Meet the incredible mentors at BAYCAT who are shaping the future of storytelling! These mentors bring a wealth of experience and a diverse array of talents, each contributing uniquely to the vibrant tapestry of the filmmaking community. Each mentor will work one-on-one with our Fall 2023 BAYCAT intern alums, guiding them as they continue their creative journeys beyond their internship experiences.
Tajianna Okechukwu is an actor, director, and producer with a double degree in Acting and Film & TV Studies from Azusa Pacific University. Upon returning home to the Bay Area, she has shown her talent in commercials, plays, and short films while also working as a production assistant on projects for studios like Amazon, Marvel, and A24.
Rachel Gyves is a former BBC producer and director, with experience in factual programming for over twenty years. She continues to carry the broadcaster's disciplines, knowledge, and creative freedom into her new career in fashion.
Lisa Yadao is a Hawaiian-Filipina producer/director/screenwriter with a focus on branded documentaries and short narratives. She is a co-founder of paper tongue, a collective of BIPOC womxn storytellers who champion underrepresented perspectives in film and media. Lisa most recently directed an episode of the documentary series Take Out with Lisa Ling, and is currently working on a short dark comedy with her twin sister about anticipatory grief.
Alex Ajayi is a Bay-Area based cinematographer with a background in grip and electric work. He brings a diverse skill set and a passion for storytelling to his cinematography, operating wherever the story takes him.
Isara Krieger is an independent documentary filmmaker, cinematographer and editor based in Oakland, California. Through her work she aims to highlight the effects of structural injustice on historically marginalized and ignored communities in the US.
Colette Ghunim is a filmmaker and co-founder of Mezcla Media Collective, a 501(c)3 organization that works to elevate over 700 women and non-binary filmmakers of color in Chicago. She is currently in co-production with Kartemquin Films on her first feature-length documentary, Traces of Home, which follows her family's return to Mexico and Palestine for the first time since being forced to leave decades ago.
Keith Battle is a filmmaker, musician, martial artist and dungeon master. His passion for storytelling runs deep and wide. Keith is the founder of One Tiny Problem and also serves as lead instructor. His feature length documentary, Beyond the Gap, will premiere in late 2024.
Deidre Locklear is a multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker living in Oakland, California. In addition to mentoring a BAYCAT intern, Deidre works directly with all of our interns as BAYCAT Studio’s Associate Creative Director. While her professional work is currently centered around philanthropic documentaries, her passions also include experimental filmmaking, photography & ceramics.
Caitlin Machak is an award-winning cinematographer who trained at NYU Tisch and FAMU in Prague. She worked her way up the ranks of the camera department on feature films and television shows, such as House of Cards, GIRLS, and most recently Earth Mama. Her first love is music, and sometimes she can be convinced to sing at a wrap party.
Elani Ferri is a videographer with over a decade of experience working in camera and lighting departments. He has worked with BAYCAT youth since 2022.