Catherine Duskin

CEO / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / PRODUCER/SCREENWRITER/ DIRECTOR

Catherine Duskin is the Visionary Founder of Golden Artemis Entertainment, Inc. Her multi-faceted career began in early childhood as a successful commercial model, actress, and professional photographer. She produced with her father, Executive Producer/ Director/ Advertising Executive –“Original Madman” Ken Duskin. She worked for Sunlight Pictures, Fred Levinson Productions, and many others on both sides of the commercial camera for television, print and films. Catherine had personal interaction with the late Audrey Hepburn, Ambassador to UNICEF, which inspired her to embrace Ms. Hepburn’s caring philosophy and dedicate the Company to continue the mission of helping the world’s children through positive mass communication.

Ms. Duskin wrote and sold screenplays. She then created “LA Sharpshooters”, a successful production partnership in the 1980’s through the early 1990's in Hollywood, CA. Recognized in all the trades, it was cited by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and the Blue Book Directory to the Industry and honored by major clients in the advertising and film industry for its outstanding business attitude.

Ms. Duskin produced over a hundred commercials and infomercials with her company, LA Sharpshooters, whose clients included Citibank, Porsche, and Orchid Paper Products; and produced big concerts for bands like “U2” and others, and worked with Virgin Records, A & M Records and many motion pictures. She directed and produced a multi-camera, Commercial Campaign for Citibank in Los Angeles. Additionally, she directed a Play by Playwright, Sam Shepard in which he mentored her at LA Festival of the Arts. LA Sharpshooters had a fully equipped soundstage with offices on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles near Paramount and Raleigh Studios. Ms. Duskin’s creative excellence, insight for both products and the market and her visionary corporate compassion got her invited to speak to CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies at Stanford University in 2001 on behalf of the entertainment business and her positive philosophy of equal caring and sharing. Her new business paradigm gives her the edge in making a business that produces revenue for its investors as well as contributing to society.

Timothy Smith

PRESIDENT / EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / PRODUCER

Timothy Smith is a Producer and an actor-dancer/singer trained in the Disney System who has worked in the Music Business for decades and has successfully segued into producing some of the hottest properties in development today with special access to World Class Investors. He brings and offers a wide set of skills including Music Management and has also worked with Paris 5000-film and music. He has worked as a Cinematographer. He has a keen eye for spotting unique properties and developing film trends, including successfully marketing and branding a variety of these properties to Investors to reach a world-wide audience.

Timothy got his entertainment experience at a young age, singing and playing music at Walt Disney studios. He advanced in the music entertainment world and worked with Mickey Michael Durio and others at Motown Music. He was soon working with some of the biggest musical touring acts in the Music Business - including Michael Jackson to Grammy winning, Jazz and Blues singer, Rocky Sydney and Tom Jones.

Timothy’s Experience blends the Business and Entertainment aspects of the Company. His well-known family members in America and the world, as well as being a Producer in film and music with his exceptional networking talents aid in bringing well-known celebrities and acting talents for roles in films and bringing businesspeople, CEO’s and business owners together with multi-milliondollar companies for deals. He and his fiancée and business partner, Catherine Duskin are a known Force in the Entertainment world and Business world.

Donna Smith

PRODUCER / DIRECTOR / PRODUCTION MANAGER

Donna Smith began her career as Production Coordinator on Raging Bull and quickly rose through the ranks, serving as Production Manager, Line Producer and Producer on notable projects that included The Terminator.

Smith was tapped by Universal Pictures to serve as President of Physical Production and Post Production, becoming the first woman to serve in that role in a major Hollywood studio.

During Smith's seven-year tenure at Universal, more than 150 titles were released under her leadership including Academy Award winner movies and Golden Globe Awards winner movies, such as Schindler's List, Scent of a Woman, Jurassic Park, Babe, Apollo 13, Casino, Backdraft, Back to the Future and Waterworld. Following her executive role at Universal, Smith entered the world of motion picture completion bonds, having established a sterling reputation as a "highly bondable" producer. Donna served as CEO/President for the Entertainment Coalition, a management entity formed to coordinate full-service completion bond and insurance services for the entertainment industry worldwide. Under Donna's leadership, the company handled such titles as Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, The Nutty Professor, Batman & Robin, LA Confidential, Armageddon, Lethal Weapon, The Matrix, etc.

Donna Smith more recently served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Cinema Completions International (CCI). Based in Los Angeles with offices in London and Sydney, CCI underwrote completion bonds for films budgeted upwards of $100 million. Smith green-lit new business and spearheaded strategic planning and managerial insight; guided by an extensive network of relationships with Hollywood studio executives, producers, filmmakers and creative talent.

Donna has served as Vice President of the Cannes Film Festival. She was a former President of Women in Film, and she currently serves as a Trustee for Women in Film. She is President of the Bali(Indonesia) Film Council for 8 years and she has the honor of being appointed the United States Film Ambassador to China. Donna Smith is currently the CEO/President of Persnickety Productions. Founder and Co-chair of 2W Entertainment Network. And Co-Chair of Hollywood Express.

Stephen Michael Vernarelli

CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER / SCREENWRITER / AUTHOR

Stephen M. Vernarelli co-founded Golden Artemis Entertainment, Inc. and enhances the company, with over 30 years production experience and staff participation in the Telluride Film Festival . He also helped establish as a steering committee member the Sedona International Film Festival . Stephen studied Television Arts and has shot video for TV commercials, sports, documentaries, and concerts for artists like B.B. King & Willie Nelson . He has worked as professional photographer and cameraman, video assist and assistant camera on films and was Production Designer for an independent film, Magenta's Miracles , marketed at the Berlin Film Market, and has helped build and/or decorate sets for major films like The Postman with Kevin Costner, Deadman with Johnny Depp, Timemaster with Pat Morita, Tank Girl with Lori Petty, Three Kings with George Clooney, and others. He has written many, original screenplays, a stage play and a published anthology of his science fiction, “Synchronicity Gates” (ISBN #1 893302 38 5), and a new, unpublished novel, “ Weatherbomb ,” which are in production development for the company

Stephen is from a unique blend of family backgrounds. Stephen’s Father, Arnold Vernarelli was from an Italian immigrant family with deep roots in Italy dating back to at least the 1200’s with ties to the famous Mt Verna where St. Francis received his “Stigmata.” His Paternal Grandmother was a descendant of the sister of Pope Sixtus the Fifth who inherited the Village of Celano from the Pope in the 1590’s. The Vernarelli Grandparents left Celano after an earthquake early in the 20 th Century for America where the entire family flourished even through the Great Depression. Stephen’s father joined the Army and worked his way through the ranks to become a highly decorated, US Army Colonel and war hero of both WW 2 and the Korean war, having received a Purple Heart, the Bronze and the Silver Star Medals, as well as numerous other Medals of Valor and Service Accomplishment Ribbons. He received the Silver Star and Purple Heart in WW2 after single handedly assaulting and destroying an enemy machine gun position, mortally wounding six enemy soldiers, getting wounded in the process and then charging after the fleeing, remaining four enemy soldiers, subduing and capturing them. In Korea, he charted Military Strategy for several great battles that changed the course of the war for which the President of South Korea and the US Command personally Commended him. Later, while stationed in Washington, DC he convinced the Army Command to make the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier into a 24/7 Honor Guard Unit tradition which continues today.

His birth mother, June Wolf was from a pioneer family from Texas and Oklahoma, having acquired large farms in Southwest Oklahoma and doing extensive farming and cattle operations and later, developing oil resources. In the 1950’s, Stephen lived with his parents near Versailles, France where his father served in US Army Intelligence in Paris conducting important work. His mother had also worked for the Pentagon for a time. She passed away when Stephen was three. His father remarried but ensured Stephen maintained a strong connection with his mother’s family. Stephen grew up knowing his Stepmother, Major Savannah G. Swaim , who was from a prominent Virginia family who became a respected and decorated US Army Nurse during WW2 who served on a Hospital ship throughout the Pacific and later in Korea in various Field Hospitals called MASH Units. Both of Stephen’s Veteran parents are now buried in Arlington National

Jeff McDonald

COLLABORATOR / DIRECTOR / CO-PRODUCER

Jeff McDonald (Director/Producer) of Shades of Utopia Productions from Los Angeles joins the Team of Golden Artemis Entertainment, Inc. as producer and director. He produced and directed for the martial arts/supernatural thriller web series called Heart of the Dragon (starring Shin Koyamada from The Last Samurai) and numerous other projects. Jeff brings to Golden Artemis Entertainment as a Collaborator, many exciting properties and content. Jeff has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from University of California–Irvine in Directing as well as a BA in Drama from the University of Arkansas.

Allan Choi

PRODUCER / FINANCIAL ADVISERS

Allan Choi has worked in corporate banking and film financing in Hong Kong for fifteen years. Allan financed the Shaw Brothers and Raymond Chow as well as a 70 million film project for the Chinese and worked with a hedge fund in Hong Kong to create a 2 billion Chinese film fund. In the banking world, Allan Choi has worked for Barclay's, Citibank, Amro, and Crocker National with an emphasis in corporate lending, trade finance, real estate, manufacturing, shipping, and infrastructure lending. For the last three years, Allan Choi has been doing film financing in Hollywood and working on various film projects. Film wise, his genre focus has been culture and Chinese mythology.

Mike Wech

SHOWRUNNER / PRODUCER

Mike Wech is driven with passion, diligence, and a careful eye for detail chronicling over 25 years of experience in every area of film and television production; as well as Fortune 500 Companies.
Mike’s recent credits include acting as Showrunner for the #1 Rated True Crime Series “Drug Wars” and the International Docu-Series, Being Beautiful, which filmed in 10 countries in 2019.
Mike is the creative force behind the projects, working as the Writer, Producer, Camera Operator, Director, Lead Editor and Graphic Artist.
From Pre-Production through delivery Mike has efficiently guided over 300 Hours of Network Television including Full Seasons of “Life Matters,” “The National Bible Bee Gameshow,” “Pistol Pete Diaries,” “The Horseman’s Apprentice,” “Good Samaritans,” “Holiday on Ice” and “Words of Life TV,” among others.
As Lead Editor and Post Production Supervisor, Mike lead post-production on feature films “South Dakota,” “Across The Line: The Exodus of Charlie Wright”, “Beyond The Mask” and “The Moment After 2”; as well as editing on “Boone, The Bounty Hunter,” “Warning Shot” and “Dead Drop.”
Mastering all of these crafts has been a lifetime endeavor, instilling confidence that Mike will get the job done right, on time and on budget. With a creative passion that extends into New Technologies, Stereoscopic 3D, Gaming, Apps, Virtual and Augmented Reality, Mike is ready to lead the Next Generation of Entertainment and Media Worldwide.

Jack O'Halloran

"Irish" Jack O'Halloran was a rated heavyweight boxing contender in the middle '60s & early '70s. The 6'6" native of Runnemede, New Jersey, was considered one of boxing's most promising heavyweight hopefuls after he remained undefeated in his first 16 professional matches. O'Halloran went on to defeat former title contenders Cleveland Williams, Terry Daniels, Manuel Ramos and Danny McAlinden. In 1972 he won the California state heavyweight championship with a victory over Henry Clark. Scoring an upset victory over eighth-ranked Al "Blue" Lewis in 1973, O'Halloran was on the verge of a bout with Muhammad Ali when he was shockingly knocked out by Jimmy Summerville in Miami Beach, Florida.

Even though he knocked out Summerville in the rematch, O'Halloran was never in contention again. He retired in 1974, because of a tumor of the pituitary gland, with a record of 34-21-2 with 17 knockout victories. He lost to future heavyweight champions George Foreman and Ken Norton. He achieved World ranking for several years and was the California Heavyweight Champion in 1972 & 73. He was also inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame and the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame. Following his retirement he launched a successful career as a character actor in such films as Farewell, My Lovely, King Kong, Superman, Superman II, The Baltimore Bullet, Hero and the Terror, Dragnet and more. He is a published author with Family Legacy.