The Farmington Valley Film Commission is a group comprised of local industry professionals, writers, local public relations staff, filmmakers, graphic artists and many more all volunteering their time to facilitate the production of film, television, commercial and advertising in the Farmington Valley.

 
Nancy Anstey - nancy.anstey@farmingtonvalleyfilm.org

 

Nancy, the Executive Director of the Farmington Valley Visitors Association, has been in tourism for over 12 years; promoting the Farmington Valley to residents, families and businesses wishing to relocate to CT and visitors. She is always looking for innovative ways to bring people and commerce into the Valley. After learning about the new 30% film tax credit offered by the State of Connecticut from Liz Banco, Co-Chair of the Simsbury Tourism Committee, a collaboration was born. The Farmington Valley Film Commission was then created to organize a volunteer group whose mission is to promote the Farmington Valley as a desirable location for film opportunities.

 
   
Elizabeth Banco - liz.banco@farmingtonvalleyfilm.org

Liz has been a realtor in the Farmington Valley for over 17 years and has always had an interest in tourism and promoting the wonderful area she lives in. As co-chair of the Simsbury Tourism Committee for many years she has been actively helping to bring people to the area.  After seeing a presentation by the office of Culture and Tourism touting the new 30% film credit offered by the state of CT in 2006 she was determined to get a piece of that action for Simsbury and the surrounding towns.  Teaming up with Nancy Anstey of FVVA the next step was organizing a volunteer group interested in promoting  local film opportunities which today is known as the Farmington Valley Film Commission.
 

 

 

Deb Zimmerman Herz - Writer & Producer - deb.z.herz@farmingtonvalleyfilm.org

 

Graduating with honors from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts with a BA in Film & Television in 1991, Deb worked on many independent films in NYC as grip, electric & associate producer. She wrote and directed a 30 minute short film called The Toys of Earl Grey. In interactive multimedia, Deb created content and games for AT&T - Downtown Digital's early interactive television trials and Websites. She has written and produced content at Media Circus for clients such as Sony, Scholastic, Coca-cola & Perry Ellis, as well as producing Nickelodeon's very first nick.com for Viacom. Deb is now raising 3 children in Farmington CT, making the leap from Creative Producer to “Procreative Reproducer.”  She dreams of opening an art house cinema in Farmington.
 

 

 
Stephen Emirzian - Writer - steve.emirzian@farmingtonvalleyfilm.org   

 

Stephen Emirzian has been an actor, producer and writer for the past 15 years.  He worked as a production assistant and field producer for the nationally syndicated “Gayle King Show” in the late 90s. After many years as a volunteer with the Connecticut Film Office, Emirzian was hired part time in 2000 to help with projects being produced in-state including “Judging Amy.”  At the same time, Emirzian was doing a lot of freelance writing for media outlets such as IMAGINE Magazine out of Cambridge. He currently writes a weekly arts column called CENTER STAGE for the West Hartford News and writes freelance arts/entertainment pieces for the Farmington Valley Press as well as several other local publishers.More recently, Mr. Emirzian has worked on projects as an actor, including the soon to be released Mocumentary, “Being Michael Madsen” set for DVD distribution sometime in 2010.  Emirzian also produces online fan films with his partner, Craig Murphy, through Meezmeyer Productions. Mr. Emirzian volunteers his time with the new FVFC as a writer and researcher helping with press releases, photos for the production Web site and public relations ideas aimed at getting the FVFC its maximum exposure.

 
 

 

 
Doug Tubach - Industry Professional - doug@gallery101main.com

 

Doug has worked in the entertainment field since 1985, starting as a production assistant for Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre. Doug moved onward and upward to produce a number of television programs for HBO, Fox Television and ABC. From producing, Doug turned his talents to Digital Visual Effects, and has spent the last 16 years working and collaborating as a digital artist on the visual effects for such Academy Award winning feature films as Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Matrix, What Dreams May Come, as well as a host of other features. Doug’s recent work includes Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, 300, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Terminator Salvation.
 

 

 
Maura Fitzgerald - Industry Professional - maura.fitzgerald@farmingtonvalleyfilm.org 

 

Maura Fitzgerald has performed for a variety of audiences on stage and in front of the camera for over 18 years.  In her second life, Maura became one of those individuals who graduated from college and worked for corporate America for over 20 years. She did what every young urban professional does, worked the 60 to 80 hours a week to move up the corporate ladder. Then one day she woke up from her nightmare and decided to pursue her dream.  Maura left corporate America in 2007 and started "Simply Eventful, LLC", an event planning business. In March 2008, she bought "The Hair Loft of Avon."  Maura has worked her way back into the industry once again but from the “behind the scenes” perspective.  The services of her staff are often called upon for on-site location work for television, film, stage, beauty editorial’s as well as special events for their clients.