THE TEAM
Nick Martinez
Born in San Francisco, Nick Martinez began his career producing independent features in the Bay Area. He produced twelve feature films that received distribution on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu. His features screened at Slamdance, Austin Film Festival, Mill Valley, and Cinequest.
After moving to Los Angeles, Martinez has been directing narrative films and commercials. His ability to combine high-end action with serious drama recently won him "Best Direction" at Los Angles Indie Film Festival for his film "American Muscle." His latest work is an adaptation of John Steinbeck's "Breakfast" from the Long Valley.
His commercial clients include Cisco Systems, Airbnb, Uplift, and idean.
Darren Haruo Rae
Darren Haruo Rae, a Japanese American producer/director based in Los Angeles, co-founded the boutique production company Roann Films. He has directed high-profile commercials and branded content for clients such as Western Digital, Airbnb, and Cisco.
Rae's directorial debut, Park Arcadia, garnered Best Screenplay at the 2014 International Film Festival Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles. His latest film, Nisei, inspired by his Japanese-American grandfather's WWII experiences in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, earned Best Drama and Audience Choice at the 2023 Poppy Jasper Film Festival and continues it’s festival circuit, screening at Indy Shorts by Heartland Film, LA Shorts International Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Cinequest Film Festival.
Currently, Rae is the series producer for the MasterClass G.O.A.T. Original Series and is producing the feature film Surrender, starring Andrea Bang. Surrender was selected as one of Film Independent's Fast Track fellowship program's top 10 narrative fiction features and is slated for production in 2023.
Jessica Olthof
Jessica Olthof, a versatile producer based in Los Angeles, began her career as a camera assistant before transitioning to the production space and ultimately producing. In the past five years, she has coordinated over ten feature films, including Palm Springs, starring Andy Samberg and JK Simmons, and The Starling, directed by Ted Melfi and featuring Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, and Kevin Kline. Her portfolio also includes LA Units for Next Goal Wins, The Banker, Voyagers, Molly's Game, and Greenland.
In 2023, Olthof produced the award-winning short film Nisei, which claimed Best Drama & Audience Choice at the Poppy Jasper Film Festival and screened at Indy Shorts by Heartland Film, LA Shorts International Film Festival, HollyShorts Film Festival, and Cinequest Film Festival. She is currently producing her first feature film, Surrender, starring Andrea Bang from Kim's Convenience, with support from Film Independent and The Gotham Film & Media Institute. A passionate advocate for gender equality in the industry, Jessica is an active member of Women in Film.