After practicing law for nearly a decade, working with violent offenders, Ernest Anemone pivoted to storytelling to ask questions the legal system could not answer. As a true multi-hyphenate, Anemone brings a unique perspective, tackling complex themes of justice, faith, and human nature from a queer Christian perspective. Their spiritual path included the interfaith study of theology at Harvard Divinity School and working as a professional Tarot reader for many years. These experiences infuse ‘The Last Fool’ with a depth and symbolism rarely seen in mainstream media, which allow them to approach sensitive subjects like extremist violence with both empathy and insight.

Max MacKenzie is a versatile Scottish-American talent who has been active in the entertainment industry since 2016 as both an actor and producer. Born in Highland Park, Illinois, and raised in Newton, Massachusetts, Max discovered his passion for acting early on, attending the renowned Stagedoor Manor program. After graduating from The Winchendon School in 2016, he pursued a career in front of and behind the camera. As an actor, Max brings authenticity to his roles, while as a producer, he focuses on creating content that raises awareness about learning and thinking differences. His dual experience allows him to approach projects with a unique perspective, resulting in sensitive and engaging portrayals of cognitive diversity. Max's work often involves collaborations with experts in the field of neurodiversity, enhancing the impact and accuracy of his productions.

John de la Parra’s work spans across different roles in the film industry, combining his expertise in storytelling with his passion for impactful narratives. Prior to his work on The Last Fool, he served as an executive producer on the critically acclaimed film Family Affair (2023). In addition to his production work, John was a story consultant for the TV mini-series Food 2050 (2022) and its 2023 follow-up feature-length film by the same name.

Amy DePaola is a five-foot-one producer, director, and writer with a tall personality. A 2023 Blackmagic Collective Future Women of TV Directing Fellow, Amy has produced projects for Participant Media, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, and The CW. She holds an MFA in Film from Emerson College and studies at The Groundlings.

Stephen Szmed, a Brooklyn-based cinematographer with roots in the plains of Kansas, discovered his passion for filmmaking at age of 13 when he began making films with friends in his backyard, igniting a lifelong pursuit of visual storytelling. This early fascination led him to Emerson College, where his love for image-making deepened, setting him on a path to becoming a cinematographer with a versatile body of work and style, which now takes him across the US shooting documentaries and narratives. Stephen views cinematography as equal parts art and science, his practice focuses on constructing a visual language with his collaborators and aesthetic principles according to each story. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.

George Bakken is an editor and colorist who enjoys working collaboratively on every project from the smallest 15 second social edit to longer feature films. To give the audience a sense of relatability and also surprise are two feelings he attempts to evoke in his post-production efforts in each project he’s found himself privileged to be a part of, including this one.

Zac Selissen is a NYC based composer with 10 years of experience creating original work for various visual mediums. His early career began in San Francisco as a classical guitarist. With guitarist Mike Roberts, he formed Duo Symphonious, and was awarded the Shenson Award for their original adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet, and the Certificate of Honor by Mayor Gavin Newsom for their performance at San Francisco City Hall. Upon relocation to NYC in 2014, he began writing and producing music across a broad range of styles for tv/film, dance, and theater. Recent credits include Dicks: The Musical, NFL on CBS, Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Soul of a Nation, 20/20, Dateline, and Good Morning America. He has a particular love for dance, and regularly collaborates with his brother’s modern dance company. Zac is currently a teaching artist with Trinity Wall Street, and lives in Carroll Gardens with his wife, son and pup.

Wren Stark Haven is a re-recording mixer & production sound mixer based in Ridgewood, Queens. She grew up on a farm on the south shore of Massachusetts and has been working as a filmmaker since she was 18. Wren started as an associate producer, cinematographer, and assistant editor with the VII Foundation, shooting their first feature documentary "Eat Up". She then worked on non-union features as a 2nd AC and set grip before joining the union as a boom op & sound utility, working on films such as "Free Guy", "I Care A Lot", and "CODA". In 2020, Wren moved to NY to pursue her MFA in Directing at NYU Tisch Grad Film. Since relocating, she has started her post-production business and worked on several noteworthy films. Wren continues to make her own films and teaches film sound for directors at NYU.

Lily is a filmmaker, producer, and sound designer based in Brooklyn, NY. She recently completed a 20-min experimental video installation and is currently exploring sculptural possibilities in 5.1 sound design.