The people of Timeline Productions

DAN SHANAN – DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

Born in Haifa , Israel , Dan Shanan settled in New Zealand in 2003. He founded Timeline Productions Limited, a film company making documentaries for broadcasters, festivals, and private and corporate client (www.timelineprods.com).

A short documentary Ma-kara at Makara directed by Dan and Alex was screened at the Warsaw International Jewish Film Festival (2004), the Jewish Film Festival in Jerusalem (2004), and DOCNZ 2005. The film covers the desecration of Jewish graves in Wellington and examines the reaction of the local Jewish community and the politicians' response to it.

Dan produced and filmed a feature length documentary A Stage of Mind, about two stage actors as they play out on the theatre of life as they come to terms with growing old. It premiered in Israel at the 21st Haifa International Film Festival (2005) and at DOCFEST - Festival Di Palazzo Venezia in Rome , Italy (2006). The film has been picked up for world-wide distribution. Dan is now in production of a new feature length documentary, Musical Chairs (working title).

Dan lived for 8 years in the United States and has a Bachelor of Arts (Communication Studies) (Hons) from University of Missouri Kansas City and won the Alex and Josephine B. Coleman Communication Department Scholarship. In 1999, Dan moved to the Netherlands and enrolled at the University of Amsterdam to read a Masters in Film and Television.

ALEX LEE – DIRECTOR/PRODUCER

An Asian New Zealander, Alex is an entertainment lawyer by training. He is also on-screen talent in feature films, television shows and television commercials. He was previously a Writer/Presenter on The World Today, a prime time nightly English language current affairs programme screened on Asia TV in Hong Kong as well as having produced and hosted radio programmes. In 2000-2001, Alex produced/directed instructional videos for the Institute of Professional Legal Studies based on re-enactments/depictions of legal and court room practice. In 2002, he returned to do a Masters of Creative & Performing Arts (Film & TV Drama Directing) at the University of Auckland and graduated with First Class Honours in September 2004.

Alex received a grant from Creative New Zealand to make Wong Cha Cha, a short film which Alex wrote and directed, finishing in February 2004. He has also been a line producer for overseas television and commercial productions.

Alex set up Tsunami Management Limited, a talent agency and Tamarillo Films Limited (previously Escapade Films Limited). He has also joined Timeline Productions Limited and Smiley International Documentary Film Distribution Limited as a Director.

In 2003, he founded and set up the Asia Film Festival Aotearoa, a Pan-Asian film festival with the 1st festival being held in February 2004 (www.anzfft.org.nz). As a Trustee for the Asia NZ Film Foundation Trust, he is organizing workshops and seminars on film-making.

Alex is also a Co-Founder, Director and Trustee of DOCNZ Trust with its critically acclaimed flagship DOCNZ International Documentary Film Festival.(www.docnz.org.nz).

A short documentary Ma-kara at Makara directed by Alex and Dan has been screened at the 2004 Warsaw International Jewish Film Festival, the 2004 Jewish Film Festival in Jerusalem , and DOCNZ 2005.

Currently, he is finishing post production on the feature films The Last Magic Show and Song of the Hunted both of which he was the producer. He was recently elected as an executive Board Member of the Screen Directors Guild of New Zealand.

He is also teaching teach Production Management to the Masters students at the University of Auckland .