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Bob Kresser – CEO
Prior to launching K2 Communications, now K2 Studios, more than 20 years ago, Bob Kresser was agency principal of one of the West Coast’s largest independent ad agencies, Kresser/Craig. He sold the agency to produce high quality television programming, and soon brought this quality to the giant screen. It is with this background he launched an integrated film finance, production, distribution and marketing – one stop shop – for Giant Screen IMAX® documentary films. Under Bob’s leadership, K2 pioneered what is now called brand integration in Giant Screen IMAX® documentary films such as Adventures in Wild California, Fighter Pilot, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti, Legends of Flight, Journey to Space, and most recently Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds. Bob was also one of the first to see the future of television shifting to Video on Demand, leading to the formation of K2 Studios (Havoc TV), and a driving force in the current diversification of his company with the newly launched partnership with MGM Television. Bob is currently CEO of K2 Studios. |
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Mark Kresser – President
Mark has over twenty years experience in the entertainment and new media businesses, with roles that have encompassed all aspects of project development, implementation and oversight. In his current role as President of K2, Mark continues to wear many hats. In addition to helping guide the strategic direction of the company, including new business and film development, Mark oversees all of K2’s theatrical and non-theatrical distribution efforts. Mark has spearheaded the theatrical and subsequent non-theatrical launches of all of K2’s new releases over the past 15 years, including Fighter Pilot, The Ultimate Wave Tahiti, Legends of Flight, Rescue, Space Junk, Journey to Space, Aircraft Carrier, Australia’s Great Wild North, Secrets of the Universe, Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds, and Sea Lions. During his tenure, Mark has expanded K2’s theatrical distribution beyond IMAX theaters to include digital 3D and 4D theaters, “attraction theaters,” and digital “full dome” planetariums. Since 2004, Mark has also led K2’s pioneering effort to broaden the distribution of IMAX-format films to non-theatrical media, starting with High Definition and Standard Definition television, and growing to include hotels, airlines, broadband sites and more. After starting with HD and SD, K2 has continued to be a leader as new TV markets developed, including 3D TV, and now 4K “UHD TV.” In addition to distributing its own films, under Mark’s supervision, K2’s library has grown to include more than 85 IMAX-format films from more than 25 independent producers, and K2 has also represented over 800 hours of additional high quality 4K content. Previously, Mark helped launch, and later served as publisher and editor of the leading consumer resource for the IMAX-format film business, BigMovieZone.com, and went on to perform the same role for TBOC.tv, the companion web site for K2’s TV show, The Best of California. Mark also formed a strategic partnership with Australian partner Definition Films, and K2 has more than 10 films in production or development with Definition and other partners. Recently, along with Ryan Kresser, Mark led K2’s effort to secure a strategic partnership, co-production, first look and distribution deal with MGM that will enable K2 to greatly expand its production of premium unscripted television series and other documentaries. |
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Ryan Kresser – EVP Television
Starting in the late 1990s, Ryan served as the writer of several episodes for K2’s documentary television series Self Made in California, and as an Executive Producer on K2’s inaugural IMAX® format film project, Adventures in Wild California. He subsequently created, and was the initial Publisher for BigMovieZone.com, the first website to aggregate theater and film info for the entire global IMAX® documentary film market in one place. Subsequently Ryan led K2’s efforts to acquire the rights from fellow IMAX® format documentary film producers to distribute what soon became the world’s largest library of IMAX® format films for television and other ancillary platforms, securing initial licensing deals with US cable networks INHD and HD Net, and negotiating a seven figure advance from international distribution partner Alfred Haber Distribution. In 2004, in partnership with K2 Ryan co-founded cable TV network Havoc Television, covering Millennial and Gen Z focused music, sports and culture, now carried by over 100 US cable operators in 55 million US TV homes, and went on to serve as CEO for over 15 years. Havoc successfully collaborated with K2 on IMAX format films including Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D starring 11x world champion surfer Kelly Slater, for which Havoc sourced $7mm in sponsorship funding from Suzuki Automotive and a strategic marketing partnership with Quiksilver, and Mountain Adventure: Out of Bounds starring Olympic Gold Medalist snowboarder Torah Bright. At Havoc, Ryan executive produced over 350 original content titles, plus over 3,000 hours of groundbreaking live interactive programming for DIRECTV Channel 101 (“Havoc on the 101”), as well as The Mix aired on G4. With Havoc, Kresser also created the first live interactive cable TV network in the US, enabling viewers to use social media to chat live on screen and vote to control what video plays next in real time. Havoc secured output deals from hundreds of the most respected content partners in its space, amassing a content library of over 15,000 titles, and developed a forward-looking multi-platform solution for a long list of repeat blue chip sponsors, including the ongoing creation of brand integrated content featuring top artists and athletes from Havoc genres. Recently, Ryan partnered with K2 to engage an investment banker and secure a strategic partnership deal with MGM, including completion funding for 8 initial TV series, development and co-production of future series and documentaries, and non-theatrical library distribution, and he is excited to help K2 expand its television efforts. |
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Matthew Palanca – Video Editor / Graphic Designer
Matthew serves as an in-house video editor for a number of K2 Studios' film and television projects. In 2017, he was the editor of the film Fly Around the World, a 4D ride film produced for Chinese markets. In 2018, he served in the creation of short form versions of the film Turtle Odyssey, and was the writer and editor of the international version of the film Denali 4K: An Extreme Adventure. In 2019, he wrote and edited Being A Sea Lion, a 4D film derived from its giant screen cousin Sea Lions: Life by a Whisker. In 2020, he continues assisting with post-production needs for upcoming giant screen projects, including Angkor: The Lost Empire of Cambodia. Additionally, Matthew heads the design of various marketing/educational materials for K2’s entire library of films, and overseas the distribution of those materials to science center/museum theaters worldwide, in print and online. He serves as the editor for sizzle reels, promotional videos and other short form video content used to pitch/market the company's numerous in-development and in-production films, including Cool Cities and The Planets. Matthew earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara. |
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Paula Tagle – Manager, Film Distribution, Digital & Online Media
With over fourteen years experience in the film and new media industries, Paula manages K2’s film distribution arm for both theatrical and non-theatrical outlets. She heads coordination among producers, film laboratories, vendors, theaters, and ancillary outlets. In addition to overseeing distribution, she currently manages daily operations for K2 including the implementation and management of new systems such as database software, print and digital media inventory, digital delivery systems, and online tools. Paula also supervises K2’s web presence through development, launch, and operations. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern California. |
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Dayna Braun – Controller
Dayna is in charge of all financial duties for K2 and its film productions. She manages cashflow, financial reporting, and producer distributions as well as payroll and accounts payable. Dayna, a licensed CPA, joined K2 in 2015 with over 8 years of accounting experience. She gained the majority of her experience working in the entertainment industry at The Tennis Channel and CBS Films after beginning her career working for public accounting firm KPMG, LLP in their audit division. Dayna earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. |