Web site design for Character Studies by Samuel Kim

Creative Team

Tony Vellela, Executive Producer/Writer

wrote the CableAce Award winning documentary "The Test of Time" for Lifetime Television. He's reported on theatre and the performing arts for four decades, including profiles on hundreds of actors, playwrights, directors and composers, including Arthur Miller, Harold Prince, James Earl Jones, Robert Redford, Ellen Burstyn, Joan Allen, and Susan Stroman. His credits include The Christian Science Monitor, Rolling Stone, Parade, Emmy Magazine, and Dramatics Magazine. As a playwright, he has received the Excellence in Playwriting Award at the New York International Fringe Festival, and the Berilla Kerr Award.

Chiz Shultz, Senior Producer

served as executive producer for several feature films and television movies, including "Buck and the Preacher," "The Landlord," "Too Far to Go," "A Soldier's Story," "Slings and Arrows," and "A Raisin in the Sun." His PBS credits include the three-hour "Broadway Plays Washington," from the Kennedy Center (Chita Rivera, Elaine Stritch, Bea Arthur, Helen Hayes and Debbie Reynolds), the mini-series "Oye Willie!" starring Jose Ferrer, "Paul Robeson: Here I Stand" (Ossie Davis, Uta Hagen, Harry Belafonte, Paul Robeson Jr. and Pete Seeger) and 93 one-hour programs for "The Independents," in conjunction with The Learning Channel. He was commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts to create "Who We Are," a PBS project to encourage rural arts. He served as a consultant on the creation of "Sesame Street," served as WNET-TV Channel 13's first Director of Programming, was chosen as a panelist to review project requests for the NEA and the NEH, and by the Ford Foundation to design an internship program in film production. He was Associate Producer for CBS' "Studio One," "Playhouse 90" and "The Seven Lively Arts." His work has won Emmy, CableACE and Peabody Awards, and has been honored at the Avignon Film Festival, the Venice Biennale and by the International Documentary Association. His theatrical experience includes producing "A Celebration of Lorraine Hansberry" at Broadway's Majestic Theatre, and the long-running off-Broadway hit "To Be Young, Gifted and Black."

Aaron Walters, Producer/Editor

started his life in television working in front of the camera as an actor. But his interest in what goes on after the filming led him to study editing, which he did at The Edit Center in Manhattan. After graduating he assisted in teaching classes. From there he went on to work on the production of the popular television series Psychic Detectives for CourtTV and on original programming for the Fuse Network. At Character Studies Aaron has found the perfect marriage of his two passions, producing television and studying theatre.

Aaron Edell, Producer/Editor

wrote, directed and produced the short documentary "Exhibit Human" awarded Official Selection for the Cinequest Film Festival. Aaron won the " Tech@Home Film Fest" best picture award in 1998 for his short film "The Nightmare" , and he is currently fund-raising for a new documentary project in Africa called "37 Million and Counting." He also directed and produced a series of films for a cable program in 1999-2000. Edell was featured in several news papers in 2000 for his work. In his lifetime, Aaron completed over 100 video projects from 5 minute shorts to 60 minute features. Edell majored in film/video and pre-medical studies at Hampshire College, receiving a BA in liberal arts. Aaron was the president of Hampshire`s on campus television station, a leader of a television production orientation group, and hosted his college graduation in 2005. Aaron produces and edits the Character Studies episodes for PBS, and some of the educational videos being sold through Films Media Group.

Elizabeth Waddell, Education Project Manager

brings more than 25 years of experience to Character Studies, most recently as administator of career development at Brooklyn College. Prior to that, she served as budget operations director at Hunter College, trained more than 100 leaders of student organizations in strategic planning, and conducted workshops and sessions for graduate and undergraduate students thruoghout the Northeast. She is a member of the American Association of University Women.

Neil Poynter, Rights and Clearances Director

previously worked as a production manager for Digital Force, a major post-production facility in New York, and continues to work as a paralegal for Alonso, Andalkar & Kahn. Neil was awarded an Associates Degree from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy, and a BFA from the New School for Social Research. Neil is also a professional musician, performing in venues in the tri-state area every week.

Morgan Hightower, Press Director

brings lots of varied experience to Character Studies. Morgan recieved her Master of Arts Marketing from Huron University in London, and her BS in Business Administration from Queens University of Charlotte, North Carolina. She has experience in marketing, promoting, and corporate events from working at companies such as Turnmills in London, with clients such as Revlon, and at the Tanning Shop in London.

Jade - Addon Hall, Consulting Producer

Produced the short film "Retribution". He served as writer and videographer for the documentry "Recapture The Glory" for the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He was awarded a Masters Degree in Television, Radio and Film from the Newhouse School of Public Communication.

Rashad V. Chambers, Legal Consultant

Attended Morehouse College where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration.  He also earned his law and MBA degrees from The Ohio State University.  In addition to serving as a Judicial Extern for the Southern District of Ohio, Rashad was also President of the Student Bar Association and Business Editor of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution.  While at Ohio State, Rashad garnered many awards including The Ohio State University Outstanding Professional Student Award, the DeanÁøs Special Award for Outstanding Leadership, and the Moritz Leadership Award. 

Austin Pendleton, Creative Consultant

began a forty-year acting career in the original cast of "Fiddler on the Roof" and has appeared in many other Broadway shows, including "Grand Hotel" and "The Diary of Anne Frank," and hundreds more in theatres nationwide. His film appearances range from "What's Up, Doc?" to "My Cousin Vinny." An esteemed director, Elizabeth Taylor chose him for her stage debut in "The Little Foxes," and he directed Kate Nelligan and Annette Bening in "Spoils of War." He has directed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival and is a founder of Chicago's Steppenwolf. He teaches acting at HB Studio.