Chicago Producers

As President of Nferno Productions, the production company he founded in 1998, Christopher Nolen has created a proven brand in urban entertainment, production and distribution, by creating positive and entertaining content for minorities and global audiences as a whole. As a Director, Nolen's projects under Nferno Productions include the feature length films "Deep Passion," "Subtle Seduction," "The Good Life," "Four Seasons," and the recently completed "72 Hours." On January 16, 2014, Nolen's film "The Good Life" made its network debut after being acquired by BET (Black Entertainment Television). The film received such stellar ratings and reviews that it continues to have a recurring monthly slot on the network's schedule. "The Good Life" was originally released nationwide on July 16, 2013 Nolen, and stars Tangi Miller, Chicago's very own Richard Gallion, Christian Keyes, Maya Gilbert, and Mari Morrow. He had another nationwide release on April 1, 2014 of his film, "Four Seasons", which is wrote, produced and directed. The film stars Robin Givens, Keith Robinson, Christian Keyes, Jazsmin Lewis, and Chicago's own Mel Jackson. "Four Seasons" was shot entirely in Chicago in July of 2013. Nolen is currently in post production with his latest and most highly anticipated film "72 Hours," which features an amazing star-studded ensemble cast, including Chicago's own Timon Kyle Durrett of "VH1's Single Ladies," Erica Hubbard of BET's "Let's Stay Together," and legendary star and acting sensation, Harry J. Lennix, of NBC's #1 show "The Black List." Rounding out the cast is Terri J. Vaughn of "The Steve Harvey Show," Brian Hooks of the TV series "Eve," Cynda Williams of "Mo Betta Blues," Tangi Miller of "Felicity," Brely Evans of BET's "Being Mary Jane," and Chyna Layne of "Precious." Nolen is also in development on two new exciting feature length films entitled "Zodiac Sign" and "Lustful Decisions." He is excited and passionate about writing, directing and producing films, and is looking to expand those talents into the world of television. Nolen graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Theatre. After graduation he went on to receive his Master's in Mathematics from National Louis University, as well as a Master's in Educational Administration Leadership from Governor's State University. While receiving his degrees, Nolen taught high school and junior high in the Chicago Public School System. Nolen began in the industry as a model in the Chicagoland area, which quickly turned to acting, and eventually lead him to writing, producing and directing. As his interest in filmmaking grew, he enrolled in filmmaking classes, most notably with filmmaker extraordinaire, Dov Simens. Nolen got his start directing numerous stage plays, short films, industrials, music videos, before eventually creating his own feature length films. Although he has written most of his films, he has also found success as an Executive Producer, including the very successful and independently produced films "Black Butterfly," "Frankenstein: The Day of The Beast," "Surprise, Surprise," and "Black Coffee." Nolen has filmed all of his productions in the city of Chicago, and is proud he's been able to contribute to the production revenue for the city he calls home. The success of his films have garnered him several Best Director awards. Nolen is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Directors Guild of America and Producers Guild of America.

Mark Harris: Writer, Director, Producer Mark Harris, a self-taught filmmaker, discovered his passion for storytelling early in life. Growing up in Englewood on Chicago's Southside, he dreamed of being his own boss and nurtured a love for writing. With over 20 film projects distributed worldwide, Harris has built a career on independence and determination, reshaping the entertainment industry on his own terms.

Englewood's challenges shaped Harris's resilience. Sports provided a positive outlet amid an environment of both supportive families and systemic hardships. Earning a football scholarship to the University of Wisconsin River Falls, he studied English, but his life changed after watching Spike Lee's Malcolm X in 1992, igniting his desire to pursue filmmaking.

Returning to Chicago, Harris worked various jobs, including as a sales rep at a furniture store where he met early supporters of his career. By 1997, he was determined to write screenplays, immersing himself in books on the craft. After penning more than ten scripts, he pitched Zombies in the Hood to studios, eventually connecting with writer-director Barry Bowles, who became his first mentor.

In 2005, tired of waiting for his work to be produced, Harris decided to take matters into his own hands. His colleagues, aware of his passion, contributed $2,000 to fund his first film, Why Men Cheat. This leap of faith marked the birth of his production company, 1555filmworks.

Since then, Harris has expanded his impact. He launched Black Films Rock LLC, an online marketing platform, and co-founded the Englewood International Film Festival in 2010 to celebrate cinema and uplift his community.

In 2021, Harris released White People Money, starring Drew Sidora and Barton Fitzpatrick, to nearly 40 theaters-his largest theatrical release to date. His films, also featured on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime, demonstrate his commitment to sharing authentic stories and empowering independent filmmakers.

Mark Harris continues to inspire as a filmmaker who transforms vision into reality, building a legacy rooted in creativity, perseverance, and community.

Born in New York City, Christine Horn was raised in the Bronx before moving to Atlanta during high school. Her passion for performing flourished while attending Atlanta's renowned Tri-Cities High School where she met her mentor, Freddie Hendricks. Inspired by her early experiences attending Broadway shows, she began performing professionally as a teenager making her feature film debut in Stomp the Yard (2007) alongside Columbus Short.

After achieving her dream of performing on Broadway in The Lion King, Christine moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to pursue film and television. In Los Angeles, her firsthand experience navigating the industry led her to create Hollywood Bound Actors, a thriving coaching business dedicated to helping aspiring actors master the business side of entertainment. Known as "The Booking Magnet ®," Christine has become a trusted mentor, empowering a new generation of talent with the tools for success.

Christine's award-winning work spans film, television, music, and literature. Her diverse credits include roles in The Fallout (Warner Bros), Snowfall (FX), Black Mafia Family (Starz), The Good Doctor (ABC), The Equalizer (CBS), and Terminator: Dark Fate. She has also made guest appearances on hit shows such as Grey's Anatomy, NCIS: LA, Blackish, The Lincoln Lawyer, and Shameless, among many others.

Of Jamaican and Bermudian descent, Christine resides in Los Angeles, where she continues to pursue her passion for storytelling and mentorship within the acting community.

A Chicago native, Claire has been a Casting Director since 1996, casting TV, Film & Theatre in Chicago and the Midwest. Currently she is casting the tenth season of Chicago Fire and the ninth season of Chicago PD. She previously cast the pilot Emporia for HBO, the horror feature, "Say My Name", the series Proven Innocent for Fox and Easy for Netflix as well as 5 seasons of the hit show Empire. In addition to casting for television and film, Claire and her team have also cast for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Writer's Theatre, Indiana Repertory, Madison Rep, Milwaukee Rep, St. Louis Rep, Kansas City Rep, The Cleveland Playhouse, Asolo Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Million Dollar Quartet in Chicago, and the Clarence Brown Theatre amongst others. She has been nominated four times for Artios awards, winning in 2016 for Excellence in Casting for her work on the pilot, "Empire" and in 2006 for "Prison Break". A board member of the Casting Society of America and a board member of the Illinois Production Alliance, she also started an annual food drive 13 years ago called Meal for Monologues, to collect food for the homeless which had almost 700 actors in attendance this past year and has become a CSA nationwide event. When not casting, she can be found on her horse Wyatt in the middle of a forest preserve.

Angela Cobb (Bosslady) Born and in raised in Chicago, IL Co-owner of Deep Productions Studios. Film Producer, Casting Director and writer. Her credits include, Pieces of David, The Little Girl in White, Stepdads, Everyday is Christmas, My Online Valentine, London Mitchell's Christmas, Black Privilege, White People Money. She is called Bosslady around town because she gets the job done.