About Werc Werk Works

Founded in Minneapolis in 2008, Werc Werk Works is a company of like-minded partners based on the idea that success and profit in the film business can be achieved in new ways. We believe that financing, marketing and distribution can be creative, transparent and forward-thinking. We are based on a new economic model that recognizes, champions, honors and rewards artistic efforts.

Werc Werk Works is a company of passionate filmmakers dedicated to real and dynamic collaboration. The illusion and magic of film should be limited to the screen and not in the treatment and compensation of artists and other valued profit participants.

Werc Werk Works is a catalyst guiding distinctive high quality projects. We embrace new and emerging technologies and utilize them to achieve artistic and economic success.

The principals behind this company have diverse talents and complementary experiences, while sharing a lifelong passion and deep love for great film.

And what about our name? Werc - the initials of our founding principals. Werk - our diligent, hands-on process. Works - the results.

About the Team

ELIZABETH REDLEAF

CEO / Producer
Elizabeth Redleaf’s love of film and process has led her to co-found and become CEO of Werc Werk Works, a film production company built on a vision of supporting artists and rewarding its profit partners. She is executive producer of LIFE DURING WARTIME a Todd Solondz film, the new Béla Tarr film THE TURIN HORSE (in production) and a comedy, NOBODY, directed by Rob Perez (40 Days and 40 Nights). In addition, she is the executive producer and producer of HOWL, directed by Rob Epstein and Jeff Friedman, a film about the trial of Allen Ginsberg on obscenity charges following the publication of his landmark poem. Elizabeth is on the board of directors of the Telluride Film Festival and is a major sponsor of the Walker Art Center’s Women in Vision International Film Festival and First Look Premiere Program (which is where she met Todd Solondz). She founded and co-chairs the Walker Art Center Film Society with Bill Pohlad of River Road Productions and serves on the IFP Minnesota Advisory Board.

CHRISTINE KUNEWA WALKER

President, Production / Producer
Christine Kunewa Walker is an award-winning producer and co-founder and president of Werc Werk Works. She is producer of LIFE DURING WARTIME a Todd Solondz film and the upcoming film HOWL, starring James Franco as poet Allen Ginsberg. She is executive producer on the new Béla Tarr film THE TURIN HORSE (in production) and producer of the recently completed comedy NOBODY directed by Rob Perez (40 Days and 40 Nights). Walker also co-wrote and produced OLDER THEN AMERICA starring Adam Beach and Bradley Cooper, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival; produced FACTOTUM starring Matt Dillon, Lily Taylor and Marisa Tomei, which premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival and the 2006 Sundance Film Festival; and line produced AMERICAN SPLENDOR, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2003 Sundance film Festival and the International Critics Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Christine’s awards and recognitions include the Producer’s Guild of America Diversity Award, an Independent Spirit Award nomination, Sundance Institute’s Producer’s Fellowship and the Minnesota Blockbuster Film Fund Award.

KEN BAILEY

Vice President of Production
Ken Bailey has an impressive 360˚ range of skills including directing, producing, cinematography and editing. He has won numerous national and international awards including a Cine Golden Eagle, Chris Awards, and WorldFest–Houston International Film Festival Awards. From locations as diverse as Mount Everest, the Amazon River Basin, Northern Siberia and New York City, Bailey has specialized in social, cultural, environmental, and exploratory productions. His style and subjects are eclectic and extreme, his passion for capturing the unexpected and beautiful is relentless and ongoing for nearly three decades.

ANDREW PETERSON

Vice President of Production

Andrew is an award-winning filmmaker who has been working in independent film for over 15 years. Along the way he has not only made films, but has taught filmmaking and worked for years as a festival programmer. He brings extensive experience in creative producing, screenwriting, budgeting, production and editing. Andrew began his career as a location manager working with many respected directors including Alan Rudolph, Ted Demme and David Lynch and went on to earn his MFA in Filmmaking from New York University Graduate Film School. He has produced numerous short and feature-length films, and served as Director of Production for the Minnesota Film Board. He is a valued consultant to  independent films and film festivals in addition to serving as the Director of Programming for the Provincetown International Film Festival and Director of Theatre Operations for the Sundance Film Festival.

MARK STEELE

Vice President of Production
Mark brings an extensive backround in media, technology and operations to his position as leader of post-production at Werks. He began his career in engineering but with his life-long passion for film and media became both a core team member of Telluride and Sundance operations as well as a leader in interactive businesses. He eventually became the Director of Operations for Tribeca Film Festival. While there he directed the physical execution of the annual film festival and year-round projects - a multi-million dollar international arts and media brand. He also served as brand ambassador to broadcast and cinema industries, was responsible for physical production of all company and sponsor on-site marketing activation programs, supervised the production and post-production of non-profit filmmaker programs, produced special projects ranging from high-profile global events to quick-turn local programs, and expanded the brand internationally to Milan and Beijing.

GEOFFREY SASS

Chief Marketing Officer

Geoff joins works having built a career in elite brand and innovative marketing development. He has had a major impact on the success of some of the top brands in the world including Target, Nike, Capital One, Lee Jeans, Thomson Reuters, United Health Group, and ConAgra.  Sass’s work has received numerous Advertising Industry awards including multiple Gold EFFIEs. Joining Werc Werk Works marks a return to the world of independent film and performing arts for Sass. He began his career as a writer, performer, musician and composer for diverse productions from the Shakespearean to the Avant–Garde.

DOUGLAS HARRIS

Controller
Doug brings to Werks his longtime studio experience and a genuine interest in helping independent film thrive while looking out for the bottom line. He began his career in accounts payable at the New York offices of Miramax Films, eventually becoming their VP of Production Finance. Doug was then handpicked to co-head the Production Finance department at the inception of The Weinstein Company and worked out of their Los Angeles offices. During his career Doug has managed hundreds of films in development; and up to thirty five films at a time in prep, production and post-production. He has brought his specialized skills, including managing tax credits, international currency exchange, and effective liasing between production and finance, to hundreds of millions of dollars of production finance. Notable films on his watch include The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Cold Mountain, The Reader, Nine, Chicago, Kill Bill, Grindhouse, and Chocolat.