Production Team
Diem Van Groth - Writer, Director, Producer
Diem Van Groth is a seasoned executive, entrepreneur, and innovator with over 20 years of global experience in corporate strategy, media, metaverse technology, business development, and urban planning.
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Diem began his career at 16 in the Midwest Federal Savings & Loan mailroom, quickly advancing to an internship at Dain Bosworth Investment Banking and Corporate Capital Group by 17. He later served as Head of Brands and Creative at the International Trade Agency for the Government of New Zealand, helping grow companies in industries such as consumer products, film, media, and advanced technology.
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An entrepreneur at heart, Diem founded DigiMC and GVBACK LLC, pioneering MetaCampus development, and managed blues legend JJ “Bad Boy” Jones on his “Last Man Standing” album. He also became the premier Hungarian wine importer and distributor in America, honoring the historical contributions of Hungarian founders to Hollywood and California’s wine industry.
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Diem co-created GVBACK Tuesday with his son to promote global service projects. He is also the executive producer of Trace The Line and the writer/producer/director of 612 and the upcoming Heart Beats Film (2025).
David Massey - Producer
David Massey is an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications & Education from Ohio Dominican College and a Master of Fine Arts degree in advanced film & television studies from the American Film Institute. His 1992 film, "Last Breeze of Summer", was nominated for an Academy Award making Massey the first African-American to be nominated in the Live-Action Short Film category. Massey has been the recipient of several prestigious awards. The Martin Ritt Scholarship, Eastman Kodak Second Century Honoree, inductee at The Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame, The National Education Association for the "Advancement of Learning through Broadcasting", 2011 PBS Innovated Teacher Award, the National Black Programming Consortium "Prized Pieces". Heartland Film Festival's Crystal Heart, and is a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Executive Producers
Sarah Brokaw
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Sarah Brokaw, Executive Producer, holds a master's in social work from New York University and is a licensed clinical social worker in New York and California. With eight years of specialized training in family and couple therapy at the Ackerman Institute, a two-year postgraduate program at Fielding University, and professional coaching certification, Sarah is well-versed in various therapeutic approaches.
Her extensive training includes completing the National Institute for Psychotherapy's psychoanalytic year-long program and three levels of Gottman Method Couples Therapy at the Gottman Institute. Sarah is also trained in the Trauma Resiliency Model and received instruction in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy under Marsha Linehan, Ph.D., ABPP.
Inspired by women she met while researching Fortitude, Sarah initiated the Wise Women of LA discussion series, fostering support among women of diverse backgrounds in achieving their professional and personal goals. She also launched Shared Secrets, a podcast highlighting the healing power of shared vulnerability.
In her volunteer work, Sarah has contributed to communities in Rwanda, Bosnia, and Haiti, enhancing her professional development by challenging herself in unfamiliar environments. Currently, she serves as a volunteer therapist for Homeboy Industries, offering support to formerly gang-involved and incarcerated individuals. Sarah is the daughter of legendary news anchor and journalist Tom Brokaw.
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Kokayi Ampah
Kokayi began his career at the Inner City Youth League in 1968, where, with Bobby Hickman and Mahmoud El Kati, he got a sense of community awareness and cultural heritage. That same year, he was introduced to the world of television at KTCA, a PBS affiliate in the Black Voices Training and Production Program.
Kokayi visited the film sets of Bobby's uncle Gordon Parks, Shaft's Big Score in 1972, and 1974 Leadbelly through Bobby Hickman.
In 1977, Kokayi moved to Los Angeles, and in 1978, Kokayi Ampah became the first African American union Location Manager in Los Angeles. His television credits include A-Team, Cagney & Lacey, Knight Rider, and Women Of Brewster Place.
His feature film credits include The Color Purple, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Poetic Justice, Space Cowboys, Mars Attacks, and 22 other feature films. He served as Associate Producer and Location Manager on the Five Heartbeats and Production Supervisor / Location Manager on Shawshank Redemption.
In 1995, he was awarded the Feature Location Manager of the Year award for the state of California. In 2015, the Location Managers Guild of America awarded him the Life Time Achievement Award. In 2016, Kokayi became the second Location Manager inducted into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science.
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In 2018, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the African American Film Market Place.
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Clint Schaff
Clint Schaff, Executive Producer, is a community builder in audio, television, film, and live events, recognized by Adweek in 2020 as a Creative 100 honoree. A University of Minnesota graduate with strong family ties to the Twin Cities, Clint serves as General Manager of a public radio station in Arkansas.
Formerly Vice President at the Los Angeles Times, Clint oversaw L.A. Times Studios, developing projects including the "Dirty John" podcast/TV franchise and the Academy Award-winning "Last Repair Shop." His career includes leadership roles at Firestation, Golin, Edelman, and Vision7/Cossette. In addition to "612," Clint is Executive Producer for "The Family Ladera," a documentary about the South L.A. tennis community. He hosts "Hip Hop Hello" and has taught at USC and the University of Arkansas.
A North Dakota native with early work alongside David Bowie and the New York Yankees, Clint's recent projects include the Bentonville Film Festival and public art programs.