VINCE BEETON
FOUNDING DIRECTOR, FILMMAKER
Vince is passionate about meaningful, purpose-driven media. Humans Being Media was born out of his desire and commitment to tell the inspiring stories of the world’s change-makers, and to collaborate with other mission-minded humans.
Vince’s work as a director nurtures talent and provides a portal for authentic expression, creating a safe and empowered space for communication and enlivened living. His gift is to draw out passionate performances and present people and brands in their best light. His capacity for storytelling, and commitment to listening, help alchemize a story towards that monumental moment of truth and beauty.
Clients count on the diverse industry experience and technical ability Vince employs when creating a documentary story or sculpting a brand message. He has run his own production companies in the UK, West Africa, and the USA, and was employed by TwoFour, one of the top ten TV production companies and prestigious digital agencies in the UK. Vince has filmed primetime factual entertainment TV series, programs, and observational documentaries for the BBC, PBS, Nat Geo, Discovery, The History Channel, Sky and Netflix. His experience ranges from being a Director of Photography for 5 time Emmy nominated TV show Mythbusters, to being a trusted solo documentary filmmaker.
ALIA BEETON
FOUNDING PARTNER, PRODUCER, WRITER, EDITOR
Alia holds a BFA and Gold Medal in Dance, which is only relevant in that she now dances skillfully between the roles of producer, scriptwriter, video editor, production manager, art department, billing department, voiceover artist and casting director for the company. Having been an actor on stage and screen, she is comfortable in front of the camera but equally happy setting up lights and lugging grip. In whatever capacity she is put to use, she champions meaningful media and is committed to telling the stories that educate, inspire, and evolve culture for the good of all.
Outside of Humans Being Media, Alia is a mother, handywoman, and writer with a book of humor essays in the publishing pipeline. A multidisciplinary performer, she croons with a French-infused swing jazz band The Beguilers, performs sketch comedy and improv, and produces a popular monthly literary arts salon, Da Salon. She is an avid reader and podcast gobbler who loves to explore science, art, philosophy, psychology, spirituality, consciousness, culture, and how they all intersect. Her interdisciplinary areas of interest and expertise weave together to inform and energize the creative vision and implementation of our films.
JENNIFER GOLBUS
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGIST, PRODUCER
With over twenty-five years of experience, Jennifer combines her expertise in brand positioning, marketing strategy, public relations, writing, and creative expression to help purpose-driven people and organizations reach their marketing and communications goals. Her diverse background directing in-house communications teams, working at various PR agencies, operating as a consultant, and co-founding and running a PR agency has given her deep perspective and sharpened skills which greatly benefit her clients today.
Living with purpose, giving back, and embracing compassion, mutual respect and integrity are all values Jennifer brings into her work. Whether it’s crafting key messages or brand positioning, creating marketing materials, directing photo shoots or producing films, clients appreciate her vision, strategy, focus, creative solutions, good humor, and the sense of enjoyment and gratitude she brings to the process. She works in partnership with her clients to understand their goals, then creates a roadmap for achieving them.
When not producing films or creating marketing strategies, Jennifer volunteers for local causes, sits on committees that serve the community, parents two fantastic teenagers, and mentors women who want to make a positive change in their lives.
KIM HAWKINS
SENIOR PRODUCER
Kim is a seasoned producer and director who is passionate about collaborating on documentary films with a purpose. She loves to shape the creative, technical, and financial aspects of every film she works on. Kim is a creative problem solver. She thrives on the practical and creative challenges of filmmaking and makes things happen using her experience, humor and ability to connect with people of all kinds.
Kim is a Bay Area native whose travels as a senior producer for broadcast television have taken her overseas to Morocco, England, Romania and throughout the US. She has produced documentaries for the History Channel, Discovery Channel, IBM, and the San Francisco International Film Festival. Two of her documentary films received national Emmy Nominations and won Cine-Golden Eagle Awards. She wrote, produced, and directed in-house documentaries at IBM Almaden Research Center in Silicon Valley. She received an MFA in Film Production from San Francisco State University.
Kim is known for her big heart and is at her happiest when engaged with meaningful work. She is deeply inspired by the social entrepreneurship movement, and has been a part of the Kiva community providing Microloans to women globally since 2009, focusing on women starting their own businesses, going to school, and investing in the health of their communities and families. Kim brings optimism, a collaborative spirit and a lighthearted nature to our diverse range of projects. Having recently moved abroad, she now moonlights all the way from sunny Portugal.
HOLLY DUBKOFF
VIDEO EDITOR
Holly received a BA in Film and Video Production in 2007. She began a freelance career in LA editing TV promos and music videos, cutting her teeth for 5 years before hitting New York to take a staff job as an editor with one of the top ad agencies in the world, Ogilvy and Mather. Returning to LA, she worked as a full-time editor at Bodega Pictures and Frosting, editing reality TV shows and promos, and working on photo edits for Nicki Minaj's online clothing catalogue. Returning to Northern California in 2015 to support her mother through breast cancer, she was editor at EricksonStock and then in 2016 joined the Humans Being Media team.
Post-production has been the focus of her professional life, and after 15+ years of experience, she has mastered the fine art of picture cutting for film, television, and commercial video. She is known for her professionalism and speed, and is a stellar presence both in the edit suite and on set, with her grounded nature, easy humor, and kind heart. Holly’s passions include psychology, philosophy, film and art. Both professionally and personally, her greatest passion is to be of service and to establish meaningful emotional connections in order to better understand people from all walks of life.
VINICIUS BRANDÃO
MOTION DESIGN & VISUAL EFFECTS
Vini has been an integral part of Humans Being Media since its inception, shaping the production design and visual delivery for our clients. Based in Brazil, his early media career was as a video editor, which helps to intertwine strong narrative flow to his designs.
With a design-driven perspective, he helps to give meaning to the graphics and visual effects in our films. His talent, commitment and imagination allow us to manifest our client’s communication objectives into their real-world projects.
When not in front of the computer, you might find him riding his bike, climbing mountains, playing guitar with his band, and studying what he is passionate about- the arts and music.
JULIA MCDONNELL
ASSISTANT PRODUCER
Julia is a graduate of San Francisco State University with a bachelors degree in Cinema. She is passionate about filmmaking, art, and meaningful creative projects. Julia has been working with the special needs community for over six years as a behavioral therapist and takes immense pride in helping others and making a difference. On days off, she loves watching films, writing scripts, and being out in nature.