LARRY MEISTRICH
In 1990, at the age of 24, Larry Meistrich, with just $7, 000, founded The Shooting Gallery (TSG). In his triple role as Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Executive Officer of TSG, Meistrich was hands-on producer and an integral part of the production of roughly 100 films, commercials and music videos including the Academy Award-winning "Sling Blade" and the Academy Award nominated "You Can Count on Me". Meistrich made industry history when Thornton's "Sling Blade" was purchased by Miramax for a price that broke all previous sale records in independent film.
Meistrich's other well-known films include Cannes winner “Henry Fool, †Clive Owen’s breakout film “Croupier, †and “Belly.†His pictures have won the gamut of international awards including the Academy's Oscar and include Golden Globes, SAG Award, DGA Award, Top Five category awards at Cannes, Sundance, Berlin. Actors and directors Meistrich has produced inclue Al Pacino, Laurence Fishburne, Spike Lee and Billy Bob Thornton.
Meistrich was also the founder and CEO of Film Movement, a groundbreaking DVD-of-the-month club that releases films in theaters and on DVD at the same time. By creating a new distribution model, Meistrich provided audiences everywhere access to award-winning films that usually only play in select markets like Los Angeles and New York.He received the 1998 Crain's Small Business Award and the 1999 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in New York. He received "The Maverick Award" at the 10th Annual Choltrudis Society Awards in Boston. He currently serves on the board of the New York Production Council. He graduated Johns Hopkins University with a B.A.
ARI D. FRIEDMAN - PRESIDENT
Ari Friedman is a technologically-oriented entrepreneur with a varied and successful background that includes web ventures, real estate and Wall Street.
Among his accomplishments was the creation of Homedelivery.com, a web-based home delivery business that experienced exponential growth prior to being sold to a competitor. Friedman acquired and ran the Broadway Elmhurst Company, LLC, a real estate firm which bought, managed and sold commercial real estate in the New York area.
An accomplished drummer, Friedman also founded Chemical Music, a music label through which he booked bands, negotiated contracts, and assumed promotional responsibility for nationwide tours. He has also composed music for commercial and industrial films. A native New Yorker, Friedman received a BA in Music from New York University and lives in New York with his wife and children.
JEFF SILVERSTEIN - PRESIDENT, NEHST ACCESS - LEARNING GROUPS
Jeff Silverstein co-founded and was CEO of the seminal interactive design firm Fusion Media, one of the pioneers in using videodiscs and CD-ROMs for marketing, learning and transactional public exhibits. Over more than a decade he produced and wrote award-winning programs for clients such as Sony, AT&T, IBM and Citibank. He has been designing, writing and managing multimedia, film and video since 1980, when he was recruited for IBM’s original videodisc venture with Universal Pictures, Discovision.
Silverstein was co-Publisher and Managing Editor for Sub Aqua, the acclaimed underwater explorers magazine, interacting with experts ranging from Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard to Jaws author Peter Benchley. As a creative partner in Roundtable Design he co-developed environments for museums and public spaces and consulted on marketing, strategic planning and product design. He also managed Con Edison’s Television Center and produced and directed video and training throughout one of the largest power utilities in the world.
Jeff participated in Harvard Law School's Negotiation Program, the Stanford Publishing Program, and the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. He earned a Masters in Mass Communication from Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School.