Side By Side by Three-six Mafia, and The Rainbow by Vickie Winans.

When Jonathan isn't acting, this R&B singer gives back to the community. One of his passions is being the CEO of his non-profit organization; Jazz's Friends Foundation, Inc. His mission and goal is to promote the value of self-worth and how investing in oneself with inspiration of music will produce a responsible and productive citizen of our society. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys playing baseball, swimming, fishing, Arts and Crafts and considers himself an avid video game player.

China Anderson began her career in entertainment at the age of four by going on her very first audition in which she booked the feature film Idlewild with the musical group Outkast. Less than a year later, she appeared in the #1 Box Office Movie Madea's Family Reunion directed by Tyler Perry. In 2007 she starred in Eddie Murphy's feature film Norbit and stars the upcoming film Krews.

Anderson's next projects include the feature film Monster Mutt slated for release in 2010, a guest starring role on NBC Television's hit series Heroes, and a featured voice in Steven Spielberg's Alien Invasion pilot.

On television, Anderson appeared on ABC's television sitcom Carpoolers which debuted in 2008. She is featured in Keke Palmers music video All My Girlz and commercials and print ads for Wells Fargo, Walmart, McDonald's, Travelers Insurance, AT&T, Macy's and UCLA Children's Center.

On stage, Anderson appeared in the cast of a 2009 production of Fences written by Pulitzer Prize Winning Playwright August Wilson and directed by Eileen Mack Knight.

Prior to earning her feature film roles, China was crowned Division Winner for ages three to four in the Hawaiian Tropic Model Search runway competition. She is currently a cheerleader where she competed and took 1st Place Division Winner for Young Champions Cheer America. In addition to entertaining, some of her favorite things to do are reading, bowling, going to movies, shopping and doing gymnastics.

Ava Marie is a seven-year-old actress whose first acting opportunity came with Robert Townsend’s Diary of a Single Mom, where she landed the role of Kayla, the daughter of main character Ocean, played by actress Monica Calhoun. Since then, she has appeared in commercials and can be seen in the upcoming Nickelodeon television show, VicTORIous, which debuts in March 2010.

Ava Marie is also an excellent, gifted student. She has many other interests and hobbies, including dancing, singing, bowling, and drawing.