POLONIA 2.0

A segmented reportage about a young Polish-American entrepreneur and a young Polish photojournalist, traveling across major cities in the USA to meet the latest generation of ambitious Poles and Americans of Polish origin that are both known and unknown in Poland.

Through 10-15 minute episodes, Polonia 2.0 explores the stories, lives and works of these musicians, filmmakers, actors, painters, photographers and others. They will reveal their lifestyle: jobs, bars, clubs, hot spots, restaurants, meetings and ups and downs. By highlighting their mindset, experiences and the road they traveled to prosper creatively in American society, Polonia 2.0 will expose how they are innovatively taking advantage of the American market to expand their opportunities and reach for their dreams.

How can “Polonia 2.0” influence the contemporary generation in Poland

The aim of the project is to introduce, inspire, influence and expand the viewpoint, creativity, ability

and belief in the potential of the contemporary generation in Poland in a new and expansive scale.

Through real life examples of Polish artists living and working in the USA, the Polish youth has a chance

to discover a new way of thinking, creating, working and progressing ambitiously in a global and

modern marketplace. Through entertaining personal and creative pieces, the segmented documentary

will reveal the unique attitudes, actions, ethics and methods as to which people built their works and

missions to a noticeable and successful point.

LOS ANGELES

examples

ACTORS

Paweł Tomasz Wasilewski/Paul Thomas Wesley

American film and television actor of Polish descent. Played in Agnieszka Holland's HBO drama “Shot in

the Heart”. Paul has played with the likes of Giovanni Ribisi, Nick Nolte, Elias Koteas and Sam Sheperd.

Since 2009 he has played the main role in the “Vampire Diaries.”

Kasia Kropiński

The daughter of the film editor Jacek Kropinski, Kasia was born in South Africa and moved to Los

Angeles at the age of 9. She has worked on such TV Shows as Angel, Without a Trace, ER, and The

Shield as well as voice work for films such as Big Fish and The Village. Kasia has also danced two roles in

the ballet Cinderella.

Anna Podolak

Born in Wroclaw, daughter of a theater actor. When she was 13, Anna immigrated to New York City to

begin her acting education. A year ago she moved to Los Angeles to expand her acting portfolio.

Currently she is working on a play about Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.

Marek Probosz

Born in Zory, Mark was a successful Polish actor before moving to Los Angeles in the late 1980's. Since

being in the US, Mark has played in many films and T.V. Shows, and has played alongside such actors as

Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Katherine Hepburn, Kate Capshaw and Pierce Brosnan.

Katarzyna Sowińska

Born in a small city called Walbrzych, Kasia Sowisnka is a Polish actress and television presenter. In 1999, Kasia got discovered by the world of fashion. She then traveled and worked for some of the world's best known fashion labels in places such as NYC, Paris, Miami, Korea, Barcelona, Mexico City and Los Angeles. She studied Politics and Journalism at the University of Warsaw, while working for MTV Poland at the same time. During that work placement, she was nation's favorite host, presenting a number of the most significant TV music galas, festivals and award ceremonies. She had the pleasure to work with artists such as Snoop Dog, 50 Cent, J-Z, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Joss Stone, James Blunt, etc. Kasia's biggest passion, acting, began to flourish in 2005, while working on many Polish series and films. Kasia lives in Los Angeles, where she takes classes at the acting academy of Howard Fine. She recently appeared in an American series "Ricky and Ravy are Between Jobs."

More

Alicja Bachleda-Curuś Margot Muraszkiewicz

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Karolina Markiewicz

Born in Warsaw, Karolina moved to Los Angeles to further develop and expand her professional

opportunities. Some of her major clients are: AVON, Bally's Total Fitness, BMG, EMI, Sony Music,

Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Madame Figaro, Twoj Styl, Pani, KMAG, Machina, Tiempo de Relojes.

David Miezal

A photographer and longtime resident of the US. Among other things, he lately has been doing a

project on living survivors and participants of the Warsaw Uprising.

MUSICIANS

Abel Korzeniowski

Born in Krakow, Abel is a film and theater composer that studied under Penderecki and has won

many awards, as well as being nominated for two Golden Globes.

Władysław Marhulets/Wlad Marhulets

Polish film music composer who came to New York to study at the famous Juilliard School. Thanks to

his determination and a little bit of luck, the rags to riches story developed only after a month in the US

when he started working on projects for known American musicians.

Tola Szlagowska

Polish vocalist and composer. Daughter of the known Polish percussionist Jaroslaw Szlagowski. She was

the vocalist of the group Blog27 (along with her brother Jan) and a winner of an MTV Europe Music

Award. In 2008 Tola came to Los Angeles to advance her career and start music school.

Darek “Oles” Oleszkiewicz

At the age of five Darek began his music education at the State Music School in Wroclaw. In 1983, he

was the most awarded musician at the Jazz Juniors in Cracow. In the following five years Darek

Oleszkiewicz worked steadily with some of the best jazz bands in the country. In 1988 Darek arrived in

Los Angeles, at the California Institute Of The Arts he began studies with legendary bassist Charlie

Haden. After graduation, he accepted a teaching position at the Institute. Darek has been very active as

a performer and became one of the most sought after bass players on the West Coast and has had the

opportunity to perform and record with the greatest masters in jazz.

Nigel Williams/DaZe

American rapper, raised by a Polish mother, which influenced his creative work, personality and

identity. He has been writing music since he was 10 and has been building his independent career

along with Russian producer/rapper Pete Millz, together they have been continuously releasing

projects through music and videos.

CINEMATOGRAPHERS

Jacek Laskus

A native of Poland, cinematographer, Jacek Laskus has extensive film, television and documentary

experience. While in New York he shot numerous Saturday Night Live shorts and music videos. In the

90’s he moved to Los Angeles where he shot his first Hollywood production “Square Dance” starring

Winona Ryder and Rob Lowe. Working with Robert Altman gave him a ASC nomination for Outstanding

Cinematography. For his work on the Michele Oyahon documentary “Colors Straight Up,” he was

nominated for an Oscar in 1998.

Ireneusz Hartowicz

Born in Warsaw, Ireneusz has worked with some of the biggest names and on many films, TV Shows,

and commercials in Hollywood. Some major films he has worked on include “A.I.-Artificial Intelligence”

and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.”

OTHER ARTISTS

Balbina Bruszewska – Director, Screenwriter, Editor

A Polish director, screenwriter, and creator of animated films, TV programs and music videos. Balbina

has a Masters in Animation and Special Effects from the Film School in Lodz. She is the Artistic Director

at the film production studio Se-ma-for, an Expert at the Polish Film Institute and the President of the

Lucid Life Foundation. She also enjoys being a DJ. Currently, she lives and works in LA.

Tadeusz Torzecki – Painter, Interior Designer, Sculptor

Born in Poland, Tadeusz is an the alumni of the Academy of Art, Warsaw, MFA, Interior Architecture

and Graphic Design, has an extensive practice in sculpture (steel, glass, concrete, wood), painting

(oil, acrylic, mixed media) and installation (multimedia). He has been the owner of Tadeusz Design

Studio in Los Angeles since 1995.

Elwira Miezal – Stylist

For almost a decade, Elwira has successfully followed her dream of styling, creating and working with

some of the most innovative individuals in the photo industry. Currently, she resides in Los Angeles

where she helps create a number of advertising campaigns and editorial and catalog shoots. Her

expertise falls into wardrobe, props and product. Among many others, her clients include Adidas,

BCBG, Toyota, Target, Chase and Nordstrom.

Maks Naporowski – Computer Graphics Artist

Born in Kielce, Maksymilian is a computer graphics artist whose credits include "Harry Potter and the

Sorcerer's Stone,” “Bewitched,” “Matrix Revolutions” and Oscar winner for animation “The

Chubbchubbs!” In addition to the production work, in recent years he has been teaching character

rigging and animation at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts.

Tomek Opasiński – Digital Graphic Artist

Prior to founding the Hollywood based boutique agency “rev-creative” in 2011, Opasinski served as a

digital artist and creative consultant at multiple prestigious advertising agencies in Los Angeles and

abroad. Additionally, Opasinski has been recognized by multiple professional and creative associations

and publications and has served as a participant, finalist and jury member at many national and

international competitions.

Maciej Kuciara – Gaming graphic artist/concept designer

Born in Poland, Maciej has worked for a number of high-profile companies and clients over the years, including stints at Crytek (Crysis series), CD Projekt (Cyberpunk), and Blur (Halo 4's launch trailer). These days, he's doing a lot of movie work for projects like the Wachowski's “Jupiter Ascending” and Marvel's upcoming “Guardians of the Galaxy.”

Michał Dąbal

Michal was born and raised in Warsaw. During his undergraduate studies at the American Film

Institute Conservatory in Los Angeles, Michal directed and photographed the short film "Pralnia."

The film earned numerous awards at international festivals. Michal served as an apprentice to

master cinematographer Janusz Kaminski on "Hania", Steven Spielberg's "Munich", James L. Brooks'

project "How Do You Know?" and other projects. "My First Claire" earned him the William A. Fraker

HeritageA. Fraker Heritage Award Honorable Mention for outstanding artistic

achievement - the highest honor bestowed upon a young cinematographer.

Monika Lenczewska

Monika is a Polish-born cinematographer based in LA. She completed an MFA in cinematography at the

American Film Institute. Her work has been selected for numerous international film festivals including

Cannes, Tribeca, Rotterdam and Cleremont-Ferrand.

Agatha Dominik – Producer, Screenplay Writer

Born in Poland, Agatha is the screenwriter for such films as Boot Camp, Human Trafficking, and

Left to Die. Actors such as Donald Sutherland, Rachel Leigh Cook, and Mila Kunis have acted in

her movies.

Tomasz Smolarski – Cultural Event Organizer

Born in Poland, educated in NY and now based in LA, Tomasz is the founder of Kulture+Productions,

which organizes cultural and artistic events and happenings.

NEW YORK

examples

in progress

Ilona Szwarc - Photographer

Born and raised in Warsaw, Ilon is an award winning photographer, who lives and works in New York

City. She has won multiple awards and her work has been featured in numerous publications

worldwide including The New York Times Magazine, TIME, The New Yorker, The UK Sunday Times

Magazine, The Telegraph Magazine, Surface China, PDN.

Daniel Horowitz

Daniel Horowitz is an mixed media artist who has become a favorite among publishers and journals. He has won multiple awards and his work has been featured everywhere from The New York Times and Random House, to GQ, The Wall Street Journal, and Knopf. He is now the cover illustrator for The American Reader.

Filip Pągowski

New York based graphic artist. Studied painting, illustration and poster design (under professor Henryk Tomaszewski) at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. Works for a multitude of clients in the US, Canada, France, Japan and Poland. Clients include: The New Yorker, Comme des Garcons, Talk Magazine, Skas 5th Avenue, Le Monde, Travel+Leisure, The New York Times, Visionaire, Random House, etc.