For the past two decades, JWE founder Jim White has defined the designation of successful entrepreneur in every aspect of entertainment: television, film, music, live production, book publishing and talent management. It’s no wonder the cream of Beverly Hills business have consulted with him over the years to help them connect to new audiences and expand their brands; he brings substantive savvy to any project, and unequivocal integrity to every relationship. His innate ability to envision the potential and the power in a raw concept has produced satisfying results for all who avail themselves of Jim’s remarkable vision and his commitment to excellence.
Now, Jim is bringing his considerable knowledge, experience and expertise in traditional entertainment to the next level. Jim and his exceptional creative team at JWE are producing integrated content that seamlessly engages all markets and every available media format, connecting the extraordinary promise of new technology with the time-honored value of quality storytelling.
JWE TEAM ONE
“DUKE” FAKIR
Music Producer
As the sole original member of the legendary Four Tops, Duke continues to bring their inimitable sound and showmanship to new generations, and to JWE’s slate of projects, including animated transmedia projects. Best known for their stratospheric hit singles, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out (I’ll Be There),” The Four Tops has, over five decades, done it all: doo-wop, soul, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, jazz, rock, and Broadway. Founded in Detroit, lead singer Levi Stubbs (the distinctive baritone whose cousin was another R&B icon, Jackie Wilson), Abdul “Duke” Fakir, Obie Benson and Lawrence Payton helped define the Motown Sound of the 1960’s, as the primary male vocal group for the hit songwriting and production team of Holland-Dozier-Holland. Although Payton, Stubbs and Benson are no longer with us, Duke Fakir has held high the legendary banner, and is now joined by Ronnie McNair, Harold “Spike” Bonhart, and Lawrence Payton’s son, Roquel, and continue to bring the Four Tops sound to new generations. Their 2012 tour is scheduled to take them around the world.
KEITH ENGLISH
Director of Animation
Keith brings a diverse career background to the world of animation and many aspects of his journey are evident in his work today.
From an early age Keith was a prolific painter, and until he moved to the States in 1977, was still holding exhibitions of his works in the UK. He began his work career training as an architect in the county of Dorset, in the same office as Thomas Hardy the writer once trained, and worked almost exclusively on period properties dating from the 1400s – 1600s.
He worked for a number of years as an Industrial Designer before changing course into business, which culminated when he worked as Vice President of Marketing for a new division of Lenox China, which, over a period of two and a half years, he drove from $8.9 million to $120 million.
He spent the next three years sailing in the Caribbean and South America; an experience, which he still feels benefited immensely his understanding of peoples, diversity and adventure.
He moved back to the States and started his own Industrial Design business, working for a few high profile clients amongst who were Pepsi and Reebok. But it was Reebok with their simple question 15 years ago, “Can you make it move” who launched him into the world of animation, and begun a journey from which he has never looked back.
He has developed product for Cartoon Network, Disney, and James Cameron; was commissioned to create a work for a John Lasseter tribute, animated a main character in Sam Raimi’s DRAG ME TO HELL, was working with Michael Jackson on Thriller for the Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT stage show when Michael passed away and recently completed concept design work and previsualizations for the producers of Sony’s for FALL FROM GRACE (2014), conceptualizing how a six-winged angel and a 12 winged angel would levitationally swordfight in the Chamber of Creation.
He has taught animation and Visual Effects for the Digital Media Academy at Stanford university, also at other prestigious universities and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories where he brought all of their animators under the umbrella of one animation software.
KEVIN DORSEY
Production Manager
Legendary producer Quincy Jones introduced Kevin to the entertainment world in 1984. As a vocalist, musician, producer, writer, vocal arranger and voice-over talent (his classic “Oh, Yeah!” in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off made his voice one of the most recognizable in American pop culture), Kevin’s film and television credits include: The Color Purple, Forrest Gump, Spiderman, The Lion King, Men In Black, Austin Powers, The Matrix, Law and Order, The Simpsons, Family Guy, American Idol, The Tonight Show, and The Late Show with David Letterman. Kevin has worked with Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Phil Collins, Bette Midler, Rod Stewart, Sting, Barbra Streisand — and with the late greats Michael Jackson, Luther Vandross, Sammy Davis, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles. He has served on the local and national boards of AFTRA, and the Board of Governors for NARAS, home of the Grammy Awards.
ALEXANDRA LEH
Writer/Producer
The daughter of iconic jazz guitarist George Barnes, Alexandra has a complex professional background: singer, songwriter, dancer, actor, television executive, live event producer, documentary director, and ghostwriter. After several years developing movies and miniseries at CBS, she now funnels her collected expertise into select projects as an independent writer/producer and script consultant. Alexandra serves on the advisory board of c3:VisionLab, a global arts+media think tank, of which she is a founding member.