THE
TEAM
GABRIEL GAURANO
Director/ Editor/ Cinematographer
Growing up in San Diego as the youngest of seven, Gabriel started by making childhood movies on his mom’s Sony-Camcorder. Later, these epics were replaced by the real adversities of everyday people. From a Transgender-Navy-Corpsman to an Environmental-Sustainability story funded by IMAX and UN, Gabe is passionate about documentary filmmaking. He's had projects debut at AFI, NFFTY, and LA Film Festival. With the same childlike excitement, I make films that remind us what we’re fighting for.
Julia Elihu
Producer
Julia Elihu is a young Southern California filmmaker who graduated from Chapman University in May of 2020 with a degree in Film Production. Growing up in a large Persian family, she’s been surrounded by an array of characters with diverse stores and experiences. Through film, she strives to capture these raw life experiences to their highest degrees. She’s had films premiere at the AFI Film Fest, the San Diego Int. Film Fest, NFFTY, and more. In addition to TEAM MERYLAND, Julia is currently working on a short film based on her family’s story escaping Iran during the 1979 revolution.
JASON PHILLIPS
Co-Producer
Originating as a triplet from San Diego, Jason Phillips graduated in May of 2018 with a Film Production Degree from the University of Southern California. In August 2018, Jason was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s article “Hollywood Needs Us”. He’s been featured at festivals such as the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, NFFTY, and American Pavilion Emerging Filmmakers Showcase at Cannes Film Festival, and recently produced a feature film for USC with a grant from Warner Brothers.
Brad kester
Consulting Editor
Brad Kester lives and makes films in Southern California. He has been privileged to collaborate on several nationally and internationally recognized projects including the feature documentary “Janey Makes a Play.” Brad is a high school and film conservatory teacher at Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego. Julia (Producer), Jason (Co-Produer), and Gabriel (Director) were his students.
CABBA JIAXuan cai
Sound Designer
Jiaxuan Cai CABBA is a bilingual filmmaker born and raised in Hunan, China, and currently residing in Los Angeles, California, where she is pursuing an MFA from the University of Southern California’s graduate film program. She previously obtained a BA, majoring in Sound of Film, from the Beijing Film Academy, where she began developing and honing her craft. She loves the visual and aural elements of film as a medium for storytelling and hopes to continue sharing stories that move and inspire her.
PHAR (RAphaël Dargent)
Composer
PHAR (Raphaël Dargent) was born in Paris. He spent his childhood in Tokyo, studying the piano and classical composers who had major influence on his work (Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninov). After getting a degree from the ESSEC business school in entrepreneurship. He decided to move to Los Angeles and graduated from the USC Screen Scoring master program for which he received the Harry Warren Scholarship. Since then he has scored numerous projects including features, shorts, commercials, video games as well as the music for the French Presidency in 2017.
JOSEPH YAO
Colorist
Joseph Yao is originally from Seattle, WA and graduated from USC's Film Production program. He now works full-time as a professional colorist.
DELTA KAPPA ALPHA
All around support
USC's Delta Kappa Alpha fraternity which focuses on film is one of the main financial backers for TEAM MERYLAND and have also played an instrumental role in bringing the film to life from members translating interviews, to giving notes on cuts, to helping set up events and marketing plans, and so much more.