Meet the film makers
Michael Peterson
Director & Producer
Michael Peterson is an acclaimed filmmaker, director, writer, and producer renowned for his innovative blend of practical effects, animation, and experimental techniques in storytelling. As the Director of Obscurum, he continues to push the boundaries of genre filmmaking with a focus on horror, action, and heartwarming narratives.
Peterson launched his career in the 1990s and early 2000s as a special makeup FX artist in Los Angeles, contributing to high-profile projects including Blade II, Van Helsing, and Big Momma’s House. In 2012, he pivoted to writing and directing, optioning his first screenplay—a reboot of the cult classic American Ninja—to a major studio, marking his first success as a writer.
Expanding into live theater, Peterson served as Artistic Director at the Haunted Mountain Theater, where he wrote, directed, and performed alongside local talent in groundbreaking mixed-media horror productions. These Halloween-season programs for all-ages audiences masterfully integrated 360° footage, animation, surround sound, and on-stage performances to weave haunting tales of terror drawn from Rocky Mountain folklore.
Throughout his career, Peterson has helmed commercials and short documentaries, showcasing his versatility in visual storytelling. His feature directorial debut, the 2022 drama The Year of the Dog—co-directed with Robert Grabow and Andrew McGinn—earned critical praise for its poignant exploration of redemption through an unlikely bond between a struggling alcoholic and a rescue dog. The film received the Special 10th Anniversary Award at the Chelsea Film Festival and screened at prestigious events including the Beloit International Film Festival, Arizona International Film Festival, and Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival.
Currently, Peterson serves as Lead Writer and Director of Luck Dragon Media, a full-service animation studio specializing in dynamic commercials that fuse practical photographed action with animated elements, alongside fully animated short films. With over two decades in the industry, Peterson’s work continues to captivate audiences worldwide, bridging practical craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital innovation.
Gabriela colletta
Director & Producer
Gabriela weaves thought-provoking stories of soul and spirit that challenge the conventional narratives of our modern world. She began her journey in storytelling in New York City at the helm of the world’s leading creative advertising agencies including BBDO Worldwide and TBWA Chiat Day. She brings decades of expertise in brand disruption and innovation at the intersection of strategic planning, digital strategy, copywriting and creative development.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Gabriela holds a unique ability to weave divergent threads of humanity into a tapestry of essential belonging. Her thirst for unfolding the essence of being drew her to far corners of the world where she studied the roots of spirituality and earth based wisdom traditions practiced long before history wrote it. She brings over two decades of visual insight as a photographer pulled to complex themes of liminality, duality and resilience. With an eye for natural light play and an ability to speak to soul, Gabriela captures portraits of creators, artists and healers in their full aliveness. Her work has evolved to explore landscapes of psyche, soma and soul through teaching yoga, facilitating therapeutic containers and writing.
Gabriela presents on topics of embodied liberation, somatic psychology and ecologies. She serves on the faculty of several Yoga schools, guides intentional journeys and trainings, and has facilitates at international festivals on the science of self-healing from Ancient traditions. Gabriela holds a commitment to exploring the diverse expression of the human experience, pathways wholeness and our interdependence with Nature.