FUNDBOX - Team
MILES MERRITT
Director and Writer
Miles was writer/producer with New Century Images, a video production studio based in Los Angeles that specialized in the development of videos for private industry and various city departments.He later moved to NY to work with the cable news network in White Plains. His directorial debut – the short film El Cochero (The Carriage Driver) was produced in Mexico and was an official selection in 15 film festivals internationally. It was chosen as one of the opening night films at the prestigious Expresion En Corto Film Festival (now called the Guanajuato International Film Festival) in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and won 4 awards. His subsequent short film, Una Causa Noble (A Noble Cause) was an official selection at 24 film festivals internationally and earned 3 awards. Miles was also Contributing Editor for the feature documentary entitled, “The Second Cooler” (2012) narrated by Martin Sheen – a film about immigration issues in the U.S. and Central America. The film won 5 awards. His 2023 feature documentary entitled, “Just a Mortal Man – The Jerry Lawson Story” is currently being broadcast nationwide in the U.S on the PBS network, and streaming on their PASSPORT platform. Miles’ latest project, “Fundbox – A love story” has just been completed in Vienna, Austria..
GAIL KEMPLER
Co-Director – Producer – Legal
Gail received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and law degree from Fordham University. She co-produced and edited the two award-winning short films El Cochero (The Carriage Driver) (www.elcochero.com) and Una Causa Noble (A Noble Cause) (www.unacausanoble.com. In addition to being co-director and producer for “Just a Mortal Man – The Jerry Lawson Story,” Gail handled all the music licensing - which included over 30 songs. Gail also serves as Senior Counsel, Intellectual Property for a biotech company based in Florida. “Fundbox – A love story” is her second co-directing collaboration with Miles.
THOMAS BISCHOF
Producer – Set Production
Thomas Bischof is a director, film producer, and dramaturge based in Vienna. In addition to producing commercials, he focuses on scenic readings and theater productions at renowned Viennese stages. During his studies in Law and Arts & Cultural Management, he founded the theater collective badluck, where he gained early experience as a director, dramaturge, and producer.
His film projects include the feature film The Color of the Chameleon (2020, Diagonale, Hof International Film Festival) and the award-winning short film Servus Karl (2021), starring Erwin Steinhauer. Bischof is currently working on several feature and short film projects. He is also a co-founder of the cultural association FRITTEN FILM, a dramaturge with the E3 Ensemble, and the author of the novel Es wird still (It Becomes Silent, 2017).
FLORENTIN GROLL
Actor
Florentin Groll, born in 1945 in Vöcklabruck, studied acting at the Ateliertheater am Naschmarkt in Vienna from 1965 to 1970. He has performed at numerous prestigious theaters in Germany and Austria, including the Burgtheater Vienna from 1979, and as a guest at the Staatstheater Stuttgart, Thalia Theater Hamburg, Schauspielhaus Graz, and Landestheater St. Pölten. He also regularly performed at the summer festivals in Melk, Kobersdorf, and Reichenau.
In Vienna, he appeared at several theaters such as the Theater Drachengasse, Rabenhof Theater, and Kosmos Theater. Some of his most notable productions include "Virginia" (E. O'Brien) at the Burgtheater and "Reigen" (Schnitzler) in Vienna. Groll worked with prominent directors like G. Tabori, A. Dresen, P. Palitzsch, and C. Peymann.
In addition to his stage work, he taught at the Max Reinhardt Seminar and Schauspielschule Graz. He has also worked in film and television, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the Austrian theater scene.
Judith Stehlik
Director of Photography AAC
Judith Stehlik AAC is an accomplished Austrian cinematographer known for her exceptional work in both film and television. Her diverse portfolio includes recent TV documentaries like "Kennen Sie Strauss" (2024), "Österreichische Originale" (2024), and "Über Gott und die Welt" (2024), showcasing her skillful work behind the camera. She has also contributed to high-profile projects such as the Netflix series "The Regime" (2023) and "The Recruit" (2023), where she worked as additional camera operator. In addition, Stehlik's cinematic eye has been instrumental in short films like "Nue" (2023) and "Servus Karl" (2022), as well as the operatic performance "Durst" (2022). With her ability to adapt to a wide range of genres, Stehlik continues to be a key figure in Austria’s cinematography landscape.
Florian Reichmann
Production Designer
Florian Reichmann is a renowned Austrian Production Designer and Art Director with a career spanning over three decades. Since 1991, he has been a key figure in Austrian cinema, working on numerous acclaimed films and TV productions. His impressive portfolio includes projects such as The Regime (HBO), The Recruit (Netflix), Schachnovelle, and Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation. With his distinctive visual style and meticulous attention to detail, Reichmann continues to shape the aesthetic of contemporary film and television.
Sara Schober
Editor
Sara Schober graduated from
the College for Multimedia at the Graphic Arts Vienna, she attended the University of Applied Sciences for Media Management and the Letterkenny Institute of Technology in Ireland. She worked as an assistant director, editor and graphic designer in Germany and Austria before concentrating entirely on editing.
Numerous short films, documentaries and music videos were created for Mnozil Brass, Zweitfrau, Bilderbuch, Clara Luzia, and many more. After several international festival nominations, she won the Best Editing award at the Bucharest Film Awards in 2021 for the short film “Servus Karl”. Her work on the feature film “The Color of the chamaeleons” celebrated its German premiere in 2021 at the Hof Film Festival in Berlin and in Austria at the Diagonale in Graz.
With her work in TV productions, she won the prestigious „Television Award for Adult Education“ in 2021 together with Lisa Gadenstätter for the ORF production „DOK1 - Are we racists?“
Mariusz Orchel
Sound Designer
Mariusz Orchel is known for his extensive expertise in sound engineering and has made a name for himself in the music and film industries. Orchel works both in studio recording and at live events and film productions, consistently maintaining high technical standards and creative sound design. His career has led him to international projects where he has applied his skills in audio production and editing. Orchel is valued for his precise work and his ability to create complex soundscapes. In Austria, he has established himself as a prominent figure in the sound engineering industry and regularly collaborates with renowned artists and filmmakers.
