Stephanie Manesis

Producer/Director

Paula Maddox

Associate Producer

Hi! My name is Paula Maddox. I’m a nonprofit business professional, currently working as a grant proposal writer in Georgia. I have known Stephanie for 20 years and when she approached me about working on this project, I was thrilled!

Stephanie’s passion for this short documentary “Compassion on the Battlefield in WWII” was immediately evident. Her conviction and determination to share these heartwarming stories of compassion through film offers viewers an alternative lens with which to consider the humanity that exists in all of us, even in the midst of the most horrific of circumstances.

Having worked on a previous historical video project – the Veterans’ History Project – while I was employed at an Alabama archival facility, I was eager to be a part of Stephanie’s venture. The Alabama project allowed me to interview veterans and active service military so their personal military histories could be preserved for future generations. The 45 interviews I conducted (29 of whom were World War II veterans) are now housed in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.

Personally, I have a long family lineage of military history. My great-great grandfather joined the Confederacy as a reservist at the age of 46 and my great-grandfather served in the Confederacy. My grandfather was a World War I veteran. My father was a World War II Purple Heart recipient and my uncle died at Omaha Beach. My husband is also a veteran who served during the Vietnam era.

Academically, I hold a B.S. in Marketing and a M.B.A from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. I have worked in for-profit and non-profit capacities in Georgia, Alabama, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska. I currently live in Alabama.

Peter Coyote

Narrator

I can be seen in popular films and TV shows such as E.T., Sphere, The Jagged Edge, Erin  Brockovich, Bitter Moon, Brothers & Sisters, The Inside, and The 4400. I am a double-Emmy winner as the narrator of most Ken Burns documentaries and many others.

Richard Levien

Editor

Hello! I am Richard Levien and live in San Francisco. I have been writing, directing and editing award-winning films for 18 years. My editing credits include Barry Jenkins’ (“Moonlight”) short film “Remigration”, and feature documentaries “A Fragile Trust” and “D Tour”, broadcast on Independent Lens. My motion graphics work for the Center for Investigative Reporting was awarded a national Emmy nomination.

My own short film “Immersion” premiered at Slamdance, and won Best Bay Area short film at the San Francisco International Film Festival. And my debut feature film, “Collisions”, as a writer /director, won four SFFILM/KRF Grants. “Collisions” premiered at the Mill Valley Film Festival in October 2018, and won the Audience Award (US Independent Cinema: Gold). It has gone on to win 13 awards from 19 festivals.

I am excited about this project because it approaches the dynamics on the battlefield from such a different perspective. Compassion for the other side is so necessary right now, whether on the battlefield, or in politics, or in smaller, more personal conflicts.

I am originally from New Zealand and have a PhD in theoretical physics from Princeton University.

Lillie McDonough

Film Composer

Hello! I am a Lillie McDonough and live in Brooklyn, New York. I am a film composer and songwriter for films, television, documentaries, video games, and other media.  I have scored many fiction movies and documentaries, including Radium Girls, A Call to Spy and Sweetheart Dancers.

 I graduated from New York University (NYU) with a Master’s degree in Music Theory and Composition and a concentration in Scoring for Film & Multimedia. I taught film scoring at NYU as an adjunct professor for several years before turning to scoring full time.

Also, as a trained visual artist, I sell my encaustic paintings around the United States. As a performer, I play traditional Irish and Scottish music and I and play keys with my synth pop girl band, Rosalind, around New York City and the surrounding areas.

I wanted to work on this project because I want to be part of a team that reminds us of the best part of humanity, especially in years where it’s easy to see the worst.

Jim Ledoux

Director of Photography (first locations)

My name is Jim Ledoux. I’m pleased that I could bring my 25-plus years of photography experience to “Compassion on the Battlefield in WWII” so that Stephanie’s vision could be brought to life on film.

As a hands-on Production Manager and Director, I have a wide background in broadcast, corporate and nonprofit projects ranging from live, multi-camera, television programs to webcasts, sports features, reality shows, feature films and documentaries.

I graduated in Film Studies from Temple University in Philadelphia. For four years, I directed live studio television in New York City as the Director/Studio Manager of Financial News Network and CNBC Wall Street Facilities.

Later, I began freelance work as a Producer/Director/Director of Photography. Some of my recent projects include a series of short documentaries for Microsoft and principal photography for HGTV’s series, My First Place.

In addition to Microsoft and HGTV, I also have worked with: The Food Network, KingWorld Productions, ESPN, HDNet, CBS Sports/News, CNN, CNBC, CSPAN, ABC Sports/News, Home Depot, Discovery Channel, Harpo Productions and National Geographic. I currently live in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Michael Hartzel

Director of Photography (second locations)

I’m Michael Hartzel from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I co-own Blackice Productions with my spouse who is also a producer. I’ve had the great privilege to work alongside some of the most accomplished cinematographers in the film industry over the past 20 years.

I’ve brought my acute awareness of lighting and composition to film many projects, establishing myself as an award winning Director of Photography. My accomplishments include independent films, commercials and broadcast work. I have filmed at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the London Olympics in 2012 and Brazil Olympics in 2016.

Matt McGregor

Camera Operation/ Production Assistant

Hello! My name is Matt McGregor and I work for Rush Street Productions in Fargo, ND on the TV show “Poker Night in America.” Prior to this, I owned my own production company making websites and videos.

Previously, I worked for Heartland Poker Tour as an editor and as a technical director. I also have 9 years of production and creative services experience at TV stations KVLY and KXJB of Fargo, ND.

I have been a part of many independent films, both narrative and documentary, and participated in many award-winning teams for Fargo’s 48 Hour film contest. I studied Mass Communications at North Dakota State University with a minor in Speech Communications with an emphasis in film. I’m originally from Jamestown, North Dakota and currently live in Fargo.

When Stephanie told me about her vision for this short documentary film, I was excited to be given the opportunity to hear some of the stories she was seeking first hand – stories that would soon be forgotten if not documented. I am happy to be part of Stephanie’s team.