Award-winning production and post facility Cutters Studios hired or promoted a trio of talented women within the ranks of its Chicago office over the summer.
Associate Producer Natalie Stone graduated from Columbia College in 2013 with a degree in Post Production and several credits — including producer, editor and director — on the award-winning documentary short, Ripped.
Ripped is the story of Kris Lenzo, a man who lost both his legs after suffering a work accident when he was 19-years-old. Through discipline and perseverance, the kind and articulate survivor ultimately enjoyed life as a loving husband, devoted father, wheelchair athlete and dancer.
Stone’s goal in making the film was to “promote the empowerment of people with disabilities.”
She joined Cutters’ client services staff as front desk receptionist in 2015, after successfully completing internships with mcgarrybowen and Kartemquin Films. The thing that she values most about the company is that, “it’s an environment I look forward to being a part of every day.”
Assistant Editor Magdalena Hernandez is a native of Columbia who moved to the US in 2015 and earned a Masters in Cinema Post Production this past June.
She worked for several film organizations while pursuing her degree. Besides volunteering for La Redada Cultural Centre and Lucky Plush Productions, she served for nearly two years as a lead mentor with the Digital Youth Network.
Her reel is filled with a robust quantity of award-winning and notable work. She directed Rue, which was named Best Experimental Film at DePaul’s 2017 Premiere Festival. She also edited the dramatic shorts Kayla’s Light, an official selection of the 2017 Black Harvest Film Festival, and Dressed, an official selection at the 2017 Chain NYC Film Festival.
“The most valuable aspect of my experience with Cutters so far has been meeting and working with some of the most creative and innovative people in the industry,” she says. “It’s a great privilege to be able to learn from the best.”
Sales Associate Liz Slattery graduated with a B.S. in Telecommunication and an abundance of athletic achievements from the University of Florida in 2016.
During her four-year career as a midfielder with the Gators women’s soccer team, she played in 80 games and scored nine goals. Along the way, the team won three SEC tournaments.
Slattery also managed the social media networks for all Gator soccer programs.
She became a member of the Cutters’ team when Managing Director Craig Duncan brought her on to help manage the company’s participation in screenings and events like the Cannes Film Festival. She quickly earned the “amazing” distinction for her contributions to Cutters’ sales and marketing efforts.
“The industry I chose to pursue requires us to start at the bottom and work our way up,” she says. “So I set out to find a company that fosters growth and experience.”
