SUPER
DELUXE
CREW
Mark Maj's extensive film background includes a variety of projects both behind and in front of the camera, as well as screenwriting. His film acting roles include being a featured extra in Clint Eastwood's "FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS", "HOME ALONE 2", "FRED CLAUS", "MAD DOG AND GLORY","DERAILED", "STRANGER THAN FICTION", AND "CURLY SUE", just to name a few.
Mark's Television credits include the starring role in several epidsodes of The Weather Channel Series, "WHEN WEATHER CHANGED HISTORY", portraying Chicago's 1st Mayor, "Mayor Ogden". And in another epidsode, the head of the United States race for an Atomic Bomb, "General Leslie Groves". He has also worked on The Discovery Channel's, "INVESTIGATIVE DISCOVERY-OPERATION UNDERCOVER", portraying several mobsters. In addition, Mark co-produced and co-hosted a television series in Illinois called "RANDOM ACCESS".
Behind the camera, he has worked on numerous film projects inclusive of "DEAD OF NIGHT", "FAREWELL DARKNESS", "SECOND MOON", "SERUM" and has just completed work on the feature film, "ZOMBIE FRAT HOUSE" (Associate Producer and 2nd Director of Photography) partnering with Dirty Jobs Films and Mutant Bar Monkey Productions, LLC.
In 2012, Mark and his film partner, Leslie Weber Maj, formed MONKEY FILMS which currently has a horror feature in development, titiled "THE BODYMAN", and currently a short film, "SUPER DELUXE", to begin principal photography in the Spring of 2014.
His educational background in film includes Columbia College in Chicago and the school, Chicago Filmmakers. Mark and his wife Leslie reside in Racine, WI.
Mark Maj
WRITER / DIRECTOR / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Leslie Weber Maj
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Leslie Weber Maj, is a partner in Monkey Films, a production company founded with her her filmmaking husband, Mark Maj. Currently, Monkey Films, has the feature film, "THE BODYMAN" in development, and a short film, "SUPER DELUXE", written and directed by Mark Maj, starring Robert W.C. Kennedy. "SUPER DELUXE" is currently in pre-production and slated to begin principal photography in the Spring of 2014. Also coming up, Leslie is partnering with Dirty Jobs Films to produce the short film "CAGED", written and directed by Ross Bigley, starring Anieya Walker.
Other recent film projects include "SERUM" (Media Management/Production Asst.) and the feature film, "ZOMBIE FRAT HOUSE" directed by Ross Bigley, where she is an Executive Producer and the Unit Production Manager.
Leslie's dedication to projects, easy going nature and willingness to help other independent filmmakers, help keep her active in the Milwaukee filmmaking community.
Leslie resides in Racine, WI with her husband Mark Maj.
Glen Popple
PRODUCER / Director of Photography
Glen Popple, a 1990 graduate of the Milwaukee School of Engineering, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology. Now considering himself an recovering engineer, he started writing in the mid - 90's and met with some success with "THE TALES OF THE MUTANT BAR MONKEY'S", a comedy web series.
After trying his hand at screenwriting with a script with the working title of "TWO OF ME", he then wrote, produced and directed "PORT OF CALL", a sci-fi comedy under the newly formed Mutant Barmonkey Productions, LLC. During post-production of "PORT OF CALL", Glen made the feature length documentary "99 BOTTLES", a story of the Milwaukee micro-brewing industry. After completing several other shorts, he was contacted by Milwaukee filmmaker Ross Bigley to premiere "PORT OF CALL" at the Milwaukee Independent Film Society, at the prestigous Lubar Auditorium.
The first meeting with Ross led to Glen's role as the Director of Photography on the feature film, "PETTY CASH", as well as credits in films such as "BRING ME THE HEAD OF HARRY JONES", "THE BANANA", "WWRD(What Would Randy Do?)" and "NO TOUCHIE TOUCHIE", the winner of Best Comedy at the Wildwood Film Festival.
Glen is currently producing "YELLOW HILL: THE STRANGERS TALE", "NOVAK: PI", as well as setting up the production of the feature, "YELLOW HILL", starring Bai Ling.
Ross Bigley
PRODUCER / ASST. DIRECTOR
Ross Bigley is an award winning filmmaker with over 60 short films and three features to his credit. Hes has also worked as an editorial cartoonist, photographer, graphic designer and as a freelance illustrator. Ross' art work and photography have been displayed in the Fredrick Layton Gallery, Firehouse Gallery, ArtCentric Gallery and The Warsaw Academy of Poland. Additionally, he was a co-owner of the ArtCentric Gallery from 1997-1999.
In 1995, Ross founded The Milwaukee Video / Film Festival at MATA Community Media, now called The Milwaukee Short Film Festival and serves as President of the Board of Directors to the Milwaukee Independent Film Society. Ross also teaches filmmaking and story structure at his alma mater, The Milwaukee Insitute of Art and Design. He also has worked on as a script consultant for Producers, Tim Lonsdale (Species,Speed), Chris Webster (Hellraiser, Heathers), David Striet (Species, River's Edge) and performed re-writes for the production, "BRAIN FOOD". Currently, he has formed a production company with Bai Ling and Glen Popple to develop feature films on a property he created, "YELLOW HILL".
Dave Smulski
LIGHTING / GAFFER
Dave Smulski, Milwaukee's Lighting Legend, and know around town as the Mighty McGyver, has joined the "SUPER DELUXE" team. Dave has worked on more films then we can shake a stick at, if we currently had a stick to shake and we were so inclined, we couldn't be more pleased!
Dave's expert skill, knowledge, ingenuity, easy going and inquisitive nature on how to always make it better and take the film to the next level, make him the "Go-To" guy in expert film lighting in the Milwaukee area.
Also, look for Dave's cameo role in "SUPER DELUXE".
Enrique Gonzalez
SOUND
Born in June, 1993, Milwaukee native, Enrique Gonzalez is currently a student at the Art Insistute of Milwaukee studying digital film and video production. He first discovered his passion for film while making game related content. His goals in the industry is to become a visual effects artist and or a director of photography. His works include on set sound for "MAD BLACK MEN", the feature film " SAVAGE", "DEVILS MORIA"and the 48 Hour Production, "HELL'S INTENTION".
Rachel "Rosebud" Gomez
ASSISTANT TO THE UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER
Rachel " Rosebud" Gomez comes on board "SUPER DELUXE" as Assistant to the Unit Production Manager. Rachel has acting, stunts and Production Assisting in her background, and did a phenomenal job doing all three on "ZOMBIE FRAT HOUSE" due for release in 2014. Rachel has also lend her talents to The Wildwood Film Festival in Appleton, WI.
Zach McLain
ASSISTANT TO THE UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER
With almost 20 years of experience in performance on stage, Zach was introduced to film rather late in his career. Zach studied performance and vocal specialization at the University of Wisconsin Greenbay and starred in almost 20 productions in and out of the University. Before attending UWGB, Zach was already a published poet, an accomplished vocalist, improvisational coach, production director and multiple award winning performance artist.
While a student, Zach was awarded the Louis Ederman Scholarship for his participation and efficiency in multiple disciplines of performance and design. Having studied lighting design, set design and painting, make-up and wardrobe design, as well as engaging in behind the scenes carpentry, safety and construction, Zach found himself involved in every aspectof perfromance and well as dance, music, as well as training in classical and contemporary acting.
Multiple nominations for the JFK Center Irene Ryan Scholarship, and Excellence in performance Awards from UWGB as well as the JFK Center for Performing Arts culminated his pursuit to new avenues of the arts with professional work as a voice artist, writer and director.
After moving to Milwaukee to persue a professional career, Zach immediately found work as a set designer and actor in the Wildwood Film Festival's "The Cucaranchula" written and directed by UWM's Kate Balsley.
Chicago borrowed Zach away from Wisconsin when he worked on the set of BOSS with Kelsey Grammar. 2013 brought Zach an award as Best Director for his film "OLIVIA" in the 48 Hour Film in Milwaukee under his company Not A Hammer Productions in association with Hoo Hoo Productions.
Zach recently worked as a PA and extra on the feature "SERIAL DATERS ANONYMOUS" with Chris Emmons as director, as well as a commercial for US Cellular filmed here in Wisconsin.
After ending 2013 in Skylight Music Theatre's inspiring production of " Les Miserables", 2014 holds many exciting opportunities for Zach and he is happy to be part of the "Super Deluxe" family.
