Meet the Panelists

Michael Mohan

 Director Ex-Sex (SXSW 2011, Sundance 2011)

Michael Mohan makes films of all shapes and sizes. His first feature film ONE TOO MANY MORNINGS, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2010. He has directed music videos for artists including Fitz and the Tantrums, Sea Wolf and Minus the Bear. He is currently working on his 2nd feature film SAVE THE DATE with graphic novelist Jeffrey Brown (Clumsy) and producer Jordan Horowitz (The Kids Are All Right), in addition to the feature length version of his Sundance/SXSW Short Film EX-SEX.

Jennifer Cochis

 Producer Ex-Sex (SXSW 2011, Sundance 2011)

Jennifer Cochis is a film and music video producer; in 2009 she co-produced the feature film DOUCHEBAG. DOUCHEBAG went on to have its world premiere in Dramatic Competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was theatrically released in the fall of 2010. In addition to film, she has produced numerous music videos working with some of the most exciting musicians in Los Angeles. Most recently she produced the short film EX-SEX directed by Sundance Film Festival alumnus Michael Mohan; EX-SEX had its world premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2011 and is an official selection of SXSW 2011. Selected by the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program as a Creative Producing Lab Fellow in 2010, Jennifer attended the Creative Producing Lab and Summit with the feature film project the WEST MEMPHIS THREE as well as the Sundance Film Festival in January of this year. Jennifer was also invited to attend Film Independent’s No Borders at Independent Film Week with the WEST MEMPHIS THREE in New York. Currently, Jennifer is collaborating with other filmmakers in developing several multi-genre feature film projects, and is also writing a feature screenplay and a short film that will be her directorial debut. 

Jared Mercier

 Freelance Production

Jared Scott Mercier attended ASU early in the 00’s. There was no film school there at the time so he and a few friends started a club and got a film degree program created. While in school he wrote and directed several shorts as well as the feature Madison Hall. He was also president of the film club for 3 years, was a Student Government Senator, was on the advisory committee for the local IFP, and started and directed the ASU Student Film Festival. He now lives in Hollywood with his wife and works as a Production Assistant while pursuing a career as an Assistant Director. His credits include many short films you’ve never heard of as well as The Other Guys, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, X-Men: First Class, Torchwood: The New World, and Take Me Home Tonight. 

Deborah McIntosh

 WME Global

Formed after the merger of major talent agencies William Morris and Endeavor in 2009, the WME Global Finance & Distribution Group functions as a consulting group within the rich content and talent ecosystem of the new agency. Deborah started in the William Morris mailroom in 2007 and joined GLOBAL in 2009. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, in Advertising and Radio-TV-Film. 

MODERATOR

John Lang

Producer Assistant, Rough & Tumble Films

Currently a producer’s assistant at Rough & Tumble Films in Los Angeles, John has a diverse background with in the film industry. His experiences include time spent working for sales agents, film festivals, writers, producers, and in production. Before moving to LA, John lived in Austin where he graduated from the University of Texas film program, and was a programmer and business manager for the Austin Cinemathéque. John recently completed his first feature film as a producer: We Defiled Your Daughter.