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John Kaul and Emily Haddad first met in 1980 when they
both worked for ITT - John as a lobbyist and Emily as an
attorney. After a few years they went their separate
ways, never imagining that their paths would cross
again.
Then, in a chance encounter in a Greek restaurant
fifteen years later, they discovered that they shared a
passion for story, music and imagery, i.e., FILM. They
bantered about the notion of someday doing a film
project together.
That possibility surfaced a year later with an
opportunity to collaborate on a documentary for
Washington County. Lightshed Productions was born!
Several years ago Emily
left her job as a corporate attorney at Wells Fargo and
went back to school to obtain both filmmaking and
screenwriting degrees.
She is an award-winning screenwriter; she was a finalist
for the 2006 McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship; and she
has written, directed and produced several short films
which have received positive attention from film
festivals, including the "Women with Vision" program at
the Walker Art Center and TPT's public television short
film series. Most recently, Emily Haddad won the 2008 Fresh
Filmmaker Grant and in 2009 was awarded a Jerome
Foundation film production grant.
In writing, directing and editing documentaries for
Lightshed, Emily Haddad combines her legal research and
analytical skills with the visual storytelling skills
she has developed during the past thirteen years. She
believes that providing essential facts while telling an
interesting visual story is the best way to convey the
complex issues of our time; and to explore the historic
events and individuals which have impacted our society
today.
John has been involved in
the development of state policy in Minnesota for four
decades.
From this experience he has gained insights into
messaging and the marketing of big ideas. John's long
involvement in policy making has given him access to the
people who have made the history of the state in the
last half Century. His skills and background have
allowed Lightshed documentaries to shape the debate
around issues like investment in public education,
transportation and budgetary priorities.
As an amateur historian John believes that through film
the actions and passions of great men and women can be
an inspiration and guide to future generations.
For the last fifteen years John's creativity has focused
on filmmaking and video production. Filmmaking allows
John to combine his love of history with his creative
impulses and visual sensibilities. John believes that
video combines the power of imagery with the passion of
narrative and takes advantage of this potential to
develop public support around the important issues of
our time.
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