LIGHT HOUSE STUDIO

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Pronouns: She/Her

Deanna has worked extensively in film. As head of production for Cinesite Europe she successfully completed special effects work for films including Harry Potter I and II, Bond XX Die Another Day and Tomb Raider. Early in her career, Deanna produced numerous television commercials for major US clients. Her awards include Addys, a Clio, and numerous medals from the International Film and TV Festival of New York. Before becoming Light House’s staff Executive Director in September 2009, she was a board member and mentor for three years.

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Pronouns: She/Her

Kristen has been involved in the local performing arts community for over 20 years. In 2008, she co-produced the first student-run dance production at Piedmont Virginia Community College. Her recent stage credits include playing tap-dancing groupie Columbia in PVCC’s The Rocky Horror Show (2015) and the Stepmother/Madame in Four County Players’ Cinderella (2023). Kristen served as Entertainment Director for the Charlottesville Pride Festival from 2015-2016 and 2018-2019. She brings a decade of professional experience in Office Administration for PBM Capital Group, Investure, and Bluestem Asset Management. Kristen joined the Light House team in December 2021 and is excited to be working with the local film community!

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Pronouns: He/Him

Will Goss is from a very small town called Clarksdale, Mississippi – also known as “Home of the Blues.” Will studied English literature at the University of Georgia, but it wasn’t all Dickens and Shakespeare…he was also in a lot of bands. His favorite one was called Plume, and it’s still alive today. After graduating from Georgia, Will moved to Chicago to study filmmaking at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. What a city! The school took his love for the cinema to the next level, and his interest in filmmaking and film history has only grown since then. After three years of teaching film in Jackson, Mississippi and two years of teaching English in Russia, Will is now in Charlottesville, VA!

GRAPHIC DESIGN AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Pronouns: He/Him

Zach Hall is excited to join the Light House Studio team in Charlottesville. With a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Masters degree in Digital Communications from Old Dominion University, along with extensive experience in the music industry, Zach is well-prepared to enhance Light House Studio's communications. His dedication to merging digital communications with creative strategies ensures he will bring valuable expertise and fresh insights to the role.

Fun Fact: Zach has previously contributed to Light House Studio’s summer programs as a Teaching Artist.

ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR

Pronouns: She/Her

Lindsey has recently returned to Charlottesville and is excited to join the Light House Studio team! After studying arts administration and dance at the University of Virginia, Lindsey completed a master’s degree focused on arts education at NYU’s Gallatin School for Individualized Studies. For the past ten years, she has worked with arts, community, and youth-focused initiatives in Charlottesville, New York, and Boston.

PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Pronouns: She/Her

As Program Director at Light House Studio, Rachel Lane supports emerging filmmakers in the Charlottesville community. Her background in studio art, film production and teaching has provided her opportunities to connect and grow with others through storytelling. Lane earned her BA in studio art from the University of Virginia, where she concentrated her art practice in cinematography and new media. She received her MFA in film, video, animation and new genres from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and had the opportunity to teach film production courses at UW-Milwaukee and the University of Virginia before joining the Light House Studio team.

EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Pronouns: He/Him

Zack is a Charlottesville native who grew up making movies with his friends around town before leaving to study filmmaking at NYU. After graduating, he worked as an independent producer, screenwriter and editor. His short films Live a Little and Dear Lucas played in festivals around the world and his feature-length screenplay Sight Unseen won the New York Screenplay Contest’s Grand Prize for Comedy. Zack taught youth filmmaking at the New York Film Academy and in NYC public schools. He recently returned to Charlottesville with his wife Sam and their corgi Simon.

TEACHING SPECIALIST

Pronouns: She/Her

A native of Roanoke, VA, Kayla started in high school writing and directing theater. After high school, she earned her B.A. degree from James Madison University in the School of Media Arts and Design in 2019. Throughout her career as a filmmaker and now educator, Kayla has had the opportunity to work on a variety of short films, feature films, and commercials.

Her work has earned her several awards, including Best American Director and Best American Film at the Cannes Film Awards, Best Director at the Women's International Film Festival, and more. Kayla credits her faith and community for her creative inspiration and strives to be an avenue in the film industry for others to find their voice and share their stories.