Our Team

Mike Tolliver

Mike Tolliver is a first-time filmmaker, a husband and father, and a dedicated advocate. Originally from eastern Kentucky, he relocated to Denver in 2009, trading the Appalachian Mountains for the Rockies, but hasn’t abandoned his blue-collar roots.

He has a 20+ year career in software/tech startups with proven success in driving creative projects from idea to launch. From that experience, he’s learned the value of resilience and tenacity when bringing a project to life. After his life intersected with this film’s subject matter, he became committed to applying those same skills to a different venue, determined to tell a meaningful story through documentary film.

When not working, Mike is an avid mountain biker, finding inspiration and clarity on the trails, and spends as much time as possible playing with his two young children.

Andrea Nordgren

Andrea Nordgren is an award-winning independent director and producer focused on commercial and branded content with a specialty in documentary-style storytelling. She founded Heroine Films where she is a writer, director,  and producer of stories about courage, compassion, and people who are badass.

She has worked in advertising for 20+ years as a creative director, director, executive producer and field producer, managing all phases of creative development and production for broadcast, traditional, social, and digital content. Andrea specializes in directing and interviewing people who have experienced adversity and trauma and creating stories of triumph and hope.

Andrea has a degree in psychology and was a certified substance abuse counselor in New York and Chicago, specializing in women’s issues and alcohol and drug abuse prior to working in film and advertising. 

Melanie McLean Brooks

Melanie is our director of photography — and a photographer, director, sushi connoisseur and effervescent optimist. After serving in the United States Air Force as a public affairs officer for a quick stint, she moved to NYC to work on the team of legendary Annie Leibovitz. Through many years on commercial sets, backpacking around the world and living by the seat of her pants, she discovered that the sum of all of her favorite activities equaled documentary storytelling. She pursued an MFA in documentary film at the School of Visual Arts, focusing on camera and directing. She has led the camera department for numerous documentaries, including Dykes, Camera, Action!, Hingakawa, Big Hips, Big Dreams and digital content for VH1’s RuPaul’s Drag Race since season 9. She's also served as director of photography for shows and documentaries on HBO, A&E, VH1 and has been the director of photography for Emmy-nominated series "Portrait of a Queen," featuring RuPaul's Drag Race superstars and Logo's Out of the Closet, season 2.

Will Neal

William Neal has worked as an editor since 2014, on projects ranging from reality television and college sports to feature documentaries such as the flagship “Catholics vs. Convicts” episode of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 series and the biographical Hesburgh, the latter of which premiered at AFI Docs and was a New York Times Critric’s Pick. Recently, he edited the upcoming Kurt Vonnegut: Unstuck in Time (IFC Films), which is set to release this November after nearly 40 years in production. His latest documentary, The Loyola Project, focuses on the groundbreaking college basketball program and will be airing on CBS in March of 2022. He has a passion for storytelling and structure, and loves putting together the puzzle of a compelling narrative.

Amber Thompson

Amber Thompson, founder of Ambear Media is a mixed media artist focusing on filmmaking and animation. Amber is a creative and performance-driven film director and post-production editor with high attention to detail, a deep passion for storytelling, natural intuition for editing, originality, and knowledge of all stages of the filmmaking process. Her work varies from music videos, narrative storytelling, commercial & brand videos, and 2D/3D digital art. Originally from Somerset, Ohio now residing in beautiful Colorado. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Ohio State University. She is a passionate mother & partner and puts importance on serving others and spreading joy in everything she does.

Brandon Williams

Brandon Williams is the founder and CEO of Multicultural agency 55 Media Group. A Cincinnati native, Williams has worked in several facets of the industry in marketing and advertising and specializing in the areas of ad sales, brand development, experiential, and brand partnerships. Attending FIDM in 2009 and Art Institute of North Hollywood in 2011, he ventured into the music industry after college. Working with Will.I.AM, Boys Noize, and alongside The Insomniac Festival for EDC 2010-2011 consulting in content strategy. In 2012 as a new business strategist, he helped scale the programmatic division of Engage BDR, leading to the company's IPO in 2017. Brandon's unique background highlights over 10 years of expertise in Strategy and Business.