LOSSED Selected Biographies
David Johann Kim: Director/Writer/Producer
LOSSED is David’s first film as director and writer. He spent the better part of the last two decades as an actor primarily in the theatre from NYC to San Francisco and Boston to San Diego and many parts in between. In late 2005, while leading a company of actors in the Joint Stock method of play creation, David became fascinated with Mike Leigh’s methods of screenplay creation. He asked two actresses he had acted with before and whose work he admired, Julia Prud’homme and Elizabeth Liang, if they would be interested in doing an experiment using Mike Leigh’s techniques. LOSSED is the final result of that experiment. David studied film directing under Lewis Teague and Cinematography under Jacqui Frost at UCLA . He also holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Acting from UC San Diego. He is an active member of Filmmaker’s Alliance in Los Angeles. David is currently working on, HOPE DEPOT a documentary on day laborers in Los Angeles and developing YOUR SUMMER his next narrative project.
Tyler Allison: Cinematographer/DP
Tyler Allison has been working as a Cinematographer and Camera Operator in hundreds of productions shooting internationally and locally. His experience ranges from feature films and television series to commercials and music videos.
Mr. Allison has worked with such studios as Warner Brothers, Universal Studios, Disney, and Paramount. In addition to major studio work, he is fluent in the techniques of large format photography, miniatures, special effects, and various camera rigging.
Mr. Allison has extensive knowledge of capture mediums from 35mm film to Digital video. His abilities extend into sound and lighting for production as well as thorough knowledge of post-production techniques. He is a certified Digital Imaging Technician, Scuba diver, and Hydroflex underwater operator.
A graduate from the University of California at San Diego, Mr. Allison received Honors from the School of Film.
Elizabeth Liang: Lead Actor
Elizabeth Liang (Beth) has been in numerous independent features and short films. She played the female lead in her first feature film, BOY & DOG, and a tattoed, pierced beachnik chick in the feature TROPIX, which was shot in Costa Rica and which is available at Hollywood Video and on Netflix. Short films in which she starred that have had success on the festival circuit include SWIMMING IN AIR and THE POOL.
Elizabeth has acted with several theater companies in southern CA. On stage, her pride and joy was a production of Three Sisters, which she produced and in which she played the role of Masha. She has twice been named one of the 5 Best Lead Actresses of the year by reviewplays.com, and she is very proud of the Best Ensemble awards she won from the LA Weekly and Backstage West. She is a member of Theatre of NOTE.
Born in Guatemala, of Chinese-Spanish-Irish-French-German-English-Dutch descent, Elizabeth was raised in Central America, North Africa, the Middle East, and Connecticut as a Xerox brat. She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts, then transferred to Wesleyan University in Connecticut just to confuse people, and got her B.A. in English Lit. After graduating, she attended the American Academy of Dramatic Art in NYC during the summer before she moved to Los Angeles.
On television Elizabeth has played diverse roles on Criminal Minds, The Man (LL Cool J pilot), The West Wing (recurring), Frasier, Joan of Arcadia, The Guardian, Felicity, Threshold, Noah's Arc, and BRAM and Alice.
Julia Prud'homme: Lead Actor
Julia Prud'homme (Catherine) played one of the leads in the short film DISPOSABLE, which won *Best Movie* in both the 2007 WorldFest Festival- Houston, TX and in the 2006 A Cut Above Film Festival- Los Angeles, CA. She appears as many different characters in the boy band spoof OUTTASYNC, and, as the Vampire's mistress and modern day Renfield in VAMPIRE VERMONT which can be rented in video stores all across Thailand.
Julia has worked in theatres all over the U.S. On stage she has worked with Paul Giamatti, Peter Dinklage, Hope Davis, Ethan Hawke, Blair Brown, Bebe Neuwirth, Roger Rees, and others. Julia has been an active member of Annex Theatre (Seattle), Ripe Time (New York city) and currently Theatre of NOTE (Los Angeles). "Being a member of a talented and committed group of people, working together on a goal, creating plays, and doing all of the other messy day to day stuff that keeps a small theatre company going, is an incredible experience, the stuff of life and love, and one I feel so lucky to have had so well."
On television, Julia played the nurse in the episode of THE OFFICE, who yelled "Stop it!" at Steve Carell when he put his burned foot into the MRI machine; and a greiving mother who helps Jeff Goldblum find out what has happenned to her daughter on RAINES.
Julia comes from New England WASPy granite stock, and is a mix of northern European types, with the Irish blood showing the most.
Dianna Briggs: Producer, Supporting Actor
Ms. Briggs’ background in the entertainment field goes back to 1987 when she worked for a major extra casting company. She learned very well, and a few years later she opened her own casting office. One of her clients, a Director, who was impressed with her professional skills, asked her if she would be interested in producing a feature film.
Her decision to go ahead and Produce the film opened the door to a successful producing career. From 1983 to 1989, Dianna Briggs worked as a Producer and Casting Director for BELLROCK ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Believing that children’s media was falling short of its’ potential, Ms. Briggs was inspired to form her own production company in 1989. As co-owner, Dianna Briggs formed DANDELION ENTERTAINMENT, INC (Oasis Film Productions, Inc.) with the primary goal of producing children’s educational videos and documentaries that display higher values.
With its’ own financing, OASIS FILM PRODUCTIONS, INC. completed its first project, a children’s series entitled, “The Letter Patrol”, based on an original storyline by Ms. Briggs. The series uses colorful imaginary, dazzling graphics and the magical help of friendly creatures, “Eye and Toozie”, who teaches the five and six year old demographic their alphabet (ABC’s). It is set for distribution this year by Lucerne Media, a well-established children’s media distribution company.
Professional Affiliations: Women In Film, International Documentary Association, American Film Institute, and CineWomen. Film Independent.
Stewart Nelsen: Picture and Sound Editor
Stewart won an Emmy Award as a sound editor for UNDER SEIGE. He has since done the dialogue and sound effects editing for many many films. As a picture editor his credits include: Ben David: Broken Sky, his own art documentary AUSGANG and numerous music and experimental videos.
David Raiklen: Composer
David Raiklen wrote, directed and scored his first film at age 9. He began studying keyboard and composing at age 5. He attended, then taught at UCLA, USC and CalArts. Among his teachers are John Williams and Mel Powel. He has worked for Fox, Disney and Sprint. David has received numerous awards for his work, including the 2004 American Music Center Award. Dr. Raiklen has composed music and sound design for theater (Death and the Maiden), dance (Russian Ballet), television (Sing Me a Story), cell phone (Spacey Movie), museums (Museum of Tolerance), concert (Violin Sonata ), and film (Appalachian Trail). His compositions have been performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the first Disney Hall. David Raiken is also host of a successful radio program, Classical Fan Club.
Melanie Watnick: Costume DesignerMelanie has designed costumes for film and theatre throughout Southern California and the US.
Other work in the Los Angeles area includes productions with the Open Fist, Actors Studio, and Lee Strasberg Institute. Melanie has worked on numerous productions at the San Diego Rep, including the world premieres of Oxygen, Nuevo California, Three Mo' Divas, and Luis Valdez Mummified Deer. Other work in San Diego includes designs for Malashock Dance productions Dance Stories, Together In The Fires of Delight, Customs of the House, and Apologies from the Lower Deck.
Melanie teaches undergraduate costume design for theatre and dance at UC San Diego as well as graduate costume design courses for dance at UC Irvine. As a faculty member at UC Irvine, she has designed costumes for various choreographers including Donald McKayle, Lisa Naugle, Loretta Livingston, Leslie Peck, and Bob Boross.
Work outside of California includes The King Stag at The Juilliard School and Love, Langston at Great Lakes Theatre Festival.
