ROBERT DAVI (Director/Co-Writer/Producer)
THE DUKES is Robert Davi’s feature-length directorial debut. Davi is one of the most instantly recognized actors in the world. His body of work includes over 60 films, in which he’s collaborated with prominent directors and producers such as Ang Lee, Steven Spielberg,Richard Donner, Joel Silver and Albert R. Broccoli.
His long love affair with cinema began as a child when he was first introduced to Italian Neo-realism. Davi, whose parents were both descendants from Italian immigrants, grew up watching Italian films and is heavily influenced by the storytelling of legendary directors such as Federico Fellini, Vittorio de Sica, Pier Paolo Pasolini, Luchino Visconti and Roberto Rossellini.
He received a drama scholarship from Hofstra University, and went on to study with Stella Adler for 3 years in New York. He is a member of the prestigious Actor’s Studio, is trained in classical opera and has amassed over 700 stage performances, from Shakespeare to Beckett.
JAMES ANDRONICA (Co-Writer)
Robert Davi penned THE DUKES with long-time friend and collaborator James Andronica, whom he met on the set of “The Gangster Chronicles.” Andronica has written several screenplays for cult director Paul Williams and such stars as Edward James Olmos and Sean Young.
MICHAEL GOI, ASC (Director of Photography)
Michael Goi, ASC traces his interest in filmmaking to the day he saw an 8 mm prints of “Dracula” and “Frankenstein” projected on a wall of a friend’s house when he was seven years old. Goi convinced his parents to buy him an 8 mm camera which he used to make movies with the help of neighborhood kids. He did odd jobs and saved enough money to upgrade to a 16 mm Bolex camera when he was 14. After graduating from high school, Goi enrolled at Columbia College in Chicago and began shooting PBS documentaries while he was still in college. After graduation in 1980, he shot local commercials and documentaries. Goi also opened a still photography studio, concentrating on fashion and product shots. He shot “Moonstalker,” his first narrative film in 1987.
Goi moved to Los Angeles during the early 1990s, and has compiled nearly 40 credits, including films for cinema and television screens. Goi was nominated for the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Outstanding Achievement Awards for the telefilms “The Fixer” (1999) and “Judas” (2005). His credits also include the new David E. Kelley show “The Wedding Bells,” and the feature films “Cut Off,” “Fingerprints,” “Red Water,” “What Matters Most,” “Who Killed Atlanta’s Children?”, “Christmas Rush,” “Funky Monkey,” “Welcome to Death Row” and the Emmy® Award-winning documentary “Fired-Up: The Story of Public Housing in Chicago.”
NIC. tenBROEK (Composer)
Raised in Berkeley, California, Nic. began his musical education with piano lessons at age 9. While still a student at Berkeley High School, Nic. was teaching and playing professionally. After high school Nic. accepted a scholarship to The Juilliard School, majoring in performance and composition. Between his studies and performing professionally in both jazz and classical settings, Nic. was also the recipient of the prestigious Lincoln Center Award.
As a studio musician has has performed with a diverse range of artists including the Pointer Sisters, Santana, Herbie Hancock, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Gladys Knight, the Jacksons, Patti LaBelle, the O’Jays, Tom Jones, Cher, and the San Francisco Symphony. As a composer, Nic. has created scores for feature fi lm, network television, and documentary fi lms. He has also composed works for the Kronos String Quartet, Turtle Island String Quartet, Metrepol Orchestra, and a full-length ballet based on Louis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass.”
As a producer and arranger Nic. has worked with such artists as jazz singer Nancy Wilson, Bobby McFerrin, Les McCann, and Warner Bros. artists Reel Big Fish. In between his film and televisioncprojects, Nic. and Grammy award winning producer Val Garay have joined forces and are busy producing for a variety of recording artists and record labels.