Melinda Darlington-Bach's Biography [pdf] button Cynthia Pepper's Biography [pdf] button Contact Us

 

 

Award-winning filmmakers Melinda Darlington-Bach and Cynthia Pepper are partners in the highly sought after 12 year old film production company Xanadu Entertainment, Inc. Melinda and Cynthia have worked extensively in every area of film theatre and television. As members of SAG and AFTRA for over 25 years Melinda and Cynthia have appeared on camera in over 65 national commercials, feature films, and industrials as well as choreographing over 25 commercials. They have produced and directed many children's films for several seasons for the prestigious Emmy Award winning series Sesame Street™ seen in over 140 countries and translated to over 80 languages.

 

Having most recently worked with director, Jamie Redford on his current documentary "The Letter D" (to be screened at the Sundance Film festival 2012), Xanadu is now producing and choreographing a new dance film with singer Mavie Marcos with Jamie once again at the director's helm. They are producing commercials for the internet, dance interstitials for a television series, teaching acting on camera and filmmaking as well as producing a variety of children's short films slated for international distribution.

 

Xanadu has been hired to create the opening event for the Mill Valley Film Festival Children's Film Fest 2011 which will include a live kids circus parade immediately following the signature opening film "CIRCUS DREAMS". They continue to write and review the performing arts and film for PATCH, The Ark and the Marin Arts Magazine. Their new show "FLIX CHIX" will be a reoccuring segment on the television arts show, ASPECT RATIO with the California Film Institute launching October 2011.

 

With child advocacy a huge priority for both Melinda and Cynthia, they have been able to partner with American Express, Union Bank, Bellam Boxes and Storage and The California Film Institute to underwrite blocks of movie tickets to give away to all the children's film festivals here in Marin. As a result, of the generous grants and donations they have received, children from The Canal Community Alliance and Marin City Youth Coalition were all able to attend with their families these innovative international screenings free of charge in 2011. Xanadu is fully committed to facilitating youth participation the various film screenings throughout the Marin Community.


· Bay Area Critic's Circle Award
· Carlisle Project for Choreography
· Chicago International Children's
Film Festival (Honorable Mention)
· Dance Film Association Finishing Funds
· Dean Goodman Choice Award
· Marin Ballet Choreographic Fellowship
· Two Monticello Awards
for Outstanding Choreography
· National Foundation
for Achievement of the Arts
· Prix d'Or du Choreographie
· Riverwalk Film Festival
· Five Marin Arts Council
Individual Artist Grants
· Theatre Bay Area Award
for Choreography
· Bread & Roses
· American Express
· Union Bank