Profiles / Credits

The Protagonist

Max Lesnik, director of Radio Miami, has been the number one target of anti-Castro terrorists and considered the most controversial figure in the Cuban exile community.

He was a prominent revolutionary when he left Cuba due to ideological differences with his then friend, Fidel Castro. In Miami, he took a position that was both against the Cuban government as well as against the U.S. policy toward Cuba. This third position was shared by few and voiced by no one but him. Mr. Lesnik became the publisher of Replica, the most widely circulated Spanish language magazine of its time. The magazine was a forum for debate, as well as for Mr. Lesnik’s incendiary point of view. Mr. Lesnik’s position soon evolved to include dialogue with the Cuban government and recently revived his friendship with Castro.

Mr. Lesnik has been the target of choice for the anti-Castro terrorists. They have tried to murder him and nine bombs have gone off at his office in little Havana.

The Filmmaker

Vivien Lesnik Weisman was born in Havana, Cuba. She graduated from Barnard College with a B.A. in Art History and New York Law School with a Doctorate in Jurisprudence. She went on to receive an MFA in directing from the UCLA School of Film and Television.

She has received numerous awards for her short films including the prestigious UCLA Spotlight Award for Best Dramatic Short, the Houston Film Festival Best Short Award and a Golden Eagle for Excellence in Latino Filmmaking. She studied under acclaimed documentarian, Marina Goldovskaya.

This is her first documentary. She won IFP New York’s Fledging Fund Award for a Work-in-Progress for her film, The Man of Two Havanas. The Man of Two Havanas premiered at The Tribeca Film Festival to a standing ovation in 2007. She recently won the 1st Coral Award at The Festival de Nuevo Cine Latino Americano and was a Finalist for The Social Justice Award at The Santa Barbara International Film Festival. She resides in Santa Monica with her son, Richard Jr.

Vivien Elsewhere on the Web:

Vivien’s Blog | Facebook | Myspace | YouTube | Twitter | IMDB

The Editor

Tirsa Hackshaw has worked on numerous award-winning films. She has many fiction film credits including, Edison, Nick Cassevettes, director, starring Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey and Justin Timberlake for Millennium Films. Her last film credit was Strip Search and Thought Crimes, Barry Levinson, producer, Sidney Lumet, director, starring Glenn Close and Maggie Gyllenhaal for HBO productions. She has worked with Ms. Lesnik Weisman in the past on her shorts. This is her first documentary.

Tirsa Hackshaw on IMDb

Director of Photography

Paul Marschall is a graduate of Florida State University Film School. He has worked on numerous Independent Fiction Films. His last screen credit is for Farwell Bender, Matt Oates director. Mr. Marschall has worked with Ms. Lesnik Weisman in the past on her award winning shorts. This is his first feature documentary.