Runic Films is a production and entertainment company developing original properties for film, television and the Web. Now located in Los Angeles, Runic was founded in 2001 by two brothers in New York, and has grown to a staff of award-winning writers, directors, artists and technicians. Dedicated to upholding the rich traditions of mythic storytelling, Runic Films harnesses cutting-edge technology and visual effects to create amazing worlds for dramatic tales grounded in humanity.

Film is one of the greatest collaborative efforts of modern times. Joining Runic is a unique blend of creative talents and technical wizards…

Ben Alpi

Writer, Director
A Los Angeles-based director and writer, Ben’s work has been on the big screen in Burbank, CA and Albany, NY, on television and the Web. Fresh out of post production, Ben’s latest short film Cowboy Creed, an epic Western tale, is now being submitted to festivals.

After a limited theatrical release, his directorial debut Silver Lining was signed into broadcast on PBS and Movieola, the Short Film Channel and into distribution with Ouat Media (Toronto.) In 2006, he was brought onto the award-winning Star Trek: Phase II and became a producer and second unit director for “Blood and Fire” Part 1 and Part 2 with legendary “Trouble With Tribbles” scribe David Gerrold directing. “Enemy: Starfleet,” and “The Child” followed, the latter under the direction of Total Recall writer and Sliders producer John Povill. Ben was also second unit director for the forth-coming feature-length documentary American General: Benedict Arnold. In 2010, Ben was co-executive producer on the family adventure series eScape v1.0.

A character actor, Ben stars as the “adorably incompetent” alien starship captain Zerks in the sci-fi comedy Web series Zerks Log broadcast on Koldcast. He is also aiding in the development of a Zerks video game with the team at Storyforge Labs coming soon to iPhone, iPad and Android!

Carlos Pedraza

Writer, Producer
Carlos is a Seattle-based screenwriter currently promoting his first feature film Judas Kiss currently in distribution and showing at multiple film festivals. The film was produced at his Blue Seraph Productions with director J.T. Tepnapa.

Previously, he was co-executive producer of the Hugo- and Nebula-nominated Star Trek: Phase II from 2005 to 2009. He was also the staff writer and one of the producers of Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, the Web’s longest-running series. Over the course of four seasons, he wrote 13 of that series’ 50 episodes, and charted the storylines for the final two seasons.

David Gerrold, writer of Star Trek’s most popular episode, “The Trouble with Tribbles,” authorized Carlos to rewrite his famous unproduced Star Trek: The Next Generation script, “Blood and Fire.” The first part of the episode was released in 2008; the second was released in November 2009.

He also was a writer-producer on the family-friendly Web series eScape v1.0 last year.

Carlos’ work has been featured in Variety, NBC’s Today Show, Countdown on MSNBC, ABC News, the Columbia News Service, the BBC and the New York Times.

Carlos is a former Associated Press writer, deputy press secretary for the Governor of Washington, teacher, consultant and trainer for nonprofit organizations throughout the United States. Carlos has previously appeared as a fan guest of honor at the Arisia and Gaylaxicon conventions, as a guest at the Starfleet Ball in the U.K., and as a Featured Guest at Dragon*Con every year since 2005.

Jody Wheeler

Writer, Producer
A former therapist and social worker, Jody Wheeler spent 12 years saving the world – and writing the most cinematic case reports he could. As a director, his short In the Closet played film festivals worldwide and was nominated for the prestigious 2009 IRIS Award. As a writer, his sci-fi actioner Heat Wave debuted on film and television on Syfy Channel in 2010.

Jody’s currently promoting the feature film Judas Kiss, which he associate produced, and just concluded producing the children’s web series eScape v1.0. He also teaches screenwriting at UCLA, The Columbia College of Film and Television, and the FLS Institute at Marymount College.
 

Robert A. Alpi, Jr.

Writer, Historian
A novelist and journalist for over fifteen years, Robert now lends his talents to crafting tales for the screen. As a writer, he passionately believes that a story can be more than simple entertainment and strives to create works that inspire, intrigue and move audiences.

Also a historian, you will usually find him hunting through the proverbial and literal library stacks questing for just the right details to enhance the tapestry of a story. As a journalist, Robert’s reporting on art and culture can now be read on Geek in the City.

Joël Bellucci

Visual Effects Supervisor
Joël is a visual effects artist, marine scientist and Web designer. He is a freelance 3D artist and video compositor whose work on Star Trek: Phase II contributed to the series’ Hugo Award nomination and selection by TV Guide for its Online Video Award for Best Science Fiction Series. He completed 200 visual effects shots in the episodes “To Serve All My Days” and “World Enough and Time.” He served as the visual effects supervisor and lead visual effects artist for “Blood and Fire, Part 1″ and “Blood and Fire, Part 2.” He was also the visual effects supervisor on the children’s Web series eScape v1.0. Currently, Joël is visual effects supervisor of Cowboy Creed, a Western short film from writer-director Ben Alpi being produced by J.T. Tepnapa with cinematography by David Berry, currently in post-production.

Recently, Joël served as the visual effects supervisor for Judas Kiss, an independent feature released in 2011. Currently, Joël is visual effects supervisor of Cowboy Creed, a Western short film from writer-director Ben Alpi being produced by J.T. Tepnapa with cinematography by David Berry, currently in post-production.

David Berry

Cinematographer
A native-born Texan, David is a Los Angeles-based cinematographer and graduate student at UCLA’s renowned film school. Most recently, David concluded cinematography on the feature film Judas Kiss with Blue Seraph Productions.

He began his work in cinematography as an undergraduate where he also executive-produced the award-winning cable television show, Studio 21. Since then, he has filmed several short dramatic films, has been gaffer for a number of productions, and completed post-production for a national commercial production company. Most notably, David was the cinematographer for four episodes of the award-winning Web series Star Trek: Phase II and his work has been featured on CBS’ Good Morning America. In addition to narrative films, David has shot several industrials and music videos.

Currently, David is cinematographer of Cowboy Creed, a Western short film from writer-director Ben Alpi being produced by J.T. Tepnapa with visual effects supervisor Joël Bellucci, currently in post-production.

Matt Jolly

Visual Effects Lead, Head of Web Technology
Matt worked for many years in computer technology before taking the plunge into visual effects. A graduate of the DAVE School, Orlando, FL, Matt now works as a freelance digital animator for independent films and rich media Web sites and mobile devices. Most recently, he created visual effects for the award winning Web series Star Trek: Phase II, Spike Digital Entertainment’s Deadliest Warrior and the upcoming Vs. feature film.

Built on his experience creating networks for ISPs and businesses, Matt brings a unique blend of experience to the multi-faceted technological world of digital animation. He specializes in character modeling and animation as well as with particle and hair simulations, dynamics and working with Motionbuilder mocap. When not cranking out frames, Matt can be seen playing video games such as World of Warcraft, Sacred 2 and Painkiller Universe.