Producer
Rick Lazes is a Director and Producer on the forefront of film and multimedia entertainment, fresh off the success of his critically acclaimed documentary Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story. His credits also include producing concerts and television specials starring Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, The Black Crowes, Foo Fighters, Carlos Santana, Lenny Kravitz, BB King, and Willie Nelson, among others. Lazes created Art Factory Films which is currently premiering another feature-length documentary, Knock Out Blonde, about the transition of boxing manager Frank Maloney into Kellie, as well as developing feature film, Freedom, chronicling the life of slave turned Union Navy Captain and friend of Abraham Lincoln, Robert Smalls. Rick has been working on the Alexander McQueen project for seven years and is thrilled to debut Provocateur: The Alexander McQueen Experience in Los Angeles in Spring 2025.
Producer
Gary James McQueen was first introduced to the fashion industry by his late uncle Alexander McQueen, who mentored and inspired him to be the artist he is today. He was employed as head textile designer for the Alexander McQueen in 2005, experimenting how artwork could be applied in various ways, and that working with the silhouette of clothing, he could develop a niche of optical-illusion textile design, constantly pushing himself and the boundaries of what could be achieved using a 3D canvas as the basis. Gary James McQueen worked alongside Alexander McQueen up until his passing in 2010. Gary is an amazing artist and works in lenticular 3D. His artwork was featured in the Netflix documentary about Alexander McQueen. He also created the chrome skull which became the iconic artwork for the Savage Beauty exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which was attended by over half a million visitors.
Producer
Martin Biallas, founder and CEO of Special Entertainment Events (SEE), is among the leading visionaries, entrepreneurs, and promoters in the entertainment industry today. With over 30 years of experience he has worked with top motion picture studios, record labels, music and film stars, and major entertainment brands. He has also innovated to build new consumer experiences, both physical and digital, for some of the world’s most famous franchised properties and cultural heritages. Recently, Martin has expanded his highly popular immersive tour experiences to encompass the worlds of art and history in order to bring humanity’s shared cultural heritages to the greater public. These sophisticated and wonderfully put together exhibits have proven to be quite successful, drawing large crowds and media attention from major television networks, print, and the internet. Such exhibits include Frida Kahlo, King Tutankhamen, and Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.
Producer
Just coming off the set of Wander, starring Tommy Lee Jones, Aaron Eckhart, Katheryn Winnick, and Heather Graham, Chad A. Verdi recently finished awards season for the critically acclaimed Scorsese-directed film that he served as an Executive Producer on, The Irishman, starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. Verdi is an award-winning American filmmaker who has produced over twenty feature films in the past eight years. He has produced films with some of Hollywood’s most acclaimed and ren owned talent, including eight films in partnership with producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff, and five films with the legendary director Martin Scorsese.
Writer
Darrah Cloud’s musical version of the Willy Holtzman play, SABINA, (lyrics) opened April 2022 at Portland Stage. Her play, TURNING, about the 1936 Olympic women’s gymnastic team, was produced at Centenary Stage in March of 2021. Other productions include: OUR SUBURB (premiere Theater J, Washington, DC), JOAN THE GIRL OFARC (Cincinnati Playhouse, then toured), WHAT’S BUGGING GREG?, THE STICKWIFE, THE MUD ANGEL, DREAM HOUSE, BRAILLE GARDEN and THE SIRENS. Her musicals, written with composer Kim D. Sherman, include HEARTLAND, (Madison Repertory Theatre, The Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Theatre Works Palo Alto) THEBOXCAR CHILDREN (Theatre works USA, tour), HONOR SONG FOR CRAZY HORSE(Theatre Works Palo Alto) and the stage adaptation of Willa Cather’s O PIONEERS which has received over 100 productions in the United States and was filmed starring Mary McDonnell for American Playhouse. She has won numerous awards, including the Macy’s Prize for Theatre for Young Audiences, an NEA and a Rockefeller, and has had over 10 movies-of-the-week produced on CBS and NBC. She is a proud alum of the Iowa Writers Workshop and New Dramatists, and co-directs Howl Playwrights in Rhinebeck, NY. She is a Trustee of Dutchess Community College and the former Town Supervisor of Pine Plains, NY.
Producer
As a writer and director with a history in social justice, Seth Koch aims to find stories that enlighten our sense of history and promote an understanding of tolerance and diversity. From Koch’s first collaboration with Rick Lazes, Like Rats in a Trap, exploring racial tensions during the Jim Crow era, to his recent critically acclaimed documentary Lennox Lewis: The Untold Story, his work focuses on highlighting stories largely underrepresented in our society. His upcoming documentary projects include Director and Producer for Knock Out Blonde and Director of Tune In ,as well as Writer and Producer for the feature-length Robert Smalls biopic.
Producer
Aaron Atkinson is a Director, Cinematographer, VR Programmer, Editor, Camera Operator, and the Founder of Profound House Productions. His work is built on the principle that “the essence of all of our lives is a great story and these stories all connect us to the story of our human existence.” He has a versatile portfolio writing and directing narrative films like My Lynn, about living with Multiple Sclerosis, The Bae Hive, exploring the importance of positive black images, and The Nine, about how the self-discovery of personality types can lead to personal growth. Atkinson has also written and directed documentary films such as Using Your Brain Film, The Black Boy Exhibit, Art Pop Street Gallery a Film Short, among many others. He’s also produced a variety of other programs like The Love Power Show, Celebrate Your Wins, Taste Exchange, as well as podcasts like Are Your Friends This Awesome and This Could Be A Movie.
Production Designer
Having an early career in the spotlight as a highly respected musical instrument designer and fabricator within the boutique guitar industry, Craig Landau has spent decades exploring engineering and design. The common thread of his work is the pursuit of artistry in practical, efficient and flawless function. Upon Craig’s retirement from luthiery, he continued using his skills as Operations Manager for a military contractor overseeing the engineering and production of armored vehicles, and with in the American steel industry. As Production Manager of the McQueen project, Craig lends his detail-oriented skills to a truly artistic undertaking with grand vision.
Art Director
Jen Landau has always been an artist, from studying glass design asa teen to textile design and illustration in the following years. Her passionate pursuit of artistic challenge has led to an eclectic body of work and study. A background of theatre, literature and music across the United States and abroad gave her the chance to look at truth and beauty through panoramic view, always seeking a wider lens. Having worked with Rick Lazes on previous art collections such as Paper Dolls, Jen thrives in artistic collaboration and is thrilled to be part of this project.