FAR FROM THE TREE - THE MOVIE

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MEET THE FILMMAKERS
JESSICA L. FUNCHES -- CO-WRITER/DIRECTOR/PRODUCER
An Indianapolis, Indiana native, Jessica L. Funches began her career in the entertainment industry at the age of seven. Her first paid acting job was with the Indiana Repertory Theatre in the seasonal production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens. She continued performing in various community and school productions until high school. She directed her first one-act play in 1988 at Warren Central High School. At Indiana University, Jessica began producing and directing small, campus-wide variety shows as well as a major theatrical production. While at Indiana University, Jessica received her Bachelors degree in 1993 in Marketing and Advertising and returned to receive her MBA in 1997 in Marketing and Entrepreneurship.
In 2001, Jessica decided to trade in her career as an Account Executive with Procter and Gamble for a camera in Hollywood. She performed in several commercials and worked extensively with Orlando, Florida's People's Theater. Her directorial debut of James Baldwin's AMEN CORNER made the Orlando Sentinel's Entertainment section front cover. This theatrical success fueled her courage to leave a successful career in Marketing and apply to the University of Southern California's (USC) prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program.
While attending USC, Jessica wrote and directed a 16MM, science fiction short entitled FRANTIC in addition to several digital projects. Her biggest honor, however, was being awarded one of three coveted Peter Stark Special Project grants to produce HOPE'S CHOICE. HOPE’S CHOICE has since won several awards including a College TV Award from the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Director’s Guild of America Award, and a Melvin Van Peebles Award. Additionally, it played at the 2005 Cannes International Film Festival. The short received television distribution through the Showtime Network and HBO/CINEMAX Latin America as well as video distribution through Big Film Shorts.
Because of the success of HOPE’S CHOICE, in 2005, fellow USC alum, Leon Lozano, approached Jessica about producing his debut feature, SOMETHING IS KILLING TATE. In 2008, the film was awarded several “Best Feature Film” and “Audience Choice” awards at festivals including the Hollywood Black Film Festival, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Pan African Film Festival.
Jessica optioned the theatrical rights to the New York Times Bestseller “Far from the Tree” written by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant. Jessica penned the screenplay adaptation with fellow USC Alum, Terry Wesley. The film is scheduled to begin production in late Fall 2008.
In addition to her various film projects, Jessica has also produced several short form documentaries and DVD special features for various Warner Brothers titles including TROY: THE DIRECTOR’S CUT, FOOL’S GOLD, NIP TUCK SEASONS 4 & 5, WE ARE MARSHALL and THE CLOSER SEASON 3.
In the spring of 2008, Datari Turner and Brian Hooks asked Jessica to produce a travel show for them hosted by Kelly Rowland titled AROUND THE WORLD WITH KELLY.

SHERRI JAMES -- PRODUCER
Acclaimed veteran film producer Sherri James’ feature credits include the crime noir FORFEIT and the urban horror film SOMEBODY HELP ME. Most recently, James helped launch Christopher Brian Films for entertainment mogul Chris Stokes (writer/director of “You Got Served”). During her tenure, Christopher Brian Films produced and sold the horror film SOMEBODY HELP ME, set up BACK DOWN with Morgan Creek (a dance film starring Marques Houston and Omarion), sold two television shows to the CW (“Rare Souls” and “The Marques Houston Show”) and produced several music videos and commercials. In addition, James produced the award-winning short films GABRIELLE (Showtime), THE MALE GROUPIE (HBO), SATURDAY NIGHT LIFE (Showtime) and the 2004 Sundance Official Selection ONE FLIGHT STAND (HBO). Other production credits include BIKER BOYZ, and NBC’s “Roots: Celebrating 25 Years.” James holds an MFA from USC’s Peter Stark Motion Picture Producing Program and a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania.