Laura Asherman, Director/Cinematographer
Laura Asherman is a documentary director and cinematographer based in the US South. As the owner of Forage Films, Laura has directed and shot documentaries for notable clients including VICE and HBO, and worked extensively on documentary projects in Central America, East Africa, and Asia. Laura is drawn to making character-driven films about quirky people, family legacy, and corporate greed. Her recent work includes the award-winning documentaries The Home Team (2019) and Power Lines (2018).
Tushar Singh, Producer
By day, Tushar Singh works a 9-5, but for the past seven years, his nights have been consumed with a search for meaning through stand-up comedy. His cultural identity struggle was sparked by a traditional Indian family upbringing in the Bible Belt of Alabama. Tushar hopes that the American Hasi Comedy Tour will help him piece together his identity and dual cultures.
Court Sullivan, Producer
Court Sullivan is the founder and editor of Points in Case, a literary humor site. He has worked closely with hundreds of writers since 1999 to publish over 15,000 satire and comedy articles for 50 million readers. Court's stage fright has long fueled a healthy obsession with the behind-the-scenes production of stand-up comedy.
Nitesh Sapra, Producer
Nitesh Sapra is a partner with NitNeil Partners, an Atlanta-based real estate development company. He spends much of his professional time traveling and seeking out new investment opportunities. He has also embarked on a new creative journey in film, his other passion. As a fellow confused Indian-American from Alabama, Nitesh hopes to learn from Tushar's experience.
Neil Sapra, Producer
Neil Sapra is also a partner with NitNeil Partners. His passion and skillset for "creation" paired with his "Desi" upbringing in Alabama compelled him to take an active role in American Hasi. Neil is currently on the Board of the Atlanta Chapter of Entrepreneur’s Organization and holds an MBA from Emory University and a Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University.
Tim Vece, Editor
Tim Vece is the creative director at Outback Editorial in Atlanta. Telling stories is his forte. Whether it's a funny anecdote about his rooster, the scoop on what's going on in the industry, or an explanation of how seahorses mate, storytelling is just in his blood. He has over 25 years of editing experience, loves comic books, and has recently started learning guitar.
Jamey McDaniel, Sound Recordist/Camera Operator
Jamey McDaniel is an Atlanta-based musician and photographer. He plays guitar in multiple bands and manages The Laughing Skull Lounge comedy club in Midtown Atlanta. Prior to relocating to Atlanta in 2005, he studied audio engineering at MTSU and SAE Nashville, a skill he now freelances with, often to make comedy albums.
chaitanya Dahagam, Executive Producer
Being born, raised, and educated in Alabama, Chaitanya Dahagam has seen everything Alabama has to offer—the good and the bad. As such, he understands what it means to be an Indian, an American, and an Alabamian. He shares this unique identity with only a lucky few, including Tushar, who he's know since high school.
Ashok Thotakura, Executive Producer
Ashok Thotakura is a Huntsville, AL-based business owner and long-time friend of Tushar.
Graham Sheldon, Executive Producer
Emmy award winner Graham Sheldon resides in southern California USA where he works as a producer, director of photography, and sales agent for indie films. Highlights of Graham's documentary work include: NBC's The Island with Bear Grylls; Sinking Nation; Echoes from Chernobyl, Cuba: An Island Apart; Inheritance (PBS); The Agency: Inside the CIA; and his Emmy® award-winning expose on migration, Crossing Borders.