> MISSION
RIGHTEOUS PICTURES is a film production company and social action organization that creates socially driven documentary films and new media projects as a means to bring about social change. A collective of artists and social activists, we are committed to creative, character-based, global projects as a platform for dialogue on the most critical issues of our time.
> FILM
MICHAEL PERTNOY // founder + executive director // michael@righteouspictures.com // @righteouspix
Michael is the original Righteous dude. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Michael decided to begin work on an idea for a documentary film he’d been wanting to make since high school. Three years later, The Last Survivor emerged as RP’s award-winning debut which Michael produced and co-directed. For his work in the human rights field, Michael was accepted into the Genocide Intervention Network’s 2009 Carl Wilkens Fellowship Program. Prior to RP, Michael worked as a freelance editor for non-profit organizations and corporate partners around the globe. His achievements were recognized in 2010 when Michael was the youngest person to be named one of South Florida’s “Top 20 business leaders under 40″ by the Miami Herald. Michael is currently editing and producing RP’s second documentary feature, Web, as well as continuing to grow the company he founded on the simple yet meaningful belief that individuals have the power to affect real change.
MICHAEL KLEIMAN // co-founder + creative director // kleiman@righteouspictures.com // @righteouspix
Michael is RP’s resident film nerd/snob. He came to filmmaking after being dazzled by Macaulay Culkin’s ground-breaking performance in Home Alone. As a child, his renditions of Marissa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny and Tommy Lee Jones in The Fugitive became staples of family gatherings (and being the only time he was allowed to curse, Michael relished them). Michael is the co-director and co-producer of RP’s award-winning documentary, The Last Survivor and the director and co-producer of their upcoming film, Web. He received a Fulbright Scholarship in filmmaking from the U.S. State Department and studied film theory, history, and criticism at the University of Pennsylvania. Michael has worked at the Documentary Department at HBO, with acclaimed filmmaker, Andrew Bujalski, and with documentary filmmaking legend and personal hero, Albert Maysles. Michael served for 6 months as RPLA’s resident Culinary Director and Wellness Coordinator before he was pushed out by an internal coup.
THOMAS SWEENEY // production + development // thomas@righteouspictures.com // @tsweens
Thomas is a modern day Renaissance Man with a passion for entrepreneurship. He graduated from Boston College in 2007, where he studied Philosophy with a focus in Faith, Peace & Justice. Since that time, he has worked as a film, television, and new media producer with prominent organizations including Nike, CBS, and Simon & Schuster. Thomas is Co-Producer on The Last Survivor and Co-Producer and Post-Production Supervisor on Web. He recently finished directing a pilot for a potential documentary mini-series about about the power of amateur sports. Check out what he’s up to at his personal site: www.thomasdamien.com
SAMUEL GOLDBERG // finance + development // samuel@righteouspictures.com // @samuelg44
Samuel is an actor, writer and producer… and RP’s lead schmoozer. He began his career in film as a young actor in New York City and landed his first big role as “Young Jake Schram” in Edward Norton’s directorial debut, Keeping the Faith. Since joining the Righteous Pictures team in 2009, Samuel has co-produced their two feature length documentaries, The Last Survivor and Web. Prior to joining Righteous Pictures, Samuel worked for legendary producer, Jerry Weintraub, hip hop mogul, Russell Simmons and the talent agency, ICM. Never an idle moment, Samuel is currently working on two documentary side projects. Samuel’s East Coast brunch omelets rival Michael Kleiman’s West Coast sandwich creations. A kitchen cook-off has yet been held.
> SOCIAL ACTION
CHRISTIE MANNING MARCHESE // social action strategy + new media // christie@righteouspictures.com // @ChristieM
Christie’s goal is to get RP films and content to you online and in person, and then mobilize you to channel that inspiration into action. Her background is in using online tools and connective technologies to create social change. Coming to RP from Participant Media, Christie led digital strategy for the social action campaigns for the films Waiting for “Superman”, Countdown to Zero, Casino Jack, and Food, Inc, amongst others. Christie thinks she’s pretty savvy at using new media and online technology to inspire people to change the world around them. Christie currently holds the title of Lead Tweeter at RP but hopes to one day be surpassed by Alexandra.
ALEXANDRA BUNZL // campaign development + outreach // alexandra@righteouspictures.com // @alexandrabbunzl
Born and raised in the oh-so-exotic London, England, Alexandra brings an international flair to Righteous Pictures. She graduated with distinction and honors from the School of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University in 2006 and soon thereafter moved to Paris where she ate and drank very well and also worked at Newsweek as an Assistant Editor to the Middle East Regional Editor as well as for a French NGO, MedBridge Strategy Center. Upon returning to New York, Alexandra spent a year and a half working at the Clinton Global Initiative before moving to Tel Aviv to pursue a Master’s in Conflict Studies. While in Israel, Alexandra concentrated her research and writing on the psychological mechanisms that lead to prejudice, hatred and political exclusionism. Even though Alexandra comes to Righteous Pictures without a film background per se, she has quickly become an ardent supporter of the power of combining art and social justice and puts her diverse skill set to the test on a daily basis by managing outreach campaigns for RP productions.
EMILY BIRWIRTH // pr + grassroots marketing intern // emily@righteouspictures.com // @righteouspix
Emily is a documentary film enthusiast and a avid traveler. She recently graduated from Colby College where she majored in Anthropology and studied abroad in Argentina. Inspired by the hordes of documentaries she watched throughout her academic career, Emily decided to make a documentary of her own called The Flash Club. This film focused on her creation and execution of a Flash Mob Dance at Colby, and the potential uses of Flash Mobs for social action. Aside from her love of films and exploring the world, Emily has a passion for dancing. Her goal is to turn everyday day life into a musical!
ELIZABETH WARREN// research + production intern // liz@righteouspictures.com // @righteouspix
Since she can remember, Liz has been documenting her stories in countless journals, notes, and scraps of paper which now collect dust in her mother’s garage. In recent years she transitioned this passion into the virtual world of documentary making and blogging. After spending two years working as a teacher and encouraging children to share their stories in the remote Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, she’s thrilled to now live amongst hot water, live music, good wine, and a panoply of inspiring change-makers in New York City. She currently studies International Affairs as a graduate student at the New School for Public Engagement.
MATTHEW HALL// research + campaign development intern // matt@righteouspictures.com // @Hallm13
Matt is our research and development intern working on our second feature documentary, WEB. He is currently a political science student at Southwestern University researching the governance structures of online communities and how their lessons can be applied to government. Matt is also our resident Texan and when he is not pursuing social change through film or technology he likes to play tennis or go sailing. Matt hopes to learn more about using documentary film as a platform for social change.
RENEE MLYNARYK// research + outreach intern // renee@righteouspictures.com // @righteouspix
Renee joins Righteous Pictures after promoting educational equality as a Volunteer Coordinator at CFY.org. A former painter and publicist with a growing fascination in social enterprise, Renee realized her dual interest in visual storytelling and social change were perfectly merged in documentary film. She now enjoys hunting online for interesting contributions to the WEB film and leading research for the WEB social action and transmedia campaign.