Staff & Contacts

• Nolan Gallagher: Founder & CEO

  Nolan@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.648.8429

  Nolan Gallagher is CEO of Gravitas Ventures, which he founded in 2006. Under Nolan’s leadership, Gravitas has released more than 1,000 films on Video on Demand (VOD). Through its relationships with studios and VOD operators, Gravitas can distribute a film into over 100 million North American homes. Previously, Nolan worked in corporate marketing roles at industry leaders Comcast, Warner Bros., and General Cinema Theatres. Nolan has spoken on numerous industry panels including the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Los Angeles Film Festival, the Produced By Conference, and at the SXSW Film Festival. Nolan was born in Cleveland, Ohio and received his MBA from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and his undergraduate business degree from Boston College. Gravitas Ventures can be found on twitter @GravitasVOD

  Michael Murphy: President

  Michael@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.648.8430

  Michael has been instrumental in growing the company’s distribution footprint. As President, he is responsible for acquiring & programming more than 30 independent films and events to over 50 cable, satellite, and telco operators in N.America each month. He has negotiated numerous license agreements with leading entertainment companies including Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Amazon, AT&T, Charter, Rogers Cable, Cogeco, Hulu, Netflix, Google/YouTube, Suddenlink, & DISH Network. Prior to joining Gravitas Ventures in 2007, Michael was Captain in the US Army where he served over four years on active duty as a Judge Advocate. In 2005 he deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Michael holds a JD from the University of Akron School of Law (cum laude) and a BA from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA.

  Brendan Gallagher: Vice President of Business Affairs

  Brendan@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 440.653.9114

  Brendan joins Gravitas as our Vice President of Business Affairs following 5 years of practice as an attorney at Frantz Ward LLP in Cleveland, Ohio, where he predominantly focused on commercial litigation, insurance disputes, and labor and employment issues. As part of his practice, Brendan also supervised the nationwide litigation efforts of a banking client’s automobile-financing division. Brendan holds a JD from the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law (summa cum laude) and a BA from Boston College. Prior to attending law school, Brendan worked for the business-consulting company Accenture, participating in client engagements at NASA, Dow Chemical, and Consol Energy among others.

  Melanie Miller: Vice President of Acquisitions

  Melanie@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.648.8452

  Melanie is a nineteen-year veteran of the film industry with an uncanny ability to recognize talent. These skills have been honed over the course of her career while working as a Producer, Music Supervisor and Casting Associate. It was in 2004 Melanie became actively involved with the inception of the Jackson Hole Film Institute and was a key player in the establishment, growth, and immediate success of its flagship event, the Jackson Hole Film Festival. Melanie was the Program Director and later the Artistic Director of the Institute through 2008. In 2009 Melanie launched Fishbowl Films, which currently has several projects in various stages of development and it’s first feature film, DETOUR, complete. Melanie joined Gravitas in the fall of 2009 and currently heads up the Acquisitions team.

  Chad Miller: Director of Business Development

  Chad@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.388.9353

  Chad Miller arrives at Gravitas after six years at AT&T U-verse Television where he helped build and grow their VOD business (both transactional and free).   Prior to that Chad worked at iN Demand where he supervised the scheduling of what was then known as “NVOD” (near video-on-demand) and PPV content.   His background also includes extensive screenplay development work at various studios and production companies, including Phoenix Pictures.  He began his entertainment career within the story department at UTA.  Believing that VOD is the near-term future of entertainment, Chad recognized the opportunity in joining the Gravitas team.

  Chris Foo: Director of Operations

  Chris@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.388.9355

  Chris Foo joined Gravitas Ventures in 2010 as the Director of Operations where he oversees all film submissions to the company for the purpose of cable and Internet VOD distribution. In addition Chris oversees all operational responsibilities for every Gravitas title. Prior to joining Gravitas, Chris served as an Investment Analyst at Schroders Asset Management, a global asset management firm headquartered in London. He served on a team of emerging markets investment specialists making stock recommendations and forming investment strategies for equity markets across Asia. Chris received his BSc in Economics from the University of Nottingham, UK.

  

  Joe Wilka: Senior Manager of Marketing

  Joe@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.388.9356

  As the Senior Marketing Manager, Joe handles the promotion of all Gravitas titles through print and electronic media. In addition, he is also instrumental in the aggregation and delivery of films for distribution on leading internet platforms such as Hulu, iTunes, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Joe also operates as Gravitas’ graphic designer, video editor, and website administrator. Originally from South Dakota, Joe moved to Los Angeles in 2006 to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Film & Television Production from Loyola Marymount University. Joe joined Gravitas in May 2009 and graduated Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University.

  

  Mia Bruno: Operations Coordinator

  Mia@gravitasventures.com
  Phone: 310.648.8452

  Mia Bruno joined Gravitas Ventures in 2011 as Operations Coordinator with an extensive background in the film industry, both domestic and international. After living for a year in France and working in acquisitions during the Cannes Film Festival, she moved to New York, and worked for two independent film production companies, doing everything from the casting process to driving a cube truck. Mia also has vast experience working in development, having worked as a reader at several prominent production companies in both New York and Los Angeles. Fluent in French, Mia brings a sophisticated and cultured eye to Gravitas Ventures. Mia graduated Magna cum laude from Barnard College in New York City.