About the Filmmakers

D’arby Rose | Producer-Director

D’arby is an Oakland-bred camera woman, raised by Bay Area culture. She first picked up a video camera and self-taught to edit video by the age of eleven, spent endless summers learning how to be a feminist at Portland, Oregon’s Rock’n’Roll Camp for Girls and now uses these tools to dedicate her life to advocate for gender and racial rights through various works of art. In 2013, D’arby paired up with Nick Barks to create their first documentary and social movement, Oaktivism. When D’arby is not in the works of Oaktivism, she can be found conjuring up her new girl-empowered zine, cuddling Nick’s cat, reading endless women of color articles, or behind the camera somewhere in Los Angeles.  Her films and photography can be found at caseyroseproductions.com 

 

Nick Barks | Producer, Co-Director

Nick is a 2011 graduate of Columbia College Chicago, now living in Los Angeles. He spends his days in animation post production, and his nights as a fierce independent producer with a strong desire to enact social change with his work. He partnered with D’arby in 2013 to make Oaktivism, which is their freshman feature effort. Nick spends his free time volunteering with community HIV/AIDS organizations to educate his peers in the LGBT community about the disease. As a former worker in the medical industry and sexual minority himself, he is an advocate for gay, lesbian, and transgender healthcare rights.

 

Alex Jacobs | Associate Producer

Alex Jacobs is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker and writer. Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, he graduated from Columbia College of Chicago in 2011 with a degree in Film & Video. He now writes & produces content for decentmess.com and the Nerdist Showroom at Meltdown Comics in LA. His first short film, Snooze, was a finalist in AVClub.com’s 2012 Parameter Filmmaking Competition, and he continues to balance independent projects with a healthy video game addiction. You can see some of his work at alexjacobsmakesmovies.com  .