About Us
Jared Milrad, J.D., M.S.
FOUNDER | PRESIDENT | MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jared Milrad is an award-winning social impact filmmaker, entrepreneur, and lifelong advocate for social change who has spent over two decades leading transformative initiatives.
As the Founder of A Show For A Change and Movikarma, Jared fosters inclusion, representation, and social impact through the power of storytelling and entertainment. Jared has launched a social impact streaming platform, Inclusive Pathways Fellowship Program, and social impact film festival that has worked with 600+ filmmakers from 51+ countries. He has cultivated a diverse roster of relationships across Hollywood, including with Warner Bros. Discovery, The Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Netflix, Amazon Studios, Apple TV+, Disney, The Sundance Institute, Lionsgate, NBCUniversal, Participant Media, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Bad Robot, Hello Sunshine, Shondaland, Ryan Murphy Productions, The Obama Foundation, and with Oscar-nominated and Oscar-winning filmmakers, nonprofits, and production companies. On Movikarma’s award-winning podcast, Rewriting Hollywood, Jared has interviewed Oscar-winning and notable underrepresented talent from across the industry and has hosted events with major partners, such as a groundbreaking Trans Equity Summit with the Biden White House. He also currently serves as an Executive Producer on an upcoming project with TIME Studios.
An accomplished progressive leader, Jared has worked with leaders at the White House across two presidential administrations, including with U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services Admiral Rachel Levine, M.D. during the Biden Administration, and attended the signing ceremony of the landmark Respect For Marriage Act. Jared also served on the Out For Biden States Team on President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, working with LGBTQ+ leaders nationwide. He previously worked on President Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, and served in The White House during the Obama Administration. To help families afford legal services, Jared founded a nationally recognized nonprofit organization personally supported by Warren Buffett's family foundation, Peter Buffett, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.), and Harvard Law School Dean Martha Minow. He also appeared in Hillary Clinton's historic presidential campaign commercials ("Getting Started," "Equal"), which received over 10 million views worldwide and fostered LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights. Jared has been profiled by dozens of media outlets around the world, including The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, TIME, MSNBC, CBS, NBC, and ABC News.
A finalist for The Sundance Institute’s prestigious Episodic Lab, Jared is an award-winning writer/director, actor and producer who has created numerous films, TV pilots, web series, documentaries, political ads, and PSAs. Jared has cultivated a diverse roster of collaborations across Hollywood, including with two-time Oscar-nominated director Bryan Buckley and many others. His latest award-winning film, “Expecting,” addresses gender identity and stars Jack Settipane (“Last Call”) and Kiana Madani (“The Pirates of Somalia”).
Jared has received performance training at the prestigious The Second City Chicago, Crash Acting Studio, and the Royal Academy for Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, UK. He is an accomplished author with three published books, including his memoirs “Believe In You” and “So, You Think You Want To Get (Gay) Married,” as well as an original poetry collection, “And The Dawn Will Come.”
In 2018, Jared was a candidate for City Council in Long Beach, CA. Advancing to the runoff election from a highly competitive primary, Jared was personally endorsed by actor/producer Kal Penn, several local leaders, and Run For Something, a national progressive organization that empowers young candidates to run for public office. Jared is an accomplished public speaker who has advocated on behalf of President Barack Obama, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and numerous social causes.
Jared holds a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law, a graduate degree from Tufts University, and an undergraduate degree with highest honors from North Carolina State University. He has earned numerous awards, including the Presidential Award for Citizenship and Public Service at Tufts University, the prestigious General Hugh Shelton Leadership Award of Excellence, and the Caldwell Fellowship at North Carolina State University.
Jared is proud to call Los Angeles, CA, home with his husband, Nate, and adopted dogs, Oliver and Dolly.
Mato Abourezk
DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS LEAD | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Mato James Abourezk is a Native American from South Dakota and a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe. Mato was born with Cerebral palsy and found writing as a way to deal with recovery from his surgeries. He has worked with groups of other artists at multiple film camps, including in Seattle and in Kyle, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation. In 2022, Mato was selected to participate in Movikarma’s groundbreaking Inclusive Pathways TV Development Fellowship Program with HBO Max, where he learned casting, research, editing, and pitching through a 10-week intensive training program. Since then, Mato has been a lead member of Movikarma’s development and partnership team and serves as an Executive Producer on an upcoming docuseries with a major industry partner.
Mato is currently writing a novella and aspires to be a writer/director in the TV and film industry.
Liam Sigman
DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS LEAD | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Liam Sigman is an accomplished producer and filmmaker with a roster of film and TV credits from Imagine Entertainment, Discovery+ and TLC. A native of Seattle, WA, Liam also has extensive experience in digital media, having produced for YouTube and TV personality Mark Rober. In 2022, Liam was selected to participate in Movikarma’s groundbreaking Inclusive Pathways TV Development Fellowship Program with HBO Max, where he learned casting, research, editing, and pitching through a 10-week intensive training program. Since then, Liam has been a lead member of Movikarma’s development and partnership team and serves as an Executive Producer on an upcoming docuseries with a major industry partner.
Driven by his passion for compelling stories and people, Liam takes pride in joining Movikarma in their mission to build a more equitable and equal Hollywood.
Lydia Orendain
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Born and raised in Orange County, Lydia Mae Orendain graduated from Troy High School in 2015 where she participated in multiple film projects and classes. After falling in love with screenwriting, Lydia went to San Francisco to further her passion. As a San Francisco State University 2019 Cinema graduate, focusing on screenwriting, she has been exposed to many genres and modes of film and is excited to continue her passion with ASFAC.
Lydia’s interest in child development heavily influences her work; Lydia hopes to create simple but meaningful stories to inspire a kinder, more loving world. Devoted to her Christian and Filipino roots, Lydia also aspires to celebrate and respect all backgrounds with everything she produces.
Kiana Madani
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Award-winning Iranian-American actress and producer Kiana Madani has been acting, modeling and performing for over a decade. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Kiana partook in theatre productions locally and participated in acting classes in San Francisco. In Los Angeles, she has worked on multiple TV pilots, national commercials and feature films amongst seasoned actors. Currently, you can watch her in the political drama THE PIRATES OF SOMALIA opposite Al Pacino, Evan Peters, Barkhad Abdi, and Melanie Griffith on Netflix.
Alongside her husband, two-time Oscar-nominated director Bryan Buckley (SARIA, ASAD), Kiana is a strong advocate for inclusion, representation, and social impact in Hollywood.
Robin Mazer
ADVISOR
Robin Mazer is a professional actress, producer, singer, and songwriter. A Los Angeles native, Robin grew up in and around the entertainment industry. She went on to earn her BFA in Musical Theatre at Ithaca College, then returned back to her hometown to pursue her acting and music career.
A passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and representation, Robin is proud to support Movikarma and collaborate on creative projects.
David Malonson
ADVISOR
David Malonson is a Finance Executive with a demonstrated history in Entertainment, Commercial Real Estate, and Retail. David was recently responsible for the financial planning and analysis of a $1.2 billion dollar portfolio, and has a keen understanding of the forecast and budget process. He also understands how to read and interpret Balance Sheets, P&Ls, and Cash Flow Statements. Having previously served in executive finance roles for Westfield and Lucky Strike Entertainment, David has the innate ability to communicate complicated financial analysis in a digestible manner.
David is a graduate of the University of Michigan, where he studied economics.