ABOUT LUNACY

At Lunacy Productions, we feel the best ideas are always a little crazy. An independent production company with offices in Los Angeles, CA and Louisville, KY, we aim to discover emerging storytellers, collaborate with established filmmakers, and create content that resonates with audiences for years to come.

Stu Pollard

Stu Pollard

Founder / Producer

Harris McCabe

Harris McCabe

Director of Development / Producer, THE MAN WHO KNEW BELLE STARR

Alexandra Reinnoldt

Alexandra Reinnoldt

Producer

Dan LeVine

Dan LeVine

Post-Production Supervisor

Derek Sepe

Derek Sepe

Sound Mixer / Sound Designer

Clay Ostrom

Clay Ostrom

Strategist (Map & Fire)

Brandon Sparks

Brandon Sparks

Social Media Coordinator

Coleman Alford

Coleman Alford

Assistant Coordinator / Development

Alana Maiello

Alana Maiello

Content & Marketing Manager (Reunacy)

Kate Duncan

Kate Duncan

Intern

Nash

Nash

Director of Doggy Business

Charlie

Charlie

Director of Sleepy Time

The Lunacy Team

 

Stu Pollard

Stu Pollard

Founder / Producer

Stu has produced 10 films in his home state of Kentucky, including survival thriller RUST CREEK, powerful high school drama AND THEN I GO, and bowling comedy SPLIT. He has produced more movies outside the Bluegrass as well. These include the uproarious Jack Quaid & Maya Erskine wedding rom-com PLUS ONE, Syrian refugee documentary THIS IS HOME, and docu-drama FREELAND, starring Krisha Fairchild & Academy Award Nominee Lily Gladstone. Stu has also directed two features: romantic comedy NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE and suspense drama KEEP YOUR DISTANCE, both set against a vibrant Kentucky backdrop.

Pollard’s production company – Lunacy – has numerous projects in development as well. Among those are: WE’RE HAUNTED, a horror comedy about dysfunctional roommates confronting an evil spirit; THE MAN WHO KNEW BELLE STARR, a riveting Western-infused revenge drama; THE TRESTLE, a supernatural thriller revolving around an infamous Kentucky legend; ALAS, BABYLON, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on the classic novel; and WONDERDOG, a southern comedy based on the novel by Inman Majors.

Also an entrepreneur, Stu has spearheaded a number of other creative endeavors over the years, including the event planning app Reunacy, online educational platform LunacyU, nostalgic web series The 80’s Emporium, and philanthropic non-profit organization Trunacy. In the Spring of 2024, Stu partnered with comedian Jim Gaffigan to create and launch Fathertime Bourbon.

Stu holds a BS in Business from Georgetown and an MFA in Film from USC, is a member of the DGA and PGA, and serves on the boards of the Louisville Film Society, the Horse Farm Workers’ Educational Assistance Fund and GU’s Alumni Board of Regents. He splits his time between LA and Louisville and can frequently be found traveling with his financé Amy and their doxiepoo Nash.

Harris McCabe

Harris McCabe

Director of Development / Producer, THE MAN WHO KNEW BELLE STARR

A Connecticut native, Harris earned BA’s in English and Political Science from Southern Connecticut State University while working as a film critic for the New Haven Register. He relocated to Los Angeles to earn his MFA in Film and Television Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, where he focused on writing, directing, and editing. Harris currently serves as Lunacy Productions’ Director of Development, working with writers and producers to strengthen Lunacy’s slate and discover exciting new content.

At Lunacy, Harris oversees numerous projects in development, including the riveting two-hander THE MAN WHO KNEW BELLE STARR (based on the award-winning Richard Bausch short story and adapted by RUST CREEK writer Julie Lipson), the bourbon-soaked caper comedy THE BARNABY LEGACY (written by David McCraken and David Haskell), BEGIN RIVER ROAD, a family drama based on a Chris Bohjalian best-seller, and ALAS, BABYLON, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on Pat Frank’s classic Cold War era novel.

Harris is a 2024 recipient of the Nicholl Fellowship, a prestigious award administered by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was one of 5 writers selected from a pool of over 5500 applicants for his achievements in his original script NAT CADY’S BOYS.

Along with a keen eye for recognizing riveting and pertinent stories, Harris is also a talented artist, frequently contributing his storyboarding skills to the ongoing development process, and overseeing the LunacyU Blog.

Alexandra Reinnoldt

Alexandra Reinnoldt

Producer

Alexandra discovered her passion for filmmaking while studying for her Bachelor and Master of Science in electrical engineering at the University of Southern California. She took elective courses in film studies and quickly fell in love with the filmmaking process. After working full-time in engineering, she returned to USC for her MFA in Film and TV Production.

While she no longer works as an engineer, Alexandra still thinks like one in terms of creative problem solving, and it has served her well in handling film projects restricted by time, money and other resources. At Lunacy, she assists in developing projects on their slate, including narrative / documentary features, ad campaigns, and educational content. She helped launch the online learning platform LunacyU with its first class “Indie Film Financing,” as well as Jim Gaffigan’s brand Fathertime Bourbon.

Along with producing, Alexandra also works as a production sound mixer and post-production sound editor. In 2019 and 2022, she was selected as a sound mixer for the Sundance Directors Labs, and in 2023 was selected for the inaugural NFL Films: Women In Sports Filmmaking Experienceship. Since 2022, Alexandra has served on the executive board for the Louisville Film Society and became Festival Director for the annual Flyover Film Festival.

Born and raised in Sacramento, California, Alexandra always participated in track and cross country. Eventually, she completed the Los Angeles Marathon and decided 26.2 miles was more than enough.

Dan LeVine

Dan LeVine

Post-Production Supervisor

Dan is a writer, editor & director. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Daniel graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film & Television Production and has a BS in Advertising from the University of Florida.

In his role as Lunacy’s Post-Production Supervisor, Dan oversees the creation of all editorial content. He is also Lead Editor on all projects, and has edited dozens of commercials, music videos, web series, educational videos, sizzle reels & behind-the-scenes videos. Dan worked on RUST CREEK as the Assistant Editor & was the Post Supervisor for Behind-the-Scenes content. In Spring 2024, he served as the editor for Fathertime Bourbon, working closely with co-founders Jim Gaffigan & Stu Pollard to create engaging & humorous content for the brand launch.

A man of many hats (both literally and figuratively), Dan also serves as a Social Media Coordinator, spearheads Lunacy’s Internship Program & runs Lunacy’s Online Shop. Also a talented writer, Dan is involved in Lunacy’s Comedy Development department, and has written for various projects, including many episodes of The Eighties Emporium.

His films have won awards at the Tampa Bay Jewish Film Festival, the National Mature Media Awards & the National Telly Awards. He also won a Student Emmy while still in high school. In his spare time, Daniel can be found frequenting used bookstores, rockhounding, or performing musical improv comedy in LA.

Derek Sepe

Derek Sepe

Sound Mixer / Sound Designer

Derek is a sound mixer, sound designer, and re-recording mixer. Though he hails from Washington state, Derek has lived in Boise, Los Angeles, and now Louisville. He graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Film & TV Production and has a BA in Mass Communication with a Minor in History and Political Science from Northwest Nazarene University. With over a decade of experience in sound for film, he has worked on projects that have screened at Sundance, SXSW, TIFF and major VOD platforms.

At Lunacy, Derek focuses primarily on all things sound-related and serves as the in house audio engineer but, it doesn’t stop there; he is also a producer – currently involved in the development of ALAS, BABYLON, a post-apocalyptic survival parable based on Pat Frank’s classic Cold War-era novel.

Derek serves as Board Member for the Louisville Film Society and is the Kentucky Representative for IATSE Local 492. Furthermore, as a former NCAA Division II athlete he also fulfills his passion for track and field as an assistant coach at Trinity High School for Boys in Louisville.

Clay Ostrom

Clay Ostrom

Strategist (Map & Fire)

Clay has over 15 years of experience in brand, marketing, strategy, and research. In addition to helping passionate business leaders grow strong brands , he’s a regular contributor to Foundr Magazine, teaches brand strategy lectures at UCLA, and has worked with companies like Google, Emory University, Sony, and Universal Pictures.

Clay’s primary focus is on brand strategy, customer research, and copywriting. In the past, he’s worn lots of hats from Executive Producer, to Designer, to Head of Product. He’s also enjoyed an unofficial Account Services role where he carefully honed the craft of client therapy.

With the Lunacy team, Clay helps with research and strategy for all the brands to make sure everything from the copywriting to the design stays connected with their target audience.

When not doing mental gymnastics, Clay likes spending time with his amazing wife and son, hiking, surfing, and watching things that make him laugh.

Brandon Sparks

Brandon Sparks

Social Media Coordinator

Brandon is a writer, director, podcaster, and producer. Originally from Tuscaloosa, AL, Brandon developed his love for storytelling and filmmaking amidst the diverse Southern landscape. He graduated with a BA in Telecommunication and Film from the University of Alabama before attending the University of Southern California where he graduated with an MFA in Film and Television Production. At Lunacy, he primarily focuses on social media and content development, specifically directing for our Eighties Emporium channel on YouTube.

His films have been shown at various film festivals, including Sidewalk Film Festival, Black Warrior Film Festival, and Austin Film Festival. His screenplays have also placed at such competitions as Screencraft and Shore Scripts. In his spare time, Brandon works as a freelance writer. He also hosts and produces the CineNation Podcast, a weekly podcast that consistently ranks within the top 50 film history podcasts in the United States and internationally.

Coleman Alford

Coleman Alford

Assistant Coordinator / Development

Hailing from Louisville, KY, Coleman earned his BS in Creative and Entertainment Industry Studies from Belmont University. What drives his passion for storytelling is not only the pursuit of a greater understanding of the human condition, but also the intersection of creative expression and box office success.

At Lunacy, he engages in script coverage, administrating metadata from the company’s many films, and research. Coleman has also assisted in the growth of the LunacyU online platform. When he’s not working he can be found enjoying Los Angeles’ many arthouse cinemas, devouring Pink Berry, and hiking. Some of the films that inspired Coleman’s entrance into the industry include MILDRED PIERCE, LA LA LAND, THE FAREWELL, and ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN.

Alana Maiello

Alana Maiello

Content & Marketing Manager (Reunacy)

Alana Maiello is a multifaceted director, producer, writer, marketing strategist, and interviewer. Alana fuels her passion for storytelling by managing the content, marketing, and social strategy for Reunacy.

Alana is data-driven in her approach, while always observing the internet trends to discover how to best serve our audience of family reunion planners. Some of her responsibilities include editing social media videos and writing blog posts focused on family reunions and event planning. Alana also served as a social media coordinator for RUST CREEK, and has contributed a number of interview posts to the LunacyU Blog.

With a deep passion for independent filmmaking, Alana recently served as the Marketing Manager and Interviewer for the 2024 Palm Springs International ShortFest. Alana also worked as a Production Coordinator for Rory Kennedy’s feature documentary DOWNFALL (Netflix). Alana’s short documentary ESFUERZO, which she wrote, directed & produced, won the Audience Award at the 2018 Oceanside International Film Festival. In her upcoming feature documentary film (Winner of the Audience Award at DocLands DocPitch 2022), Alana explores the journey of spirituality and resilience for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. When she’s not obsessing over movies, Alana is spoiling her dog Coconut, writing and hiking with her husband, and enjoying the sunshine of California!

Kate Duncan

Kate Duncan

Intern

Kate is a writer, director, and aspiring producer. Originally from Louisville, KY, she spent time in Chicago earning her BFA in Film & Television with a concentration in Screenwriting from DePaul University. Before focusing on film, Kate had a career as a content creator on YouTube. She’s worked with companies including Awesomeness TV, Seventeen Magazine, and skincare brand Alba Botanica.

Prior to her time at Lunacy, Kate worked as a development intern at ACE Entertainment (XO, KITTY, & TO ALL THE BOYS I’VE LOVED BEFORE) and in talent management at Moxie Artists (now, Rebel Creative Group).

At Lunacy, her roles include social media management, email communications, general admin & research.