Company Bios
ROB LEVINE
Grateful Films Co-founder Rob Levine has been a production executive in the film and television industry for the past fifteen years. A native New Yorker and graduate of Columbia University and NYU Film School, Rob has worked for a variety of production companies including WOLF FILMS (Emmy Award Winning Producer of the LAW & ORDER franchise), NEW LINE CINEMA, and NBC/UNIVERSAL where he ran three-time Emmy Award winning actor Peter Falk’s production company. While working for Mr. Falk, Rob was responsible for developing the last three COLUMBO movies for ABC. A voting member of the Television Academy of Arts and Sciences and a Steering Committee member of the Caucus for Producers, Writers, and Directors , Rob has also produced and directed a variety of music videos, commercials, television pilots and indie film projects and has written more than a dozen screenplays and teleplays including the inspirational golf movie SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA starring Academy Award Winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo. In 2011, Rob received a Telly Award as Producer of the Mortal Kombat 3D game trailer.
MARK G. MATHIS
Grateful Films Co-Founder Mark G. Mathis has over 20 years of hands-on production experience. He co-produced the critically acclaimed PRECIOUS, which won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as well as Best Screenplay and was nominated for Best Picture. It also won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Best Director. Mark recently produced the inspirational golf movie SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA (starring Academy Award Winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo), and Mike Polish’s last two films, BIG SUR and HOTBOT. Mark also produced the Sundance hit BRICK which was released by Focus Features and for which he was nominated for the 2006 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award for Best Producer. Mark’s other past producing credits include the Sundance hit THE DRY LAND, Lee Daniels’ TENNESSEE starring Mariah Carey, CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER WOMEN starring Helena Bonham Carter and Aaron Eckhart, and the Slamdance Grand Jury Winner GOOD HOUSEKEEPING. Mark also served as First Assistant Director on the Sundance hit WAITRESS and John August’s directorial debut THE NINES. He is currently producing THE IDENTICAL in Nashville.
MATTHEW RUSSELL
Matthew is one of the hottest young directors in Hollywood having recently completed his first feature film, SEVEN DAYS IN UTOPIA. As a first time Director, Matt received much more than he ever could have hoped for when Academy Award winners Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo signed on to the project. The star-studded cast also included Lucas Black (THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS), Kathy Baker (EDWARD SCISSORHANDS), Deborah Ann Woll (TRUE BLOOD), Brian Geraghty (THE HURT LOCKER), and Jerry Ferrara (ENTOURAGE). On set, Matt quickly earned the reputation of being a gifted visual storyteller with an uncanny knack for getting the most out of his actors. The film also utilizes world-renowned PGA golfers and commentators from the Golf Channel. Prior to directing, Matt cut his teeth in the VFX world on such films as LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD, EPIC MOVIE, NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM, CHARLOTTE’S WEB, ZATHURA, FINAL DESTINATION 3, and BLADE TRINITY. Matt also brings an Emmy nomination for his early television directing experience in the documentary realm. In 2009, Matt was invited to speak at the Sundance Film Festival along with several other “generation next” writers, producers, directors and creative forces.
