Dobler's Pen has 8 primary members. Dan Franko and Matt Mickelson, along with Gerry Paradiso, Jennifer Robers, Chester Stacy and Steve Morris are the founding members. In the summer of 2004, Kasandra Bibaz and Chris Mueller joined the team.
Dan Franko
Though involved with Dobler's Pen in many capacities, Dan is primarily an actor. He has been a member of the Screen Actors Guild since 2003.
Dan's acting credits include television (Most notably: HBO's critically acclaimed series, The Wire, HBO's Emmy Award winning film Something The Lord Made, Discovery's Code Of Silence, TLC's Special Forces: Untold Stories, FOX network's America's Most Wanted, and TNT's WCW Monday Nitro); film (Cecil B. DeMented, The Replacements, Comfort the Dead, 6:41, Shutter, Full Circle, m.o.s., and The Golden Tiki of Djbuti-buti: Episode 71); commercials (The Sopranos, Comcast Digital Cable, Maryland Lottery); stage (Tony n' Tina's Wedding - Mechanic Theatre/Baltimore) and radio.
Dan earned his degree in Theatre Arts from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College).
Apart from filmmaking, Dan is an avid football and hockey fan (and player), and a Maryland Terps Football season ticket holder. However a great deal of his time lately has been devoted to his family, as he and his wife have added a son to the family. Dan would like to thank his wife for being so supportive of the demands that Dobler's Pen has made on his time through the years.
"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."
(Tom Hanks, A League Of Their Own)
Fave Films: Braveheart; Ocean's Eleven (2001); Gladiator; Shawshank Redemption; The Usual Suspects
Matt Mickelson
Matt Mickelson has been Working in the Baltimore - Washington area's film and television scene for 7 years.
Matt thinks cinematically, envisioning the story in pictures more than words. He mixes his musical ability with his visual storytelling, feeling that the power of a scene is in the emotion.
He grew up on a healthy dose of Lucas, Spielberg, Kasdan, John Williams, and Eddie Van Halen. Those influences led Matt to know how the themes of life, when put to music, effect the story and the audience.
Matt moved to Baltimore in 1996 with his soon to be wife. He relentlessly chased his dream to work in the film and television industry, as well as he could in this small media market. His work takes him from feature film to documentary to television and to national news.
His true loves are directing and acting in narrative projects. In addition to becoming a working actor, he has developed into a working Videographer / Filmmaker, Audio Operator, Producer, and DP. Preferring Baltimore to New York or Los Angeles, he hopes to make his career in Maryland. Matt feels that the area has promise, and is good place to work and raise his family.
Fave Films: Raiders of the Lost Ark; Highlander; The Empire Strikes Back; Blade Runner; French Kiss
Steve Morris
Having no previous film experience, Steve came onto the scene with a "WTF do I do know" attitude.
Plus, he brought with him 4 years experience as a Gunnersmate/Weapons Instructor in the U.S. Coast Guard and an arsenal of prop guns. Because, you'll never know when you'll need an assault rifle for your next Love Story.
Steve has been with Dobler's Pen since the beginning, working on 6:41, Matchbook, Shutter, m.o.s., and Full Circle.
With a wide range of experience from origami artist to maritime law enforcement officer, Steve brings a multitude of talents to Dobler's Pen.
Originally from San Francisco, Steve now calls Baltimore home and enjoys the change of seasons, fast pace and rude drivers of the East Coast. Steve is a devoted Human and Communist. He enjoys the movies, volleyball, anime, walks on the beach and shooting friends with his assault rifles.
Fave Films: Baraka; Brazil; Graveyard of the Fireflies; The Fifth Element; What's Up Doc?
Chris Mueller
Baltimore native Chris Mueller joined Dobler’s Pen during the filming of Shutter in 2004.
An avid movie fan with no experience in filmmaking, Chris brings just one thing to Dobler’s - his lifelong bitterness and hence, sarcastic wit. He hopes to turn that experience into several cathartic scripts and not just the Internet manifesto he was planning.
“I love writing. I am fascinated that the juxtaposition of words, mere words, can elicit such a variety of emotions - humor, love, hate. It’s what inspires me to write - or become a hypnotist.”
DP: What exactly have you written?
C: Um, nothing really.
DP: So what qualifies you as a writer?
C: I have about 50 unfinished script and script ideas.
DP: And?
C: Oh, and I am filled with self-loathing, does that count?
DP: Yes, yes it does
An IT professional in the Health Care industry for more than 10 years, Chris has learned one thing. “Helping others is really over-rated.” It’s this attitude that will carry Chris far in this business.
Fave Films: L.A. Story; The Player; Miller’s Crossing; Go; About A Boy
Gerry Paradiso
Gerry, while a relative new comer to movie industry, has jumped into Dobbler's Pen with both feet. He has been an intrgal part of the writing and production on all of Dobler's Pen projects.
His credits include television (The West Wing) film, (6:41, Matchbook, Shutter, Swarm of the Snakehead) as well as radio and televison commercials.
Gerry has a BBA in Finance from Pace University in New York City. He is a devoted husband and father. He loves to cook, have fine wine, write, and go to Frederick Keys baseball games.
Fave Films: Godfather I & II; Braveheart; Casablanca; It's a Wonderful Life; Any and ALL Woody Allen movies Annie Hall and prior
Jennifer Robers
Jennifer was bitten by the theater bug at an early age.
However, growing up in Wisconsin, Jennifer describes the local acting scene as, "rather hopeless as the only local opportunities were musicals." When she moved on to college, a whole new world of theater opened up, and she has been acting ever since.
Jennifer has performed in a number of independent films in the DC/Baltimore/Philly region, including The Inn, Waiting for Harry, and Dobler's Pen pictures Shutter and 6:41. She has also appeared on television in the Discovery Channel's movie of the week Angel of Death, as well as in various commercials.
On the technical side of things, Jennifer has Assistant Director, Producer, Make-up & Special effects skills, and script editing experience.
Jennifer enjoys working on Indie films most of all because of the opportunity to be involved in so many aspects of the filmmaking process.
Fave Films: The Princess Bride; Under the Tuscan Sun; Phenomenon; Hook; Independence Day
Chester Myrick Stacy
Since the time that dexterity allowed, Chester brought pen to paper and drew. As early as elementary school, he performed on stage. Both of these interests flourished and continued.
Chester knew the arts would form his professional career. Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) found him easily devoting more time to his theatre minor than his graphic design major. Today he lives and works as a graphic designer in Columbia, Maryland.
He plays with several local theatres including Slayton House, Spotlighters, and the Columbia Actors Workshop. Chester also plays with Dobler's Pen Productions since fellow alumnus Dan Franko approached with a request for writing help. Dan and Matt Mickelson planned to compete in the 48 Hour Film Project in May of 2003. They recruited and formed Dobler's Pen Productions.
Keeping Chester at the writing table alone proved impossible. He soon provided art direction, prop creation, promotional material production, still photography, custom engineering, technical consulting, construction, and of course acting.
Chester will not quiet his inner child for anyone or anything. Toys will always spark his creativity and decorate his space. The limitless possibilities and engineering explorations discovered in Legos hold a particular spot in his heart.
Having grown up on a remote Christmas tree farm in the mountains near Deep Creek Lake, independence and imagination dominate Chester's fun-loving nature. He is outwardly expressive of emotions and absolutely loves to dance, especially to live music of almost any kind. His passion for the visual art of film enriches the Dobler's Pen team.
As much as he delves into the humanities and frivolities, Chester has always explored the mechanics of objects around him and fervently searched out the how and why of physics.
His rural farm environment of hand's-on do-it-yourself upbringing developed a strong knowledge of woodworking, welding, engineering, plumbing, electrical, engine repair, and countless other skills. Quick, reliable problem solving emerged and now readily melds on set.
Fave Films: The Hudsucker Proxy; Monsters Inc.; The Manchurian Candidate (original); Pulp Fiction; Labyrinth
