Ami Zins, Film Coordinator

Ami Zins has been Film Coordinator of the Oakland Film Office since 1998 when she resuscitated a previously dormant office. Before that she worked as a freelance theater director at local colleges as well as producing and directing projects for target audiences; taught acting at local colleges; and created and directed corporate interactive role play programs. She also taught Acting and Directing for the Camera at Laney College for 5 years where she will be returning this fall as a guest lecturer on Tuesday afternoons.

Ami's directorial debut was in 1985 with on original adaptation and futurizing of the 1902 play MATERNITY, which examined the impact of illegal abortion on the lives of women who felt they had no other choice. She recently directed Cherie Moraga's HEROES AND SAINTS a magical realistic story of a San Joaquin Valley community of farm workers fighting the use of poisonous pesticides. The plays she has directed have explored social and political issues through character driven stories. Ami's husband Lew, her creative partner, soul mate and caring collaborator on the majority of their artistic endeavors. Many of her plays have included original soundtracks created in collaboration with inspired composer and musician Q.B. Williams.

Ami's roles onstage have included Gladys in SKIN OF OUR TEETH, and she was last seen onstage as Max, Bigger Thomas' lawyer, in Richard Wright's NATIVE SON. Ami's last commercial was a Polygrip spot she booked after losing a few teeth while participating in the AIDS Ride III, in honor and memory of casting director Scott Fortier.

Appreciating quality movies of many genres, Ami particularly loves documentaries, and dreams of someday creating her own. Another of her creative fantasies is to direct a Tracy Chapman music video.

Janet Austin, Assistant Film Coordinator

Janet came to the Oakland Film Office via a Computer Information Systems program. She interned with us in early 2002, and while fixing our computer problems, she realized she loved supporting the creative process.

Janet helps location managers, directors and other film crew find suitable locations and then takes on the task of completing all the necessary permitting. Fine-tuning our computer equipment, writing copy for the website and working on special film-related projects number her other responsibilities.

A longtime supporter of film, Janet especially likes food-centric foreign films and names 'Babette's Feast' and 'Eat Drink Man Woman' as her favorites. Besides watching movies, Janet loves biking, travelling and watching cooking shows such as Iron Chef. She is a graduate of San Francisco State.

She'd love to hear about your film passions, especially over a Peet's coffee.

INTERNS



Brett Blake - Brett is the Oakland Film Office's most recent addition, having begun his internship in January. Although he is new, he is already quite fond of working at City Hall and sometimes finds it difficult to stop staring out over his favorite city from the ninth story windows. A graduate of UCLA, Brett has returned to the Athens of the Pacific to help ensure that the city's beauty and charm are captured on film as often as possible. When he grows up, Brett would like to be a filmmaker or, if that proves too difficult, a closer for the Oakland Atheletics. His favorite nickname for Oakland is "Bump City."

Labony Chakraborty - Bio coming soon!


Acknowledgements
Ami offers her heartfelt thanks to the Local Film Industry Workers, Producers and Unions, City of Oakland officials including Mayor Ronald V. Dellums, City Manager Deborah Edgerly, Oakland City Councilmembers and hundreds of other city workers, business and non-profit organizations, and most importantly the residents of Oakland who have been gracious hosts when their private properties, public areas and neighborhoods become locations for film projects for we all will one day become audience.

Among the many who have shown for their support for the Oakland Film Office by donating endless hours of volunteer work Ami would like to thank individually are: JENNIFER BAUMAN, for her volunteer work and transition to a two person staff; SCOTT TRIMBLE for creating and donating the incredible original FilmOakland web site, his amazing NorCalMovies.com and related sites; KIERAN KING for her super generosity in creating the second incarnation of the FilmOakland web site debuting this fall; JANET AUSTIN the Assistant Film Coordinator; AMANDA MELTON for her year of nearly full time volunteering and overtime dedication, and still ongoing voice of the Film Oakland Hotline; and JULIANA MONTGOMERY for her year of nearly full time volunteer internship, her year as Assistant Film Coordinator and invaluable comradery and inspiration, and for dreaming up and realizing the incredible Oakland Ciné Soirée with Amanda, me and many others.

And special thanks to
Jamie Austin for his fabulous editing expertise.