Our Staff
REV. ERIC ANDREWS, C.S.P.
PRESIDENT
JOSEPH KIM
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
MARK ORTIZ
RECEPTIONIST / OFFICE ASSISTANT
REV. ERIC ANDREWS, C.S.P.
PRESIDENT
Paulistmail@paulistproductions.org
With a solid background in television production, Eric Andrews, CSP was the natural choice to take over the leadership of Paulist Productions in September 2009. Father Eric came to Los Angeles from Tennessee where he was Pastor/Campus Minister at John XXIII University Parish in Knoxville. A savvy businessman and talented producer, Fr. Eric is also a highly regarded speaker both in the church and on the air. The third president in the 50 year history of the television and film production company, Fr. Eric has stepped in and continued the tradition of "the Hollywood Priest," a role initiated by the company's founder, Fr. Ellwood "Bud" Kieser.
Originally focused on a career in communications, Fr. Eric also had long held an interest in the Priesthood, but first chose to earn his BFA from New York University Film School in 1987, from which he graduated with honors. While there, he consulted with the school's campus priest and learned of the Paulist Fathers, whose focus is on communications as a means of teaching. "I was very happy to learn I could combine a career in the Church with my interest in the media," says Fr. Andrews.
While attending NYU, however, Fr. Eric landed an internship and then staff position at The Jim Henson Company. He felt he could not pass up this opportunity and it was there he earned a variety of credits. Among the shows he worked on were the Jim Henson Hour (NBC), Down at Fraggle Rock: Behind the Scenes, The Ghost of Faffner Hall (HBO), Free to Be…A Family (an ABC Special) and the Jim Henson Play Along Video Series. He had a hand in many things at Jim Henson's company, including the puppets! Fr. Eric is pleased to be, once again, collaborating with many Henson alumni in his new post.
Eager to pursue his religious calling, Eric left the Henson organization, joined the Paulist Fathers, and enrolled in seminary training at Catholic University of America in September 1989. In May of 1994, he received his Masters of Divinity and began an internship at St. Paul the Apostle Church in New York City. Fr. Eric was ordained to the Priesthood in May 1995.
From May 1995 to July 1999, Fr. Eric served as Associate Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Church, NYC. Recognizing the need to keep his congregants engaged, he would punctuate his sermon with jazz standards made famous by Frank Sinatra and others. It is a strategy he still employs Sundays at St. Paul's in Westwood. During this period, he had the opportunity to appear on the programs of several media outlets that invited his commentary. FOX News asked him to appear on the O'Reilly Factor and Shepherd Smith Show to give a Catholic/religious point of view on the untimely death of John F. Kennedy, Jr. and MTV wanted him to weigh in on birth of singer Madonna's first child, Lourdes, and the significance of the child's name.
Fr. Eric went to Washington, D.C. to serve as Executive Producer of Paulist Media Works from September 1999 through July 2000. A production company similar to Paulist Productions, it was there Fr. Eric executive produced a weekly Bible Study Program titled, Sunday to Sunday. During this time he was also executive producer on Jim Henson: Creator of Dreams, a documentary for PBS. He again was asked to appear on television, CNN this time, to comment on the controversial film, Dogma.
In 2000 Fr. Eric served as Associate Pastor/Campus Minister at John XXIII University Parish, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Immediately, he was enamored by the unique culture, warmth and spirit of the people of East Tennessee. He was often spotted on campus with an orange Roman collar to support the Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Volunteer athletics. Three years later he became the Pastor/Campus Minister the Parish.
While in Knoxville, Fr. Eric was frequently asked to appear on the local network affiliates responding to different church issues and local and national events. He also found time to co-create and co-host of The Priest, the Princess, and the War for the Perfect Wedding," a web series on BustedHalo.com, which he continues now from Los Angeles.
Fr. Eric was honored to be a member of the University of Tennessee Chancellor's Associates, as well as a member of the Interfaith Campus Minister's council, serving as its chair from 2003 to 2005. He was on the Advisory Board for Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and was actively involved in outreach work to the poor in Haiti, Jamaica and Southern Appalachia. He also was active in peace and justice efforts, with a special focus on environmental issues. In May 2009 Fr. Eric received a Chancellor's Citation for Extraordinary Community Service to the University of Tennessee.
Despite his love for his ministry at the University and the people to whom he ministered there, Fr. Eric is eager to meet the challenges presented by his position helming Paulist Productions in Los Angeles.
JOSEPH KIM
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
A graduate of Yale College and Yale Law School, Joseph Kim is licensed to practice law in California and New York. After clerking for a Federal District Judge and practicing business law at a large law firm in New York City, Joseph moved to Los Angeles and joined A&M Records as an attorney, where he negotiated and drafted artist and producer contracts for five years. Subsequently Joseph was in private practice, representing platinum artists, producers, independent record labels and an advertising agency. Joseph also worked for Disney as their senior music attorney in records, publishing and TV production on a temporary basis. As an adjunct professor, Joseph has taught music law at Pepperdine University School of Law and entertainment law at the University of California at Irvine.
Joseph joined Paulist Productions in January 2002, as Vice President of Business Affairs. In that capacity, for over 8 years he oversaw legal and business affairs, and his duties included negotiating, drafting and administering film, television and new media contracts, relating to talent services, rights acquisition, production, distribution and licensing. He was promoted to Executive Vice President of the company in June 2010. While continuing to be responsible for legal and business affairs, Joseph currently assists the President in overseeing creative and administrative matters, and is designated to supervise music in film productions.
Joseph has a musical background also. Formerly Director of Music at St. Sebastian Parish in West L.A., Joseph has worked as a singer, pianist, music teacher, and director of children's choirs at Catholic parishes in Los Angeles and New Haven. Joseph studied classical piano and voice with faculty at the Eastman School of Music and Yale School of Music, respectively; since 2004, he has been studying jazz piano and composition privately with a Concord Jazz recording artist, who was nominated for 2 Grammy's, when he was 22, in those fields.
Of Korean descent, but born and raised in Japan, and educated in English at international primary and secondary schools in Tokyo by French Canadian Catholic missionaries, Joseph is bilingual in English and Japanese.
MARYBETH SPROWS
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Paulistmail@paulistproductions.org
Marybeth began her career in entertainment as a Production Assistant on the long running family series, 7th HEAVEN. From there she went to work for J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves on the series FELICITY. She continued to work with Abrams for the next 5 years on JOY RIDE, ALIAS and LOST moving up the ranks to Associate Producer.
Her next career move landed her with another television great, Greg Berlanti. Greg was Executive Producing the ABC drama BROTHERS AND SISTERS as well as writing and producing the pilots, DIRTY SEXY MONEY and ELI STONE, both of which were picked up to series on the ABC Network.
Marybeth was then afforded the opportunity to work with longtime friend and mentor, Francie Calfo, who was leaving ABC as the EVP of Drama and Comedy Development to create her own production shingle, Long Run Productions. Marybeth served as Creative Executive for the company. During her tenure, the company sold numerous pilots and produced ABC's Summer Series, SCOUNDRELS.
Most recently, Marybeth was Coordinator of Development at Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's Imagine Television. There she continued in the tradition of developing high quality television for both network and cable buyers. She contributed to Imagine's pilot, THE PLAYBOY CLUB, which is garnering much buzz this current development season.
Marybeth joined Paulist Productions as Director of Development in May 2011. She is thrilled to be able to work with Father Eric and Paulist Productions to develop television and film that truly honor the mission of the company.
Marybeth grew up in the Philadelphia area and is a graduate of University of Scranton, a Jesuit Institution in Pennsylvania with a degree in English and Communications and a minor in Writing. She also holds her Masters of Information Sciences from Drexel University in Philadelphia. She is a member of the Producer's Guild of America, Academy of Television Arts and Science and Jr. Hollywood Radio and Television Society.
MARK ORTIZ
RECEPTIONIST / OFFICE ASSISTANT
paulistmail@paulistproductions.org
Mark Ortiz is a native of the Washington D.C. area, where he graduated from George Mason University with a BA Degree in Communications and a double minor in both Film & Media Studies, and Art. While there he spent time as an apprentice editor, working on the National Geographic Film, "The Great Indian Railway."
Since moving to Los Angeles, he has pursued a variety of media related interests, and is currently finishing up a program of studies in computer animation.
Mark became a member of the Paulist Productions Family in January of 2007, and works as the Receptionist/Office Assistant. In addition he assists the Director and Executive Director of the Humanitas Prize.
