Gwydhar Gebien
(President, Director)
Gwydhar Gebien graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University in 2004 with a double major in theatre and art although she has always felt her direction is to go into film. After graduating she found her first film making opportunity as a production assistant on the feature film “Disappearances” staring Kris Kristofferson. Bitten by the film making bug she started producing her own short films with several friends in the Chicago area who later became Blue Damen Pictures.
Gwydhar’s first major projects with Blue Damen Pictures included the experimental short “Persephone” which drew heavily from her experience in the theatrical world using masks and puppets. This award winning short paved the way for Blue Damen Pictures’ current project: a series of short vignettes that will be put together to create a feature length film entitled “The Insomniac Chronicles”.
Though by day she is a mild-mannered sales rep for a commercial art studio, Gwydhar is dedicated to narrative film making as an artistic and literary medium and is constantly looking for ways to create new films that communicate, educate, and entertain audiences.
Danellyn Gebien
(Treasurer, Information Technology director, Still Photographer, Associate Producer)
Danellyn is one of the founding members of Blue Damen Pictures. As a self taught still photographer he is able to pursue his interest in capturing compelling moments on film and to create memorable promotional images for all the Blue Damen Pictures productions. Danellyn brings a unique vision and valuable management experience to each project; going as far back as “Persephone”.
When he isn’t behind a camera Danellyn also keeps Blue Damen Pictures up to date in the digital world: from networking servers to maintaining Blue Damen Pictures’ website to setting up video conferencing with the Los Angeles team to keep everyone on the same page.
For all his work behind the scenes, no one is a more tireless promoter of Blue Damen Pictures and each new film. Often traveling coast-to-coast to be on hand each time a film is screens at a film festival, Danellyn is dedicated to spreading the word about Blue Damen Pictures’ work.
Daniel Vendt
(Secretary, Composer, Associate Producer)
Daniel Vendt is an award-winning composer who is steadily working his way into the LA production music scene. Currently, his music has been making the indie festival circuit with numerous short films, as well as being used in the recent reality show “Scrappers” on Spike TV. A distinguished graduate of the MFA Music Composition for the Screen program at Columbia College Chicago, Daniel has assisted several established composers, including the Emmy-nominated TV & Film composer Peter Himmelman (Bones, Judging Amy, Scoundrels).
No stranger to other aspects of production, Daniel manages all of the production and post production equipment for the innovative Reality TV production company Hoosick Falls Productions (Buzzin’, The Rock Life, Jamie Kennedy’s Blowin’ Up) and has experience editing and doing sound design for indie films. Daniel is currently working on the ABC-primetime show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition for the Emmy-nominated director/producer George Verschoor (The Real World, Murder in Small Town X, Nashville Star). As the Executive Producer’s assistant, Daniel is involved with every aspect of the show, including handling celebrity talent and working as part of the production crew at locations around the country.
Pete Garlock
(Board Member, Actor)
Pete Garlock has an extensive history and love for film. Pete managed a movie theatre at age of 19, and worked his way through college at a Blockbuster video store for four years. He has also appeared as an extra in a number of recent films shot in Chicago , including “Fred Claus,” “The Dark Knight,” “Public Enemies,” “Contagion,” and can be seen in the television pilot of “The Chicago Code.” He is currently studying acting at Acting Studio of Chicago. During the weekdays Pete is the Director of Sales for the Elgin Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and has served as a member of the Hemmens Cultural Center Advisory Board since 2004. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Elgin Short Film Festival, which he served as chairman for in its first two years.