Meet the LUMIN8 Team
We have a very exclusive group of creative team players. Our primary goal is to offer everything required to help bring your stories to life. We can help develop your project from concept to script. Everyone has experience in multiple fields, making the creative process even more unique with each new project we take on. Nearly everyone in our camera dept. were selected due to their knowledge and ability to operatore in any position, several of us also have strong Directing backgrounds as well, making it simple to tailor the crew required for each project we take on. Since this team works together on so many film projects, we are very in sync with communication, which helps our sets move quickly and efficiently. We have Directors, DP’s, Assistants for all depts., PA’s, Producers, Writers, Gafers, and all positions of the Sound Dept. Feel free to take a look below and meet our team.
Joseph Davis Castleberry
Director – DP – Writer – Audio Engineer – Composer – Editor
Joseph Davis Castleberry is a Director, Photographer, DP, and Audio Engineer. He owns and operates LUMIN8 Productions, a production house in the Wicker Park area of Chicago. He has worked live sound and engineering for over 18 years. Started shooting career over 20 years ago. More recently Joseph was given the opportunity to do work for Snoop Dogg for several years, which included photography used for merch and social media, videography, graphic design for back stage passes, and even designed the video wall visual for the 2 Pac campaign on his live tour, following Snoop, shot live imagery for Distrubed’s social media, and finally moved onto shooting artists showcased by Live Nation, including Five Finger Death Punch, Korn, Marilyn Manson, Wiz Khalifa, Slipknot, Cypress Hill and more.
In the film world, Joseph is a creative mastermind, consulting and pushing development boundaries for his clients. He maintains creative freedom using razor like critical thinking, and by being aggressively observant. He spends his off set time educating, testing new ideas, and creating useful techniques for his trades. He is obsessed with human thought, condition, and reaction, which carries over into his writing, musical scores, and treatments, His creative process draws from personal situations, and strong attention to people around him everywhere he goes. His process, which is a deep thinking mechanism he created, helps him decide how to build audience engagement.
Joseph’s current creative focus leans towards Psychological Thrillers, Action Thrillers, Drama, and Horror. Joseph pulls inspiration from Directors like Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Guy Ritchie, Luc Besson, Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, F. Gary Gray, and Oliver Stone to name a few. Some of Joseph’s favorite films include, Great Expectations, Snatch, Amelie, The Prestige, The Bourne Series, Ocean’s Series, The Professional, Drunken Master, and The Lost Boys. Some of his favorite shows include Banshee, Peaky Blinders, Homeland, Westworld, The Outsider, and Ray Donovan.
Andy Cat
Steadicam Operator – Remote Head Operator – DP
Much like an elusive Pokemon or Labubu, Andy Cat can be encountered around town with a camera in one hand and a chicken wing in the other. As a specialty camera operator based in Chicago, Andy finds nothing more fulfilling than collaborating with other skilled artists, performers, and technicians to tell great stories. He’s worked on a wide range of productions including Carpool Karaoke, Cold Case Files, and Nick News. Whether it’s steadicam, gimbal, remote head, or handheld, he champions authenticity and truth to story in every camera move.
Andy’s inspirations include the film Burning, The Handmaiden, and Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind.
Peter Nyiri
1st AC – Precision Driver – Camera Operator
Hungarian native, Peter Nyiri is the owner operator, and precision driver for the camera movement company Cinechase Systems. He started his career as a Camera Operator while studying Cinematography in New York. With highly valuable knowledge of various camera and lens packages, his experience extends to Feature Film , and Commercial Narrative. Peter is currently focused on solidifying his skills as a precision driver and expert 1st AC.
Recently completing major projects such as Motorsport Racing’s Grid Life, and 1st AC’ing the upcoming feature (Dirty Hands 2025) starring Denise Richards, Michael Beach, and Patrick Muldoon, Peter is on an incline with even bigger projects lined up!
Some of the creative film projects that inspire Peter (The Killer, Gran Turismo, and No one will save you), this also includes Nikolaus Summerer, who was the amazing cinematographer for the shows (1899, and Dark).
Mayank Mishra
Gaffer – Camera Operator
Mayank Mishra is a New Delhi-born cinematographer with a focus on lighting design, with a rich background in the film and visual media space dating back to his childhood. Combining his passion for filmmaking with a keen interest in all the contributing aspects of the industry’s operations, he began his journey in the United States in 2018 to pursue a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Filmmaking. This pivotal move provided Mayank with a fresh perspective, enabling him to cultivate a versatile skillset and explore various career paths within the film industry. During his time in the US, Mayank has been flourishing as a cinematographer and gaffer, crafting his intercultural style, mixing elements from American drama and old Bollywood.
Majority of Mayank’s experience comes from music videos and feature films. He is inspired by movies from around the world like There will be blood, Parasite and Gangs of Wasseypur.
Silas Elias
Production Sound Mixer – Boom Op – Utility Sound Technician
Silas Elias is a versatile audio professional based in Chicago, IL, specializing in capturing exceptional sound for film and television productions. With a passion for audio excellence and a comprehensive understanding of sound dynamics, Silas has contributed to a wide array of projects, including compelling narratives, impactful documentaries, and high-energy commercials.
For Silas, sound is more than just a technical craft—it’s a way of experiencing the world. Drawn to the art of storytelling through sound, they find inspiration in the rhythm of everyday life: the cadence of a conversation, the hum of a city, the way silence holds as much weight as a symphony. Influenced by the work of legendary mixers like Mark Ulano, Scott D. Smith, and Simon Hayes, Silas is fascinated by the way sound can shape emotion, build tension, and bring a scene to life. Whether it’s the visceral, heart-pounding intensity of Whiplash, the raw, immersive textures of The Bear, or the expansive, otherworldly soundscapes of Dune: Part Two, they are drawn to projects where sound is not just a background element but a crucial part of the storytelling itself. Every production is an opportunity to listen deeply, to craft sonic environments that don’t just support the narrative but pull the audience into its very essence.
When you choose to work with Silas, you’re investing in top-tier audio quality and a professional dedicated to bringing your vision to life with clarity and precision.
Mark Trace
Creative Director – Production Designer – Set Designer
Mark ‘Trace’ Umstattd
Mark trace got his beginning in Film and Theater by attending The Juilliard School in New York City. After which he spent 10 years in front and behind the camera in various capacities as an actor, set designer, Film Maker. Mark stemmed away from Film to concentrate on set design and creative direction with various production companies in the Festival world. He’s done creative direction for ARC MUSIC FESTIVAL, LYRICAL LEMON, AND ELECTRIC FOREST. He has created and fabricated to art pieces that have been displayed and featured at Burning Man. And his worked on various tours, working production , 3-D rendering, and holograms.
His biggest inspirations are Es Devlin and Virgil Abloh. His aspirations are to create a blend of modern music, stage design, music video production in a modern aesthetic, that blends art, fashion, and film.
Atticus Kjarr
Director – DP – 1st AC – Producer
With a career rooted in collaboration and a passion for pushing artistic boundaries, Atticus Parker Kjarr is a multifaceted filmmaker whose career began in New York with Comedy Central and has since integrated him into the vibrant Chicago Film scene.
With a diverse skill set encompassing roles such as Director, 1st Assistant Camera, and Writer, Kjarr demonstrates a deep commitment to the craft of filmmaking both behind and in front of the lens.
Drawing inspiration from a wide range of filmmakers including Steven Spielberg, Sam Raimi, Buster Keaton, and Sidney Lumet and films such as Synecdoche, New York, The Kindergarten Teacher, Magical Girl, and All That Jazz, Kjarr’s cinematic influences span genres, styles, and many creative fields reflecting his eclectic taste.
Whether he’s capturing the energy of a live performance, or crafting immersive worlds for narrative fiction, from music videos, and television series to shorts, Kjarr’s portfolio showcases his versatility and dedication to the medium.
The only tv show I like is Vernon Chatman’s The Shivering Truth.
David Camargo
Camera Operator – DP – 1st AC – 2nd AC
David is a chicago based cinematographer whom started working as a broadcaster in WKYU PBS, where his everyday consisted of live sporting events, documentary and live on tape shows; he was part of the team that created emmy winning show Lost River Sessions, where often he worked as a camera operator and part of the lighting team.
Although he pursued a career in marketing which includes and MBA at Fau, his passion has always been in storytelling a narrative work. That passion moved him from south Florida to Chicago.
Since his arrival to the windy city he has been working in various commercial sets, documentaries and narratives.
David uses filmmaking as a voice of expression, telling stories that will be remembered. He loves seeing how far we can explore our minds to create something new. David draws inspiration from such Directors as Guy Ritchie, Vince Gilligan, and Rian Johnson. Some of his favorite shows and films include, Knives Out, RockNRolla, Lord of the Rings, One Piece, and Breaking Bad.
Charles Borg
Writer – Producer
Charles Borg is an award-winning writer/producer with an MFA in Screenwriting from Chapman University. His produced works include the feature films, Three Worlds (AppleTV, Amazon), MAN (Tubi – winner of the CICFF’s “Golden Fox Award”), as well as Young Ali (Winner: Best Feature at Berlin Indie Film Fest and Art Film Spirit Awards, Toronto) and Caiman (post production). He runs “Smash To: Script Consulting” and has worked with creatives from likes of Pixar, Disney, Bad Robot, Nasdaq Studios, and Circle of Confusion. Charles crafts feature film treatments, Bibles, and pitch packages, as well as ghostwrites feature scripts and pilots. He’s written v.o. for the Emmy-winning, Never Settle Show and the boxing docuseries, Knockout (Hulu), which he co-produced two seasons for FUSE and NUVOtv. Charles has worked as a professional script analyst for Stage 32 and The Writer’s Store, and he currently works as a development consultant and producer for Creative Cypher’s XLerator program – a 501c3 dedicated to assisting young filmmakers with the development, production and distribution of their film and television projects. Charles is also an educator, serving as Adjunct Faculty at Columbia College Chicago. Additionally, he’s taught at a variety of Chicago institutions including DePaul University, Roosevelt University, and Chicago Filmmakers.
Clay Kerr
Director – Assistant Director – DP – Producer
Clay’s journey in film production took shape amidst the glitz and glamor of Hollywood, where he had the privilege of working on the sets of hit shows like “Modern Family” and “It’s Always Sunny.” What set Clay apart in the hustle and bustle of the industry was his exceptional adaptability.
Then, the world was hit by a pandemic, and uncertainty loomed large. It was during this tumultuous time that the concept of “Adaptability” struck a profound chord with Clay.
Driven by a deep appreciation for individuality, creativity, and the unique talents within each of us, Clay made a significant decision. He bid farewell to Hollywood and returned to his roots in Chicago.
Clay’s mission is clear: to work closely with others to create video content that does more than just showcase their gifts and stories. He loves to craft content that resonates with the world while adapting to the distinctive personality traits, goals, and visions of his clients.
Some of Clay’s inspirations include Directors like Quentin Tarantino, Stanley Kubrick, Wes Anderson, and David Lynch. Some of his favorite films include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and 2001 A Space Odyssey.
Emmett Wickersham
Boom Operator – Sound Mixer – Violence Designer – Fight Director
Emmett is a transplant from Syracuse, New York who has set down roots in Chicago’s film and theater scene in a pursuit to create art based in the kinetic synergy between the two. After taking a two year hiatus from creative ventures during the pandemic he has reemerged with a new found passion understanding that tomorrow is a privilege we work towards today. He now seeks to create art that resonates with people looking to be nourished through all the senses at their disposal.
His journey started with the completion of a B.F.A in musical theater at SUNY Fredonia. There he found his love for Stage combat and Stunt coordination. He holds multiple certifications with the Society of American Fight Directors. Post pandemic he relocated to Chicago where he has nurtured his skills in sound mixing and capturing. Through the combining of these two disciplines he has also fostered a talent in foley artistry.
Creators that have inspired him are Martin McDonagh, Lucy Kirkwood, Eichiro Oda, and Chad Stahelski. The Stories that have affected his creative journey the most are One Piece, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, John Wick, and Rapture.
EXTENDED TEAM
Andrew Fetzer
PA – Filmmaker
Andrew is our PA, but offers so much more. He has several tricks up his sleeve to help set life move smoothly in any situation. This majestic workhorse is the glue that holds the set together. Andrew is also skilled filmmaker specializing in impactful visual storytelling. With a refined creative vision and a commitment to excellence, he leverages his expertise to produce compelling content that resonates with audiences. Driven by a passion for cinematic expression, he continues to elevate his craft through innovative and thoughtfully executed projects.
Gabriela Nicola
Sound Designer – Production Sound Recordist
Gabriela Nicola is a Sound Designer and Production Sound Recordist with a passion for telling stories through audio. Fueled by a deep love for sound and human-connection, Gabriela brings narratives to life by crafting immersive soundscapes that resonate emotion.
Fueled by curiosity, Gabriela began as a musician, performing songs live and becoming captivated by the technical side of sound recording. That curiosity naturally evolved into a passion for film when they began attending Columbia College Chicago for sound design, where they developed an appreciation for sound for film. Gabriela is adaptable and dedicated to their craft, they thrive on finding creative solutions to challenges and bringing a thoughtful, collaborative approach to every project. Whether on set or in post, they are committed to delivering high-quality work that supports the story and strengthens the connection between the audience and the screen.
Mikey Wilson
Boom Op – PA
Originally from a small town in Indiana, Mikey is a sound professional with a BA in Audio Arts and Acoustics from Columbia College Chicago. Since graduating, they’ve worked on various media, including Season 4 of The Bear. Deeply inspired by women in production and experimental filmmakers, including Patrushkha Mierzwa—one of Hollywood’s first female boom operators—and Lora Hirschberg, the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing.
Mikey has also had the honor of working under legendary Chicago mixer Scott Smith, an experience that marked a full-circle moment after hearing his name throughout college. These influences, along with a love for collaboration and storytelling, fuel Mikey’s passion for shaping stories through sound.
Driven by the magic of ensemble work and the reward of a completed project, Mikey draws creative inspiration from films like Donnie Darko, Little Miss Sunshine, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Ponyo, and Akira. Mikey brings a collaborative spirit and a creative sensitivity to every set that elevates the technical and emotional layers of sound.
We also have a dedicated team of Artist and Actors
In addition to our crew, we have also maintained an amazing relationship with several talented artist and actors. These unique people have the ability to take projects to new a level. After you secure a working relationship with LUMIN8 Productions, we will be happy to introduce you to The Artist Team as well.
Jennifer Gerstner
Makeup – Special FX – Styling
Jennifer Gerstner has been working as an artist for over 16 years, creating beauty looks for photo, film, and broadcast television. Her creativity seems to have no boundary, ranging from subtle beauty looks, to on camera horror film, and crime scenes. Working with actors, musicians, high fashion models, and consulting internationally, she brings our vision to life with absolute amazement.
Stella Soleil
Singer – Vocal Compositions
Stella Katsoudas is a Greek-American pop and rock singer better known for stage names Stella Soleil and Sister Soleil as well as having been frontwoman for Dirty Little Rabbits. Katsoudas most recently released the 2015 album Under a DubWitch Moon under the moniker DubWitch. Stella’s current project under her original name Stella Soleil, will launch again but fiercer than ever with a powerful new single, and album to follow starting in 2025. Stella vocal work can be heard in several films, including “Kiss The Girls” ( Morgan Freeman, and Ashley Judd), and “Underworld Awakening” (Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy). She has been featured on tracks for artists such as Nine Inch Nails, and