MEET OUR TEAM
Charles Vijay Kumar, C.Ss.R.
WRITER, DIRECTOR AND CINEMATOGRAPHER
Rev. Charles Vijay Kumar, C.Ss.R., is a Redemptorist Catholic Priest and a film maker. He holds a master’s degree in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles. His first short documentary film, “Trafficked in the U.S.” about Human Sex trafficking in the U.S. won the Student Documentary Award at 2016 ‘THEMODCOM LONDON’ Film Festival, and screened as Official Selection at 2016 Long Beach International Film Festival, New York and received other film award nominations. His short fiction narrative film, ‘Josh – A Journey Within’ (2017) premiered at the 20th International Children Film Festival in India.
His reason to do this project is his mission as a Redemptorist, to preach the Good News to the most abandoned, which includes migrants and the refugees.
Vivek Rao Nipani
CHIEF EDITOR AND PRODUCER
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Brittany Chenelle
PRODUCER
With a passion for philanthropy and the arts, Brittany has spent much of her years working on social justice issues & visual storytelling. During her time studying Film Production at LMU, Brittany made films about real life issues, covering tough topics such as rape and student homelessness in her films.
Brittany refocused her creativity to documentary films to focus on capturing the untold stories of people around the world. She shot a documentary in Haiti about what Haitians are doing to help their own people, and her thesis focused on gentrification in Los Angeles.
Recent credits include working as a production coordinator on the feature-length documentary recently acquired by HBO, FOSTER, with Oscar award-winning producer, Deborah Oppenheimer and director, Mark Jonathan Harris.
Hengqing Kat Pan
PRODUCER
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Biju Madathikunnel, C.Ss.R.
ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (ITALY)
Rev. Biju Madathikunnel is a Redemptorist and a multi-talented artist. He holds a master's degree in Communication from the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. He directed and produced the short documentary, "Icon of Love." about the devotion to the Mother of Perpetual Help. He now serves as the Director of the Office of Communications at the Redemptorist Generalate in Rome.
David Law
ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (USA)
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Dina Burlis
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
(RUSSIA)
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Sergey Gavrilov
ADDITIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
(RUSSIA)
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Lilia Caldera-Rodriguez
PUBLIC RELATIONS LEAD
Lilia is a senior level public relations/ communications professional who has spent her career working in municipal government, health care and higher education. For the last 15 years, she’s worked in grocery retail and presently handles community relations and communications for one of the fastest growing US. Hispanic retailers.
“This film project is a first for me and one that keeps me deep in daily prayer asking if I’m doing the right things. But I know that God is the chief strategist who called me to this task. There’s no doubt in my mind that He’s guiding this team’s every move,” Lilia emphasized.
"Saying yes to Fr. Charles was easy. Like many of my fellow Catholics, it’s been hard to see and accept what is happening to fleeing immigrant families as they step foot into our country. My hope is that people of faith will see this film and hear their inner voice urging them to act, reach out and get involved. This is what we’re called to do,” she commented.
Lilia holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication (Radio-TV-Film) from California State University, Fullerton. Away from work, she enjoys spending time with her favorite artist and husband, singing in a church choir, building her Twitter network and keeping up with her “faith sisters” as part of an inspiring book club.
Gloria Garcia
MEDIA RESEARCH
Gloria is a retired public relations specialist who learned the basics of the industry working as a senior clerk/secretary for AT&T in downtown Los Angeles. Taking direction from top PR gurus, she quickly caught on to the “do’s and don’ts of coordinating media and community events and working with reporters. There was no task too big or small for Gloria– she handled them all expertly and effortlessly.
After 34 years with the company, she turned in her bus pass for the good life in 2003. But for this Texas native, retirement has been anything but restful. She is a soprano with a great ear who sings with Exalt Choir. Gloria remained active by taking on leadership positions with local civic and service clubs. And when it came time to mark her 70th year on earth, Gloria knew the only way to celebrate was by skydiving.
“This is an important initiative. As a person who takes her faith seriously, I feel I need to get involved and help spread the word!” Gloria commented.
She’s hopeful that after the film’s premiere within the U.S., Latin America and Europe, her retirement plans can actually begin.
Jose Barraza
MEDIA RESEARCH
Accepting the invitation to join the promotions team for “Who is My Neighbor?” is also a first for this 30-year aerospace industry professional. The Whittier, CA resident currently serves as a master scheduler and cost analyst for Moog, Inc.
After viewing the film’s trailer, Joe was compelled to get involved. “My heart felt such sorrow for immigrants throughout the world, especially children, who have no place live or call home. It’s truly heart wrenching,” he said.
His hope is that this film will touch the hearts of people everywhere, inspiring them to act. “We’re all brothers and sisters with only the earth to keep and feed us. I pray that God’s love will allow viewers to see and understand the plight of others,” Joe emphasized.
Joe earned a Bachelor of Science degree from California State Polytechnic, Pomona. He’s the proud father of four adult children who loves seeing them pursue their career goals. Away from work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, playing guitar, working in the yard, going to the movies and sitting in on occasional poker tournaments.
Laura Franco
SCREENING COORDINATOR
Originally born in Colombia, Laura worked in the film industry in Argentina before landing in Los Angeles to pursue a Masters Degree in Film and TV Production from Loyola Marymount University.
She has worked as production coordinator for the Netflix show, The Hollywood Masters and the Emmy-Award winning show, Home Made Simple and produced multiple short films as well as written stories focusing on human endurance.
In 2017, she was selected among 19 other emerging Latino filmmakers for the Tomorrow's Filmmakers Today Program, a fellowship for Latino filmmakers in the US sponsored by The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Universidad Nacional Autónima de México, Los Angeles and the Hola Mexico Film Festival.
Klaus Shipman
SOUND DESIGN AND MIXING
“My passion for audio began when I was 14 as the only student in a music technology class offered at the American International School of Rotterdam in the Netherlands” Klaus commented. Upon earning an International Baccalaureate diploma from the International School of Hannover Region, Klaus moved to Los Angeles to continue his education in Recording Arts and Computer Science at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). Since 2016, he’s worked as an audio editor for a film production company. Klaus was nominated for a Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Award as part of a team effort that developed the computer cinematics for Call of Duty: WWII, a first-person shooter video game released worldwide in November 2017. His goal is to continue advancing his career in the fields of game and film sound design.
Klaus came to know Father Charles when he worked on one of his projects as students at LMU. He chose to assist in this production as the issue of immigration has become increasingly publicized. “I hope that viewers are able to better humanize immigrants after watching this film,” Klaus noted. “Too often, immigrants are portrayed in a deeply unfair light and I hope that whatever this film can do to change that image is well worth it.”
Huan Manton
POST COLORING
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Linda Mesesan
PHILANTHROPHY
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IN COLLABORATION WITH
CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER
ROME - DENVER - BANGALORE
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Latin: Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris– C.Ss.R) is a Roman Catholic missionary congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy, for the purpose of laboring among the neglected country people in the neighborhood of Naples. Members of the Congregation, Catholic priests, and consecrated religious brothers, are known as Redemptorists, who are often associated with the image of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and globally minister in more than 82 countries around the world.
CSJ CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION AND JUSTICE
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY LOS ANGELES
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The CSJ Center furthers the presence and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange at LMU. Our spirituality, which calls us to live in God and for others, is based on the charism of our founder, Jean Pierre Medaille, SJ (1650, Le Puy, France). In the spirit of our foundress, Mother Bernard Gosselin, CSJ (1912, Eureka, California) we continually seek to move forward with a pioneer spirit of bold faith, foresight, and flexibility as gifts for our mission.
"CSJ" refers to "Congregation of St. Joseph" and is the set of initials used by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange for identification.