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Lucas Grabeel
The Pechanga Maverick Star Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Film and Music
 Springfield, Missouri native Lucas Grabeel began his acting career when he responded to a call for the local high school’s stage production of The Secret Garden. He soon began auditioning for plays and musicals at the local community theater, ultimately starring in productions of Oliver!, Romeo and Juliet, and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, among other shows.
In 2004, Grabeel ventured out to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. Two months after moving to L.A., he landed his first commercial and soon after that he landed his first film role in the third installment of the Halloweentown series; the Disney Channel Original Movie, Halloweentown High as the character Ethan Dalloway. He reprised his role in the fourth installment, Return to Halloweentown.
Cast as Ryan Evans in the 2006 Disney Channel telefilm High School Musical, he became an active part of an ongoing media phenomenon that has encompassed a 2007 telefilm sequel (High School Musical 2) and a 2008 feature film (High School Musical 3: Senior Year); the three films were directed by Kenny Ortega who also shepherded Grabeel and other cast members through a 52-city tour of the U.S and South America.
Grabeel has made TV guest appearances on TV series such as Boston Legal, Til Death, Veronica Mars, and Smallville, where he portrayed a young Lex Luthor. In 2007, he played the lead Ezra, in the movie, The Adventures of Food Boy with Brittany Curran. He also starred in the independent film Alice upside down with Alyson Stoner and Luke Perry. In 2008 he appeared in the movie Milk, a biopic about the slain gay rights activists Harvey Milk (played by Sean Penn). He played a friend and supporter of Milk, photographer Danny Nicoletta. Grabeel stayed busy in 2008 starring in Walt Disney Pictures College Road Trip with Raven-Symone, and Lock and Roll Forever alongside Ore Ska Band.
Grabeel founded his very own production company called 14341 Productions. His role involves overseeing many projects from writing, directing, editing, and executive producing. They have produced projects such as the short films The Real Son, Smoke Break, and music videos such as Get Your Ass On, You Got It and Dive Bar Rock Star! for new artist Eric Baines. They also produced a pilot called Regarding Beauregard which was Grabeel’s first directorial debut. They are currently screening his short film, The Adventures Of Chuckle Boy and have just released another short film The Dragon. They debuted their work at the 2009 Sundance Festival.
Grabeel was voted Most Likely to Do Big Things in 2009 by MTV. He is currently working on his latest movie project, The Legend Of The Dancing Ninja, where he is to play the lead, Tokyo Jones, alongside David Hasselhoff.
At 24, Lucas Grabeel has worn the many hats of actor, singer, director, producer, executive producer and writer. By achieving so much at such a young age, Grabeel shows us that he is destined to rise to the ranks of other showbiz greats.
Narada Michael Walden
The Terry Gilmore Award of Excellence for Outstanding Career Achievement in Music as Record Producer
 Among a handful of the most innovative, original and influential artists of our time, Narada Michael Walden’s stature as an authentic musical renaissance man is a matter of record - a lot of records, in fact.
Artists as diverse as Aretha Franklin and Wynonna Judd; Stevie Wonder and Tom Jones; The Temptations and Jeff Beck - these and literally scores of others have sought out this consummate creative catalyst to fashion some of the biggest hits of their careers. The multi-Grammy winner (with Producer, Album and Song Of The Year awards to his credit) has been at the helm of hit music that spans decades and flows freely from pop, rock, soul, hip-hop and country, to the rarified realms of jazz, fusion, world music and back in again. Along the way, Walden was an integral part of introducing such superstars as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey to millions of fans worldwide, by creating the breakthrough hits that first brought these divas in to the spotlight. Small wonder Billboard Magazine honored him as one of the Top Ten Producers of all time.
Yet, as impressive a production and songwriting resume as Narada Michael Walden has assembled over the past thirty years and counting, he has earned equal acclaim as a recording and performing artist in his own right. Beginning with his stint as part of the pioneering Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early Seventies, through eleven acclaimed solo albums and numerous appearances at the top of the Pop and R and B charts, Walden has given a whole new meaning to the term “multi-tasking.” Along the way he has branched into a wide range of sonic arenas, from groundbreaking soundtrack work on such smash films as The Bodyguard and Stuart Little to the Emmy-winning “One Moment In Time,” perhaps best known as the theme to the 1988 Olympic Games.
Walden consistently lends his time and talent to causes ranging from the Cancer Society to funding music programs in the nation’s schools. With awesome abilities matched by a truly humble spirit, Narada Michael Walden is not only one of the most sought-after talents of our era: he is also one of the most admired, emulated and authentic. You can hear it in his music.
John Debney
The Founder’s Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Film Composing
 Academy award nominated John Debney is considered one of the most sought after composers in Hollywood. His unique ability to create memorable work across a variety of genres, as well as his reputation for being remarkably collaborative, have made him the first choice of top level producers and directors. Debney combines his classical training and a strong knowledge of contemporary sounds to easily adapt to any assignment.
Debney seemed almost destined for a career in Hollywood. The son of Disney Studios producer Louis Debney (Zorro, The Mickey Mouse Club), Debney grew up in nearby Glendale, Calif., where he began guitar lessons at age six and played in rock bands in college. Debney earned his B.A. in Music Composition from the California Institute of Arts. After college, Debney entered into the business with the help of television composing legend Mike Post (The Rockford Files, Law and Order). Debney furthered his hands-on training by working with Hanna-Barbera composer Hoyt Curtin. He began scoring television projects as diverse as Star Trek: The Next Generation, A Pup Named Scooby-Doo and Sea Quest DSV, for which he won an Emmy for Best Main Title. In 1993 he secured his first studio feature film, the Disney comedy Hocus Pocus starring Bette Midler.
Debney quickly established himself as a formidable film composer across a wide range of genres, working repeatedly with several noted directors, including Garry Marshall on The Princess Diaries, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement and Raising Helen; Robert Rodriguez on Spy Kids, Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams, Sin City and The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3-D; Jon Favreau on Elf and Zathura; and Tom Shadyac on Liar Liar, Dragonfly and Bruce Almighty. Debney further displayed his ability in the dramatic genre with the film The Passion of the Christ. The executive producer of The Passion, Stephen McEveety, reunited with Debney for the dramatic film based on the New York Times bestseller, The Stoning of Soraya M.
Although Debney had built an industry reputation as a talented film composer, it was in 2004 that the rest of the world discovered him. Blending symphonic orchestra, a wide range of world instruments and the beauty of the human voice, Debney’s landmark score for The Passion of the Christ became a world-wide success. The score earned him an Academy Award nomination, a Gold record and a Dove award. The following spring, Debney premiered “The Passion of the Christ Symphony” in Rome, Italy. The performance featured an 83-person choir and a 96-piece orchestra, and included special guest vocalist Lisbeth Scott and woodwind soloist Pedro Eustache. The premiere concert received a 15-minute standing ovation as well as Debney receiving a personal blessing by the Archbishop of the Vatican. This led to a internationally televised broadcast of his concert. In 2010, Debney’s score to Passion of the Christ will be performed in Saint Peter’s Square (the Vatican), with a 500 voice choir and a full orchestra.
John Debney continues to receive accolades for his outstanding work. In 2005, he became the youngest recipient of ASCAP’s prestigious Henry Mancini Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, he was presented with a Career Achievement Award from the Turks and Caicos Film Festival. In 2007, Debney was named president of the International Film Music Festival in Ubeda, Spain and asked to perform a special concert of his work following his 2006 performance in the same city. In addition to a busy film composing career and live concert performances, Debney again broke new ground scoring his first videogame, Lair, in 2007. His Lair music was awarded Best Videogame Score by The International Film Music Critics Association. Last year Debney was honored with a Career Achievement Award at the Burbank International Film Festival.
In the tradition of classical composers, John Debney enjoys conducting his own work. In addition to conducting some of the world’s greatest orchestras performing his original works, Debney also conducted the Royal Scottish National Orchestra on a series of classic film scores for Varese Sarabande Records. He has been celebrated for incorporating a myriad of musical styles and techniques into his work, from contemporary beats to ancient instrumentation. In addition, he has enlisted worldrenowned musicians, including violin virtuoso Joshua Bell on his score for Dreamworks’ Dreamer and trumpet legend Arturo Sandoval on the OutKast musical Idlewild.
John Debney recently scored The Stoning of Soraya M., which received critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival and is currently playing in select theaters. This film reunited Debney with the producer of The Passion of the Christ Steve McEveety and the actor Jim Caviezel. Debney’s upcoming projects include A Thousand Words, Old Dogs, and Sin City 2 & 3 and the highly anticipated Iron Man 2.
Slamdance
Distinguished Institution Award for their Significant Contributions to Independent Film Making
 As the preeminent festival whose sole mission is to nurture, support and showcase truly independent works, Slamdance has established a unique reputation for premiering new films by first-time writers and directors working within the creative confines of limited budgets. Slamdance’s goal is to strengthen its year-round efforts in support of these artists and to leverage its name and reputation for the further development of other Slamdance media components.
As a year-round organization, Slamdance serves as a showcase for the discovery of new and emerging talent and is dedicated to the nurturing and development of new independent artists and their cinematic vision.
Started in 1995 by a group of independent artists, the Slamdance Film Festival continues to be organized and programmed exclusively by filmmakers, for filmmakers.
This is just one of many elements that make Slamdance a pioneering standout among its festival counterparts. Slamdance lacks much of the red tape and bureaucracy that can convolute the process that independent creators come to festivals for in the first place – a chance to show their work. At Slamdance, the link between artist and festival – and, subsequently, artist and industry – is a direct and cohesive one. Slamdance alumni are recruited to serve as programmers, so first-timers are represented and assisted by Slamdance veterans. It’s what put Slamdance on the festival map to begin with, and what”s made it the viable, big-time contender it is today.
With its renowned film festival as its core, Slamdance has expanded its ventures to include the popular Slamdance.com website, writing competitions for features, shorts, teleplays and horror scripts; the Anarchy Online Short Film Competition; and a $99 Special short film production project.
Slamdance is proud to include among its alumni such cinematic luminaries as Steven Soderbergh, Christopher Nolan, Marc Forster and Jared Hess. Slamdance helped to discover these auteurs and to propel them in the direction that led to their next feature productions. Slamdance has also helped more than 50 festival films find theatrical distribution.
Steve Rushton
The Rising Star Award for his Stellar Work as an Emerging Music Artist
 In 2009, Steve Rushton songs have appeared in three #1 box office hit movies, a feat never before achieved by a solo music artist. With a cameo in “Hannah Montana: The Movie,” two songs on that film’s soundtrack and a Radio Disney hit of his own, his single “Emergency” from “Race To Which Mountain” and his latest release, “Ready To Rock” from the film “G-Force”, Steve Rushton is breezing along on a career fast track. So far, fans have been impressed with the 21-year old British rocker. One person not so impressed: Steve Rushton. He prefers to keep things light, never taking himself too seriously. However, with the release of his Hollywood Records debut solo album, the world will soon be taking Steve Rushton very seriously. Looks like he’ll just have to deal with it.
Creating the new album “has been amazing,” says Steve, who moved to L.A. last year to set up shop. “I’ve always had a lot of energy, and I just like to have fun.” To get the party started, Steve enlisted the aid of producer John Fields (Jonas Brothers, Demi Lovato) and world-class songwriters like Antonina Armato & Tim James, and Daniel James & Leah Haywood. A gifted songwriter himself, Steve co-penned most of the 11 tracks.
With the album’s consistent punk-pop style, it’s easy to see where Steve is coming from, musically. Songs like “Rock ‘Til Your Heart Stops,” “In and Out of Love,” and “Lose It” rock hard, satisfying Steve’s need for speed. He slows the tempo down just a bit on ballads like “Is Anybody Out There,” the skiffabilly-flavored “Nobody” and the contemplative “Wish You Were Here.” But for the most part, Steve wears out his band, as on songs like “Emergency,” “Ready to Rock” and “Denial.”
The CD ends with a brilliant remake of the 1975 E.L.O. classic, “Strange Magic.” It’s not surprising that Steve would look back into the annals of rock history for inspiration. That’s how he started his musically career, years ago in the southern English town of Chertsey.
The sleepy Surrey village had once been home to the Who’s drummer, Keith Moon. But Steve Rushton’s musical influences go back further: He learned rock ‘n’ roll from the King himself. Sort of. Steve’s stepfather is a professional Elvis Presley impersonator who taught his stepson everything he knew about music. “He taught me my first few guitar chords when I was 7,” Steve recalls. “He got me on stage at 8 to play ‘Hound Dog’ and ‘Blue Suede Shoes’.” By 9, I was teaching him guitar.”
The raw, pure rock of Elvis remained a permanent influence, but as Steve entered his teens, he found himself drawn to the neo-punk of the 90’s and the current decade, with Green Day of particular high impact. By age 14 he was already in a working band, writing songs and developing an Elvis/Billy Joe Armstrong hybrid. “That’s what my sound is,” he says.
His first band, Mr. Cheerful, was an energetic teen ensemble that enjoyed a strong following in southern England. Steve played guitar, sang lead and wrote all the songs. “We were so young,” he says, “but we entered the college battle of the bands and won all of them. We did a festival in Birmingham and we did
Junior Year Eurovision when I was 15.”
That experience fueled his next band, Son of Dork, which landed a recording contract with Mercury/Universal. The band put out one CD, but Steve was in a hurry to get his solo career going. Fortunately, Steve’s music publisher had a relationship with the Walt Disney Company. He brought several Rushton originals to the creative team working on “Hannah Montana: The Movie.”
The reaction was so positive that Steve was brought out to California to plunge into the project. Not only did he write songs for the soundtrack, he ended up in the movie itself. He also sings the theme song to “The Suite Life on Deck,” the follow up to the hit series “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” Additionally, his song “Emergency” was featured in the Disney film “Race to Witch Mountain” and most recently, his latest single “Ready to Rock” was featured in the Jerry
Bruckheimer / Disney hit film, “G-Force”.
All of this served as prologue to the release of his Hollywood Records debut solo CD. It adds up to a stellar beginning for Steve, who is eager to get on the road with his first U.S. tour. After that, it’s anyone’s guess, though Steve himself isn’t guessing. He remains confident his brand of rock ‘n’ roll is here to stay. “My heart is in it,” he says. “This is where I dreamt I would be.”
Daniel and Beverly Stephenson
The Mayor’s Visionary Award for their Contributions and Patronage of the Arts
 This year’s Mayor’s Visionary Award is presented to Daniel and Beverly Stephenson for their significant philanthropic contributions and patronage of the arts in the valley. We would like to recognize their role in spurring the birth, the growth and transformation of what has evolved into the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival.
Dan and Beverly Stephenson are respected both individually and as a prominent couple.” Dan is the founder and chairman of Rancon, a multi-faceted real estate organization that has developed major business parks, shopping centers and master-planned communities throughout the region. Beverly has played a vital role in Southwest California’s cultural development for over two decades.
After graduating with a degree in finance from the University of Southern California, Dan began a promising career in banking. Destiny took over when his employer sent him to Rancho California to check on a real estate transaction. Where people saw cattle and dirt roads, he envisioned the thriving community now called Temecula.
In 1971 he founded Rancho Consultants, later renamed Rancon, a real estate brokerage that would become the most successful real estate business in the history of Southwest Riverside County.
Dan Stephenson is a businessman who defines the entrepreneurial spirit. He is a tireless business advocate and generous humanitarian. He has helped raise millions of dollars in funding for very worthy, local charitable organizations.
Beverly moved from Glendale where she was born and raised to Temecula Valley in 1980. By 1982 she was involved in theatre and dance from head to toes. She appeared in her first performance with the Overland Stage Players (eventually to become Temecula Valley Players) followed by several other productions. Beverly along with two other women formed Fine Arts Network (FAN) and have since produced many shows. They have also hosted the Children’s Arts in the Park and provided scholarships, mentors and artist-in-residence to local schools. Most recently, FAN has helped to develop and support the Inland Valley Opera and the Fine Arts Ballet Company.
Dan met Beverly in 1991 through interactions that involved his company donating space for a theater group performance that Beverly had organized. They were married the following year. We thank both of them for their contributions that helped develop this valley into the attractive community that it is. Tonight we honor them for their contributions in developing the arts through film and music. Dan and Beverly, you are gratefully appreciated, loved and respected… thank you.
Earth, Wind, and Fire
The Daniel L. Stephenson Humanitarian Award for Lifetime Achievement in Music and extraordinary impact on American Culture through the Performing Arts
 Legendary band Earth, Wind, & Fire is simply one of the most important, innovative, and celebrated contemporary Pop / R&B music forces of the 20th century. The band has had a remarkable career spanning over four decades with accolades, awards and record-breaking achievements.
Earth, Wind & Fire’s signature sound is not easily categorized and since its inception has been profoundly influential….musically, socially and spiritually.
The musical vision has fused Pop, R&B, Rock, Latin, Funk, Jazz and African Music into one unique sound. Successfully breaking all musicial genre boundaries with 23 albums, Earth, Wind & Fire have recorded eight #1 R&B singles and eight Double Platinum Top 10 Pop Albums over their career.
Earth, Wind & Fire have received 20 Grammy Award nominations and have won six awards as a group; additionally its founding members individually (Maurice White & Philip Bailey) have each won two, totaling eight Grammy Awards. In 2004, Earth, Wind & Fire received the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.) Signature Governor’s Award.
They have earned more than 50 Gold and Platinum albums and have sold over 90 million albums worldwide earning them a place on the list of best selling music artists of all time. VH1 ranked Earth, Wind & Fire number 60 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of Rock & Roll. Rolling Stone Magazine declared the group “changed the sound of black pop.”
President Obama invited Earth, Wind & Fire to perform in the East Room at the White House for the first social event of the new administration. Earth, Wind & Fire made international news when President Obama declared in an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine that the group was among his favorites. He said, they are “rhythm and blues and pop staples for me.”
Earth, Wind & Fire’s career achievements have been acknowledged and earned them their place in musical history. Earth, Wind & Fire have been inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2000); they have received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1995) and Hollywood’s Rockwalk (2003). That same year they received the Vocal Group Hall of Fame Award (2003). The music industry and fans have bestowed Lifetime Achievement honors from ASCAP (Rhythm & Soul Heritage Award - 2002), NAACP (Hall of Fame - 1994) and the BET Awards (Life Time Achievement Award 2002). Two Earth, Wind & Fire classic songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame: “That’s The Way of The World” (2004) and “Shining Star” (2007). Earth, Wind & Fire have 12 American Music Awards nominations and four awards and the group received the Entertainer Award at the 2009 TV Land Awards.
Earth, Wind & Fire are the first African-American performers to sell out Madison Square Garden and to receive the MSG Gold Ticket Award. Earth, Wind & Fire is the first African-American group to receive the Columbia Records Crystal Globe Award for selling the most albums internationally.
The principals of Earth, Wind & Fire: Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson have received honorary doctorate degrees from the Arts & Media College at Columbia College in Chicago. Co-Founders Philip Bailey and Maurice White have earned honorary doctorate degrees at Berklee College of Music.
The group’s Grammy Awards have exemplified Earth, Wind & Fire’s relevance and the connection with contemporary R&B and Pop artists by showcasing the group twice in the 2005 and 2007 television event. The musical highlight at the 2005 broadcast was Earth, Wind & Fire joining forces with Outkast, in what was the Hip Hop group’s last television appearance together. In 2007, Earth, Wind & Fire’s performed with the top nominees Ludacris and Mary J. Blige in a heartfelt poignant message to raise the social conciseness of teenage run-aways on the Grammys.
Many of today’s contemporary Grammy Award winning music artists have named Earth, Wind & Fire as their musical influence or have announced that they are die hard fans, Including: Beyonce, Usher and Prince (he thanked Earth, Wind & Fire in his induction acceptance speech at the British Hall of Fame). Alicia Keys proclaims that Earth, Wind & Fire is “ the best band ever.” Mary J. Blige has showed her appreciation to the band by re-recording one of the bands hit songs “Imagination.” Miles Davis described Earth, Wind & Fire as his "all time favorite band" saying "they have everything (horns, electric guitar, singers and more) in one band" Quincy Jones has proclaimed himself to be the "biggest fan of Earth, Wind & Fire since day one."
The Black Eyed Peas took the stage with Earth, Wind & Fire for a performance at the XXIX Super Bowl, and then an encore by opening the 57th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards together.
Earth, Wind & Fire's songs have been covered by recording artists Jerry Garcia Band, Point of Grace, D’Angelo, Lenny White, Patti LaBelle, The Manhattans, Wynonna Judd, Yoland Adams, Incognito, Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick, the Vienna Boys choir, Herb Albert, Musiq and Tito Puente.
Their songs have also been sampled by numerous artists some of which include: A Tribe Called Quest, Wyclef Jean, Jay-Z, Amerie, The Fugees, LL Cool J, De La Soul, Common, Quenn Pen, Naughty by Nature, P. Diddy, The Roots, Will Smith, Cee-Lo, Mc Lyte and Lisa Left Eye Lopes.
Music artist who name Earth, Wind & Fire as a major influence or inspiration include Usher, wil i am, Mary J Blige, Cherish, Prince, Pharrell Williams, The Neptunes, Jon Secada, Wyclef Jean, Common, Phil Collins, Boney James, Angie Stone, The All American Rejects, Jesse McCartney, Mint Condition, Solange, Babyface, Outkast, Jamiroquai, Marcus Miller, Omarion, Eric Benet, Sheila E., Erykah Badu, Jamie Foxx, Fall Out Boy, Meshell Ndegeocello, Wynton Marsalis and Mario.
In keeping with the group’s spiritual legacy the very principals of which the group was founded and derived its name from, Earth, Wind & Fire has stood for and profoundly believes in the circle of returning the benefits of success by giving back through supporting the continuation of raising funds and the consciousness of important social issues.
The Inaugural 2005 Grammy Jam charity event honored Earth, Wind & Fire. The benefit event that was supported by Stevie Wonder, wil.i.am, Indie Arie, Usher and Kanye West performing classic Earth, Wind & Fire hit songs. Fans in the audience, including Prince, were mesmerized. Proceeds from the evening went to many non-profit organizations: The GRAMMY Foundation, California State Summer School for the Arts, the Los Angeles Chapter Scholarship Program, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), and For The Arts.
The group’s founders have instituted charitable programs that have a direct endowment to local and national music and arts initiatives. Philip Bailey started the organization called Music is Unity Foundation and Verdine White introduced Wright Life Arts Center for the Youth. Earth, Wind & Fire appeared and performed on the first American Idol Gives back special. The program raised money and awareness with the effect of poverty on children and young people in the US and Africa.
Earth, Wind, & Fire remains to this day a top musical phenomenon with a catalog of mega-hits spanning over forty years. Their influences have changed the course of music and perhaps the spiritual conciseness around the world.
Andy Fickman
The Founder’s Award for Outstanding Career Achievement in Directing
The past few years have been non-stop for director, writer, and producer Andy Fickman, and he is just getting started! Most recently, Fickman directed the Disney smash Race To Witch Mountain starring Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, and AnnaSophia Robb. Race To Witch Mountain follows Andy’s first, extremely successful film with Disney, The Game Plan (2007) starring Dwayne Johnson and Kyra Sedgwick.
Due to Fickman’s success with his first Disney film, the company signed Andy and his newly formed production company, Oops Doughnuts Productions, to a first-look, three-year deal. Under the terms of the Disney deal, Disney will have an exclusive first look at all motion picture projects developed by Fickman and his creative team.
Andy has many current projects in the works. You Again, which stars Kristen Bell, about a young woman who finds out her brother is marrying the girl who made her high school years a living hell, is currently in production with Andy directing and producing. Also in Oops’ line up is Pool Rats, a family comedy for Disney that was inspired by Fickman’s personal experience coaching a neighborhood league swim team.
Andy also has recently signed a deal with RKO Pictures. Roseblood Movie Company, RKO Pictures’ thriller/horror division, and Twisted Pictures, will have Andy executive produce four big screen remakes, including three classic Val Lewton horror titles. First up is Val Lewton’s classic I Walked With A Zombie which was originally released in 1943. Currently in pre-production, Andy will also act as writer as well as executive producer; the film is set for a 2010 release. Other Lewton films in the works are The Body Snatcher which premiered in 1945 and Bedlam which followed in 1946. The fourth film is the 1939 thriller, Five Came Back.
In addition to films in development, Andy is working on expanding his theater resume, spearheading the project Heathers: The Musical based on the successful 1988 film Heathers.
In addition to Fickman’s developing projects and his two recent feature films for Disney, Andy directed She’s The Man, starring Amanda Bynes and Channing Tatum, which won a Teen Choice Award for Best Comedy, as well as the acclaimed film version of Reefer Madness for Showtime starring Kristen Bell and Alan Cumming. The film went on to win an Emmy Award.
A native of Houston, Texas, Fickman attended the University of Houston and Texas Tech University and began performing in stand-up comedy while still a teenager. After graduation he came to Los Angeles, where his first jobs included tour guide at Universal Studios and the mailroom at Triad Artists Agency. He also became a prolific writer and director for the local theatre scene, eventually co-founding and managing the Fountainhead Theatre Company.
Fickman moved into film development by working with companies run by Gene Wilder and Bette Midler before being named Vice President of Creative Affairs and Production for Middle Fork Productions, where he served as associate producer on the successful thriller Anaconda. Fickman’s theatrical resume includes the hit plays Jewtopia and Reefer Madness. Both productions moved on to rave reviews and packed houses in New York City.
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