Our Team & Affiliates

Michael Minkler is a motion picture sound re-recording mixer who has mixed over 200 projects. Mike has been nominated for 11 Academy Awards, with three wins for Best Sound Mixing for his outstanding work in BLACK HAWK DOWN, CHICAGO and DREAMGIRLS. Mike has also won multiple Emmy Awards, BAFTA Awards, Satellite Awards and many others, including the Career Achievement Award from the Cinema Audio Society.

Mike is a Hollywood native and the family’s third generation sound professional. His father was the owner of Producers Sound Service, an independent post production sound facility. His grandfather was a part owner of the Hollywood landmark, Radio Records, and is considered a true pioneer in the field of sound recording for both films and records. Mike has collaborated with Hollywood’s elite directors and is currently the Managing Director and Chief Creative Officer at MPMG.

Hello, my name is Jonathan Steele. My initial start in the entertainment industry was as an actor. I had the opportunity to work in commercials, music videos, and short films. I had also completed and received two licenses in the insurance industry. But I wanted more from working with people, so I returned to the film industry, where I am now working as a producer and it’s one of the best things I have had the opportunity to do. Putting together a project is particularly challenging but working with a talented team is what makes the difference between obstacles and opportunities. As a fan and admirer of the arts that I love and value so much, I often think of a quote from the film Steve Jobs … Steve says, “the musicians play the instruments, I play the orchestra.” I hope one day, as I continue to work, grow, and learn from brilliant people on this journey, that I can reach a level where that quote fits my work.

Grace Mikolyski is an experienced professional in the independent film industry, achieving partner status at MPMG in 2024. Her journey began at Hollywood Center Studio (now Sunset Las Palmas Studios), where she gained invaluable insights into studio operations under the mentorship of industry stalwarts Dick Ollett, Cindy Ingram, and Harvey Buchbinder. Grace’s early career included pivotal roles as an Administrator, where she specialized in assisting young small business owners in the clinical field to grow their companies. Concurrently, she operated a successful bookkeeping service for 15 years, honing her financial acumen and business management skills.

In 2019, Grace transitioned to MPMG as the Project Manager of The Development Division, where her strategic vision and dedication to fostering independent filmmakers’ careers quickly earned her recognition. Her diverse background in studio administration, entrepreneurship, and client management uniquely positions Grace to thrive in the dynamic landscape of independent film, where she continues to make significant contributions to the industry.

Ray Ellingsen is a seasoned veteran of the film industry, with a career spanning over three decades. Beginning as a writer in 1987, Ray has since gained extensive experience in multiple roles including directing, producing, line producing, and overseeing post-production for a diverse array of projects ranging from feature films and documentaries to commercials.

In 1999, he co-founded Ugly Old Bird Productions, a prominent motion picture entertainment company responsible for numerous successful film and video productions.

In 2005, Ray relocated to Arizona for two years to manage Hollywood-Phoenix Film Studios, the largest studio of its kind in the state. Under his leadership, the studio flourished, attracting four feature films, multiple commercials, and a television series within the first year alone. In addition, he opened the studio up to Arizona State University (ASU) film students so that they could develop and shoot their student film projects there.

In 2009, Ray founded Moving Pictures Media Group (MPMG), a production services and development company that has, to date, developed and produced numerous projects for both outside clients as well as in-house productions. MPMG continues to service its clients by providing extensive development and production resources to their film and television endeavors.

Ray has written and sold five screenplays, a film short, a documentary, and 10 video and commercial projects. In addition, he has directed two documentaries, a feature film, and 12 video and commercial productions.

As a producer, Ray Ellingsen’s portfolio consists of ten feature films and over 30 successful video and commercial productions, showcasing his ability to deliver high-quality content across various platforms. He is currently in development on two feature film projects.

Jeffrey Hardy is the President of FilmProfit, co-author of FilmProfit software and the sole author of The FilmProfit Guide to Film Distribution Deals, a respected primer to deals in key film distribution markets. Jeff has acted as an expert resource for The Hollywood Reporter, Fortune Magazine, The Washington Times, WSYR radio, The Black Film Report, as well as many other publications. Interviews with Jeff have appeared in The Independent magazine, Black Talent News, and Cue Magazine. His work has been profiled in, In Motion Magazine, MacWeek Guide to Desktop Video, Film/Tape World, Release Print Magazine, Movie Business Report and other industry publications. FilmProfit contributed to The Independent Film and Videomaker’s Guide (2nd ed.) and the Independent Filmmaker’s Guide to Writing a Business Plan for Investors. He has presented multiple all-day workshops and participated as a panelist on creative and business issues for independent films. Jeff has also provided business and strategic planning for over 100 motion picture projects, with budgets ranging from the micro level to more than $100 million, like The MEG!.