:: About the Founders :: |
| Gary Hall Has been a writer and producer in television for such companies as STEPHEN J. CANNELL PRODUCTIONS, WARNER BROS. and CASTLEROCK ENTERTAINMENT for over 20 years. He has written and produced for 21 JUMP STREET, THE A-TEAM, and PENSACOLA: WINGS OF GOLD to name only a few. He also wrote and produced the HBO feature STRINGER. The son of a U.S. Naval officer, Gary graduated from UCLA with a degree in Motion Picture/Television. He began his career at 20th Century Fox as an assistant director trainee prior to moving to STEPHEN J. CANNELL PRODUCTIONS and WARNER BROS. He returned to 20th Century Fox in 1998 and is currently a Senior Vice President heading up post production for TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX TELEVISION. His department overseas an average of 30 television series and pilots per year. Among the series he oversees are "24", PRISON BREAK, THE SIMPSONS, MY NAME IS EARL, BONES, and THE UNIT. Gary is a current member of the Producer's Guild of America, Writer's Guild of America, and Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In addition to working in the television industry, Gary has also worked part time as a police officer for the Los Angeles Police Department for over 25 years with multiple commendations for bravery and service. He has worked such assignments as gangs, narcotics, homicide, and on several special assignments including the infamous NIGHT STALKER case. Hall is currently assigned to patrol. Police work, a side of life most people rarely see, has brought realism to his writing and compassion to his life. It has also served as an impetus for founding Hollywood Impact Studios. Gary lives in southern California with his wonderful, supportive wife. He has two children, both of whom are grown and married, and a one-year old grandson.
|
Cyndi Hall
Having picked up the violin as an adult in my late thirties, I never dreamed I would be performing as a studio musician in Hollywood. As a child I had always admired those kids who were selected in the fourth grade to play the violin. I can still remember on many occasions as I was walking to my friend’s
house stopping along the way to listen to one of those young violinists practicing very diligently. Oh how I wished it was me.
In the fifth grade I picked up the clarinet, but I couldn’t read the notes so faked my way through performances. I also tried the guitar and piano, but found I had a very difficult time again reading notes. Not being able to read music, I gave up. I figured the only way I could enjoy music was by listening to others.
As an adult, I loved music. When my kids were young we spent many hours singing and dancing to many popular tunes as well as kids praise music. I wanted my kids to enjoy music and experience music first hand. Both were very musical, my son on the viola and my daughter in voice, and both performed in
worship at our church – Grace Baptist. How I loved to watch them worship in song! I told my son one day my desire to have played the violin as a child. He was in Jr. High at the time and said, “Why don’t you pick it up.” I was a single mother at the time and was suffering from an illness that the doctors couldn’t figure out. My joints were swollen and I could hardly walk, it was difficult enough trying to work (I was teaching developmentally disabled adults at the time). The doctors told me to get used to my situation because I might be this way for the rest of my life. It was at this time I picked up my son’s violin and with much encouragement from him, I taught myself for the first month. I didn’t know it at the time, but God was teaching me courage and perseverance. He was also teaching me to trust Him with what seemed the impossible.
Soon I was taking lessons with my now dearest friend Sharon Cooper, and within eight months I was playing violin in our church orchestra alongside my son on viola and my best friend Sharon. Yes it was very challenging and I found myself often in tears and sitting at our piano sounding out the notes
and finding them on my violin because I did not know the different positions on the violin and my ear training was nothing to write home about. Yet through hard work, discipline, and yes many tears I
pressed on knowing that God was teaching more than the violin. He was teaching me about myself, Him and growing me closer to Him through every situation.
Well, within four years I was performing in my first symphony orchestra and teaching beginning violin. After six years I was taking music classes and in my tenth and eleventh year I began playing in musical theater, and became a studio musician. At a time in life when most musicians are retiring…I was just
beginning! Oh, I still struggle with health issues from time to time and I still struggle with sight reading. But I know God’s plan for me…not to become a famous violinist, or even a Hollywood Musician. His plan is for me is to grow closer to Him and to be a living testimony to others of who God is through what He has done in my life. And it is because of what He has done in my life and the music He has given me that I play to honor and glorify Him…and Him alone.
Symphonies and Orchestras
Grace Baptist Orchestra
The Masters’ College Orchestra
Valley Symphony
Moorpark Symphony
CSUN Orchestra
Red Cross Benefit Orchestra
Chamber Music and Theater
CHICO Chamber Orchestra
Escape Theater
Footworks Youth Ballet Orchestra
Ventura Baroque Chamber Orchestra
Television and Film
Walter Murphy Orchestra
Ron Jones Influence Orchestra
Seth McFarlane Special on FBC – Live to tape variety show
American Dad
Family Guy
King of the Hill
Cleveland
Education
BA Psychology, CSUN
BA Music, CSUN in progress
Violin Instructors and Coaches
Miwako Watanabe
Diane Gilbert
Leslie Katz
Sharon Cooper
 |
