Georgia Production Partnership Officers
Steve Mensch
Co-President
Stephen Mensch is The Director of Studio and Location Operations of Turner Studios for Turner Broadcasting. In this capacity he is responsible for the management and utilization of Turner Studios’ six sound stages, and studio related location production. His efforts are in support of Turner’s entertainment networks and their digital extensions, such as TNT, TBS, TCM, NBA TV, and Cartoon Network. In addition to providing support to Turner Broadcasting, he has worked on high profile shows such as HBO’s “The Wire” and NBC’s “Homicide: Life on the Street”. Prior to joining Turner Broadcasting, Stephen was the General Manager and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Feature Systems Inc. The company provided production equipment for commercials, music videos, episodic television and feature films. He was on the southeast board of the Association of Independent Commercial Producers for ten years. Stephen founded the Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) twelve years ago in reaction to declining production taking place in Georgia. GPP has grown to become the grass roots voice for production in Georgia.
Craig Miller
Co-President
Respected filmmaker and founder of Craig Miller Productions, Craig Miller has produced award-winning productions for an extensive list of Fortune 500 clientele. Craig’s long-term relationships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Air Lines, UPS, Pergo, McDonald’s, Novelis, The U.S. Army, and The Weather Channel are a testament to the company’s creative and technical capabilities. In 2002, Craig opened C Pictures, a commercial production company, to meet the growing need for spot production in Atlanta. Craig is currently the Vice President of the Southeast Chapter of the Association for Independent Commercial Producers (AICP). He has served on the executive board of the Georgia Production Partnership for the past six years and is a past member of the National Board of Directors of AICP and the Governor’s Film Advisory Board. Craig’s renowned film, “One Day in Search of the South,” developed for the Welcome South Visitors Center, was recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as “the most comprehensive picture of Southern living on record today”. Craig previously served for four years as GPP Co-President.
Trish Taylor
Vice President
Patricia Taylor is a working actress and voice talent in Atlanta, GA. She also owns her own freelance marketing and public relations consulting business and currently working with her husband Richard to produce independent films and television programs as co-owner of Bird Dance Productions.She began her career as a news reporter/ news director in 1990 working at several television stations, radio stations and newspapers in MS, ND, TX and GA. After eight years in “hard news,” she transitioned into a nearly 20 year career in public relations and marketing. Positions held include: Public Relations Manager- Wild Adventures Theme Park; Tourism Communications Manager – Georgia Department of Economic Development; Senior Account Manager at The Fluid Group (Marketing/PR agency); and Owner/ Sr. Manager of Patricia Taylor PR and Marketing.In addition to her ongoing Entertainment Industry career Taylor has worked on and with several boards, most recently serving two years as PR Director for Women in Film and Television Atlanta; Vice President and committee member of Public Relations, Membership and Fast Forward for the Georgia Production Partnership; and Membership Manager/ Sponsor Liaison for the Atlanta Film Festival 365.
Tim McCabe
Treasurer
Tim McCabe is owner of and accountant with Talent Paymaster, Inc.(founded in 1984) and Neverland Film Services (founded in 1990). He has processed contracts and provided payroll services for over 400 advertising agencies and production companies over a 25 year period, including such films as Invictus, RoboCop 3, Silent Victims, Gordy, My Precious T-Top, Simple Twist of Fate, Mathilda, Pandora’s Box, and Adventures of Ociee Nash. As a recording artist and songwriter, Tim has numerous LPs and singles as a solo artist. He formed Planet Earth Recording Co. in 1995. Tim was a founding member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and served as president of the Atlanta Chapter of The Recording Academy for 3 terms, national trustee for two, and national vice-chairman for two terms. Tim has served on the GPP Executive Committee for 10 years, and he is also a member of NATAS, AFTRA, AF of M, and NMPA.
Randall Franks
Secretary
Randall Franks of Ringgold, Ga. is an actor, entertainer, author, producer, director, screenwriter, publisher, songwriter, journalist, and syndicated columnist. Franks began his television career in the early 1980s as a regular on the “Country Kids TV Series.” He is best known as “Officer Randy Goode” from TV’s “In the Heat of the Night,” a role he performed on NBC and CBS from 1988-1993. He starred with Robert Townsend in “Robert Townsend’s Musical Theater of Hope” airing on GMC. He has starred, co-starred in 15 films with superstars including William Hurt, Dolly Parton, Christian Slater, Stella Parton, Billy Dean and legendary western star “Doc” Tommy Scott. He added five films to his resume in 2011 including starring in “Decision” with Natalie Grant and appearing for director John Hillcoat in “The Wettest County.” Franks serves as president of the Share America Foundation, Inc. that provides the Pearl and Floyd Franks Scholarship to musicians continuing the traditional music of Appalachia. He is a former researcher for the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and other museums and serves as an advisor to the Board of Directors of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He is the Northwest Georgia Joint Economic Development Authority film industry liaison. He also served as Georgia Production Partnership Fast Forward committee chairman playing a role in setting the stage for Georgia’s Camera Ready program.
Bill VanDerKloot
Immediate Past Co- President
William VanDerKloot is an independent director and producer whose work includes commercials, short films, television documentaries and theatrical features. He is the founder and creator and of the children’s programs, The BIG Adventure Series® from Little Mammoth Media. VanDerKloot’s projects have been distributed on such venues as PBS, Discovery, Turner Broadcasting, CNN, HBO, Showtime, domestic and international home video, as well as VOD and theatrical release. VanDerKloot is also the founder and president of Magick Lantern, a full service post-production facility. Magick features a talented group of editors, compositors, animators and designers — working in a 22,000 square-foot facility that offers editorial, design, CGI, compositing, animation, and audio services, along with a fully-equipped sound stage and television production studio. Bill has served on the GPP Executive Committee for many years, including the Communications Committee, Fundraising Committee, and he has served as GPP Vice-President for the past four years.
GPP Standing Committees (voting)
Membership Committee
Clark Cofer, Chair
Governmental Affairs Committee
Shay Bentley-Griffin, Chair
Ric Reitz, Vice Chair
Communications & Fundraising Committee
Michelle Kabashinski, Chair
Internal Governance Committee
Brennen Dicker, Chair
GPP Ad Hoc Committees (non-voting)
Information Technology Committee
John Kabashinski, Chair
Fast Forward Initiative
Randall Franks, Chair
Education Committee
Linda Burns, Chair
Speaker Series Committee
Fran Burst-Terranella, Chair
Public Relations Committee
Craig Miller, Chair
Film Festival Committee
Brennen Dicker, Chair
Fran Burst-Terranella, Vice Chair
