Family Theater Productions
People - Staff
Father Wilfred J. Raymond, CSC
National Director, Family Theater Productions
Father Wilfred (Willy) Raymond, a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross and immediate past provincial superior of its Eastern Province, has served as National Director of Family Theater Productions since September 2000. The mission of Family Theater, which was founded in Hollywood in 1947 by Father Patrick Peyton, CSC, now a sainthood candidate, is to evangelize culture by using mass media to entertain, inspire and educate families. Family Theater’s famous slogan is “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together ™.”
Father Raymond leads Family Theater in producing television dramas and documentaries; producing Voz Latina Spanish-language radio programs – dramas, documentaries and public service announcements; in the digital re-mastering and distribution of Family Theater Classic Radio programs; in conducting the annual Angelus Awards Student Film Festival to honor exceptional quality college-level student films that respect the universal human family; a nationwide public-service billboard prayer campaign; and Hollywood Prays {Praise}/Prayer-and-Pasta nights for young people in the media industry, which he created.
Before coming to Family Theater Productions, Father Raymond was provincial from 1998 to 2000. As such he served as Chairman of the Corporate Members and President of the Board of Directors of Holy Cross Family Ministries, of which Family Theater Productions is a member, and served on the Boards of Directors and the Executive Committees of both Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., and King’s College in Wilkes Barre, PA. He was Assistant Provincial and Vicar of the province from June 1994 to 1998.
A native of Maine, Wilfred Raymond entered the Holy Cross Novitiate in Bennington, VT, in 1965, making his First Profession on July 16, 1966. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy in 1967 from Stonehill College, professed final vows April 1, 1970 at Moreau Seminary, Notre Dame, IN, earned a Master of Theology degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1971 and was ordained to the priesthood on April 3, 1971. In addition to English, he speaks French and Spanish.
Visit Coragio, Father Willy's blog.
Eleazar Bazini
Sound Engineer/Composer
Besides writing music and being the Sound Engineering for Family Theater Productions, Elli has also been a dynamic part of Voz Latina’s production team. His music has accompanied award winning radio dramas and public service announcements for nearly a decade.
A veteran radio-novela Sound Designer, Elli has had the opportunity to record and work with renowned artists in the U.S. as well as in Latin America.
He earned his Associate Degree in music from Los Angeles City College, and his Sound Engineer Certification from Los Angeles Recording Workshop.
Monica Y. Castagnasso
Producer/Director, Voz Latina & Radio Department
Recently promoted from Associate Producer, Monica Y. Castagnasso now leads the creative team of professionals responsible for the creation, production and distribution of all Family Theater Productions’ nationally broadcast radio series and public service announcements as Producer and Director of Voz Latina and the Radio Department. Monica worked as Associate Producer and Talent Coordinator from 2000-2004. Since 2000, Monica has received approximately 20 prestigious awards including: The Golden Eagle from Nosotros, numerous Gabriel Awards, Certificate of Merits, AFTRA Awards, Communicator Awards and the New York Festivals Bronze World Medal.
Prior to Voz Latina, Monica worked in the legal field for a number of years. Having graduated law school, Monica is a licensed attorney with a civil litigation background. Her undergraduate work earned her a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Business Administration and a Minor in Dance. Monica is thrilled to be able to use her diverse background, which allows her to utilize her creative side as well as her business and legal side to produce quality productions. A proud California native, Monica is fluent in Spanish and English and is equally proud of her Argentinean roots.
Monika Moreno
Director, Angelus Awards
Monika Moreno has been with Family Theater Productions since 1993, serving as the director of the Angelus Awards Student Film Festival for the last four years. Since 1996, she has worked in various capacities for the Angelus Awards, including public relations and marketing efforts. Also, as the production assistant for Family Theater Productions’ television production and development department, she served as story editor for the contemporary teen drama anthology produced in 2002.
A screenwriter, Moreno completed the UCLA Writers Program with an emphasis on screenwriting for film and television, and has won or placed in several competitions, including as a top ten finalist of the prestigious Chesterfield Writers Project with Paramount Studios. Other honors or finalist placements include: UCLA Diane Thomas DreamWorks, HBO Montage, Telluride, New Century Writers and the Long Beach International Film Festival. Her radio credits include "The Midget and the Music" and "Ship of Hearts" for Family Theater Productions’ Voz Latina Spanish-language radio programs.
Currently, her third screenplay, "Left at Albuquerque," has been optioned by former CAA agent and now indie producer Amy Salko Robertson.
Monika has also analyzed scripts for the Sundance Institute and currently judges scripts for the Nicholl Foundation, a project of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
Dan E. Pitre
Director of Public Relations, Voz Latina and Family Theater Productions
A professional communicator for more than 30 years, Dan has served as Director of Public Relations for Family Theater Productions since June 1, 1992. During that time he has developed and executed a number of public relations and publicity campaigns for Family Theater and its projects, and he has planned and implemented several national and universal special events. He also has arranged satellite feeds of eight Family Theater films to public television stations nationwide and has facilitated and/or negotiated the sale of broadcast and marketing licenses to broadcast outlets and wholesale/retail companies.
Prior to joining Family Theater Productions, Dan was a reporter and editor of daily and weekly newspapers and a communications director/press spokesperson for several organizations. A native of New Orleans, he holds a B.A. degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge.
Tony Sands
Production Coordinator
Production Coordinator of the Radio Department, Tony Sands wears many hats as he assists in recruiting new talent, organizing recordings and scheduling events. He is the initial contact person for radio stations interested in broadcasting Voz Latina programs, and as the title indicates, he helps the director coordinate various Radio productions.
After graduating magna cum laude from the USC School of Cinema/Television, Tony worked in many facets in the entertainment industry, including Special F/X, development, production and post-production. Though not bilingual, Tony brings additional knowledge of the business and a passion for quality to our Voz Latina staff.
Melba Novoa
Former Producer/Director, Voz Latina
Award-winning producer and director, Melba Novoa leads the creative team of
professionals responsible for the creation, production and distribution of
all Family Theater Productions' nationally broadcast radio series and public
service announcements. Born in Mexico, she came to the U.S. with a full
scholarship to the prestigious Lee Strasberg Institute, to continue her
education as a performer.
Having produced theater and participated in numerous art events, presentations, concerts and readings, she came to Family Theater Productions as a script supervisor for the award-winning radionovela "La Historia de Quien Soy" and co-produced the nationally acclaimed "Conversando con Jesus Javier."
She produced and directed "Historias Para Mejorar El Mundo" series, which won a Golden Eagle Award from Nosotros and a Gabriel Award and Gabriel Certificate of Merit for two of the series' episodes. She also has produced two radio specials including "El Mejor"/"La Virgen de Guadalupe,' which also won a Gabriel Award.
Other recent projects include dubbing documentaries for HTN/Maryknoll Productions, specials and community campaigns. She also serves as board member for Pluma Pictures and the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry. At the present, her most important and toughest project is being a great mother and wife.
Behind the Scenes
07/29/08 - As nightfall sets in, Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney, addresses youth at an outdoor liturgy at World Youth Day.. »