Alex DeBenedetto was born in Hoboken in 1985, the youngest of four children. His interest in creating media began during his adolescence, when, with the help of his brother, he began to play and record music. While at Hoboken High School, he began to play guitar in a number of bands, most notably Lost Cause. After high school, Alex attended the Institute of Audio Research, in Manhattan, to hone in on the fundamentals of audio recording and post-production. After graduating, he transferred to New Jersey City University, where he majors in media arts. Alex is a senior on the brink of graduation – BA in Media Arts, 2011 - and along with working in a deli, has begun recording a long time envisioned LP.

Michael Ford was born in Summit, New Jersey. He is currently a student at New Jersey City University, and is majoring in media arts with a focus on filmmaking. Mr. Ford’s work often deals with the struggles of people living in the 21st century. His work also includes traditional narrative films, and experimental work that focuses on the subconscious mind.

Raul Garcia was born in Jersey City, New Jersey and graduated from the Media Arts Department of NJ City University in 2004. Raul is an accomplished writer and poet and works as a writing tutor for the Opportunity Scholarship Program at NJ City University. His work has been screened at Millennium Film, NYC; the annual Media Arts Department Showcase at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater in Jersey City, NJ; the Hoboken Historical Museum; and the Jersey City Museum. He studies in the Media Studies program at New School University, and has an active practice in experimental film/video production. He continues to immerse himself in the study of avant-garde film.

Brenton Goheen is a senior at New Jersey City University and is expecting to graduate in Spring 2011 with a BA in Media Arts. He is a Dean's List recipient and a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society. Mr. Goheen's work includes experimental films and videos, which deal with confronting residual societal conditioning from the 20th century. His work has been screened at the Landmark Lowe’s Jersey Theater, the Hoboken Historical Museum, and the Jersey City Museum. In 2010, Brenton received an honorable mention in the New Jersey Young Film and Video Makers’ Festival.

Loredana Gasparatto was born in Bassano Del Grappa, Italy. The daughter of an ex-nun and an inventor she began performing at the age of seven both in dance and theater. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts in Milan, where she took part in modern dance and theater productions. After winning a scholarship and studying musical theater at the Bernstein Musical Theater School in Bologna, she moved to New York City and attended the Lee Strasberg Institute and the Susan Slavin Actor’s and Singer’s Academy. She began studying filmmaking at New Jersey City University’s Media Arts Department by making videos and short films. She is currently finishing her first feature length screenplay and is writing a treatment for a psychological thriller about love and the supernatural, based on the lives and works of Roman Polanski and Michael Bulgakov. She graduated with her BA in Media Arts in 2010.

Justin Fred McGrady was born and raised in New Jersey and currently resides in Newark. Fred entered the Media Arts program at New Jersey City University in 2005, and found his true calling in video production. Fred has worked as a student assistant in production services for the department for a number of years and is planning to graduate with his BA in Media Arts in 2011. Fred is always in search of a new way to express his creativity in film and video.

Elizabeth Morchel was born in Jersey City, NJ in 1987. She graduated from New Jersey City University with a B.A in Media Arts in May 2010, and is currently working as a teacher in Jersey City. Ms. Morchel’s work includes experimental film and video and deals with manipulation of the medium itself. Her films also question gender roles and the sexuality of young women. Her work has been screened at the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theater in Jersey City. In 2009 she received an honorable mention in the New Jersey Young Film and Video Makers’ Festival.

Daniel Rose was born in Newark, and raised in East Orange, NJ. He graduated from Union County College in 2000 with a certification in multi-media development and continued his studies as a Media Arts major at New Jersey City University, where he graduated with his BA in media arts. Daniel is currently attending graduate school at CUNY Hunter College where he studies web design, web programming, graphic design, and media arts. His work has been exhibited in previous URBAN IMAGE showcases as well as in graduate showcases at Hunter College. Daniel has done freelance media work for AmeriCorps and for The Mind Alliance program at Hunter College.

Kimberly Wepner was born and resides in Bayonne, New Jersey. She is currently pursuing her long time passion for a career in the entertainment field. She has completed her undergraduate coursework requirements in the Media Arts Department at New Jersey City University and is looking forward to internships in the film and television industry. She is a Dean’s List recipient and expects to graduate with her BA in Media Arts in 2011.