ACT4ENT.COM - Key Persons


Adam Paul Smith

Adam is currently producing CANARY, a feature documentary film about the life of Dr. Lonnie Thompson, who is among the earliest on the planet to witness firsthand the impacts of climate change and arguably one of the most important pioneering climate scientists of our time. Directed by Grammy nominee Danny O'Malley (‘Chef's Table') and Alex Rivest (PhD scientist trained at MIT), the film captures the thrills and challenges of scientific discovery and exploration. A personal story that reinvents the issue documentary. CANARY is filled with inspiration and hope, as experienced through a life lived to the fullest with a timely message that the world needs now. Adam originates from Zimbabwe, raised in South Africa during the Apartheid and now an immigrant to United States, clearly shaping his world view; his perspectives on politics, activism and through his appreciation for the power of storytelling led him to his current role as a creative producer, a writer and an executive with Act 4. He is the creator behind Act 4's "What Can I Do?" social action platform, focused on bridging the gap between inspired audiences and meaningful action. Involved in both the business and creative aspects on multiple narrative and unscripted projects, most recently he produced the feature length documentary film ‘Company Town' on the issue of environmental justice in the US, which premiered at the Los Angeles International Film Festival, garnering national attention with coverage from The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Guardian, Newsweek, Huffington Post. Previously he produced the award-winning feature documentary ‘Angels in Exile', about street kids of Durban, South Africa narrated by Academy Award Winner© Charlize Theron. Adam serves on the Board of International Classroom Fund (ICF) established to provide vulnerable children access to education, with a current focus on the Maasai in Tanzania. Adam lives in Los Angeles with his wife, his son and two Rottweilers. He is an avid outdoor enthusiast and explorer; surfing, sailing, snowboarding, fishing, cycling and off-roading. Seeking adventure with a strong affinity to counterbalance his city existence by getting lost in remote places...

Alan Trezza

Alan Trezza oversaw the production of Act 4's feature length documentary ‘The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father CIA Spymaster William Colby' about controversial former CIA Director William Colby which was was released theatrically by First Run Features and played for more than six months in more than 60 cities across the U.S. It received outstanding reviews from The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Atlantic, and was a New York Times' "Critics Pick". Alan recently wrapped production on the supernatural comedy ‘Burying the Ex‘ directed by horror legend Joe Dante (‘Gremlins'), starring Anton Yelchin (‘Star Trek') and Ashley Greene (‘Twilight'). Prior to joining Act 4, Alan was the Creative Executive for Scott Free Productions, where he developed films directed and produced by Ridley and Tony Scott including ‘Robin Hood' and ‘Body of Lies'. Alan is a graduate of Fordham University.

David Johnson - Founder

Job Titles:
  • Founder
Johnson is the founder of Act 4 Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based filmed entertainment and new media content company created in 2007 to motivate and inspire audiences across the world toward social action. Act 4 is in development on approximately 20 feature film, television and new media projects, as well as a live stage musical production. Johnson most recently produced the live stage musical version of American Psycho at the Almeida Theatre in London. He executive produced The People Speak, a feature-length documentary with Matt Damon and other actors and musicians based on Howard Zinn's book A People's History of the United States, for the History Channel; and Angels in Exile, a feature-length documentary about street kids of Durban, South Africa; and produced The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby, a feature-length documentary about the career and family life of controversial CIA director William Colby. In keeping with his commitment to improving economic justice in America, Johnson is a current board member and former Chair of Public Counsel Law Center, the nation's largest public interest pro bono law firm. He founded the Center's Impact Litigation Project, the first in the nation to recognize that the economic divide is a legal issue and action must be taken to close the gap. The Impact Litigation Project addresses economic justice through large-scale litigation-helping thousands with the intent to change the law itself. In 2012, Congressional Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) presented Johnson with Public Counsel Law Center's Founders Award for his commitment to the organization. [View video tribute] Additionally, in the areas of social justice, Johnson serves on the boards of directors for Children Now, a national child policy and advocacy organization; the Dream Foundation, a wish-granting organization for terminally ill adults; and Human Rights Watch (California), one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to defending human rights. Johnson, recognizing the importance of culture and centers of excellence in our country, serves as Chair Emeritus of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Under his leadership as co-Chair, MOCA has been revitalized: the museum is debt-free as a result of a financial restructuring and raised an endowment in excess of 100 million dollars, has hired a new director, and elected more than 20 new board members. Johnson is also a member of the board of directors of KCETLink, an independent public broadcasting station in Los Angeles; and a member of the board of advisors of the Yale School of Drama. Johnson was a founder of Agility Capital, LLC, a venture fund for early stage companies, and had previously served as senior executive vice president at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. Prior to MGM, he was a partner of the international law firm White & Case. Johnson is a graduate of Yale College and Harvard Law School.

Jesse Singer

Jesse Singer most recently produced the documentary THE PEOPLE SPEAK based on the book "The People's History of the United States" by Howard Zinn. In addition to a varied slate of feature films and television projects, he is currently developing the stage musical of AMERICAN PSYCHO with playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and composer/lyricist Duncan Sheik, based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis. Prior to joining Act 4, he worked at Creative Artists Agency and interned at Jerry Bruckheimer Films. Jesse is a graduate of Dartmouth College.