CREW BIOGRAPHIES

DAVID BARBA | WRITER/DIRECTOR/DP/EDITOR/PRODUCER
David was born in Monterrey, Mexico and raised in Mexico City. Half Mexican-half Scottish,
he received a BA in Feminist Studies from Stanford University. After working in the film
industries in New York, London and Mexico City, David attended Columbia University,
receiving an MFA in Film. His short film ADIOS, PARA SIEMPRE (2006 HBO Urbanworld
VIBE Best Short Film) shot on location in Mexico City, has screened at festivals worldwide and
on television on Showtime in the US and AXN throughout Latin America. POP STAR ON ICE
is his first feature.

JAMES PELLERITO | WRITER/DIRECTOR/DP/EDITOR/PRODUCER
James was born and raised in Vicenza, Italy, near Venice. James moved to New York to attend
Columbia and received a BA and MFA in Film as well as an MA in Art History and Cinema
Studies from NYU. He worked for many years at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the
Greek and Roman Art Department. His short film MAREE (TIDES), shot on location in Venice,
screened in over one hundred festivals worldwide and won awards at over twenty-five festivals
including Berlin, Rhode Island and Cinequest, qualifying it for Academy Award consideration in
2005. POP STAR ON ICE is his first feature.

GIOVANNI SPINELLI | COMPOSER
Giovanni was born in England and raised in London, New York, Stockholm and Florence. He
studied classical guitar and piano (under Jean Lloyd-Webber in London) and the diversity of his
work for film and theater ranges from chamber to pop music. His orchestral work has been
commissioned by the Chamber Dance Project in New York City and performed throughout Italy.
He lives, works and performs regularly in New York City as a vocalist and lead guitarist.

BECCA BENDER | CO-PRODUCER/POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Becca was born and raised in Massachusetts and studied film at Vassar College. She was
associate producer of CHISHOLM ’72: UNBOUGHT AND UNBOSSED (Sundance 2004, PBS
2005, Peabody Award), TWELVE DISCIPLES OF NELSON MANDELA (Toronto 2005, PBS
2006), co-producer of BEYOND THE STEPS: ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE (PBS
2006) and consulting producer of GARBAGE DREAMS (SXSW 2009).

JENNIFER PELLERITO | CO-PRODUCER
Jennifer was born in Germany and raised in Italy. She studied German and Romance Languages
at Colorado College and received her MFA in Film from Columbia University’s School of the
Arts. She has produced several award winning short films as well as worked on post-production
and distribution for ELECTION DAY (SXSW 2007).