QUEST TO REF
a film by Ben Watkins and Guy Guillet
PRODUCTION TEAM
Scroll down to learn more about the amazing production team
behind the short film, Quest to Ref.
To check out the cast and crew, click on the corresponding link.
BENJAMIN WATKINS, ACTOR/FILMMAKER
Benjamin Watkins is an actor and filmmaker from Berkeley, CA. He studied theater and film at UC Berkeley. While there he worked with renowned directors Gilbert McCauley and Margaret Wilkerson. He also wrote and performed a one-man show entitled “Forty Minutes of Revolution,” under the direction of Roger Guenveur Smith. Ben was also an award winning columnist for The Daily Californian. In 1995, Ben began his professional acting career with Kaiser Permanente’s regional touring Educational Theatre Program. While with ETP, Watkins starred in the award winning plays, “Secrets” and “Bodywise”, with award winning director Scott Kessler. In 1997, he landed a role on “One Life to Live” and moved to New York.
Following a brief stint back in Bay Area theater, Ben and his family moved to Los Angeles in 1999, where he continued to pursue his acting career. From 1999 to 2001, Watkins guest starred on numerous episodic television programs, including “JAG”, “Moesha”, and “City Guys”. Meanwhile, Watkins was writing and preparing to produce his short film, “Quest to Ref”.
After winning the 2001 Hollywood Shorts Emerging Filmmakers Grant, production for “Quest to Ref” began in September of 2001. The film made it’s debut at the 2002 American Black Film Festival in Miami Beach, and quickly made a splash by winning the $20,000 HBO Short Film Award. “Quest to Ref” has continued its amazing success, winning numerous awards and being chosen as an official selection to several film festivals. Most recently, “Quest to Ref” was chosen for the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.
Ben continues to work simultaneously as an actor and filmmaker. He recurs as Dr. Wesley Carter on “The Young and The Restless”, while finishing post-production for the short film, “Special Ed”, which he wrote and directed. He is also developing a feature length film version for “Quest to Ref”.
Ben lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Kandi, and their three sons, Blaize, Chase and Asa.
GUY GUILLET, DIRECTOR
Guy Guillet studied filmmaking at The Evergreen State College and received
his Masters in 1986 from M.I.T. researching new media technologies at
The Media Lab. His student projects received many festival awards including
the Focus Awards and first place at the AFI's National Video Festival.
In 1989 he produced and directed the first interactive music television
program entitled "CUTS" featuring Peter Gabriel. The next year
he directed a children's television series entitled "CHICKEN MINUTE"
that is in world distribution to over 80 countries. In 1998 he completed
"PORTLAND," a 20 minute drama that has been accepted into numerous
national and international film festivals. Currently he lives in Los Angeles
working as a music video director. He has over 80 music videos to his
credit, and has won several industry awards including a Clio. He is currently
writing his third feature length screenplay.
AL SATTERWHITE, DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY/PRODUCER
Al Satterwhite started as a still photographer at a major newspaper in
Florida while in college and worked his way up over the next 20 years
to become an internationally recognized advertising photographer in New
York City. He worked on assignment for almost every major magazine and
for many national advertising clients. His work has won many national
and international awards. Al is considered an authority on color and design,
and has four (4) published books of his work on this subject. In recent
years he has focused his attention on making films. He has shot features,
feature shorts & commercials.
VINCENT CIRRINCIONE, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Owner and President of Vincent Cirrincione Associates, Vincent Cirrincione,
is a long standing and well respected member of the entertainment industry.
In 1981 he started his own theatrical management company in New York City,
and was soon recognized as one of the premiere entertainment management
companies in New York. In 1991 Vincent expanded the business by opening
an office is Los Angeles.
Vincent Cirrincione Associates currently maintains the careers of film
and theatre stars such as Oscar winner Halle Berry, Ruben Santiago Hudson
and Julie Benz, as well as up and coming talents like Kerr Smith, Beth
Broderick, John Hensley and Ben Watkins.
In addition to the highly successful management aspect of the company,
Vincent has recently devoted time to the production side of the industry.
Recent Executive Producer credits include: Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
- Award winning HBO production starring Halle Berry, in which both Halle
and Vincent Cirrincione Associates won awards; The Last Producer - Directed
by and starring Burt Reynolds and Benjamin Bratt.
WENDY DE RYCKE, PRODUCER
Wendy’s first successful collaboration as a producer was with Monique Le Tran on the lyrically composed short film “Georgia” which enjoyed considerable festival success in 1999. It was included in the programs of Outfest, The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film & Video Fest, Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, The International Asian American Film Festival in New York City, and was awarded the Grand Jury Prize at PPNWFAF before being invited to make a five-city tour of Germany.
She followed that with the successful documentary David Lynch Presents
“I Don’t Know Jack”, which Wendy produced through Next Step Studios.
Wendy’s next project was producing the hugely successful Benjamin Watkins short “Quest toRef”. In June 2002, the film won the HBO Short Film Award at the American Black Film Festival. In November 2002, the Zephyr Theater Short Film Fest tabbed Quest to Ref for its Best Short Film, Best Writing and Best Acting Awards. The charmed festival life continued being named winner of the Outstanding International Short Film Award at Toronto’s Reel World Film Festival and Best Short Film at 2003 Natuckett
Film Festival. Quest to Ref was also an official selection of the 2003 Sundance Film Festival. It has aired on HBO one and Cinemax.
In February, 2003 Wendy earned another producers credit with Ben Watkins’ on his short “Training Dayz” starring Todd Bridges, Eric Ramirez and Jill Jones.
She is currently on the Board of CineWomen, Program and Events Chair and working on her first feature film production “Black Velvet” with writer Thurman Matthiesen.
P. PLATER, PRODUCER
P. Plater is a Los Angeles based producer. After establishing himself
with music videos and commercials, Plater has recently moved on to producing
films, including "The Greatest Story Never Told" (official selection-short
film, Pan African Film Festival) and "Winners", a feature film
in development.
WILLIAM HANFORD LEE, COMPOSER
William Hanford Lee Jr. is a talented and self-contained singer, songwriter, composer and producer. A native of Sacramento, California, Lee has been performing since the age of 12 and writing and producing since the age of 15. As a composer he is compiling an impressive list of trailers including "Man On Fire" (Twentieth Century Fox), "Bad Boys II" (Columbia Pictures) and "House Of The Dead" (Artisan Enterainment).
This talented young composer has also scored several short films, including the 2002 HBO Short Film Award winner and Sundance Film Festival selection "Quest To Ref" as well as Jamerican Film Festival selection "Knock, Knock... Who's There". As a performer, Lee performs around the country as a lead singer for the bands "Soulville" and "Powerpoint", as well as his original band "Papalee". When he's not working, he's going to the movies or Disneyland with his wife and muse, actress and filmmaker Annette Chasen Lee. Find out more about William Hanford Lee at his website: www.papaleemusic.com
JENNIFER NOOL, CASTING DIRECTOR
Jennifer Nool assembled the stellar cast that brought the award winning
"Quest to Ref" to life. She is also a talented actress and producer.