MEET THE TEAM

Chelsea Hernandez | Director, Producer

Chelsea Hernandez is a Mexican-American filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. Her work focuses on the unique perspectives of various issues and topics through the lens of ordinary people who challenge the status quo and injustices in this world. She is a fellow of Firelight Media Doc Lab, Tribeca All Access, Bay Area Video Coalition (BAVC) National Mediamaker Program, and NALIP Latino Media Market.

Chelsea has been working in the documentary film and television industry for 10 years. Building the American Dream is her feature directorial debut.

Marcy Garriott | Executive Producer

Independent documentary filmmaker based in Austin Texas, Marcy Garriott produced and directed award-winning film INSIDE THE CIRCLE, and produced THE LEAST OF THESE, and AN UNREAL DREAM: THE MICHAEL MORTON STORY. She is a former board member of KLRU, a former president and board member of the Austin Film Society, and a current member of the Cine Las Americas Advisory Board. 

Marisol Medrano | Producer

Born in Mexico City and a graduate from The University of Texas at Austin, Marisol has produced projects that closely relate to the filmmakers’ cultural diversity and personal interest. She has produced various award-winning short films including Student Academy Award Winner Fatakra in 2011.

Iliana Sosa | Producer, Additional Impact Producer

Iliana is a filmmaker based in Austin, Texas. She was born and raised in El Paso, Texas by Mexican immigrant parents. A former Bill Gates Millennium Scholar, she holds a MFA in film production and directing from UCLA. She is currently a Firelight Media Impact Producer fellow and recently co-directed a documentary short with Chelsea Hernandez that is part of Field of Vision and Firelight Media's "Our First 100 Days" campaign.

Mario Troncoso | Co-producer

Mario Troncoso is a 9-time Emmy award-winning filmmaker, Producer and Director of the documentary series Arts In Context (PBS) and Executive Director of The Documentary Society (Doculab). With extensive agency and production company experience, Mario has worked on productions across many formats over a period of 15 years ranging from advertising to documentaries and fiction.

Erik Mauck | Director of Photography

Erik Mauck has worked as a DP and freelance camera operator for over 10 years. He has directed and and shot 2 feature documentaries including Zombie Girl: The Movie and The Road to Livingston. Most recently, he worked as a camera operator for Hector Galan's national PBS film Children of Giant.

Sarah Garrahan | Editor

Sarah Garrahan is a New York-based documentary filmmaker, producer and editor from San Antonio, Texas. She holds an MFA from Duke University in the Experimental and Documentary Arts. Her work focuses on the working class, family, the everyday, and ways of knowing. She is currently an associate producer on The Infiltrators by Cristina Ibarra and Alex Rivera and co-editor on Chelsea Hernandez’s Building the American Dream.

MANUEL TSINGARIS | EDITOR

Manuel has been an editor for over twenty years consistently bringing an intuitive sense of story telling and a deft aesthetic style to films that are placed in his hands. A believer in the writer's adage, "you get to the head through the heart", to Manuel, the story is paramount. This was recognized in 2014 after editing the feature documentary Alive Inside when it was honored with the Audience Award for Best Documentary at Sundance.

Over his career Manuel has not only taken films from start to finish as sole Editor but he often joins projects as Senior Editor once a rough cut has been assembled. In both roles he structures story, develops an aesthetic, and supervises post production. Being a musician he is able to communicate well with composers, artists and fellow film-makers. Manuel is that rare and easy-going combination of mentor, explorer and collaborator.

Gil Talmi | Composer

GIL TALMI is an EMMY nominated film composer, music producer and recording artist with a passion for socially conscious films.

Blending his traditional orchestral background with tasteful modular electronics and eclectic world music sensibilities, Talmi has created a signature sound that can be heard in many award winning productions worldwide. 

​Gil has scored the Peabody Award winning documentaries Between The Folds (PBS Independent Lens), Who Killed Chea Vichea? (PBS) and New Year Baby (PBS Independent Lens), winner of the Amnesty International 'Movies That Matter' Award. 

Talmi's 1700 square foot scoring facility with inspiring views of Manhattan is located inside the Brooklyn Navy Yard (a stone's throw away from Steiner Studios). The studio's unique location, ambiance, and state of the art equipment work together to complement the innovative, high quality scores that Talmi creates for studio and indie projects alike.