People

"Connection to people and the ever changing market drew me initially into the real estate profession—which I loved. But when I began helping out at MK, I found something else: the excitement and challenge that comes from combining my business and personal skills in a creative environment! It opened up new avenues, new things to learn, an office environment like no other I had experienced. I feel like this is what I was meant to do."

Susan Amory hails from the North suburbs of Chicago. After graduating from Kenyon College, Susan became a jack of all trades working in banking, sales, and marketing. Her diverse background employed by large and small companies, financial institutions and sales/marketing led her to a world of entrepreneurship.

1998 was a significant year for Susan: she met and married Darren Weninger who worked in the film industry and gave her first introduction to this business as she freelanced as a Production Coordinator. But this connection was to come to fruition years later….

For over ten years she was one of the top sales associate for Coldwell Banker when a new business challenge opened up. MK Films Group was adding directors and needed a marketing person. She began just helping out in the overwhelmed marketing division and gradually began to take on all aspects of film production management. Now she is the President of MK Films Group, managing the company and the careers of five directors. Her affinity for personal contact and her business savvy meshed into the perfect career for her.

• 2011-present MK Films Group, President & Marketing Director
• 2001-present Coldwell Banker Consistently ranked in Chicagolands top 10 for closed sales each year
• 1998-2001 Frontera Foods
• Sales, Marketing and Promotion: celebrity Chef Rick Bayless food lines and Television Cooking Show: Mexico, One Plate at A Time
• 1998 Freelance Production Coordinator: Various Chicago Film Production Studios
• 1996-1998 Northern Trust Bank, Personal Trust Assistant
• 1996 Bachelor of Arts, Kenyon College, Ohio / Psychology Major

"Way back in college...and I am not mentioning any dates, I was studying medical technology. When I took the standard aptitude test that DePaul University offered, the administrator asked me why I was studying this field. She told me that I tested highest by far in business and that creative work was right next to it, that everything else fell way behind. She thought that I would either end up working in business with a creative hobby or...perhaps would end up in the business end of creative industry. I thought she didn’t know what she was talking about."

Noreen Szeluga has spent the last 30 years of her professional life managing the careers of film directors, specifically tabletop directors! She started with Peter Elliott, one of the premier tabletop shooters that defined the genre, in 1983.

She learned the industry from the ground up, working as script, video assistant, assistant director, producer…all while handling the bidding and studio management. As the business grew, so did her role as Executive Producer.

It was while working at Peter Elliott Productions that she observed a crew member who quickly moved up to working on the lighting for Peter Elliott…Mark Klein.

Years later, when MK Films was opened, Noreen came on board as Executive Producer and she has been with the company ever since.

She considers herself lucky to be in an industry that is the perfect combination of business and creativity. Maybe that counselor way back when knew what she was talking about!

• MK Films Group Inc. 2004 - present
• Big Deahl Productions 2000 - 2003
• Peter Elliott Productions 1983 - 1999
• Certified Public Accountant Certified 2/16/1984
• Northeastern Illinois University BA Business and Management
• Concentration: Accounting

"I love getting in close on an object and exploring it...watching the interaction of light with shape...reveling in the textures and shadows. I love the way film can slow things down and catch what the eye can’t... I have always been fascinated by how film captures it all and makes it magical...”

Director/Cameraman Mark Klein, a native Chicagoan, graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1986 with a BFA in photography, film, and video. His early career was that of a freelance print photographer. In 1990, Mark began working for Peter Elliott, the premier tabletop film director at that time. He spent the next several years under Peter’s tutelage, learning the ropes of motion film cinematography. He started as grip and video assistant, but when his lighting ability became apparent, he moved into position of gaffer for Elliott. In 1996, Mark Klein began his directing career under the Peter Elliott Production’s banner and he continued there until 2000.

Kraft gave Mark his first shot at tabletop food. He has developed long standing relationships with many food accounts including Arby’s, KFC, Steak N Shake, IHOP, Bob Evans, Popeyes, Baskin Robbins, Long John Silver’s and others. All experience Mark’s technique for bringing food to life. His American Egg Board is an example of breakthrough camera work. Bush’s Beans, Snickers, Quaker, Yoplait, Hillshire Farms, and Starkist are among the food companies that have worked with Mark and, yes, Kraft still comes to MK!

The years since have shown that Mark’s talent with film and affable personality keeps clients coming back and new ones joining them. His first foray into Beauty work for L’Oreal led to Revlon, Olay, Pantene, Neutrogena, Maybelline, Cover Girl, Clairol, Herbal Essence, John Frieda, Curelle and others. eCreative Search, an internet film industry service, called him a “Liquid Asset” for his work with liquids ranging from beer and cola to other forms like creams and lotions. Mark continues to push the envelope with Coors, Coca Cola, the liquid chocolate of Nestle Crunch or amazing water shots in his Beauty work which continue to redefine what can be done.

Mark Klein is recognized as a world class talent, drawing national and international clients to MK Films for his unique tabletop magic. Mark Klein and his wife, Mary Wagner, live in Chicago. The Indiana-Lake Michigan shoreline is where you can find them in their freetime, enjoying ecology and their botanical interests.

“I grew up surrounded by advertising; my father was an art director at the same agency for 30 plus years.  As I graduated from college, I was drawn to the production side of the industry. Tabletop intrigued me and I immersed myself in the process of bringing life to food or inanimate objects in the world of tabletop production. Utilizing light, various camera angles and technology my goal is to showcase a client’s vision and bring the sensation of beauty to the product.“

Darren grew up just north of Chicago, and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1991.  Immediately after college his film career rocketed when he started working at Big Deahl Productions. In 2004 his cosmetic directorial debut brought strong client acclaim. Darren’s motivation, artistic talent combined with extraordinary attentiveness to client’s ideas and details has fostered long standing agency relationships to this day.

Darren’s strive for excellence and an outstanding production team brought Darren to MK Films Group in early 2005.   Since then, he has worked on hundreds of advertising campaigns including many abroad as far reaching as Japan.  Darren’s extensive experience, comprehensive understanding of the production process, and creative enthusiasm enables him to showcase and boost product images for a variety of media outlets.

When not in the studio filming, Darren enjoys sailing, fly fishing, and a variety of outdoor activities; not to mention trying to keep up with his wife and two active boys!

"Directing people is about connection, trust and sensitivity. I can’t imagine doing this work without focusing entirely on people…understanding their insecurities, needs, and strengths. Eye contact, conversation and affirmation are essential. I don’t even walk onto set unless I know everyone’s name and enough about them to make them feel seen and validated. If the talent trusts me and feels safe, getting their performance is the easy part. I want every person on my set to feel respected and regarded and when this is achieved, anything is possible."

Award winning filmmaker Ky Dickens, directed the highly acclaimed documentary Fish out of Water, which was a breakout success on the festival circuit, winning four juror prizes and securing international distribution immediately after its release. Her current documentary Sole Survivor was ranked by PBS at one of the top ten films to watch out for in 2012. Most recently, Ky joined forces with Rock the Vote & Equality Illinois to write and direct the Vote Naked Illinois campaign, which gained national media attention and a segment on FOX News’ O’Reilly Factor. Last winter, her short cell phone video about an abandon snowman was chosen as the “Yahoo! Holiday video of the Year” in the United Kingdom. In the fall of 2010, Ky was selected as a Documentary Juror for Chicago’s Reeling Film Festival. She’s also served as a panelist on film festivals around the country. Her talent naturally bleeds into directing lifestyle commercials and she has shot spots for a variety of clients from Long John Silvers and Yale University to Sargento Cheese and Rock the Vote.

“My inspiration comes from the recesses of my mind... I don’t see it around me or in nature...it’s the opposite in fact. I like to mix an everyday object or material with an unexpected action, I like to take it from its natural element and juxtapose it with a highly stylized environment. I want the viewer to first be surprised by the action and then comes the recognition to really imprint it in the viewer’s mind.”

Mike Nakamura splashed onto the scene with his elegant, dark work for Belvedere Vodka and hasn’t looked back since. His expanded repertoire now includes joyful play of light and motion for a broad range of clients in a multitude of tones. At times zesty and colorful, or moody and subtle, Mike’s range and sensitivity to his subjects is evident to clients who trust him to express the character of their brands. His creative process bubbled up right here in Chicago where he grew up. He attended Columbia College, first working in print and then later, through his experience with Peter Elliott Productions, moved into film.

“To create a seamless work of art, infused with humanity, that communicates powerfully—that is my passion.”

Michael’s natural eye for the human touch, for the heft and weight of his subjects makes his work rich, warm and compelling. His approach—which is attuned to realistic human gestures and the beautiful surprises that real life serves up—brings a sense of ease and cohesiveness. His journey as a director has been greatly influenced by working with master tabletop directors like Mark Klein, to achieve high-level results.

Michael Ognisanti began working at MK Films in 2004 under the guidance of Mark Klein. While initially honing his craft as a motion control operator he soon began assistant-directing and shooting under Mark Klein. A native of Michigan, Michael received a visual and media arts degree from Michigan State University in 2002. When he is not busy with the commercial production world, Michael spends his time playing music for his wife and three kids.