Mike Peebler hails from Houston, Texas and holds a Bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and an MFA from UCLA. As an actor, Mike has performed in theaters throughout Southern California, including the Will Geer Theatriucm Botanicum, Shakespeare Orange County, and the Geffen Playhouse, as well as television and film projects such as Hawaii Five-O, Two Broke Girls, Chicago Med/P.D., and Mad Men. His directing career began as an extension of his work on stage, with early projects including well-received productions of Joyce Carol Oates’ Tone Clusters and Bill Cain’s Equivocation at Theatricum Botanicum, and Romeo and Juliet and The Tavern at Shakespeare Orange County, where Mike has also served as Associate Artistic Director.

In 2015 Mike launched Upstart Crow Films with his creative partner and fellow UCLA alum, Mark Fellner-Erez. UCF has produced six short films to date, including Out With A Bang and The God Chair, which debuted simultaneously at the 2015 Academy Award-qualifying Cinequest Film Festival, a festival first. Mike’s latest directorial effort, For Closure, a one take action-comedy, is currently traveling the festival circuit. UCF has several additional projects in development, including a feature-length version of Evie as well as Skids, an episodic project set in the community inhabiting LA’s skid row.

Marc Fellner-Erez - Writer/Producer

Born on Guam and raised in NorCal Marc began his writing and directing career in the theater. He worked closely with Ray Bradbury, adapting the science fiction legend’s books and short stories for the stage. 

In New York Marc taught acting and directing and was a cast member in a traveling production of Double V. Directing took Marc to St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands where he served as the resident director for the Pistarckle Theater for 2 seasons. Returning to Los Angeles Marc wrote, produced and starred in By a Hair, an award winning short film about the human condition and ingrown hairs.

Since creating Upstart Crow Films in 2015 Marc has written and produced 6 award winning short films which have shown at more than 2 dozen film festivals around the country. 

Away from the stage and screen Marc has produced 3 young children. He currently teaches film at New Roads School in Santa Monica.

An electrical engineer, former Chief Executive Officer of two publicly-traded companies on the NYSE and NASDAQ, and entrepreneurial investor and consultant, Bob Peebler brings tremendous business acumen to Upstart Crow Films. 

During his forty-year tenure in the upstream oil & gas services and technology industry, Mr. Peebler gained a reputation as a strategic visionary and effective leader, transitioning several companies from tenuous market positions to growth trajectories, including Landmark Graphics and ION Geophysical Corporation.

Bob currently manages The Peebler Group, a strategic consulting company focused on advising management and private equity for oil field service and technology businesses. He is also involved in entrepreneurial ventures spanning industries as varied as the restaurant sector and women’s active wear. He has served on several corporate boards and facilitated the acquisition of Lumedyne Technologies by Google.