Leatherstocking Region of Upstate New York
Film COOP is dedicated to bringing film industry production to Cooperstown, Oneonta, Otsego County and the greater Leatherstocking region in order to build a lasting film industry in the area.
Board President Greg Klein, union name Gregory Evan Klein, is an actor and writer, who has been the primary lobbyist for a film commission office since former Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz suspended his efforts to start an office late in his political tenure. Klein is a member of SAG/AFTRA and can be seen in season six of “24,” and also in “The Devil Wears Prada.” He has written several plays, screenplays and novels, including two plays which have played Off Off Broadway (”The Sun” and “Hanging Chad”) and a biography (“The King of New Orleans”), which was published in 2012. He is the former editor of The Cooperstown Crier, and works as a staff writer for The Daily Star. As a proponent for a film office, he has talked with dozens of politicians and film supporters.
Judith Pachter, secretary-treasurer, has worked in the nonprofit world for more than 40 years. She is on two other board of directors, including a longtime association with United Hospice of Rockland County. She spent almost 30 years working in the financial industry and also has a background in theater.
JoAnn Gardner worked for 12 years as a location scout, location manager and second unit producer/director in New York City, including on “Seinfeld,” “The Nanny,” “Law and Order,” “The Single Guy,” “Caroline in the City,” “Love Affair” and “Private Parts.” She also produced promos for The Food Network and several documentaries. Most recently, she was the faculty advisor for an award winning high school film, “Utica: A Town That Loves Refugees.” She lives in Hartwick and is advisor to the Cooperstown Cinema Collective.
Former Cooperstown Mayor Jeff Katz began the crusade to establish the film commission office in the village and he remains an important advisor. A New York native who made a living as a trader in Chicago, Katz moved his family to the village of Cooperstown in 2003. He has written several baseball books, and he helps manage his adult autistic son, Nate’s, art businesses, Alpha Folks and Strip Mall Art. After 13 years as a village trustee, including three terms as Mayor of Cooperstown, he stepped down in 2018. His post-mayoral life includes running or working with several non-profits, including serving as the president of the Friends of Doubleday Field group, and treasurer and former co-chair of the Cooperstown Concert Series.
Avery Miritello is a videographer, director and editor who has been making films since he was in high school. Since then, he has continued to grow his skills to the point where he began creating his own content for a variety of mediums. He is committed to continuing his career in Upstate New York, and through his experiences, believes in growing the industry in Otsego County.
Caitlin Ogden has dedicated her career to non-profits. A resident of Laurens, she was a grant writer at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum until early 2020, when she became a Manager of Regional Donor Relations for A.O. Fox Hospital and the Bassett Healthcare Network. She graduated with a masters in Museum Studies from SUNY Oneonta’s Cooperstown Graduate Program. She has been a vocal advocate for diversifying economic opportunities in the region, and for bringing new sources of revenue to the region. When not raising money, she enjoys the beauty of the region, including kayaking, horseback riding and hiking with the great danes.
An Oneonta resident and SUNY Oneonta graduate, Korey Rowe is the owner of Otsego Media & Production Services. He is an United States veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continued to be a political advocate for veteran health. He has produced films, television shows, documentaries, web series and much more. He has experience as a director, producer, videographer and editor. His involvement with Film COOP is driven by his passion for the arts and a desire to improve the local economy for all industries.
Sierra Sangetti-Daniels is a co-founder of People’s Perception Project (P3) a community-driven think tank working to disrupt dominant culture by connecting journalists, educators, and the communities they work in. With a background in creative marketing, opinion editorial writing, and more recently, TV News, Sierra works to elevate complex storytelling and messaging while analyzing the media’s relationship with diverse communities, especially those of which have been historically marginalized. Sierra consistently steps towards social justice and equity within her personal and professional worlds, which is why she is so excited to bring this energy to Cooperstown’s official film commission.
Nancy Tarr films is an adjunct lecturer in the Music Industry department at SUNY Oneonta and the Executive Director of Well Dunn, a music nonprofit that connects college students with paid internships in the music and entertainment industries, to increase socioeconomic diversity. She worked on more than 50 films while in the music department at Paramount Pictures, and was the Music Director on the movie, “8 Mile.” After working at RCA and Artist Records, she became the Manager of Artist Relations and Governmental Affairs for the Recording Industry Association of Artists. She is also a singer/songwriter, who most recently performed in “The Music Man,” at The Glimmerglass Festival. Her band, Dead Girls and Other Stories, performed in the Lilith Fair and H.O.R.D.E. Festival.
A SUNY Oneonta graduate with a degree in Fashion Merchandising, Natalie Wrubleski has used her experience to combat the unethical practices in the fashion industry. She is the owner of Champaign Hippie, which sells vintage clothing and seeks to re-imagine clothing. Her attention to detail in curating her business and knowledge of period fashion, led her to working in the wardrobe department on a feature film shot at Hyde Hall in Springfield. The experience has given her the opportunity to combine her passion for fashion with a love of cinematography and her hometown of Cooperstown.
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