Feature Documentary (hybrid)
I Am My Brother's Keeper
Elena Shelton
Director-Executive producer
Elena Shelton is a writer, director, and film producer. When she’s not filming, she’s writing — and vice versa. Her first feature script, Presidents’ Island, placed on The Black List’s Top Quarterly List in March 2024. Since then, she has written three additional feature scripts, all rooted in drama-comedy, with her latest — a fantasy — currently being developed.
She has directed several narrative short films, with her debut earning a directing award at a small Canadian festival. Elena has also worked in commercial production, primarily within the sports industry. I Am My Brother’s Keeper is her second feature documentary; her first explored the global impact of climate change.
Sugey Cruz
Producer
Sugey Cruz is an actress, producer and filmmaker, whose collaborations have included Universal Pictures, Disney, Blinding Edge Films, and Phi Phen Studios. Sugey’s expertise spans a variety of crucial positions on both film and commercial sets, including acting, serving as a continuity supervisor, all aspects of production, as well as Health and Safety/Covid Compliance.
Sugey began her filmmaking career as a documentary film producer for the Oscar-qualifying film, “The US of Autism”. Other projects of note have included “The Old Way” and “Butcher’s Crossing” starring Nicholas Cage; “Hellbent on Boogie” starring Shiloh Fernandez; “Coup!” starring Peter Saragaard and the Apple TV+ show “Servant” and feature film “Knock at the Cabin” from Director M. Night Shyamalan.
Most recently, Sugey co-founded Roaming Shadow Productions with creative partner, Greg Poppa. There are several projects coming out under that umbrella including “Transient” (with BMN Films),”Cold” which Greg wrote and directed and Sugey did the Spanish translations for and starred in and the upcoming Western “Taffy, Rita and The Rattlesnake”. They have also associate produced several award-winning projects from Keetdog Productions such as “Calls” and “Stories”.
Outside of her film work, Sugey engages in philanthropic works particularly involved in supporting causes related to Autism and related conditions and enjoys riding Western horseback.
Follow her on social media at: @miss_sugey_cruz on Instagram. You can view her IMDb here: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4929338/
Eliu Cornielle
Director of Photography
Eliu Cornielle is a commercial director and documentary filmmaker born in Dominican Republic and living in Philadelphia. He believes in the power of storytelling. Compelling stories create community and enable us to see the world through the eyes of other people.
Creating documentary films allows Eliu to exercise his cinematography skills and to embrace the journalistic challenge of understanding characters, their passions and the reasons and circumstances that forged who they have become and the decisions they have made.
As a commercial director, Eliu enjoys the challenge of persuading a target audience, conveying ideas and influencing decisions, all while paying attention to the aesthetics and visuals. He revels in finding the intersection where information, beauty and advocacy meet in the form of a commercial.
Eliu strives to create documentary and commercial films that communicate a clear message along with strong visual cinematography. From conception to delivery, he creates films that fulfill his client’s goals and make them proud to share with their audience.
Eli Eisenstein
camera Assistant
Eli Eisenstein Hi! My name is Eli Eisenstein, I’m a documentary filmmaker living in Philadelphia. When I’m not holding a camera, I love karaoke and rock climbing; behind the camera my past projects have focused on healthcare, pain management, and education, and I’m so excited to be joining the “My Brother’s Keeper” team as a camera assistant.
Chad kinsey
Audio engineer
Chad Kinsey is an award-winning sound mixer and musician living in Lancaster PA. Over the last 20+ years he has collaborated on hundreds of successful projects with a great group of inspiring filmmakers and musicians. In between, he enjoys hiking and cats.
Greg poppa
key grip
Greg Poppa was born in Philadelphia. He began his creative career writing short stories as a child before moving into acting in his early 20s. Greg has worked on several big budget productions such as M. Night Shyamalan’s Apple+ show “Servant” and HBO’s “Mind Over Murder” as well as numerous indie features and shorts including “Weapons and Their Names” which has been nominated for best short film at Sundance Film Festival 2023. Greg made his directorial debut in the short film “Foxes”.
When he’s not working on films, Greg can usually be found playing guitar, piano, ice hockey, boxing or riding horses. Greg studies acting under Lisa Pelikan at HB Studio in NYC
Shelly lynn koch
makeup and hair
Shelly Lynn Koch is an accomplished Hair and Makeup Artist with over a decade of experience working in film and commercial video and stills. Known for her attention to detail, creative vision, and professionalism on set, Shelly has built a strong reputation within the industry as a multi-talented artist who consistently delivers polished, camera-ready looks.
In addition to her work as a stylist, Shelly is the owner of Camera Ready Solutions, a premier agency providing high-quality professional Hair, Makeup, and Wardrobe Stylist staffing solutions to video production companies and photography studios. Camera Ready Solutions artists specialize in Film, Television, and Commercial projects, ensuring that every production has an experienced, dependable, and talented professional on set.
With her dual role as both an artist and business owner, Shelly continues to elevate industry standards and contribute to the visual storytelling in the Mid Atlantic Region.
Crescentia volz
props and costume
Crescentia Volz spent their childhood years on the West Coast, between Washington and California, learning dance, art, costume design, and an appreciation for nature. Adolescence brought a change of scenery, to Wisconsin, where adulthood beckoned.
After a short time adventuring, Crescentia settled for a time in Dubuque, Iowa. It was here that this filmmaker’s career began. With a growing family, and a broadening professional network, Crescentia worked on many short films and directed a first feature film, Black Friday (2017), with the assistance of collaborator Jayme Schmitt, and the Great River Film Initiative.
Iowa offered many opportunities in film, theater, and a haunted attraction (Dark Chambers), but a new adventure called in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Crescentia now calls “home.”
Crescentia continues to be an active member in the local indie film community in Lancaster, as well as traveling for projects across the country, from coast to coast.
