BEYOND INK & PAINT
The Women of Animation
CREW
CHRISTINE GUEST
TRACEY MILLER-ZARNEKE
FILMMAKER
PRODUCER
Christine Guest has approached media from several angles over the course of her career, having worked as a photojournalist, producer, director, writer, art director, news assignment editor and numerous other roles behind the scenes. She is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker for Infinite Hope: MLK and the Civil Rights Movement, airing nationally on PBS. Guest currently channels her practical experience and knowledge into future generations by teaching at Ithaca College and developing new curriculum, immersive work experiences and degree programs in an ever-innovating industry. Guest earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and her B.S. Cultural Studies, Television and Radio Production. She is passionate about inspiring future filmmakers who want to tell stories through moving pictures, whether live-action or animated.
Tracey Miller-Zarneke has been a member of the animation community for more than two decades, starting with her stint at Walt Disney Feature Animation. She first entered the animated realm in the role of publicity coordinator on Disney’s The Emperor’s New Groove, then transitioning into production management and working through the production pipeline all the way from visual development to shot finaling on Chicken Little. Other documentary side-trips along her animation journey have included working as an assistant producer on never-released but often-illegally uploaded documentary The Sweatbox and as a researcher on Don Hahn’s Waking Sleeping Beauty. Miller-Zarneke also currently serves as the chair of Legacy/Archives for the organization Women in Animation and has written numerous books about the art, history and production of animation.
LAYAN BITAR
PRODUCER
Layan Bitar began her career as a freelance filmmaker and aspiring producer upon graduating with a BS degree in Television and Radio from Ithaca College in early 2014. Seeking opportunities to witness and learn from the greats, she has worked closely as an executive assistant to the Oscar-nominated documentary producers and directors Karim Amer and Jehane Noujaim respectively. In parallel to that, she served as a post-production coordinator on Sundance Now's Take 5 short film Ballad of the Global Patriot. In between her freelance jobs, Bitar loves to volunteer at film and television festivals to learn the behind-the-scenes magic of hosting such an ambitious cinematic event. With 8 consecutive years volunteering at the Sundance Film Festival and 7 consecutive years at the Austin Television Festival, Bitar has built an extensive wide-ranging network and gained invaluable experience.
SHAINA HOLMES
DIRECTOR
Shaina Holmes is a visual effects and post production supervisor, producer, and artist with more than 200 film and television credits, in addition to teaching at Syracuse University. Her research area explores how mentorship and collaboration can help create inclusive visual effects labor practices. This is reflected both inside and beyond her classroom where students can apprentice either for her company, Flying Turtle Post, or within the two student-led post production groups, Syracuse University Post and Park Post, of which she founded. Holmes is known for her work on Chicago, The Notebook, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and True Detective to name a few. She is a proud member of the Visual Effects Society and board member of the Women in VFX global community.
KYLE CARR
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY / EDITOR
Kyle Carr has shot a wide variety of documentaries, commercials, television series, feature films, and content for social media. Kyle is able to balance his technical expertise and telling a visual story for each different style of production. His documentary credits include The Concert for Valor: Reese Witherspoon/ Lt. Co. Kellie McCoy, which premiered live on HBO and two feature-length documentaries for Monster Truck Throwdown available through Vimeo On Demand. He has also shot numerous television pilots and two full seasons of The Sweet Life with Chris Xaver that aired nationally on PBS. In between feature length productions, Kyle produces social media content all over the country for Feld Entertainment’s Monster Jam and Marvel Universe Live shows, and he can be found teaching at Tompkins Cortland Community College where he received the 2017 Chancellor’s/Trustee’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching.