Our Team

Jay Paul Deratany

FOUNDER

Jay Paul Deratany is passionate about human rights issues, especially issues of the treatment of foster children, sexual assault, and LGBTQ issues. Not only does he fight against these issues through his legal work, but Jay Paul Deratany also brings them to light through writing and producing plays, musicals, and films, through Reel Red Films LLC. His most recent film, Foster Boy, that he wrote, and produced with basketball hall of famer Shaquille O’Neil, highlights the flaws of the foster care system and the dangers of for-profit agencies. Foster Boy has won 17 film festival awards and is now featured on BET, BET + and Amazon. His film Saugatuck Cures won numerous film festival awards, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival “Audience Award”. Jay also wrote the musical Albert Cashier, which premiered in Chicago, and  won three Jeff nominations as well as the Jeff award for Best New Musical, and is currently in production.  He has also written the play Haram Iran which played in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and London, winning the GLAAD nomination for best new play 2017. It is being negotiated for a run in Greece for Autumn 2022. 

Anne-Marie Mackay

CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICER

Anne-Marie Mackay has over a thirty-year track record as a producer and executive, launching the careers of highly sought-after directors as well as other key film talent in categories, including writers, cinematographers, editors, actors, production designers, art directors, location managers, wardrobe designers, makeup and hair artists, and every other type of crew member. During the 80s and 90s Anne-Marie presided over hundreds of well-known music video and music film projects many of which garnered awards.

Now considered a veteran producer, she is best known as a founding member of several visionary production companies including Propaganda Films, Palomar Pictures, Riddle Studios and most recently Wondros.

From these platforms, she has launched the careers of notable directors David Fincher, Michael Bay, Antoine Fuqua, David Hogan, Dominic Senna, Gore Verbinski, Alex Proyas, Michel Gondry, Sophia Coppola, Mark Romanek and many others. At the same time, she is credited with diversifying the careers of David Lynch, Francis Ford Coppola, Sir John Schlesinger, Ben Stiller, Forest Whitaker, David O. Russell, Michael Apted, Mark Pellington and Lee Daniels, by providing both long and short form opportunities to established filmmakers.

TIM SMITH

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Tim Smith originally joined Reel Red Films in 2016.  He managed projects from marketing to financial risk for the company. He is a multi-skilled professional with a track record of improving existing projects, generating fresh ideas, and assisting with the development of new initiatives that are aligned with company goals. In January of 2022, Tim accepted the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO). He is responsible for all of the company’s financial functions. Leading up to this role, Tim participated in the production of plays, musicals, and film projects with Jay Paul Deratany over the last decade.

 

Prior to joining Reel Red Films, Tim became passionate about a career in Ag business early in life, while growing up in Decatur, IL surrounded by agriculture. In 2007, he began his career as Assistant Director of Operations, where he was responsible for the daily oversight of marketing, brokerage services, and trading risk. In 2011, Tim joined a grain brokerage group where he continues to provide unparalleled risk management services to grain producers and end-users.