Masturbation

J.T. Tepnapa
Writer, Director, Actor

J.T. Tepnapa has worked as an actor since he was fifteen years old. He was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Illinois at 13 years of age. After he graduated high school, he returned to California and received a bachelor's degree in Acting at the University of California, Irvine.

He has appeared in many award winning plays, features, shorts and commercials. In 2001 he directed and starred in his first short film Sunflowers, which appeared at that year's Austin Gay & Lesbian Film festival and Tuscon's Outwest 2001. He also co-produced and starred in the short film Tit-Torture, which screened at OUTFEST 2001: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The creation of Sunflowers also marked the birth of SkyAngel Films, J.T.'s own independent production company.

In early 2002, J.T. teamed up with longtime friend Charlie Gage to create SkyAngel Films' second production, MASTURBATION: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving. Reunited with many of same crew from Sunflowers, a few talented newcomers, and the gentle aide of executive producer Bill Warren, this team quickly churned out one of the funniest short films in years.

Recently J.T. was awarded The Ticketholder Award for Best-Supporting Actor in Spinning into Butter. Currently he is in pre-production on short action film entitled Drag Queen Heist.

Charles Gage has had a long-standing involvement in the entertainment industry. In high school he was a founding partner of GMG Productions, a multi-media event services company. He later moved into writing, directing and producing several local cable television programs in Orange County, California. His 1992 production Pacific Edge was awarded the Cable Access Producers Award (CAPA) for Best Production of the Year, and Best Magazine Format. Overall his local cable work earned him a total of six CAPA nominations in three years.

Charlie soon after attended California State University, Fullerton, where he earned a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Television & Film. There he joined the independent production company Mayan Pictures. He first worked with them producing a 1994 behind-the-scenes documentary of their film Les Oranges. Then in 1995, Mayan produced the short suspense/ horror film Pandora’s Other Box, which Charlie wrote, directed and produced.

Since college, he has held several positions in film and media including working in the Capitol Records Music Video Dept. and working crew on various commercials, music videos and feature films. He recently finished a two-year stint as the editor of the national gay youth publication JOEY Magazine.

Charlie joined SkyAngel Films in early 2002 to co-create and produce MASTURBATION: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving, with his longtime friend J.T. Tepnapa.



		*FILMMAKERS' BIOS*

		J.T. Tepnapa *Writer, Director, Actor* J.T. Tepnapa has worked as an actor since he was fifteen years old. He was born in Long Beach, California and moved to Illinois at 13 years of age. After he graduated high school, he returned to California and received a bachelor's degree in Acting at the University of California, Irvine. He has appeared in many award winning plays, features, shorts and commercials. In 2001 he directed and starred in his first short film Sunflowers, which appeared at that year's Austin Gay & Lesbian Film festival and Tuscon's Outwest 2001. He also co-produced and starred in the short film Tit-Torture, which screened at OUTFEST 2001: The Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Film Festival. The creation of Sunflowers also marked the birth of SkyAngel Films, J.T.'s own independent production company. In early 2002, J.T. teamed up with longtime friend Charlie Gage to create SkyAngel Films' second production, MASTURBATION: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving. Reunited with many of same crew from Sunflowers, a few talented newcomers, and the gentle aide of executive producer Bill Warren, this team quickly churned out one of the funniest short films in years. Recently J.T. was awarded The Ticketholder Award for Best-Supporting Actor in Spinning into Butter. Currently he is in pre-production on short action film entitled Drag Queen Heist. Charles Gage *Producer, Production Designer* Charles Gage has had a long-standing involvement in the entertainment industry. In high school he was a founding partner of GMG Productions, a multi-media event services company. He later moved into writing, directing and producing several local cable television programs in Orange County, California. His 1992 production Pacific Edge was awarded the Cable Access Producers Award (CAPA) for Best Production of the Year, and Best Magazine Format. Overall his local cable work earned him a total of six CAPA nominations in three years. Charlie soon after attended California State University, Fullerton, where he earned a B.A. in Communications with an emphasis in Television & Film. There he joined the independent production company Mayan Pictures. He first worked with them producing a 1994 behind-the-scenes documentary of their film Les Oranges. Then in 1995, Mayan produced the short suspense/ horror film Pandora’s Other Box, which Charlie wrote, directed and produced. Since college, he has held several positions in film and media including working in the Capitol Records Music Video Dept. and working crew on various commercials, music videos and feature films. He recently finished a two-year stint as the editor of the national gay youth publication JOEY Magazine. Charlie joined SkyAngel Films in early 2002 to co-create and produce MASTURBATION: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving, with his longtime friend J.T. Tepnapa.