Team
Sandy Salas — Director / Writer / Producer
Sandy Salas is a queer, gender-nonconforming Mexican American filmmaker whose work explores family, identity, memory, and the complicated stories we inherit. She holds an MFA in Screenwriting from the AFI Conservatory and a BA in Research Psychology from California State University, Long Beach.
For more than two decades, Sandy has worked across independent film, documentary, television, branded content, and digital media as a writer, director, producer, and production and post-production leader. Her career has included creative and production leadership roles at Tastemade, POPSUGAR, and ATTN:, as well as work on unscripted television and independent film.
Her feature documentary Into the Storm grew out of her own family's experience with domestic violence and the 1995 murder-suicide of her parents. Told from inside the family, the film brings together intimate interviews, family archives, present-day footage, landscape, and original illustrated animation as Sandy searches for a deeper understanding of the histories and patterns that shaped them.
Into the Storm has received support from organizations including the Sundance Institute Documentary Fund, Firelight Media, Fork Films, the Kendeda Fund, NextPix/firstPix, and the California Community Foundation.
Dwjuan Fox :: Producer
Dwjuan Fox brings more than twenty years of producing experience to Into the Storm. He has over thirty-five film and documentary credits, including four Sundance Film Festival premiers.
A former Tank Commander in a forward-deployed U.S. armored battalion in Korea, Dwjuan later obtained his master’s degree in producing from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Blending the discipline and logistics of his military service with his creative passion, he has successfully filmed in over thirteen countries. He brings extensive experience in independent film financing, production, and delivery.
Richard Venezian - Producer
Richard is a bicoastal producer with a background in post production that spans over a dozen years. He has served as a DI producer for both Netflix and YouTube Red projects. Originally from Queens NY, Richard moved to Los Angeles in the early 2000's in pursuit of a career in film. His journey began as a warehouse clerk for a post house rental vendor, where he worked his way up the ladder to learn all aspects of post production on his way to a senior management level with various Hollywood-based post houses. He is passionate about mental health advocacy as well as the art of storytelling, which drew especially close to this particular project. When he's not behind a computer his primary focus is being a loving husband and father.
Gilbert Salas :: Director of Photography
Gilbert Salas, a native of El Paso, Texas, and a descendant of Mexican American roots with ancestral ties to the Tarahumara/Yaqui peoples of the Southwest (US) and Northern Mexico, discovered his passion in Los Angeles. Starting in the art department, he progressed through sound, grip, and electric, ultimately finding his calling as a director of photography and director.
His work spans documentaries like "Trudell" and "Sailing The Master Home," showcased at Sundance, and narratives like "The Hunted" and "Hogstooth," featured at Cannes and ScreamFest. Gilbert's creative vision extends to commercials for brands like Facebook, BMW, and Mastercard, as well as music videos and immersive experiences. With decades of experience, Gilbert continues to redefine visual storytelling, leaving a legacy of inspiration and excellence.
David Waldman - Director of Photography
David’s work in HD on the films, “Embryo” and “June and Orlando,” earned him the Emerging Cinematographer Award in 2005 and 2006 from the International Cinematographers Guild. “Embryo” also earned him a Best Cinematography award at the 2005 HDFest. David worked with Director John Landis on the Emmy Award-winning, “Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project” and shot “Yoo-hoo, Mrs. Goldberg!” for Peabody Award-winning Director Aviva Kempner. He shot the feature film, “Beach Kings” for MGM and was the DP on the Starz Network series, “Head Case.” He has also shot numerous commercials and music videos throughout the US and Japan. David received his MFA in Cinematography from the American Film Institute in 2001.