Executive Profiles
KIMBERLEY KATES - CEO AND DIRECTOR
Kimberley Kates is a multi-award-winning producer who runs the Los Angeles-based publicly traded, production and global distribution company, Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG).
She brings more than 20 years of Hollywood experience to the role, has worked with many of the biggest names in the business and oversees a wide range of tasks at Big Screen, including producing feature films for the company.
Previously she was an actress, starring in more than 40 films and television shows, including Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Charmed, Growing Pains and Murder She Wrote.
Her movie debut came in the iconic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, playing one of the princesses, Princess Elizabeth along with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Diane Franklin and George Carlin.
Kimberley counts Martin Scorsese as her greatest mentor – the legendary moviemaker having advised her throughout her career.
Kimberley’s producing credits include Dirty Love, Babysitter Wanted, William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet an upcoming WW2 epic and a Snow White project.
As founder and CEO of Big Screen Entertainment Group she handles the following activities for the company besides producing: Negotiations, drafting of agreements for production and distribution of motion picture and television productions from beginning to end, knowledge of all aspects of the film industry including servicing, delivery, distribution, production, deals for actors, directors, writers, producers, investor deals, merchandising deals, domestic distribution deals, acquisition of films and distribution rights deals, financing documents, casting, script development, managing talent, hiring all talent on a motion picture from casting directors to DP’s to music supervisors, hands on set producing, foreign sales relationships, shareholder relations, editing, post production supervising, marketing and website design, knowledge of film markets, forming numerous alliances with other film companies.
A big supporter of young filmmakers, she has funded and consulted on many projects for up and coming artists.
STEPHEN ECKELBERRY - CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR
When Stephen Eckelberry joined Big Screen in 2004, he came as a filmmaker with over 20 years experience.
His lastest film which he wrote and directed for Big Screen, Nina & the Mystery of the Secret Room won accolades at several film festivals, including the Hollywood and the Portuguese Fantasporto Film Festival, and garnered him the Director’s Award at the Macon Film Festival. The film is set for nationwide release this summer. “A Hitchcock-ian thriller with even more shocking and exciting twists. Eckelberry’s style and intense theatrical eye for excellence will leave the viewer breathless.” – Tommy Garrett, Canyon News
Stephen’s first short film Going Home won the Golden Plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival for best short over fifteen minutes. Going Home also played at Denver, Bumbelshot, Cannes Women in Film, Hermosa Beach and the Mill Valley film festivals.
First Degree, Eckelberry’s first feature film as a director, premiered at the Austin Film Festival, was nominated for a best acting award at the Method Fest, and nominated for Best Director at the Nashville Film Festival. “Astutely lambastes middle-class American Dreams, and its critique of ‘gimme-gimme’ couples living outside their means is sharp.”- Robert Pardi TV Guide.
He recently completed Double Duty, a TV movie comedy starring Tom Sizemore and action star Mimi Lesseos, which chronicles the adventures of a female marine trying to adjust to civilian life. The film premiered on The Showtime Networks in December 2009.
As a producer he made My Brother the Pig, starring Scarlet Johansson and Eva Mendes for Nickelodeon Pictures, and Malaika for HBO Kids. For Big Screen Entertainment, he was co-producer on Forget About It, starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch, and a producer on Babysitter Wanted, which was accepted at the prestigious Sitges International Film festival and had it’s theatrical release in February 2009. “Babysitter Wanted is easily one of the best horror films of the year” – horror-movies.ca
Stephen’s experience in post-production includes big-budget studio films and quality independent films. Highlights include: Vincent Gallo’s Bufallo 66 (Sundance ‘98), This World, Then The Fireworks (Sundance ’97) starring Billy Zane and Gina Gershon. Stephen edited Men directed by Zoe Clark Williams which won the Best Young Filmmaker award at the Hollywood Film Festival, Mirage starring Sean Young and Edward Olmos for MCA/Universal, and The November Men, both directed by Paul Williams. He started his career as additional editor on Cool World, starring Kim Basinger and Gabriel Byrnes.
Stephen lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Oscar Nominated and Golden Globe actress Karen Black, and their daughter Celine, who is attending college at the Art Center of Pasadena.
MICHAEL MANASSERI - DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT OF BSEG
Michael Manasseri runs the day to day operations of BSEG’s Midwest production and distribution arm, Big Screen Michigan, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Manasseri is also the Co-Director/Producer of the critically acclaimed horror/thriller Babysitter Wanted. Babysitter Wanted was the premiere release on BSEG’s Domestic DVD/Blu Ray label and the film has made numerous Top 10 Horror Film Lists for 2010.
Michael is an actor’s director. His directing talent lies in his ability to communicate with actors on their level so as to evoke their best performances; his honest and insightful approach brings a sense of reality to each story being told. Much of Michael’s success as a director is a logical extension of his early success as an actor on stage and screen.
As a teenager Michael appeared on Broadway in the revival of Oliver, toured the United States in The King and I with Yul Brynner, and starred in three Off Broadway theatrical productions. He also appeared in over 40 national commercials. Michael made his silver screen debut in the 20th Century Fox film, License to Drive, starring opposite Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Heather Graham. Michael also had starring roles in four television series: Raising Miranda and Peaceable Kingdom for CBS, Charlie Hoover for FOX, and from 1994 to 1998 Michael played the lead role in the USA Network comedy Weird Science, executive produced by John Landis (Director/Producer of Animal House, Trading Places and Coming to America). Weird Science is still in worldwide syndication, having aired in over 40 countries.
From 1995 to 1999, Michael trained in the Master Class of acclaimed Acting/Directing teacher, Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Michael has been in partnership with BSEG CEO, Kimberley Kates, for over ten years. In 2000, Michael formed Smash Productions with director John Asher (Diamonds for Miramax), actress/writer Jenny McCarthy (MTV’S Singled Out, Scream 3, Scary Movie 3) and Kimberley Kates (Blue Valley Songbird, The New Age, Bounce, Highway). The Smash team created and sold the project America’s Movie, to Fremantle Media, the producers of the Fox hit, American Idol. They also developed the project, Dirty Love, written by McCarthy.
Michael served as a Producer on Dirty Love, which had its world premiere at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as well as the Aspen Comedy Festival. Michael produced The Mirror aka Nina and the Mystery of the Secret Room, directed by Stephen Eckelberry. Michael also edited and produced the Burt Reynolds/Raquel Welch comedy, Forget About It.
Michael was a production partner on the documentary William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet with Mr. Shatner’s production arm, Melis Productions. Gonzo premiered at the Nashville Film Festival to terrific reviews and made its international premiere at the Marbella International Film Festival where it won Best Documentary. Gonzo will be released on DVD and television in 2011.
DR. BRUCE LEE - DIRECTOR
Bruce B. Lee, MD is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Halt Medical, Inc., and inventor of the Acessa procedure, a safe and effective minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of uterine fibroid tumors. The procedure has received FDA clearance and is also licensed/cleared in Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
Dr. Lee’s father, George S. Lee, was President and Founder of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and one of the key members who assisted in the creation of East-West Bank of Los Angeles, CA. With a parallel interest in entertainment, Dr. Lee has served on multiple boards for over 25 years, has been an executive producer on several films and is a talented composer. He assisted CEO Kimberley Kates in development of the Content Education Division of BSEG and will work to develop and expand activities in this large potential market both in the US and abroad.
KIMBERLEY KATES - CEO AND DIRECTOR
Kimberley Kates is a multi-award-winning producer who runs the Los Angeles-based publicly traded, production and global distribution company, Big Screen Entertainment Group (BSEG).
She brings more than 20 years of Hollywood experience to the role, has worked with many of the biggest names in the business and oversees a wide range of tasks at Big Screen, including producing feature films for the company.
Previously she was an actress, starring in more than 40 films and television shows, including Seinfeld, The Larry Sanders Show, Charmed, Growing Pains and Murder She Wrote.
Her movie debut came in the iconic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, playing one of the princesses, Princess Elizabeth along with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Diane Franklin and George Carlin.
Kimberley counts Martin Scorsese as her greatest mentor – the legendary moviemaker having advised her throughout her career.
Kimberley’s producing credits include Dirty Love, Babysitter Wanted, William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet an upcoming WW2 epic and a Snow White project.
As founder and CEO of Big Screen Entertainment Group she handles the following activities for the company besides producing: Negotiations, drafting of agreements for production and distribution of motion picture and television productions from beginning to end, knowledge of all aspects of the film industry including servicing, delivery, distribution, production, deals for actors, directors, writers, producers, investor deals, merchandising deals, domestic distribution deals, acquisition of films and distribution rights deals, financing documents, casting, script development, managing talent, hiring all talent on a motion picture from casting directors to DP’s to music supervisors, hands on set producing, foreign sales relationships, shareholder relations, editing, post production supervising, marketing and website design, knowledge of film markets, forming numerous alliances with other film companies.
A big supporter of young filmmakers, she has funded and consulted on many projects for up and coming artists.
STEPHEN ECKELBERRY - CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTOR
When Stephen Eckelberry joined Big Screen in 2004, he came as a filmmaker with over 20 years experience.
His lastest film which he wrote and directed for Big Screen, Nina & the Mystery of the Secret Room won accolades at several film festivals, including the Hollywood and the Portuguese Fantasporto Film Festival, and garnered him the Director’s Award at the Macon Film Festival. The film is set for nationwide release this summer. “A Hitchcock-ian thriller with even more shocking and exciting twists. Eckelberry’s style and intense theatrical eye for excellence will leave the viewer breathless.” – Tommy Garrett, Canyon News
Stephen’s first short film Going Home won the Golden Plaque at the Chicago International Film Festival for best short over fifteen minutes. Going Home also played at Denver, Bumbelshot, Cannes Women in Film, Hermosa Beach and the Mill Valley film festivals.
First Degree, Eckelberry’s first feature film as a director, premiered at the Austin Film Festival, was nominated for a best acting award at the Method Fest, and nominated for Best Director at the Nashville Film Festival. “Astutely lambastes middle-class American Dreams, and its critique of ‘gimme-gimme’ couples living outside their means is sharp.”- Robert Pardi TV Guide.
He recently completed Double Duty, a TV movie comedy starring Tom Sizemore and action star Mimi Lesseos, which chronicles the adventures of a female marine trying to adjust to civilian life. The film premiered on The Showtime Networks in December 2009.
As a producer he made My Brother the Pig, starring Scarlet Johansson and Eva Mendes for Nickelodeon Pictures, and Malaika for HBO Kids. For Big Screen Entertainment, he was co-producer on Forget About It, starring Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch, and a producer on Babysitter Wanted, which was accepted at the prestigious Sitges International Film festival and had it’s theatrical release in February 2009. “Babysitter Wanted is easily one of the best horror films of the year” – horror-movies.ca
Stephen’s experience in post-production includes big-budget studio films and quality independent films. Highlights include: Vincent Gallo’s Bufallo 66 (Sundance ‘98), This World, Then The Fireworks (Sundance ’97) starring Billy Zane and Gina Gershon. Stephen edited Men directed by Zoe Clark Williams which won the Best Young Filmmaker award at the Hollywood Film Festival, Mirage starring Sean Young and Edward Olmos for MCA/Universal, and The November Men, both directed by Paul Williams. He started his career as additional editor on Cool World, starring Kim Basinger and Gabriel Byrnes.
Stephen lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Oscar Nominated and Golden Globe actress Karen Black, and their daughter Celine, who is attending college at the Art Center of Pasadena.
MICHAEL MANASSERI - DIRECTOR AND CONSULTANT OF BSEG
Michael Manasseri runs the day to day operations of BSEG’s Midwest production and distribution arm, Big Screen Michigan, headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Manasseri is also the Co-Director/Producer of the critically acclaimed horror/thriller Babysitter Wanted. Babysitter Wanted was the premiere release on BSEG’s Domestic DVD/Blu Ray label and the film has made numerous Top 10 Horror Film Lists for 2010.
Michael is an actor’s director. His directing talent lies in his ability to communicate with actors on their level so as to evoke their best performances; his honest and insightful approach brings a sense of reality to each story being told. Much of Michael’s success as a director is a logical extension of his early success as an actor on stage and screen.
As a teenager Michael appeared on Broadway in the revival of Oliver, toured the United States in The King and I with Yul Brynner, and starred in three Off Broadway theatrical productions. He also appeared in over 40 national commercials. Michael made his silver screen debut in the 20th Century Fox film, License to Drive, starring opposite Corey Haim, Corey Feldman and Heather Graham. Michael also had starring roles in four television series: Raising Miranda and Peaceable Kingdom for CBS, Charlie Hoover for FOX, and from 1994 to 1998 Michael played the lead role in the USA Network comedy Weird Science, executive produced by John Landis (Director/Producer of Animal House, Trading Places and Coming to America). Weird Science is still in worldwide syndication, having aired in over 40 countries.
From 1995 to 1999, Michael trained in the Master Class of acclaimed Acting/Directing teacher, Milton Katselas at the Beverly Hills Playhouse.
Michael has been in partnership with BSEG CEO, Kimberley Kates, for over ten years. In 2000, Michael formed Smash Productions with director John Asher (Diamonds for Miramax), actress/writer Jenny McCarthy (MTV’S Singled Out, Scream 3, Scary Movie 3) and Kimberley Kates (Blue Valley Songbird, The New Age, Bounce, Highway). The Smash team created and sold the project America’s Movie, to Fremantle Media, the producers of the Fox hit, American Idol. They also developed the project, Dirty Love, written by McCarthy.
Michael served as a Producer on Dirty Love, which had its world premiere at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival as well as the Aspen Comedy Festival. Michael produced The Mirror aka Nina and the Mystery of the Secret Room, directed by Stephen Eckelberry. Michael also edited and produced the Burt Reynolds/Raquel Welch comedy, Forget About It.
Michael was a production partner on the documentary William Shatner’s Gonzo Ballet with Mr. Shatner’s production arm, Melis Productions. Gonzo premiered at the Nashville Film Festival to terrific reviews and made its international premiere at the Marbella International Film Festival where it won Best Documentary. Gonzo will be released on DVD and television in 2011.
DR. BRUCE LEE - DIRECTOR
Bruce B. Lee, MD is the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Halt Medical, Inc., and inventor of the Acessa procedure, a safe and effective minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of uterine fibroid tumors. The procedure has received FDA clearance and is also licensed/cleared in Europe, Canada, and Mexico.
Dr. Lee’s father, George S. Lee, was President and Founder of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association and one of the key members who assisted in the creation of East-West Bank of Los Angeles, CA. With a parallel interest in entertainment, Dr. Lee has served on multiple boards for over 25 years, has been an executive producer on several films and is a talented composer. He assisted CEO Kimberley Kates in development of the Content Education Division of BSEG and will work to develop and expand activities in this large potential market both in the US and abroad.
ROBERT C. LASKOWSKI - SEC COUNSEL
MICHAEL GARDINER - PRESIDENT BUSINESS AFFAIRS
Michael Gardiner is an experienced entrepreneur, a writer and a licensed California attorney with nearly twenty years of experience representing public and private companies (ranging from sole proprietorships to Fortune 500 companies) and individuals in litigation and business matters. Throughout his career, Michael has represented numerous clients in the sports and entertainment industry including various musical artists, labels, sports industry clients and film studios and related enterprises such as Universal City Studios, Inc. and Merchandising Corporation of America.
Michael began his legal career at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro, has been a partner in Riedl, McCloskey & Waring, LLP and in Rathbone, Ruderman & Gardiner and currently has his own private practice in San Diego, California. Michael has a wide range of experience in his legal career ranging from intellectual property, securities and antitrust litigation to complex transactional negotiations. In addition to his legal career, Michael founded and ran a sports management company and was involved in running two professional sports teams.
Michael is one of the Managing Director’s of Sargasso Music Enterprises, LLC, the owner of the Omegatunez label and ProgJam Management, managers of two current bands. Michael has written for Progression Magazine: The Journal of Progressive Music for nearly a decade, writing feature articles (ranging from Fish to The Mars Volta) and a regular column focusing on the business of Prog, the state of the genre and its fans.