The Crew | The Heartland

Marquise Mays is an award-winning filmmaker and media scholar based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Experienced in an array of media and arts practices—from cinematic storytelling to exhibition curation—Marquise brings imagination, technical expertise, and cultural awareness to entertainment productions, journalistic undertakings or media-rich events and civic engagements.

He holds a M.A from the University of Southern California (USC) and a B.A from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). As an independent filmmaker and film studies scholar, both Marquise's films and research are careful renderings of individual Black life on and off screen.

Independent filmmaker RJ Prince is a native to Milwaukee, WI. A graduate of Roosevelt University (Chicago, IL), RJ studied Political Science which informed his innate curiosity for storytelling. As an independent storyteller, RJ’s goal is to breathe new life into stories addressing themes of healing, transformation, and social justice.

Jonah Koplin is a filmmaker currently living in Brooklyn, NY. Jonah dabbles in everything from commercial work, to narrative and documentary alternating between director and cinematographer. Jonah has hands in multiple projects at the moment and is currently producing two feature length films, while just having wrapped wrapped shooting a short film and music video.

Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Caleb’s interest as a filmmaker is to share stories of Midwestern people and culture. He is also interested in documenting the relationship between humans and nature. After graduating from UW-Milwaukee in May 2019, Caleb has been working as a freelance Videographer, Grip, AC and Production Assistant.

Gregory Thomas II is a MFA student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a focus on cinematic arts. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Gregory wants to have a deeper understanding of the integration of film, sound and the body in order to appreciate a sense of self, culture and community.

Will is a producer and composer of new music in Chicago. His work revolves around group singing, jazz, collaboration, and electronic music. He produces for independent artists, writes for film and video, and composes for choirs and a cappella groups.

Alex is currently based in Portland, Maine but works closely with collaborators from NYC and beyond. He got his start in Post Production at Goldcrest Post in NYC assisting with finishing feature films and episodic TV and freelances as a colorist. When he’s outside of the dark color suite he searches for unique moments to capture through various photographic mediums, and is enamored with the art of image-making and storytelling.

John is a photographer from Milwaukee, WI. He believes in documenting realities in every form through his visual photography. Traversing between digital and film photography, John presents a multitude of humanity through his catalogue of art.

Tierra is currently a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying Theatre Drama with a certificate in Digital Cinema Production. Growing up in Milwaukee Wisconsin, she learned her passion for storytelling and directing. As a student, Tierra has had the opportunity to stage-manage two shows and direct two theatrical productions.

Dante Nash is native to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and is currently a Graphic Designer for the Milwaukee Bucks. Dante graduated with a Bachelors in Art from UW-Madison. Through his progressing style, Dante seeks to represent unique and diverse cultures, via color or subject, within pieces to captivate and inspire others.

Corey is a photographer, filmmaker and overall creative. With a completed Museum exhibition, residencies and many more creative ventures, he’s looking to create or help create stories about neighborhoods from all over to relate to Milwaukee.