Working Above the Line: Biographies

Roger Bobb is one of the most successful producers working in the film and television industry today, with three hit shows currently on the air and 11 films having been released in the last ten years, all opening at #1 or #2 on their opening weekends.  Roger is the President and CEO of Bobbcat Films, a film and television production company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to creating Bobbcat Films, Roger served as Executive Vice President of Tyler Perry Studios for 7 years.  Roger is the executive producer/creator of the BET docu-series “It’s a Mann’s World, the TV One docu-series "Rickey Smiley For Real" and the sitcom “Mann & Wife” (Bounce TV). He also produced the sitcoms “The Rickey Smiley Show” (TV One), “House of Payne” (TBS) and “Meet the Browns” (TBS). Roger has produced over 600 television sitcom episodes in his career.  Roger’s theatrical producing credits include “For Colored Girls”, "Why Did I Get Married I & II", “Madea’s Big Happy Family” and seven other Tyler Perry films. Roger’s films have combined theatrical revenue of over half a billion dollars.  His television film credits include the films “Bad Dad Rehab” and “Let the Church Say Amen”.  Roger produced and directed the television films “Raising Izzie,”  “In the Meantime,” “Girlfriends Getaway” and “Girlfriends Getaway 2.”  Roger has won six NAACP Image Awards and is the only two-time Best Picture winner at the ABFF (American Black Film Festival). He was named one of the top 40 executives under 40 by The Network Journal Magazine and has been profiled in several publications such as TV Guide, Ebony, Black Enterprise, The Hollywood Reporter and The Daily Variety. Roger was born in London, raised in New York and attended Brooklyn College and The School of Visual Arts.

Deborah Riley Draper is a compelling and award-winning filmmaker and advertising agency executive. Deborah is a 2016 Film Independent Lab Fellow and was named to Variety Magazine’s “2016 Top 10 Documakers to Watch” list. Deborah is an engaging speaker and was featured at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival as a panelist for UK Film Center’s “Budgeting for the Inclusion Rider” session and was featured as a 2018 GA Tech TEDx speaker.  Her documentary, “Olympic Pride, American Prejudice,” tells the untold story of 18 African Americans who defied Hitler and Jim Crow to compete in the 1936 Berlin Summer Olympic Games. The film enjoyed a sold-out world premiere at the LA Film Festival and opened in theatres and on XFINITY® Streampix® during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies. The film is a 2017 NAACP Image Awards Nominee for Outstanding Documentary Film. In 2016, “Olympic Pride” inspired an historic invitation to the White House from President Obama to recognize the families of the African American members of the 1936 American Olympic team after an 80-year snub. For its ability to create conversations about inclusion, tolerance and sports as a platform, the film is one of only 3 nominees for the 2017 Peace and Sport Documentary Prize at the Sportel Awards in Monaco, presented by HSH Prince Albert II.

Brian Durkin began his acting career in 2004 and has appeared in more than 45 film and television projects since. You have seen him on the big and small screens in productions such as "Stranger Things", "The Walking Dead", "Brockmire", "Footloose", "Anchorman 2", "Killing Reagan" and soon in the remake of "Superfly" and Netflix's "Highwaymen."  Born in Charlotte, NC, but raised in Georgia and Florida, Brian earned a degree in building construction science from the University of Florida. He also has an MBA with a focus in Real Estate from Georgia State University. Between degrees Brian moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to pursue his acting career. Starting with a Basic Scene Study course at Howard Fine Studio, Brian quickly garnered the attention of Howard Fine and was put in his Advanced Scene Study Course. Brian's first project came in 2004 playing Perry Adair in "Bobby Jones - Stroke of Genius" as Jim Caviezel's (Bobby Jones) best friend. He has worked with Kevin Costner, Woody Harrelson, Kenneth Branagh, Kathy Bates, Denzel Washington, Clint Eastwood, Robert Redford, Kevin Kline, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and Bill Paxton, to name a few. Brian is married to Mary Catherine Fortner and has two children, Evelyn Wiley, age seven, and Samuel Nelson, age five. Brian makes his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and is represented by the People Store Agency.
Deborah Moore is a veteran film industry producer and studio executive. Her expertise in the production, financial, business and administrative needs of motion picture production, coupled with her thirty years of experience dealing with filmmakers, allows her to seamlessly translate the creative ambitions of the artist and the fiscal needs of the investor.  Deborah started her career in television on projects such as the Emmy award winning “Dollmaker” starring Jane Fonda and Levon Helms, “The Atlanta Child Murders” starring Morgan Freeman, James Earl Jones and Jason Robards, and “Amos” starring Kirk Douglas and Elizabeth Montgomery. She joined New Line Cinema where she helped create their fledgling - but soon to be powerhouse - production division. As Executive Vice President of Production, Deborah was instrumental in the company’s meteoric rise as one of the largest and most successful independent production companies of the 80’s and 90’s. She helped bring to fruition more than 60 films with production budgets totaling $400M generating over $2B in theatrical revenue alone. At New Line, projects ran the gamut from urban dramas such as “Above the Rim,” with Tupac Shakur, to mainstream comedies such as “The Mask,” with Cameron Diaz and Jim Carrey, “Dumb and Dumber,” with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels and “Don Juan de Marco and the Centerfold,” with Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway and Marlon Brando.  Deborah is also credited with overseeing the production of many of the company’s successful franchises, such as the “Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Critters,” “House Party,” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series. Over the years, Deborah has been a consultant for numerous creative teams, financial entities, film funds, wealth managers, lawyers and others. In the last five years, Deborah has taken a more active role in developing and producing projects. Her most recent project is Executive Producer on “Think Like a Dog,” starring Megan Fox and Josh Duhamel. Last year she produced the indie drama, “Daisy Winters,” starring Brooke Shields, Iwan Rheon (“Game of Thrones”), and Carrie Preston soon to be available on Netflix.

Winsome Sinclair is one of the most sought after casting directors on the East Coast, having collaborated with such directors as Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Oliver Stone and John Singleton, casting principals and extras for the films “Amistad,” “Malcolm X,”  “Waiting to Exhale,” “The Best Man,”  “She Hate Me,”  “Inside Man,” “Too Fast Too Furious,”  “Black Snake Moan,”  “Cadillac Records,” and “Precious,” among others. Her most recent projects include the Lifetime TV movie “Seasons of Love” produced by Academy Award nominee Taraji P. Henson, as well as the HBO film “Bessie” starring and produced by Queen Latifah, directed by Dee Rees of the critically acclaimed “Pariah.” Winsome Sinclair & Associates is celebrated for creating valuable jobs for many African-American and Latino actors. Amongst other projects Sinclair is currently producing the British crime drama, “Flowers Don’t Grow in England.” With over two decades of experience to her credit this industry veteran sits on the board of directors of the African-American Women in Cinema Foundation. She is also a member of the New York Women in Film and Television. She has also led the Star Project for the American Black Film Festival and moderated symposiums and panel discussions for the prestigious film festival. Sinclair is a co-founder and serves as producer for the full-service production company, Legacy Media Group (LMG). LMG founded the TV/Film Production Certificate Program at Medgar Evers College. The program, presented by Legacy Media in conjunction with Medgar Evers Personal Development Institute and affiliated with the Adult Continuing Education at Medgar Evers College, gives students hands-on training and preparation for a career in film and television production. Winsome also serves as an instructor for the first course of its kind at the Brooklyn campus. In spring 2014, WSA officially opened their Atlanta offices and with her partner Donald Jarmond, and together they both launched WSA Consultation. With over 30 years of combined experience under their belts, this arm of the company was created to assist & advise actors, as well as up and coming producers in film & television, and other creatives in developing & moving their projects forward as well as navigating the next steps in their careers. In addition, Winsome is also the CEO & Co-Creator of the Breezes Lifestyle Brand a family brand launched in 2002.

Mike Muse (moderator) is the co-founder of Muse Recordings, a music executive, a political expert and a change agent. By intersecting politics and pop culture, Mike uses his platform to create social change. Mike is a commentator on pop culture for Sirius XM Satellite Radio with his featured segment Political News with Mike Muse. He can be seen in front of the camera on national television for VH1, BET, NBC, and ARISE as a political/pop culture expert. Mike served as a member of President Barack Obama’s National Finance Committee and most recently was appointed to serve as the Unites States Small Business Administration, My Brother’s Keeper, Millennial Entrepreneurial Champion-designed to support President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.