Karen S. Shapiro - Vice President

Karen S. Shapiro has a diverse background producing in many genres of film, television, theatre and music.  She produced the romantic comedy The Neighbor starring Matthew Modine and the French actress, Michele Laroque as well as the multi-award winning coming-of -age drama, Beat the Drum, which was filmed in South Africa.  Her other films include the Academy Award winning short Violet, Bill Duke's The Hero and the feature The Low Life starring Sean Astin and Kyra Sedgwick.  In television, Ms. Shapiro produced several Movies of the Week including Dying to be Perfect: the Ellen Hart Pena Story, To Face Her Past and Chance of a Lifetime starring John Ritter and Katey Sagal.  She also produced many Specials for ABC and CBS, including the groundbreaking Other Mothers that was honored with seven Emmy nominations, winning three, Between Mother and Daughter that won the prestigious Humanitas Award and the AWRT winning Private Affairs.  Ms. Shapiro was Senior Producer of the reality series Unsolved Mysteries as well as the syndicated series Arrest and Trial where she produced 195 episodes in less than a year.  The award-winning pilot Postcards From Heaven (took her to filming on location in Iceland.  Ms. Shapiro enjoys producing for the theatre as well.  She was the Coordinating Producer at the CAST Theatre where she produced several plays and musicals.  At the Thousand Oaks Civic Center she produced the entertaining Rejoice! Celebrating Israel at 50, an evening filled with musicians from both Israel and Los Angeles including a 150 voice children's choir.  The much-acclaimed musical tribute, Liberation at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion included the talents of the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by the Boston Pops Keith Lockhart, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Billy Crystal, Bob Saget and Melissa Manchester.  For this celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the end of Nazi-occupied Europe she also produced two documentaries, Together as One and Awake and Sing both of which were screened to live music at the tribute.   In addition, Ms. Shapiro produced several CDs including the one for the tribute, Liberation recorded with members of the Israel Philharmonic in Tel Aviv.  Her best production is her marriage to Syud Sharif and their children, Benjamin and David.