Elliott and Elizabeth run the shop at yap. From creation to execution, they’re our fearless leaders that make it all happen. Look out for them at your nearest television conference (and don’t be shy, come say hi!).

Emmy award-winning producer and director Elliott Halpern has truly done and seen it all, and with a broad spectrum of programming under his belt, yap’s president is continuously pushing the envelope in all genres including history, science, reality, and adventure.

As yap’s chief creative officer and executive producer on multiple films and series, Elizabeth is a creative mastermind whose light bulb never turns off. She’s constantly churning out new ideas for programming.

As Yap’s Head of Production, Shannon is most often found juggling multiple spreadsheets, while on the phone with our production or development teams, and watering plants with her spare hand. Multi-tasking is her natural state of being and she’s at her best when we’re at our busiest. Shannon is always looking to expand our network of talent so don’t hesitate to reach out and introduce yourself.

Yap’s post-production supervisor is so on top of his edit suites, his name might as well be “Final Cut” Freedman. With his team of editorial whizzes, this cityslickin’ cowboy is always confident he can “fix it in post”.

An Associate Producer and Development Manager, Aaron facilitates the development and delivery of new films and series as well as coordinates a never-ending march of meetings, calls, and conferences. Fueled by several gallons of coffee, he’s able to roll with the punches, juggle several projects at a time, and keep alert for the next big idea.

Joe Woodward handles Business Affairs, Financing and Tax credit Administration for yap films. Joe's knowledge and understanding of legal and financial mumbo-jumbo is unmatched by any in the industry and his practical insight into all business affairs matters make him a great colleague and collaborator when working to navigate the ever evolving legal framework of the creative industries.

Jes wears many hats at yap films, serving as our Bookkeeper, Office Manager, and resident handywoman. She keeps the day-to-day operations running smoothly, allowing the team to stay focused on our slate of development and productions. Equally at home with spreadsheets and a toolbox, Jes brings a practical, can-do approach to everything she tackles—and she can schedule a mean calendar, too.

Tax credit wrangler, contract chaser, grant whisperer, Stephanie has spent the last decade in production before making the leap into Business Affairs. She has since learned that the magic recipe of filmmaking consists of contracts, spreadsheets, and an endless supply of sheer persistence. 

As a Development Producer at yap films, Jon thrives on finding stories that nobody knows about, getting access to key contributors, and helping that next big project get greenlit. He comes from the world of print journalism and has carried his passion for storytelling into documentaries.