Personnel

Chuck Portz, Director Bucharest Express was co-written by Chuck Portz and Peter Eichstaedt. Mr. Portz has produced, written and/or directed three films for PBS: Staus, My Man Bovanne and A Mistaken Charity, for which he received a Writers Guild nomination for best screenplay. His most recent trip to Moldova allowed him to lecture and complete research supported by a Fulbright grant.

Willits Sawyer, Executive Producer Willits has had a long-time interest in film, first shooting 8mm movies while on board ship in the US Navy in 1961. While working for Phillips Exeter Academy (1969-71) and Yale University (1971-73), Willits helped in producing their capital campaign materials.

While working for Outward Bound USA in 1973-74, Willits and Barbara Stetson produced the film Outward Bound: Schools of the Possible. He met Robert Godfrey at the Colorado Outward Bound School, which resulted in a partnership that produced nine films, including Sherpa, From the Heart, The College That Wouldn't Quit and Free Climb, which was narrated by Robert Redford.

Willits graduated from Miami University (Ohio), where for four years he was a member of Ye Merry Players, the Shakespearen production company on campus. He is married to Rosalie Hornblower and has two sons, four stepdaughters and two grandchildren. Will and Rosalie have homes in New Haven and Cambridge and a cabin on Martha's Vineyard.

Sterling Youngman, Co-Producer Sterling Youngman has had a fascination with film since his childhood, when he made short 8mm movies and stop motion animations. Later he attended New York University's film school, winning a best producer award for his thesis project, Caroline. The film won more awards than any other short film in 1991, including the Cine Golden Eagle for "Best of Show." Sterling was head of the music video department for November Records where he produced music videos.

In 1995 he started Coherent Light, a full service digital production facility involved in creating special effects for feature films, composing and editing digital audio, and handling production and post-production for both film and video. Coherent Light was also involved in the creation of advanced technologies including the first true broadcast digital non-linear editing system, and 3D Studio Max, the world's leading 3D animation program.

In 1998 Sterling filmed two documentaries while driving from New York City to the southernmost tip of South America. The expedition took 18 months and crossed 15 countries. During the journey, he and his traveling partner Julie Feiner maintained the popular web site www.DestinationUnknown.net, which attracted media attention throughout the world.

In the winter of 2000, he produced the television pilot Chasing Stan and Marcia, which was shot in Zululand, South Africa. The true life travel show follows a couple who sold their house and all their belongings to travel the world. Since the beginning of 2001 Sterling has co-written three screenplays and has another television show in development.

Rosalie Hornblower, Associate Producer Rosalie's extensive interest in the arts began with the theatre. She was involved with both Harvard Hasty Pudding and the Harvard Theatricals during her undergraduate career. Her education continued with the awarding of a BSN, RN from Cornell University-New York Hospital, and numerous accolades and certifications in health-care, counseling and prevention. Rosalie is currently a candidate for a masters degree as a Certified Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.

Rosalie is active in athletics, finding time for golf, tennis, fishing, biking and climbing. She is also dedicated to her four daughters. Twin daughters Amy and Tracy recently finished stellar seasons in women's ice hockey, playing for Dartmouth and Harvard, respectively.

Rev. J. Perry Wootten, CFO Reverend Wootten worked in international banking for Citibank in New York, the Phillipines, Hong Kong, Guam, Thailand and the USSR. He is active in community service, lending his expertise to such organizations as the United Way of New York City, the NYC Council of Prison Fellowship and the Clergy Coalition of the 47th Precinct (Bronx).

Rev. Wootten was educated at Texas Christian University, the Princeton Theological Seminary, the New York Theological Seminary and the Columbia Theological Seminary. He has served as the pastor for the Eastchester Presbyterian Church in the Bronx since 1989.

Zhanna Beisembaeva-Funaro, Consultant With her bilingual background and work experience with renowned Institutes and Ministries in Kazakstan and the US Zhanna Beisembaeva-Funaro helped to coordinate and organize showings at Columbia University, New York, Harvard University, Cambridge; she spoke at Yale University, New Haven, promoting the film and arranging showings.

Andrea Birkner, PR & Marketing With a background in editing, journalism, PR and teaching Andrea Birkner helps promoting Bucharest Express. She takes part in the distribution process in regard to marketing & PR and is responsible for the New Media.

A Master graduate of the University of Würzburg (Germany), the University of Warwick (UK) and affiliations at Harvard University she enriched her academic education by work experience in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France and the UK. Ms. Birkner provides multilingual work experience in an international range.