Akanksha is a writer and filmmaker based in New York City. Originally from India and having grown up in Saudi Arabia, Akanksha moved to the States in 2008, getting a BA in Physics and Creative Writing from DePauw University and an MFA in Cinema Directing from Columbia College Chicago. She trained in improvisation and sketch comedy at The Second City, iO Chicago and Annoyance Theater Chicago. Akanksha is passionate about telling stories from underserved communities and using humor to make them accessible.

Felicia is a producer and filmmaker born in the Midwest and raised in Southern Africa. As a recipient of the UWC Davis Scholarship Award, she studied film and creative writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and creative producing at Columbia College Chicago. Felicia is the co-founder of Third Space Films, a production company based in Chicago that supports underrepresented filmmakers. She is also the Director of Development & Production at Questar Entertainment, a global full-service digital, OTT, production, acquisition, and distribution company.

Luke Dyra is a Chicago-born, Nashville-raised Director of Photography based in Los Angeles. A culmination of his passions in photography, dramatic arts, and cinema drove Luke to attend Columbia College Chicago where he graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with a concentration in Cinematography. After six years in Chicago, Luke made the jump to the West Coast, where he now spends his time working to create unique visuals for clients, ranging from niche narrative works to high-end commercials.

Cassie Kramer grew up in Texas. A lifelong athlete, she switched pursuits from the sports arena to acting during her college years at the University of Chicago. She graduated from the Conservatory at The Second City and most recently studied at RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art) in London. Cassie has acted in numerous Commercials and Industrials and continues to perform sketch comedy and Improv. After college, she began her professional acting career in Chicago by booking a small role in the 2012 pilot episode of "Chicago Fire". She also appeared in its offshoot, "Chicago P.D.", and will be seen in a featured role in the upcoming indie film - Charles Matthau's "The Book of Leah." Cassie can be seen in Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” and most recently worked on Michael B. Jordan’s “61st Street” and an upcoming holiday movie entitled “A Christmas Witness” for Ion Television.

Sophia Rafiqi is an actor/comedian born and raised in Chicagoland. After graduating from Northwestern University, Sophia began training at iO Chicago and The Second City, most recently earning a spot in NBC Universal's Bob Curry Fellowship. She can be seen improvising at iO Chicago and performing in and producing original sketch comedy throughout the city. Recent credits include NBC Universal's Breakout Comedy Festival and acceptance of her original web content into the 2017 New York Television Film Festival. Sophia grew up with a dance background, training for 12+ years in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, contemporary, and modern dance, and is also fluent in Urdu and Punjabi.

Simon Hedger recently moved to Chicago from the United Kingdom, where he worked as a theatre maker / producer, actor and educator, including lecturing in Shakespeare and Heightened Text at Paul McCartney's Liverpool Institute for performing Arts. He holds a BA (hons) in Theatre Arts from Bretton Hall. In the U.S.A., television includes DETROITERS for Comedy Central (forthcoming). Theatre includes THE AUDIENCE (Timeline Theatre), understudy roles for SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and START ME UP (a workshop performance for The House Theatre of Chicago).