1Community

Scott Budnick is a film producer, Founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) and CEO of 1Community.

As the Executive Vice President of Todd Phillips’ Green Hat Films, Budnick produced Old School, Due Date, and the highest-grossing R-rated comedy trilogy in film history, The Hangover, which grossed over $1.4 billion.

Since 2004, Scott has been a fierce advocate for social justice and a fairer judicial system. In 2003, he began volunteering with InsideOUT Writers (IOW), which brings creative writing into juvenile halls. In 2014, he founded ARC, whose mission is to reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, and build healthier communities. ARC provides formerly incarcerated men and women with direct services such as housing, counseling, job training and opportunities, mentoring, and education. The organization also empowers and mobilizes its members to play a role in justice reform efforts through policy advocacy.

For his work with youth in the criminal justice system, Gov. Jerry Brown named Scott the 2012 California Governor’s Volunteer of the Year. He sits on the Board of State and Community Corrections and serves as a Board Member for President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance.

Jacob Cohen grew up in Atlanta, Georgia and attended college at the University of South Carolina. After spending a summer in the WME mailroom, he began his career in the entertainment industry working in physical production for Stranger Things and Marvel Studios. Jacob aspires to produce diversified content ranging from Comedies to Thrillers and Dramas. Outside of the office, you can find him on the golf course, at the beach, or watching 7 hours of commercial-free football.

Rachel works best at the busy intersections of communications, culture and social impact.

Over the course of her career, Rachel has led several out-of-the-box storytelling strategies for global brands and leading nonprofits. She has played a key role in product launches for McDonald’s USA at a top PR agency; developed successful digital media projects like KIKI’S WITH LOUIS, AMAZE and produced theatrical production of OUT OF SILENCE to reach Millennials and GenZ interested in reproductive and sexual health with Advocates for Youth; and reinvigorated the impact narrative of Khan Academy, an edtech company in Silicon Valley. Prior to joining 1Community, Rachel led executive communications for the Sheryl Sandberg and Dave Goldberg Family Foundation, better known as LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org which focused on equity for women in the workplace and building resilience though grief.

A native Washingtonian Rachel is a graduate of The George Washington University and serves on the board of Black Women for Wellness Los Angeles and Advocates for Youth.

Instagram: @recookie

Born and raised in Mexico, Saúl found the love for storytelling when he first saw Jurassic Park. Saúl studied Communication and New Media at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where he produced several projects, including web series.

Saúl started his career as an assistant at Endeavor Content and worked in International TV sales and the indie film group. Additionally, he worked at CAA media finance group specializing in projects with LATINX attachments and projects from LATAM and Spain.

Andrea Gomez is a first gen Chicana, born and raised in Southern California. Andrea has a degree in Literary Journalism and Film & Media Studies from UC Irvine. In 2020, she was named an Emerging Content Creator by NALIP. Andrea has bylines with Collider, Tor.com, WeAllGrow Latina, BoldCulture, CV Independent and more.

Instagram: @pagecactus

Born and raised in Southern California, Maya’s journey into the entertainment industry began when she clinched first place in a national commercial competition during her sophomore year of high school. This early success ignited a profound passion for storytelling and steered her toward pursuing a degree in Film & TV Production from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. It was here that Maya discovered her true calling lay not just in telling stories, but in cultivating them and empowering their creators.

Following her graduation, Maya’s drive and dedication quickly landed her a position at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), serving as an assistant to the President. Her journey through the industry then took her to Freeform, where she delved into production, and to Reléve Entertainment, where she honed her skills as a development assistant in both scripted and unscripted programming.

Most recently, Maya made her mark as a Manager in TV Development at MRC. In this role, she played a pivotal part in bringing compelling narratives to life, overseeing projects like “The Great” Season 3 on Hulu and “Time Bandits” at Apple TV+, while also managing an expansive development slate. Maya’s commitment to bringing stories to life that reflect the real world and the issues that affect real people is only matched by her desire to champion marginalized voices while advocating for reform in housing and mental health resources, demonstrating her holistic approach to making a meaningful impact both on and off the screen.

In her free time, she can usually be found on the volleyball court or nerding out on a jigsaw puzzle.

Jennifer Saull is an attorney with over a decade of experience in film and television law. Over the course of her career, her practice has spanned several genres and formats, leading to a diverse body of credits ranging from lead Business and Legal Affairs Executive on Ben Stiller’s award-winning Apple TV+ series Severance, to her role as head Legal Counsel on the global phenomenon PAW Patrol, much the thrill of her youngest niece.

Before embarking on her legal career, Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies, and her graduating thesis film, which she both wrote and directed, received the Grand Jury Prize of Excellence at the Toronto International Film Festival Student Showcase. Jennifer worked in film and television production for five years prior to attending law school, providing her with a unique practical understanding of the industry which highly informs her current legal practice.

Jennifer is a member of both the State Bar of California and the Law Society of Ontario.

Prior to 1Community, Ameet served as the President of Production for MAS Production. He also served as Vice President of Production at Double Feature Films where he worked on Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion, Quentin Tarantino’s Oscar-winning film Django Unchained, Scott Frank’s A Walk Among the Tombstones, and the AMC series Into the Badlands.

Ameet is a member of Out in Hollywood, a coalition of LGBTQ+ executives and producers which aims to propel exceptional projects on screen to uplift and amplify marginalized perspectives and increase authentic representation behind and in front of the camera. Ameet is also a part of The Salon, an alliance of Hollywood professionals with the goal of South Asian advocacy in the film and television and to increase South Asian representation throughout all facets of the industry.

Ameet is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Barbara Film Studies program where he got his start in film as the cinematographer for an award-winning stop motion animated short, The Dancing Llama.

Instagram: @ameet_cute

Ben, born and raised in Los Angeles, started his career in the mailroom of CAA before moving into the Brand Marketing Department. Led by a strong desire to bridge the gap between the entertainment and philanthropic communities, Ben left CAA to join Scott Budnick, former President and Executive Producer of Green Hat Films, and founder of The Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), a non-profit organization focused on supporting people returning home from prison and reforming the criminal justice system in the State of California.

During his time at ARC, Ben served as Chief of Staff, while simultaneously developing what would soon become 1Community where he serves as Vice President.

Lorielle graduated from Spelman College with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and began her foray into the entertainment industry by styling for artists on tour such as Bow Wow and Ciara.

Lorielle has continued to cultivate her creative passions throughout her career while working in marketing and communications at the Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Film & Entertainment as well as her entrepreneurial endeavours with her company, Barack the Vote, LLC., and most recently working with Amy Baer’s Gidden Media and Landline Pictures where she worked on Jerry & Marge Go Large and The Apprentice as a Creative Coordinator.

In her spare time, you can find Lorielle co-hosting her podcast, Fresh As A Mother, chatting about all things motherhood, parenthood and beyond, reading or catching up on the latest films and TV shows. Lorielle resides happily in Los Angeles with her husband, Adam and their two daughters, Bentley and Aya.

Ajit Samra, a Creative and Talent Development Professional, brings experience from his time at HBO and PBS, where he played a pivotal role in fostering emerging talent and driving diversity in the industry. At HBO, Ajit managed talent pipeline programs that nurtured promising writers and directors, while also overseeing the development of multiple pilot scripts. He took pride in ensuring that WarnerMedia maintained a strong representation of BIPOC writers and directors on their productions. Similarly, at PBS, Ajit played a vital role in the successful launch of their inaugural filmmaker’s initiative. Originally hailing from Baltimore, MD, Ajit’s passion for storytelling led him to pursue a B.S. degree in Film Studies from the University of Maryland, College Park. During his university years, he interned at networks and organizations like BET, FX, HBO, and the Entertainment Consortium Collaborative Outreach Program. Eager to continue his journey in the world of storytelling, he made the leap to Los Angeles after graduation. Being a Punjabi-American, Ajit is on a constant quest to discover and amplify unique stories, either by championing others’ narratives or crafting his own. He was honored to be selected as a program recipient of Soo Hugh’s (PACHINKO, Apple TV+) Thousand Miles Project for screenwriters. In December 2020, Ajit launched “Ancient Haveli Entertainment,” a Think Tank for South Asians in Hollywood. This project was born out of his desire to showcase and uplift South Asian talent and their distinctive voices.