Mark Shekter
Partner, First Star International
Mark is an internationally credited TV and Film producer/writer responsible for over 2000 hours of programming, seen on major networks and cable channels in over 80 countries.
His shows have garnered major awards including Emmys, Parent's Choice Awards, New York Critics Circle, and the Rose D'or, Europe's top television honor.
His successes include documentaries for A&E's Biography series, and Investigative Reports, the animated Bedtime Primetime Classics (carried by Disney and Turner), The Elephant Show (family series, Nickelodeon), St. Michael's Lifeline (a medical series for TLC and Discovery Channels); Zoo Diaries (a natural science series for CBC and BBC Kids), the teen series Vampire High and Daring and Grace, and the two-part mini-series Red River.
As a writer and composer, Mark has created special material for Ray Charles, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Elton John, Ella Fitzgerald, and Martin Short, and collaborated with Leonard Cohen on the multi-award winning TV special I Am A Hotel.
As a former Director of Program Development for Canada's two major networks (CBC and CanWest Global), Mark's combined production and management experience has made him a highly sought after media consultant for major corporations, broadcasters and studios worldwide.
Nancy Trites Botkin
Partner, First Star International
Nancy is a multi-award winning producer, writer and director, with over sixty national and international recognitions for her film and television work.
Her 450 hours of television and 7 films include Age Old Friends, an Emmy-winning HBO production with actor Hume Cronyn; Heaven on Earth, winner of the Houston and Columbus Gold Awards; For Angela a powerful film on racism that garnered Canada's top honor; Tramp At The Door, released by Disney and a Gold Medal winner in New York, San Francisco, Houston, Chicago and Columbus Film Festivals; and Red Shoes, winner of Columbus Gold, Chicago Gold and short-listed for the Oscars.
In the family entertainment genre, her award-winning credits include Fred Penner's Place, Wimzie's House, Tipi Tales and Toy Castle currently airing on over 60 PBS stations, and winner of two Gold Parent's Choice Awards over Harry Potter as one of the most powerful educational tools for children.
As a Media Consultant, Ms. Botkin has advised major corporations including Endemol in South Africa (a multi-billion dollar enterprise), major Universities, The National Film Board, and the Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC). Her skills in staff training, creative development, and strategic planning are widely in demand in the US, Canada and abroad.
Arnaud Lepinois
Partner, First Star International
Arnaud is a technical architect and solution designer with extensive experience in IT management for various companies including IBM Manufacturing in France.
Starting as an industrial designer (INSA Lyon, France), he later worked for Lotus Software Corporation, responsible for the successful launch of Lotus Domino Release 5. At IBM, he was instrumental in developing the IBM e-business strategy, leading up to the merger of the two companies.
In 2000 he joined Inexware, an integrator of software solutions and application development, as a partner and technical director. He subsequently became its vice-president, and remained to lead its technical integration when the company was purchased in 2003 by the IT giant Groupe Neurones.
During this time he actively lent his expertise to various studies and initiatives aimed at developing the next generation of online services.
With a move to Canada in 2005, Arnaud founded Neoxo with a goal to establish an international centre of expertise and innovation in the areas of WEB communication, collaboration and online community services.
Pierre Gendron
Partner, First Star Studios
Pierre Gendron founded Les Productions Oz in 1984 and was associate and line producer on director Denys Arcand's internationally-acclaimed LE DÉCLIN DE L'EMPIRE AMÉRICAIN, winning nine Genie Awards, as well as the Golden Reel.
In 1986, he produced Jean-Claude Lauzon's UN ZOO LA NUIT which opened The Director's Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival and also won thirteen Genies. Denys Arcand’s JESUS OF MONTREAL, was produced by M. Gendron in 1988, a film which won the Special Jury Award at Cannes and was nominated for an Oscar as Best Foreign Film. He produced Paule Baillargeon's LE SEXE DES ÉTOILES (1993), which opened Montreal's World Film Festival and won many national and international awards.
With IMA Productions (France), he co-produced KABLOONAK, directed by Claude Massot, which opened the 1994 World Film Festival in Montreal where it received Best Cinematography Award. JASMINE, a ten-episodes drama series directed by Jean-Claude Lord and telecast on TVA was produced in 1995. The next year he presented WEST OF EDEN at the World Film Festival of Montreal, an animation short co-produced with SoftImage (which he also co-wrote).
QUADRA, a TV-mini-series produced by M. Gendron aired on Radio-Canada, Spring 2000. The same year, he co-produced a tele-series entitled, L’OR and the feature film, STATION NORD directed by Jean-Claude Lord.
Other movies produced include LE DERNIER TUNNEL, and MAMAN LAST CALL and SANS ELLE with Director Jean Beaudin, in 2006. Pierre’s blockbuster, LES 3 P’TITS COCHONS, directed by Patrick Huard, written by Pierre Lamothe and Claude Lalonde, earned the Golden Reel award as the top grossing Canadian film of 2007.
