Karina Duffy
Director, Producer
Karina’s keen eye in capturing the essence of a person and place shows in her outstanding work as a director, producer and camerawoman. At the centre of all her projects is the goal of raising awareness and inspiring viewers to feel with their hearts. It is her life mission to become the bridge between the worlds of western audiences and the untold stories of tribes, revealing the awareness of Oneness that resides in us all. The early part of Karina Duffy’s career began in the music industry, where she formed “Vibe Records” in her hometown of Manchester, England. At the early age of 16, Karina successfully managed the record label and state-of-the-art studio and worked alongside chart hitting recording artists such as KC and the Sunshine Band, Brotherhood, 808 State and K-Klass. Karina then ventured on to work for the BBC in England before moving to Los Angeles, California, where she established Mindstorm Creative. as multi media film production company specializing in conscious media.
Karina first embarked upon the journey of connecting ancient and modern civilizations in 2002 upon meeting the Maori Healers of Aotearoa, New Zealand. Her fascination with the ancient Maori method of healing initiated her to direct the film The Healers. The footage was so rich and captivating that it sparked a larger vision of global connection, Tahi – The Human Journey. She has spent the past 6 years filming around the world bearing witness to the unfolding miracles and stories of Tahi – The Human Journey a story that truly captures the heart of the human journey.
Amber Lennon
Writer, Producer
Amber has been writing professionally for over 10 years in Southern California. She regularly writes feature articles for major regional publications about the environment, the arts and spirituality, reflecting her interest in humanity's connection to the earth and to each other. In addition to her own creative writing projects, she also writes for BraveHeart Women - a global organization dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs through collaboration.
Being part Native American, Amber was deeply impacted by her childhood experiences in Native American culture and ceremony. She has since looked for ways to integrate the rich heritage of the Indigenous communities with the development of the modern world. Her work on Tahi allows her to explore fundamental questions that could unlock the possibilities to a sustainable and meaningful future for everyone.
Will Philp
Writer, Producer
As a multi-faceted creative professional Will Philp balances his love for art and passion for quality entertainment by constantly honing skills in the fields of audio and visual media. Beginning his passion for media at an early age, Will quickly took up the camera and learned production skills by creating live broadcast news shows in High School and interning at production studios on set for popular television shows such as Alley McBeal and Boston Public. After obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema from San Francisco State University he went on to work as a live sound engineer for some of California’s premier events and establishments, including award shows for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Grammy’s and ASCAP. Now in the midst of his career in media and entertainment, he has directed and produced short films and music videos, served a number of independent films as well as assisted on commercial productions for SONY and HBO. In addition to over a decade of production experience, Will is a talented graphic artist and print designer making him an essential element to any production.
With the movement and progression of conscious art at the core of his ambition, he has continued to expand as an artist and visionary in an effort to bring community and collective awareness to audiences world-wide. Will has teamed up with Karina Duffy as her main Producing Partner in Tahi-The Human Journey in an effort to bring community and collective awareness to audiences world-wide.
J.David Prusmack
Editor, Post Supervisor
David’s patience, vision and sense of timing make him a tremendous asset to the Tahi team. His keen eye for composition was developed while studying Fine Arts in Houston, Texas. After moving to L.A., David’s passion for creative expression lead him to develop his editing talent. He is driven to promote sustainable models of global collaboration through media and design. David has been one of the head editors for Tahi and is the main post production supervisor. He has logged many hours of filming, editing and technical supervision for the production of Tahi, as well as affiliated Mindstorm Productions projects.
Andreea Petruse
Creative Consultant
Andreea was born and lived her childhood in Romania, and spent a lot of her life travelling in pursuit of deeper self-awareness, and expansion of perception. She has a Master in leadership of organizational systems, a Bachelor's in cultural anthropology, and independent studies in the realms of transpersonal psychology, education, and philosophy. Personal projects include documentary film production and creative writing. Her life's passion is inspiring young people to rise to the glorious potential within them. She is honored to work as producer and consultant on TAHI- The Human Journey.
Tricia van Klaveren
Executive Producer
Tricia van Klaveren is a film producer and the principal of Fully Loaded Pictures. She has produced or executive produced the following theatrical films and documentaries: Lying, World Premiere Cannes 2006, and Director’s Fortnight; Edmond, World Premiere Venice 2005; The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, World Premiere Cannes 2004, and Directors Fortnight; I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, North American Premiere, Sundance 2004; The Killer Inside Me, Sundance 2010; and Vanishing of the Bees. Tricia is on the board of, Herflix.com a new online entertainment portal for women, and Film Angels, the world’s first professional angel investor group for independent film. She is also a founding board member of the International Emerging Talent Film Festival (IETFF), Monte Carlo, which features emerging global film talent. Prior to producing, Tricia was an executive with an international film sales and financing company in Los Angeles, a senior executive/board member of an entertainment technology company and an attorney in New York City. She holds a JD/MSFS from Georgetown University where she graduated with honors. Tricia has been on board Executive Producing with Karina on Tahi for several years and has consulted on the film since the creation of it.
Elyce Katz
Researcher
Elyse is an independent Producer of features, TV series, documentaries, promotional programming, live events, and DVD content. Her career covers a broad spectrum in the film industry, including producer, production manager, line producer and researcher. As a documentary filmmaker, Ms. Katz has focused on producing issue-oriented, socially-conscious films. Her first documentary, The Last Days, was honored with the 1998 Academy Award for Feature Documentary. Produced by Steven Spielberg and the Shoah Visual History Foundation, the film captures the powerfully moving story of five Hungarian Holocaust survivors during the final days of World War II. As a Producer, Ms. Katz' credits include the documentary film, Trudell, about the legendary life, words and music of Native American activist John Trudell. Trudell premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival and garnered the prestigious Best Documentary Award at the 2005 Seattle Film Festival. She also produced the documentary films, The Fire Within, about a heterosexual couple living with AIDS and Bellyfruit, a docudrama about the realities of teen motherhood which premiered at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival in 2004. Ms. Katz also served as the post-production consultant for Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion, a film documenting Tibets struggle for independence. Ms. Katz is passionate about environmental issues, which is reflected in two of her current projects. Redwood Summer is the true story of environmental activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney and their quest and confrontation with domestic terrorism in saving the Northern California Redwoods. Elyse's talents proved instrumental in researching some of the most remote regions the film crew filmed in for Tahi, the movie.
Michelle McGregor
Co-Producer, Researcher
An established documentary director/producer Michelle McGregor grew up in Dunedin New Zealand and attended Otago University. Realizing she was much more inclined towards films practicalities than its historical or theoretical side, she attended the South Seas Film and Television School in Auckland in 2001. Her Latest award winning film- The Return Home, documents the late legendary Maori Poet, Hone Tuwhare, as he journey back to his homelands of New Zealand. The film became a huge hit amongst audiences in New Zealand. Michelle, a life long friend and Co-Produced the international segments in countries such as Fiji, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands and New Zealand with Karina. She has an incredible eye for films with an indigenous nature. Often she held down the fort and even in the most difficult situations, such as shooting in remote tribal lands. A native New Zealander, she has a strong connection and understanding of the Indigenous and her assistance was imperative in the production of Tahi.
Omar Gonzalez
Technical Post Supervisor
As a student at the University of California at San Diego, Omar Gonzalez directed, shot, and edited over 20 short film and video projects, several of which screened in festivals throughout North America. Since graduating, he has taught filmmaking at the Lee Strasberg Institute and the New York Film Academy; served as the Assistant Director of the San Diego Latino Film Festival; worked as an assistant at New Line Cinema; and was a development associate for the production company that co-produced The Others. More recently, Omar found and developed stories for Teens, a prime time documentary special for the WB network, was a Film Independent (IFP/West) Project Involve honoree, and was a finalist for the prestigious Sundance Writers Lab. He currently freelances as a documentary videographer and editor, teaches video production at the Art Institute of California – Los Angeles, and continues to develop his own personal projects. Omar has consulted with Tahi as a technical post production supervisor since the project started.
Ruth Tai
Tribal Consultant
Ruth is from Aotearoa New Zealand and has been part of the Tahi Team since its inception. Proud of her Maori heritage she weaves the ancient wisdom of her ancestors with modern know for the benefit of humanity and all life. Her multi-dimensional approach to life leads people to describe her as an Holistic Entrepreneur, Maori Language Scholar, Edgewalker, Wisdom Keeper and Ambassador for Peace. Ruth is passionate about Earthcare, Human Potential and Sustainable Living. She recognizes that indigenous people who have retained their close connection to Nature and Cosmos, knowing themselves as Seeds of Greatness, have much to contribute to the modern world. In 1990 Ruth left her career as a teacher trainer for the state education system and became an entrepreneur. She has grown her entrepreneurial spirit through self publishing, building construction, network marketing, workshop facilitation re whole brain and human potential and hosting spirit journeys. The facilitation and hosting experiences have led to invitations from leading international event organisers to visit their country and participate in or lead human potential or earthcare events and spirit journeys. Today she is exploring holistic entrepreneurial practices that help people move beyond "earning a living" to "living your passion".
Dan Leftwich
Executive Producer
Dan is an attorney in Boulder, Colorado, and he serves as an Executive Producer for Tahi. Dan has a Bachelor's degree in journalism from The University of Texas, and earned his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 1989. For nearly 20 years, his legal practice revolved around antitrust class action litigation against some of the world's largest corporations, primarily with his former law firm based in Washington, D.C. As the result of a major spiritual awakening, Dan has developed a new legal practice called Evolutionary Law, in which he promotes the transformation of laws so the rights of Nature and humanity are in balance, through education, legislation, community dialogue and litigation consulting. Dan is also a Oneness Trainer, certified by the Oneness University in India. In 2009, he started a company called MindDrive Ventures, which is involved in projects that shift communities toward unity consciousness values and sustainable living patterns.
Jason Graves
Executive Producer
Growing up on the multi-cultural islands of Hawaii Jason learned how each culture adds to the richness of a community. After completing a Bachelor's Degree in Finance at Loyola Marymount he lived in the San Francisco area working as a tax accountant and an asset manager. Through the books of Noam Chomsky, Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, he awoke to a global awareness which called him to travel through 39 countries in 4 years. Devoting his time and money to native communities along the way, he saw how giving at a local level can carry the greatest impact. Currently, Jason is working on projects that leverage his financial expertise to direct capital towards grass roots projects around the world that give local communities the means to be self sufficient and environmentally sustainable, helping humanity step to the next level of exist. He sees the world evolving towards a place where both the global population's basic needs are met and a diversity of cultures is perserved.