Meet The Team
Ime N. Etuk - Executive Director
While working as a journalist, Field Producing for ABC NEWS (World News Tonight, 20/20), Ime was selected for the prestigious Directors Guild of America’s training program, leading to a fulfilling career Directing and Producing for film and television.
Ime has worked alongside some of the most respected directors in Hollywood (including Paul Haggis “Crash,” The Coen Brothers “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” Antoine Fuqua “Training Day” and David Lynch “Twin Peaks”). However, while working on film sets in his hometown, Portland, Oregon, Ime was often the only black person on set and usually the only person of color in a management role. Ime has been a mentor throughout his career, but longed to make a more significant impact. This was the beginning of Lion Speaks.
Vin Shambry - Artist Development
As a storyteller and actor, Vin has performed on Broadway and toured nationally (Rent, Miss Saigon). As part of the Moth Radio Hours, Occasional Magic: True Stories about Defying the Impossible, he performed at Portland’s historic Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and was featured in the April Baer’s State of Wonder on Oregon Public Broadcasting radio. In 2019 Vin toured and performed with the US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Arts Envoy trip to Egypt before returning in 2020 to develop a new bi-lingual cross-cultural music and theatre performance with the support of the US Embassy, Cairo.
Vin is currently Artistic Director of the Historic Alberta House - an event space with a focus on engaging communities, disproportionately impacted by social, economic and or racial injustices in his home town of Portland Oregon.
Sebastian Rogers - Creative Director
Born in Norfolk, England, to an immigrant mother from India and an English father, Sebastian started his career as a performing artist (London Records, Dreamworks, Interscope) before transitioning to working as a producer and songwriter with platinum-selling artists, until a spiritual transformation ultimately led him into full-time Christian ministry, where his experience with media proved invaluable.
Sebastian developed his filmmaking skills while Director of Communications at Imago Dei Community, before shifting his focus entirely to running the non-profit media company Peripheral Vision PDX, which he founded to provide films and media training to under-served communities, organizations, and ministries.
Dr. S. Renee Mitchell - Board Member
An award-winning writer, published author, multi-media artist, social justice advocate, and teacher/facilitator with more than 25 years of journalism experience. Renee is an exceptional communicator with analytical and grant-writing skills that have helped invest more than $2 million into community-based programming. Renee obtained her Doctor of Education (2021) from the University of Oregon, in Educational Leadership.
Renee has written numerous poems, plays, songs and books about healing from trauma. Her deepest desire is to help others use their creativity to let go, gather up and move on. Renee brings her community grounded vision to the work of Lion Speaks.
Ifanyi Bell - Board Member
While working as a producer for various NPR and PBS stations, Ifanyi helped craft Emmy-nominated stories on education, arts, and science. He also served as the Director of Editorial Video Content for Narrative.ly, a nonfiction storytelling platform based in New York City, before leaving public media to found Brushfire Creative Partners, a socially sustainable creative marketing agency dedicated to supporting and developing equity in the creative and social marketplaces.
In 2016 Ifanyi Joined Open Signal, where he conceived his current initiative Open Signal Labs, a new content studio and social impact incubator gathering professional creatives, Open Signal Producers, and community members to tell stories of social and cultural relevance.
cdavid cottrill - Board Member
After 18 years as a Property Master/Designer, Art Director & crew member for theatre, TV commercials, & feature films in Philly, PA. cdavid relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2005 where he continued to bring stories to life through objects, both found & created.
Recently cdavid spent 5 years as a Business Agent of IATSE Local 488, Studio Mechanics of the Pacific Northwest, where he worked daily with a central goal of making the work & home life better for the Craftspeople in Oregon, Washington, Montana, & Idaho. He currently works in workforce development, assisting people into careers in the film and television industry, with a special lens on those from underrepresented communities.
Less than 25 percent of films produced in the United States have writers, directors, or producers who are people of color or women.
UCLA Hollywood diversity report
“As we intentionally advance the careers of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, we do far more than train people - we are creating a path for future careers. Our mentorship and training programs lead to incubators. Our major productions lead to job placement and union qualification. At every step, our apprentices are building experience and connections to tell whatever story they desire.”
Ime N. Etuk - Executive Director
