Mark W. Koch
Filmography, Author, Speaker
Mark Koch was born in Detroit Michigan, and is a graduate of Northwood University. In 1992 he founded Prelude Pictures and quickly found a home at Paramount Pictures in Hollywood, CA. Koch's first film titled, Judicial Consent, was a HBO world premier and set the HBO February ratings record.
Koch soon became a powerful force in Hollywood with two major box office hits. 'Lost in Space', the $90 million big-budget blockbuster that knocked Titanic from the number one spot while setting a box office record for the highest April opening of a motion picture ever. Three weeks later, 'Black Dog', an action-adventure film that teamed Patrick Swayze with country music legend Randy Travis and Rock and Roll heavyweight Meat Loaf debuted. Prelude Pictures enjoyed two major motion pictures in the top ten of both box-office and home video revenue at the same time and remained on the top ten charts for four consecutive weeks.
In 2003, Mark accepted the challenge from Mel Gibson and his Icon Productions to assist in the promotion and marketing of “The Passion of the Christ”. Prelude partnered with several charitable, non-profit and faith-based organizations to build a coalition of more than 50 groups that marketed and sold advance tickets for “The Passion of the Christ”. Under the direction of Koch these strategic partnerships garnered the support of millions of moviegoers and helped propel “The Passion of the Christ” to a record-breaking opening.
In April 2006, Koch headed back to Hollywood and in only six short months, The Perfect Game went into production in the fall of 2006. This true story of the 1957 Little League World Series and the rag-tag barefoot team from Monterrey, Mexico was Koch’s first picture in almost 10 years.
Mark’s current passion is promoting and distributing his book “The First Hour” for men. A 30-Day study guide and journey to bring men back to a daily relationship with God. His mission: If You Heal the Man... He Will Heal His Family... The Family can Heal the Nation! His goal is to give away one million free copies of the book by yearPromise Keepers 2019 Relaunch Promo Real
https://thefirsthour.com/about-mark/
The Huckabee Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQJ9ZSOclw&feature=youtu.be
Hollywood's Comeback Kid ...
He also remains heavily active in his new Non-Profit the “United Men of America”, a National Christian Men's Movement.
Additionally, Mark has reignited Prelude Pictures and is currently in active development on a slate of several “Morally Responsible Message Based” feature films.
Joe Battaglia
Renaissance Communications
JOE BATTAGLIA is the founder and president of Renaissance Communications, a media company whose mission is to provide media platforms for gifted communicators of Biblical truth.
Renaissance’ forte is consulting with clients on the most strategic ways to penetrate the faith-based market, especially through Christian radio--whether by buying time, program production or by creating promotions and unique, high-profile events for national syndication.
Joe is an executive producer of the nationally syndicated radio program “Keep the Faith,” the #1 faith-based music radio show in the country, heard nationally in over 200 markets and numerous countries overseas with a weekly audience of 1.5 million.
Renaissance has been heavily involved for the past 20 years in the promotion of successful hit movies to the faith-based marketplace, including The Passion, The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, The Polar Express, Facing the Giants, Fireproof, Courageous, Soul Surfer, Son of God, God’s Not Dead, Heaven Is for Real, War Room, Miracles from Heaven, I Can Only Imagine, Overcomer, American Underdog, Jesus Revolution, Sound of Freedom, and Ordinary Angels.
Before forming Renaissance in 1992, Joe was vice president of Communicom Corp. of America, the parent company of WWDJ/ New York, WZZD/Philadelphia, and KSLT/San Antonio. Joe served on the board of the Gospel Music Association (GMA) for 20 years, and 14 years as Chairman of the Steering Committee for the National Christian Radio Seminar (now renamed CMB), a division of the Gospel Music Association. He currently is on the board of National Religious Broadcasters and HOPE MEDIA.
Joe graduated magna cum laude from Boston University with a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in 1972. He is the author of six books, including Make America Good Again; Unfriended: Finding True Community in a Disconnected Culture; and The Politically Incorrect Jesus.
In the past, Joe has written a weekly blog for Beliefnet entitled “The Politically Incorrect Jesus”, and was a guest columnist for U.S. News & World Report for two years writing a series of op-ed pieces written from a faith perspective. Joe has had op-ed pieces published, as well, in Foxnews.com and Christian Post.
HOWARD A. (“Howie”) KLAUSNER
Producer and Writer
HOWARD A. (“Howie”) KLAUSNER is a 25-year writer and producer of film and television. His career began with the Clint Eastwood blockbuster, SPACE COWBOYS, followed by five years at Warner Brothers as a production rewrite specialist.
Most recent produced credits include REAGAN, the biopic of our 40th president starring Dennis Quaid and Jon Voight and directed by Sean McNamara, released worldwide summer of 2024, THE SECRET HANDSHAKE starring Kevin Sorbo and Amy Grant also directed by Klausner, SOUL SURFER starring Dennis Quaid, THE IDENTICAL, starring Ray Liotta and Ashley Judd, and THE LAST RIDE, starring Henry Thomas and Kaley Cuoco. His latest script PETER is in pre-production, directed by Alejandro Monteverde (The Sound of Freedom).
Mr. Klausner is the founder and president of I-40 Studios in Nashville, a film development and production company focusing on heroic, inspirational stories for all audiences, in creative alliance with top country and pop music artists, labels, and publishers. He lives in Franklin with his wife Heather, zooming constantly with three daughters in college around the U.S.
Tyler Michael Smith
Composer
Tyler Michael Smith was born and raised the Nashville area where he began learning to play the piano at the age of five. During his teenage years, he began writing and producing material of his own. He has since composed original music for commercials, short films, documentaries, and theatrical feature films including “90 Minutes in Heaven,” Capernaum Studio’s “Washington’s Armor” and Karen Kingsbury’s “Someone Like You.”
Tyler’s work as a composer and an arranger is diverse with a large number of clients including companies such as Sony Pictures, Carmike Cinemas, Lifetime, Coca-Cola, Cinemacon, and NBC Universal. In addition to his scoring and arranging work, Tyler has also toured as a keyboard player for his father Michael W. Smith, 4HIM, and Guy Penrod. He is also a Dove Award-nominated producer, having worked with artists spanning multiple genres.
As a devout follower of Jesus Christ, Tyler and his wife Sarah both share a love and passion for music and seek to use it as a tool to glorify God and reach others. In addition to serving as worship leaders in their home church, they have also traveled overseas to minister to the evangelical church of Italy. Tyler currently resides in the Nashville area with his wife Sarah and their five children.
Gregory E. Seneff, SR., ESQ.
The Seneff Law Office
Greg Seneff has spent a lifetime involved in music. He started out singing, playing drums, producing audio and video, radio DJing, promoting concerts, working as a roadie, a booking agent, and working as a music buyer for a retail outlet.
When he realized that his passion included helping those in creative roles, he went to law school at the age of 30 with 2 young sons and a wife at home. His sole intent was to pursue a career in entertainment law. He has been practicing law for 32 years. Though his practice is based near Nashville, Tennessee, he represents clients located across the United States and internationally.
When first entering the private practice of law Greg was soon sought out by the president of a record and music publishing company and hired as the “Director of Legal Affairs.” Subsequently, he was approached again to serve as “Director of Business Affairs” at a different recording and publishing company. He has served as General Counsel for The Gospel Music Association and The Christian Music Trade Association, as a board member with the non-profit Touchstone Youth Resource Services, as an advisory board member to Christian Activities Magazine, and as a member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame Committee.
Greg has taught as an adjunct instructor at the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University, at the Middle Tennessee State University’s Recording Industry program, as a guest speaker at Belmont University, and as a seminar presenter at numerous music conferences across the country.
Greg drafts, reviews, and negotiates contracts and licenses (recording, production, music publishing, management, booking agent, mechanical, synchronization, book publishing, film/video documents, book contracts, literary agent agreements, video talent agreements, and others), assists in the registration of copyrights, trademarks, and service marks, and engages in litigation for the enforcement of contracts, defense of contract breach claims, royalty and fee collections, fraud, infringement, and other actions related to entertainment law fields, small businesses, and probate.
Greg is the producer of Music BizTM Vol.1, an educational project for artists and songwriters that contains 13 hours of audio information and approximately 400 pages of printed information.
He often writes columns and contributes responses to music discussion boards on issues of music business and law. Greg is host and co-producer of the podcast Artist InsiderTM and has been a guest on other podcasts. He is currently planning the launch of his own audiobook publishing venture.
This year (2024) Greg will be initiating a mediation company to assist with the resolution of conflicts between creatives, entertainment businesses; small businesses and their clients or vendors; between real estate brokers; churches and parishioners; and between individuals.
Greg and his wife have been married 41 years and spend as much time as possible with their grandson. He is also active with nonprofits Gideons International and Project Appleseed.
Laura Ann Gray
Owner/Artistic Director at Excelsior Studios
