Richard Kaponas, Director

Ranchero is Director Richard Kaponas' first feature film. An accomplished screenwriter and prolific artist, Kaponas' short films (Mustard Secret, Senioritis and Two Devils Lunch) have been shown at various film festivals and galleries throughout the United States. He studied film at the Massachusetts College of Art where his instructors included experimental video and filmmakers such as Mark Lapore, Tony Oursler and Saul Levine.

Brian Johnson, Writer/ Producer

Brian has written, and produced in Los Angeles for the past decade. He co-wrote and produced the short film Daydream Believer and the indie feature Rites of Spring. Brian also produced the acclaimed short, One Night in Canoga Park. His screenplay Home by Dark is currently under option and he is actively marketing several others. Brian's writing and producing credits for the stage include That's My Desire, which was performed as a fundraiser for inner city youth at LATC, Games, Pieces, and others.

Michael Bratkowski,
Director of Photography

Michael has lived in the LA area since 1984, and thanks God every day for the sun we get, having grown up in Vancouver, Canada. He's worked for a lot of great people over the last two decades: John Toll, ASC; Jordan Cronenweth, ASC; James Chressanthis, ASC; Ed Lachman, ASC and Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC. While working, he has had the great fortune to shoot in many places, seeing 46 US states, the Yukon, in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Projects have had him in Washington, DC, lighting the interview of FBI Director Robert Mueller, operating a handheld camera in the pits at the California Speedway (with tires and car parts whizzing through the air), shooting from helicopter to helicopter in the mountains above LA, walking backwards with an HDCam down a pier in St. Maarten, riding on the trunk of a Mercedes 530SL down the Las Vegas strip, and shooting 2nd Unit with a Panaflex for Sony on Twin Falls Idaho. "It's been a ton of work, but a great life!"

Don Burton, Editor

Don has worked with Ranchero director Richard Kaponas since 2001 and brings with him 10 years' knowledge and experience as a creative director and editor developing feature-length documentaries, DVD featurettes, multi-media convention pieces and narrative film productions. He holds a BFA with a concentration in sculpture from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth where he worked primarily with multi-media installation and large-scale outdoor sculpture before entering the film industry. His work can be seen on HBO Latin America, the Golf Channel and on numerous DVD's for MGM, Warner Brothers, Fox and Disney. Additionally, Don has consulted for productions in LA, New York and Boston as well as co-produced documentaries in South America and Europe.

Dennis Curry,
Unit Production Manager

Dennis has been active in both Theatre and Film for over thirty years. His film directing experience includes the short films, Daydream Believer, One Night in Canoga Park, and Mr. Thirteen Episodes. His feature film debut came with Rites of Spring, a drama delving into the prejudice of hate crimes through the words and actions of a gay bashing gang. Dennis' creative efforts also extend to writing. In 2005, Dennis, along with the creative team of Shaun Lile, Glenn Porter and Trent Corbett, formed Stage 6 Productions.

Kathryn DiLego, Art Director

Kathryn is an artist, illustrator and writer who has collaborated with Richard Kaponas on many film and art projects. Her ink drawings and collages on vintage ephemera and other repurposed paper have been shown in Boston and Los Angeles and published in magazines, newspapers and literary journals. She has designed printed material for private clients, completed portrait commissions, and self–published trading cards and artist's books.