Our Goal
The LEIA Education Committee is dedicated to sharing the skills and experiences of immersive creators in order to advance the form of immersive art. By gathering experts in their respective fields, we create opportunities for collaborative learning at affordable price points. Offerings to date include workshops from creators such as Tara O'con and Marissa Nielsen-Pincus (Then She Fell, Grand Paradise), Justin Fix and Daniel Montgomery of Just Fix It Productions (Creep LA, The Willows), and Genevieve Gearhart and Julianne Just of The Speakeasy Society (The Kansas Collection, The Johnny Cycle).
The Committee
Transparency is important. We encourage members of the community to reach out to the LEIA Education Committee at any time to learn more about our work.
Here are our members:
Matthew Bamberg-Johnson (LEIA Education Chair)
Matthew Bamburg-Johnson earned his B.A. in Theater and Dance from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received his MFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts, where he gained a broad range of experience in Dramatic and Comedic roles for stage and screen. In addition to his work with LEIA, Matthew serves as an artistic director of The Speakeasy Society, a Los Angeles based immersive entertainment company specializing in creating intimate ad epic works in unexpected places. Matthew also serves as Program Coordinator for the Performing Arts Department of ISANA Academies, a collection of charter schools in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Spencer Williams
Spencer Williams is the Creative Artistic Director for Walk the Night Prods. Past works include a 5-year, 5-part series of open-world installments for The Blue Barn Theatre. Ongoing Los Angeles productions include boutique 1-on-1 pieces The Guest & The Host: Make Music and Tales By Candlelight. He is a graduate of The University of California-Irvine's Dramatic Direction program, where mentors Keith Fowler (UC-Irvine Director Chair) and Bill Rauch (Cornerstone Theatre, O.S.F., The Perelman Center) formed the basis of educational outreach programs that have grown alongside Walk the Night as a production company.
Adam B. Finer
Adam B. Finer is a passionate advocate and guide for students, creative artists and visual storytellers. Mr. Finer has spent much of his over 25-year career gaining a deep understanding of the inner workings of the entertainment, media and technology industries and of those that create in it. As an executive, literary manager, producer and consultant, Mr. Finer has been involved with studio films, independent feature films, television shows, Internet programming and many other areas of the entertainment and new technology fields. As an Executive in Market Research at Universal Pictures, Mr. Finer worked on some of the studios biggest box-office and Franchise successes. After leaving Universal, he became a Literary Manager where he guided the successful career paths of Writers and Directors. He has also been a consultant for companies and individuals advising on areas including: Business Development, Marketing and Branding, New Product Development, Public Relations, Crowdfunding and Social Media Strategy. Mr. Finer produced three Syfy Channel Original Movies and is currently in development on Television shows, Feature Films and Transmedia productions. Nearly 20 years ago Mr. Finer discovered one of his other great career passions, teaching. He teaches topics including: Marketing, Branding, Navigating the Entertainment Industry, the Business of Screenwriting, New Media, Crowdfunding and Professional Development. Mr. Finer was instrumental in the development of New York Film Academy's Screenwriting Department's groundbreaking Transmedia track. He also helped develop New York Film Academy's Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Master of Arts in Screenwriting. Mr. Finer founded the Industry Outreach and Professional Development Department for New York Film Academy and was Associate Chair of Screenwriting where he worked with students and alumni as they transition from student to the professional world. Currently Mr. Finer oversees the school’s Online Program and is a member of multiple curricular committees as well as the hiring committee for the Screenwriting Department. Mr. Finer has been a panelist and moderator at events including: San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon, Stan Lee's Comikaze, Screenwriters World, Story Expo, Emerald City Comic Con and at schools including Columbia College, UCLA and California State Long Beach.
The LEIA Education Committee is dedicated to sharing the skills and experiences of immersive creators in order to advance the form of immersive art. By gathering experts in their respective fields, we create opportunities for collaborative learning at affordable price points. Offerings to date include workshops from creators such as Tara O'con and Marissa Nielsen-Pincus (Then She Fell, Grand Paradise), Justin Fix and Daniel Montgomery of Just Fix It Productions (Creep LA, The Willows), and Genevieve Gearhart and Julianne Just of The Speakeasy Society (The Kansas Collection, The Johnny Cycle).
The Committee
Transparency is important. We encourage members of the community to reach out to the LEIA Education Committee at any time to learn more about our work.
Here are our members:
Matthew Bamberg-Johnson (LEIA Education Chair)
Matthew Bamburg-Johnson earned his B.A. in Theater and Dance from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, and received his MFA in Acting from the California Institute of the Arts, where he gained a broad range of experience in Dramatic and Comedic roles for stage and screen. In addition to his work with LEIA, Matthew serves as an artistic director of The Speakeasy Society, a Los Angeles based immersive entertainment company specializing in creating intimate ad epic works in unexpected places. Matthew also serves as Program Coordinator for the Performing Arts Department of ISANA Academies, a collection of charter schools in the Greater Los Angeles area.
Spencer Williams
Spencer Williams is the Creative Artistic Director for Walk the Night Prods. Past works include a 5-year, 5-part series of open-world installments for The Blue Barn Theatre. Ongoing Los Angeles productions include boutique 1-on-1 pieces The Guest & The Host: Make Music and Tales By Candlelight. He is a graduate of The University of California-Irvine's Dramatic Direction program, where mentors Keith Fowler (UC-Irvine Director Chair) and Bill Rauch (Cornerstone Theatre, O.S.F., The Perelman Center) formed the basis of educational outreach programs that have grown alongside Walk the Night as a production company.
Adam B. Finer
Adam B. Finer is a passionate advocate and guide for students, creative artists and visual storytellers. Mr. Finer has spent much of his over 25-year career gaining a deep understanding of the inner workings of the entertainment, media and technology industries and of those that create in it. As an executive, literary manager, producer and consultant, Mr. Finer has been involved with studio films, independent feature films, television shows, Internet programming and many other areas of the entertainment and new technology fields. As an Executive in Market Research at Universal Pictures, Mr. Finer worked on some of the studios biggest box-office and Franchise successes. After leaving Universal, he became a Literary Manager where he guided the successful career paths of Writers and Directors. He has also been a consultant for companies and individuals advising on areas including: Business Development, Marketing and Branding, New Product Development, Public Relations, Crowdfunding and Social Media Strategy. Mr. Finer produced three Syfy Channel Original Movies and is currently in development on Television shows, Feature Films and Transmedia productions. Nearly 20 years ago Mr. Finer discovered one of his other great career passions, teaching. He teaches topics including: Marketing, Branding, Navigating the Entertainment Industry, the Business of Screenwriting, New Media, Crowdfunding and Professional Development. Mr. Finer was instrumental in the development of New York Film Academy's Screenwriting Department's groundbreaking Transmedia track. He also helped develop New York Film Academy's Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies and Master of Arts in Screenwriting. Mr. Finer founded the Industry Outreach and Professional Development Department for New York Film Academy and was Associate Chair of Screenwriting where he worked with students and alumni as they transition from student to the professional world. Currently Mr. Finer oversees the school’s Online Program and is a member of multiple curricular committees as well as the hiring committee for the Screenwriting Department. Mr. Finer has been a panelist and moderator at events including: San Diego Comic Con, WonderCon, Stan Lee's Comikaze, Screenwriters World, Story Expo, Emerald City Comic Con and at schools including Columbia College, UCLA and California State Long Beach.
