Dave Hill
Founder/CEO
As a creative, Dave has acted, written, directed and produced in every medium from stage to voiceover to screen. He is an award-winning executive producer of multiple projects in both film and television. As CEO of Gumption Pictures, Dave leads a team of passionate and resourceful creatives to execute the vision that created the company: creating exceptional entertainment in the authentic voice of its creators.
Douglas Sarine
Producer
Douglas is an award-winning actor, writer and producer with experience in almost every entertainment medium. His work in online video has been recognized by Fast Company, The Wall Street Journal and CNN, and has generated over a hundred million organic views. He has facilitated successful branded campaigns for Disney, NBC-Universal and Google to name a few.
Celeste Busa
Writer/ Producer
Celeste is an actor, writer, and improviser. Acting credits include Day's of Our Lives, the feature film, "Bernard and Huey", and multiple productions at the Tony Award winner, The Children's Theater Company. As an improviser she has been on teams at the Upright Citizens Brigade, iO West and, currently, Second City. Check out her podcast with Gumption Pictures, "Week By Week", wherever you get your podcasts!
Karen Graci
CONSULTING Producer
A proud native of Buffalo, NY, Karen is an accomplished writer, producer, improviser and actor. She toured the world with Chicago’s famed Second City National Touring Company and has written for television shows, including the critically acclaimed Netflix comedy, Tuca & Bertie, the Netflix comedy, Girlboss, and the Hulu drama, Blue. She is the creator and executive producer of the award-winning pilot presentation, Work/Friends.
Colleen Beasley
CONSULTING Producer
Despite being a coffee-consuming TV nerd, Colleen is an experienced office assistant and set PA for a variety of companies and executives. She served as a theatre stage manager before making the switch to film production. Throughout her world travels, she studied Shakespeare in Stratford-upon-Avon and filmed a documentary of a native village in Panama - though, she still remains a Midwestern gal at heart.
Steve Reed
Producer
Steve is a Clinical Professor of Law, the Assistant Director of the Donald Pritzker Entrepreneurship Law Center, and Co-Director of the JD-MBA Program at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. He works with students to represent start-ups, more mature companies and social entrepreneurs. He has been published in numerous law journals and reviews. He is a member of the California bar and the Illinois bar, and is a proud Canadian.
CREATIVE BOARD
A diverse Creative Board of industry professionals with hundreds of combined professional credits that provide insights and feedback from core creative to market viability and trends. Along with the dedicated Executive Team, this group is helping Gumption to become an exceptional source for award-winning entertainment.
TOM BAILEY - Writer / Producer (The Night Is Young, Work/Friends)
ADAM COUNTEE - Writer / Producer / Actor (Silicon Valley, Vice Principles, Community)
KAREN GRACI - Writer / Producer / Actor (Tuca & Bertie, Girlboss)
DAVE HILL - Writer / Producer / Actor (Great News, The Night Is Young)
CHRISTIANA HOOKS - Producer / Production Manager (Queen Sugar, When they See Us)
DOMINIQUE MARTINEZ - Director of Photography (Jennifer Lopez: Her Life. Her Journey., After the Reality)
GRASIE MERCEDES - Writer / Director / Actor (Grand Crew, Perfect Harmony, Ratched)
STEVE REED - Producer (Bootstrapped, Work Friends)
DOUGLAS SARINE - Writer / Producer / Actor (Ask A Ninja, Disney’s Haunted Holidays)
EMILY SCHMIDT - Writer / Producer / Actor (Ghosts, Girlboss)
JACQUES THELEMAQUE - Producer / Director (The Dogwalker, The Revenant)
DANIELLE UHLARIK - Writer / Producer / Actor (Champaign, ILL, Imaginary Mary)
LESLEY WAKE WEBSTER Writer, Showrunner (Perfect Harmony, Speechless, Life in Pieces)