Douglas Williams, President, Pacific Voice;
Creative Producer, Short Shorts Film Festival

Douglas co-founded the Short Shorts Film Festival and serves as Creative Director for the festival in Japan and as Director of the festival in Los Angeles. He worked in Japan as a broadcast journalist for over eight years and continues to freelance for Japan’s NHK television. Douglas' documentary work sends him to all corners of the world to film subjects ranging from endangered species to cutting-edge military research. Called "obscenely healthy" by arts magazine SOMA, Douglas can be found sweating at the beach in Santa Monica or at Golds Gym in Venice on his days off.
email: doug@pacvoicela.com

Tetsuya Bessho

Tetsuya Bessho started his acting career in Hollywood almost 15 years ago, and since then has always looked for a way to return to Los Angeles in entertainment. That avenue is short film. As co-founder and partner in Pacific Voice L.A., Bessho again is making his name known in Hollywood as Executive Director of the Short Shorts Film Festival, which travels to nine cities in Asia and the United States.

Marliese Schneider, Programming Director,
Short Shorts Film Festival

Marliese participated in the first Short Shorts Film Festival in Japan in
1999 as a producer representing her short film "Turkey. Cake." Marliese, whose other producing credits include Dante's Peak, has served as the festival's Programming Director since 2001. In that time, annual submissions have increased from a few hundred to nearly 1,500 and Marliese has produced the first Short Shorts baby--a gorgeous son named Will.

Katherine O’Connell, Associate Producer, Pacific Voice;
Grants Manager, Short Shorts Film Festival

Since joining the Programming Department of the Short Shorts Film Festival in 1999, Katy has screened nearly 5,000 short films. Katy holds a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and contributes to Pacific Voice's documentary productions for NHK. Katy supports her travel habits with dog-sitting gigs, and in 2004 she vows to surf and snowboard in the same day.
email: katy@pacvoicela.com

Gregory Schaefer: Office Manager, Pacific Voice;
Programming Assistant, Short Shorts Film Festival

Gregory Schaefer joined the Pacific Voice team in 2003 as the official office monkey. After earning a degree in Telecommunications Production, Gregory moved to Nara, Japan where he spent three years teaching English and producing independent short films. Following his stay in Kansai, Gregory moved to Los Angeles to delve into the bottomless world of film. Learning the art of programming Short Shorts is the perfect gig for Gregory as he continues to produce and direct his own short films. A proud volunteer videographer for the American Cinematheque in Hollywood, Gregory also enjoys yoga and hanging out with his lovely wife, dog and cats!
email: gregory@pacvoicela.com