Production Team

Stephen Wollwerth entered the world of film production in 2010 with the development of aerial platforms before anybody knew what drones were. His innovations were featured in Scientific American magazine and many other publications for being the first person to ever fly a cinema camera on an RC platform for a high profile multi-million dollar Fox Sports Ad.

Stephen is a director of photography and editor, and is supremely passionate about making quality productions that grip the viewer and call to action. The documentary he produced on the flood in Iligan Philippines in 2011 sparked a flood of donations from private and public accounts which ultimately led to the building of homes for 50 families.

A short documentary he produced on water treatment was adopted into the curriculum of the University of Arizona for environmental sustainability. He has been director of photography and editor for feature films as well as a national television series on PBS. He has also produced a web series called Restoring the Honor a series honoring fathers of the past and telling their extraordinary stories.

The feature motion picture Hope for the Holidays (2020) for which Stephen was cinematographer and editor won best picture twice from IVCM and Red Letter Awards.

Stephen has an intuition for storytelling through film that can move an audience to their core. As a producer his ultimate passion is to tell stories that preserve what once was right and true and the core of every human; goodness, compassion, mercy, justice and faithfulness.

Julia Verdin is an award-winning producer, director, and screenwriter whose films have screened at premier festivals including Sundance, Toronto, Venice, AFI, Raindance, Vancouver International, and London. With more than 30 years in the film industry, she has built a distinguished career producing and directing independent films that combine strong storytelling with meaningful social impact. She is the founder of Rough Diamond Productions, established in 1995.

As a producer, Julia has overseen more than 36 feature films from development through worldwide distribution. She has collaborated with acclaimed actors including Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Danny Huston, Sienna Miller, Jacqueline Bisset, Thomas Jane, and Lou Gossett Jr. Her notable producing credits include The Merchant of Venice (Sony Pictures Classics), Stander, 2 Jacks, Riding the Bullet, and the faith-based drama The Least Among You, which received two NAACP nominations. She also executive produced the Lionsgate release Born of War.

Julia is known for her comprehensive expertise in development, casting, packaging, financing, production, festival strategy, and international sales. Her producing background, combined with her early training as an actress, informs her directing style, allowing her to draw powerful performances from actors while maintaining strong creative and financial discipline.

Her directorial debut, Lost Girls, addressing the issue of sex trafficking, won multiple festival awards including Best Social Impact Film at the Culver City Film Festival and has been used in educational and community outreach programs. She followed with Lost Girls: Angie’s Story, which she wrote, directed, and produced, continuing her commitment to socially relevant storytelling. She also directed No Address, a narrative feature highlighting the crisis of homelessness, including directing and producing the award-winning documentary Americans With No Address.

Beyond filmmaking, Julia is a respected educator and author of the book Success in Films, a guide to developing, financing, producing, and marketing independent films that is widely used in film programs worldwide. She lectures for organizations including BAFTA, Women in Film, WGA, AFM, and Story Expo, and served for ten years on the BAFTA LA Board, where she chaired the film committee and helped launch the BAFTA Newcomers Program. She received the La Femme Executive Achievement Award for her contributions to film and mentorship.

Julia is also the founder of Artists For Change, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of critical social issues through film and media. She remains passionate about creating stories that entertain, educate, and inspire meaningful change.