Mateo is a seasoned film and television producer and the current Acting Executive Director of the New Mexico Media Arts Collective. He has been actively involved in the New Mexico film industry since 2005, contributing to more than 20 short films and 7 feature films, and is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA). In 2012, he achieved critical acclaim as the co-writer and director of the award-winning feature thriller, "BLAZE YOU OUT," starring Elizabeth Peña and Raoul Trujillo. The film, distributed by Lionsgate, was released in July 2013. During the summer of 2013, Mateo produced Drunktown's Finest alongside his producing partner, Chad Burris and Executive Producer, Robert Redford. The film premiered in the NEXT category at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014 and garnered numerous international awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at HBO's OUTFEST. In the summer of 2014, Mateo served as an associate producer on the feature film Bare, starring Dianna Agron, Paz de La Huerta, and Gary Farmer, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in April 2015. Mateo holds a Master's in Media Studies from The New School and is a former Associate Professor at Northern New Mexico College. There, he designed diverse film-related courses and was the principal author of an FAA UAS-CTI recognized drone technology program. An expert in his field, Mateo has lectured at prestigious institutions like UCLA and IAIA, and has contributed to a National Science Foundation Grant focused on interdisciplinary STEAM education. Committed to environmental stewardship, he serves as the Mayordomo for Acequia del Ancon.
Contributing to four formal training programs, Elissa Kannon's commitment to training and development resonates through her diverse career. Endearingly, her first trainee circa 1989 remains a cherished friend today. After a successful journey in leadership, management, and training for real estate development startups, Elissa pursued her passion in media arts, commencing her career as an independent producer. Encouraged by her mother's wisdom that a thriving film and television career isn't limited to California and New York, Elissa devoted the majority of her media arts career to New Mexico. Under fluffy clouds and bright blue skies, she enjoyed a dynamic career as a production coordinator for film and television productions, including the acclaimed Breaking Bad series, and as a production supervisor for feature films, including Sicario: Day of the Soldado. In 2019, Elissa accepted the role to serve as the Training Coordinator for IATSE Local 480, contributing significantly to the successful launch and stabilization of its training program. Dedicated to training, she prioritizes skills development with a strong emphasis on safety, a matter close to her heart. Her other creative pursuits include flamenco dancing, theatre acting and directing, and story consulting. Honored to now serve the New Mexico Media Arts Collective, she is committed to expanding training opportunities for New Mexico's emerging media arts professionals and collaborating with local media partners to solidify New Mexico as the premier destination for production - there's no place like home.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Chee was planning a major in English at Simon Fraser University before being distracted by the life of running nightclubs. This turned into a managing partnership of a multi-unit coffeehouse company, before leaving all that behind to start a new career in the film industry, which began as a set PA on the television show Pacific Blue, filmed in Venice Beach, CA. That led to a move into the locations department on the feature film American Beauty, all the while studying at the UCLA Screenwriting Program. He moved to Santa Fe years later, a brief interlude ensued outside the world of Production and into the blue-chip art world, primarily representing first-generation Post-War contemporary ab/ex and color field artists. Returning to production following the birth of his son, he primarily works as a location manager and indie producer, while avidly continuing to write screenplays that feature the New Mexico landscape, and its many colors.
Isabella is an aspiring director and editor from Santa Fe, New Mexico. Being surrounded by media and politics from a young age created a love for storytelling and making a vision into reality. She joined a broadcasting and film magnet program in high school and later went to American University in Washington DC to learn everything from making a scene to wrapping one. The first professional production Isabella worked on was making a trailer and short film about the “Rugged Red Half Mile Marathon” in Eastern Kentucky. Following that was PA work on the “Ditch Mitch” political campaign ads, and a short film in the Santa Fe International Film Festival. She joined the MAC as an Executive Assistant to the Director before becoming the Media Project Evaluator.
Alysse is an aspiring director who grew up in Northern New Mexico. Her passion for film started at a very young age as she always knew she wanted to be in the film industry. Her interest began when she got to go on set for the first time when she was a child and was able to watch the magic happen behind the screen. Since then Alysse has done short films throughout high school and college then continued on to graduate with her bachelor's degree in media marketing. From there she got her first film job as an office PA on the hit show, The Curse, and was since on several other shows and movies doing PA work until joining the MAC as the Executive Assistant to the Executive and Deputy and Directors.