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About Us

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Three people holding up filmmaking awards

Great Stories That Unlock the Heart

We make Emmy, Gabriel, and Christopher Award-winning stories that unlock hearts to the possibilities of love, family, and faith.

Family and faith-based media is our specialty, from the quirky, fun YouTube series Catholic Central and its Spanish-language compadre Lente Católico, to the inspiring documentary Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer.

The latter will broadcast on PBS nationwide beginning in November 2023.  

A group of Family Theater Productions staff in a creative meeting

A Creative Environment

Our team is composed of top-notch creatives who take heart-tugging storytelling seriously.

Our facilities are on the famed Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California, where Family Theater Productions' award-winning media has engaged families since 1947—that's 75 years in Tinseltown.

Our current productions include feature films, short-format video, video web series, extensive blogging, and social-media content.

Our radio and television shows play daily on stations around the globe. 

A voice actor reading into a professional microphone

Updated Studios

Our updated production facilities include a sound studio, production set, screening auditorium, and post-production suites.

We are staffed and equipped for production projects of many proportions. 

Our Award-Winning Team

Click the images to learn more about us.

David Guffey

Father David L. Guffey, C.S.C

National Director

Megan Harrington

Megan Harrington

Senior Producer

Don Burt

Don Burt

Head of Digital Production

Chris A. Sariego

Chris A. Sariego

Director of Public Relations and Marketing

Susana Dueñas

Susana Dueñas

Digital Content Producer

Kate OHare

Kate O'Hare

Social Media Manager and Content Creator

Jay Cooney

Jay Cooney

Digital Content Creator

Philip LaSalle

Philip LaSalle

Business Manager

Vince Kuna

Father Vince Kuna, C.S.C.

Producer-at-Large

María Storrs Rojas

María Storrs Rojas

Associate Producer

Anne Yancey

Anne Yancey

Assistant Producer

Luz Fernandez

Luz Fernandez

Assistant to Producers

Miley Reyna

Miley Durbin Reyna

Digital Content Specialist

Maggie Orsinger

Margaret Orsinger

Executive Assistant to the National Director and to the Director of PR and Marketing

Our Founder

In the early 1940s, our founder, Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., realized he could reach more families across the United States by using mass media, namely radio.

With this insight, a humble priest from Ireland became an unlikely media and marketing pioneer.

Father Peyton began his efforts by leading a Rosary prayer program on a radio station in Albany, New York.

On Mother’s Day, 1945, he produced a national radio program with Bing Crosby on the Mutual Broadcasting System, the second-largest radio network at the time.

This program turned into a series which played on Mutual for 23 years.

In 1947, Father Peyton moved to Hollywood, founded Family Theater Productions, and produced radio, film, and television. He also founded Holy Cross Family Ministries, which is headquartered in North Easton, Massachusetts.

1. Father Peyton and Bing Crobsy (1)-1

Awards & Accolades

Montana International Film Festival - Best Made-in-Montana Film:
​Native Ball: Legacy of Trailblazer
Port Townsend Film Festival - Most Inspiring Short Documentary:
​Native Ball: Legacy of Trailblazer
Cleveland International Film Festival - Programmer's Choice Award for Best Short:
Native Ball: Legacy of Trailblazer
Northwest Regional Emmy® Award - Best Cultural/Historical Documentary:
The House That Rob Built
Feature Film Selection: The Christoper Awards 2021
Christopher Award:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK PEYTON
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Television (English) - Teen Specific:
Catholic Central
NY Festivals TV&Film Awards: 2021 Bronze Award
New York Festivals:
Bronze Award for Original Music
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Television (Spanish) - Teen Specific:
Lente Catolico
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Documentary Film:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK PEYTON
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Social Media Video:
Lente Catolico: Los 7 Pecados Capitales
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Social Media Video - Honorable Mention:
Catholic Central: Proofs of God
All Ages Dove Approved
Dove Approved for All Ages:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK
Official Selection: International Christian Film & Music Festival 2020
ICFF Award Winner:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK
Award Nominee Big Sky Documentary Film Festival 2020
Award Nomination:
The House That Rob Built
Official Selection: God, Country, Family Christian Film Festival 2019
Best Documentary:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Internet Series:
Catholic Central
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Internet Series:
Catholic Central
The Telly Awards
Telly Award Family Programming:
Family Dinner
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award:
Family Dinner
New York Festivals TV&Film Awards
New York Festival Family Film Finalist:
Family Dinner
Gabriel Award Winner
Communicator Award:
Classic Radios Season 4: Pardon for Tippy
The Telly Awards
Telly Award Religious Film:
You Will See
New York Festivals TV&Film Awards
New York Festivals Silver Medal - Family Special:
Assumptions
New York Festivals TV&Film Awards
New York Festivals Silver Medal - Religious Material:
Assumptions
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - TV Programming:
Assumptions
Gabriel Award Winner
Accolade Winner - Honorable Mention - Religious Programming:
Finding Mary
Gabriel Award Winner
Accolade Winner - Honorable Mention - Drama Programming:
Assumptions
Gabriel Award Winner
Accolade Award of Excellence - Religious:
Assumptions
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Spanish Language Radio:
Dia de los Muertos: Celebrando Vida y Muerte
Gabriel Award Winner
The Videographer Awards - Award of Distinction:
God, Country, Notre Dame: The Story of Father Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C.
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award:
God, Country, Notre Dame: The Story of Father Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C.
Gabriel Award Winner
The New York Festivals Bronze World Medal - Radio Programming & Promotion – Best Regularly Scheduled Drama Program:
​Rosalba
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Certificate of Merit - Spanish Language Radio – Arts & Entertainment - National:
​El Paseo / The Road Trip
Gabriel Award Winner
The Communicator Crystal Award of Excellence - Audio Productions/Inspirational:
El Navío de los Corazones​ / The Ship of Hearts
Gabriel Award Winner
The Communicator Award Honorable Mention - PSA – Educational:
​Recycling
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award:
​Rosca de Reyes with Hector Bonilla
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Spanish Language Radio:
​Rosalba
Gabriel Award Winner
AFTRA National American Scene Award:
​Atorados / Stranded
Gabriel Award Winner
AFTRA National American Scene Award:
​ Rosalba
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Spanish Language:
​Viejos los Cerros / Young at Heart
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Certifícate of Merit:
​La Fábula del Hombre Que Lo Sabía Todo / The Fable of the Man Who Knew Everything
Gabriel Award Winner
NOSOTROS Golden Eagle Award - Spanish Radio - Programming Award:
Historias Para Mejorar el Mundo
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Spanish Language:
​El Mejor / The Best
Official Selection: Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival 2019
Official Selection:
PRAY: THE STORY OF PATRICK
The Telly Awards
Telly Award Religious Film:
Down from the Mountaintop
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Radio Program:
Substitute Santa
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award Spanish Language Radio – National - Arts & Entertainment:
​Vicente
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Spanish Language Radio – Community Awareness and Public Service Announcements - National Release:
​Migracíon /​ ​Migration
Gabriel Award Winner
MarCom Creative Awards Gold Finalist - Radio, PSA:
​Hidden Treasures ​/ Tesoros Escondidos
Gabriel Award Winner
The Communicator Crystal Award of Excellence – PSA - Foreign Language:
The Human Body
Gabriel Award Winner
The Communicator Award of Distinction - Audio Productions – Inspirational:
El Poder de la Piedad​ / ​The Quality of Mercy
Gabriel Award Winner
Gabriel Award - Certificate of Merit:
​Una Noche de Oscuridad / One Night of Darkness
Gabriel Award Winner
The Communicator Crystal Award:
​Rosalba
Gabriel Award Winner
National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC):
​Excellence in Radio Production