EXTRA-ORDINARY PEOPLE



In every generation, people emerge who impact our lives and make the world a better place.
Blue Heron is both privileged and honored to have met and worked with some of these incredible people. who we are delighted to recognize below.



MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE



RSYZARD ZABINSKI



During World War II, Ryszard's parents decided to hide 300 Jewish men, women, and children in their home at the Warsaw Zoo. At 10 years old, Ryszard was ready to help.


With Ryszard is our Warsaw producer, Feliks Pastusiak, who helped us bring Ryszard's heroic story to the screen.



JAN ZABINSKI



Ryszard's father, the heroic zoo-keeper in Warsaw, did not hesitate to help people in peril. After the war, he was asked why he placed himself and his family in so much danger. He responded, "Because it was the right thing to do."



Ryszard views the animal cages where Jewish refugees found safe haven.



ANTONINA ZABINSKI: THE ZOO-KEEPER'S WIFE & RYSZARD'S MOTHER



RYSZARD VISITS HIS CHILDHOOD HOME



THE VILLA WHERE THE ZABINSKI'S CARED FOR PEOPLE & ANIMALS



MOSHE TIROSH



Moshe survived a childhood threatened by the Nazis. He escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto and spent part of his childhood in hiding at the Warsaw Zoo.

Moshe would live to enjoy a fulfilled adulthood with a loving wife, adoring children, and precious grand-children.



Moshe looks back at his time in the infamous Warsaw Ghetto



Moshe in Israel



ASIA DOLINER



Asia survived the Warsaw Ghetto to become an effective witness to the world.

Blue Heron told her story in Deliver Us From Evil.



CLAIRE SORIA



At six years old, Claire went into hiding with an elderly couple in Brussels, Belgium. Her story is much like that of Anne Frank.


However, Claire survived The Holocaust, and has spent a life-time educating students about that horrible time in history -- so that the future may learn from the past.



ALEX RINGER



Alex lost many family members during The Holocaust. He has spent a life-time bringing joy into the world through his beautiful photographs, children, and grand-children.


Alex has also produced all of Blue Heron's award-winning Holocaust documentaries.



Udi Goldwasser
kissing his Mom, Miki



Miki lost her precious son in a terrorist attack. He will remain forever in her heart, and ours as well.


No parent should ever lose a child.



ARMIN LEHMANN



From the ashes of World War II, Armin rose to become an international advocate of peace, empathy, tolerance, and understanding.


He travelled the globe, taking his message to 150 countries. Armin spent every waking hour dedicated to making the world a better place. He accomplished his mission in life.



WILHELM GEHLEN



Wilhelm started life off as a 10 year old Flak helper, defending his village from air attack in World War II.


As an adult, he made a valuable contribution to scholarly research by translating thousands of personal letters (Feldposts) sent by ordinary Germans during the war.




Wilhelm's early childhood included learning to survive in war-time.



Armin advocating peace and tolerance to all who would listen.



Angie Zeitz, Armin's daughter, shares a hug with Holocaust survivor, Claire Soria



BEVERLY WASHBURN



Not only was Beverly a child super-star, but she also has been a life-long animal advocate. She has been a human parent to nine cats and dogs all at the same time.


Beverly takes great pride in being their voice, "because they have no voice of their own."


The world and its animals are a better place today because of the unconditional love Beverly has shown to all who stray her way.



Beverly
in Walt Disney's Old Yeller



We have worked with Beverly on a number of projects, ranging from a Ted V. Mikels Astro-Zombie movie to our own animal documentary, Our Forever Friends.


Beverly also wrote the Foreword to our Weatherwax memoir, Four Feet to Fame. Here she is with a Weatherwax trained dog -- Old Yeller!



Beverly with The Lone Ranger



Beverly in Star Trek



Beverly was a child super-star in the early days of television



ROGER ALINK
Wildlife West Animal Refuge



ROBERTO STEMMER, Lead Singer of The Hep Cats, bringing joy to the world through music



FLORENCE THUOT
Journey's End Animal Sanctuary



BOB WEATHERWAX
World's Greatest Dog Trainer



COURTNEY RICE



Courtney was only on this earth for 16 years. She truly had the voice of an angel. Her life was cut short when she was suddenly struck down by Reye's Syndrome.


Today, a scholarship in her name is given to performing arts students, and her name continues to generate interest in the relentless syndrome which took her life.



MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE



JOHNNY DUNCAN



It was an honor and a privilege for us to become friends with Johnny. He became the subject of one of our short documentaries and one of our books.


Johnny made the world a better place for us all.



JOHNNY DUNCAN
AS ROBIN



Johnny's career in Hollywood included appearing with his friend Humphrey Bogart in several classic movies.


However, his real claim to fame occurred in 1949, when Batman creator Bob Kane chose him to play Robert Lowery's sidekick in the Columbia Pictures serial, Batman & Robin.



JOHNNY & CHARLIE CARLSON



Johnny got his show business start in vaudeville. It seemed fitting that he would end his long career on a former vaudeville stage.


So, Blue Heron arranged for his final performance to occur at the historic Athens Theatre in DeLand, Florida.


PBS star Charlie Carlson hosted the event, which we filmed as A Night With Johnny Duncan.



CHARLIE & MISS SCARLET



CHARLIE CARLSON



Charlie was Florida's premiere folklore expert and story-teller. He was the author of the best-selling book, Weird Florida, a PBS TV host, and producer of Blue Heron's campy para-normal film, Henry Blackhart is Dead.


Charlie loved people and animals. He made the world a better place.



CHARLIE'S TV SHOW



TED V. MIKELS



Ted was the iconic cult classic director whose campy films have delighted movie audiences forever. How could drive-in movie theatres have survived without directors like Ted?


Ted had a great sense of humor and an enormous empathy for -- and love of -- both people and animals.


Ted was another of those rare human beings who made the world a better place for us all.



TED'S HOLLYWOOD HEYDAY



Ted's original movie, The Corpse-Grinders, broke first week attendance records (beating out Tora Tora Tora) when it was released in Los Angeles.


Decades later, Ted enlisted Blue Heron to work on the second sequel: The Corpse-Grinders 3.



TED & GARY



Blue Heron's Gary Lester has had the privilege of working on three Ted V. Mikels movies: Astro-Zombies M3: Cloned, Astro-Zombies M4: Invaders From Cyberspace, and The Corpse-Grinders 3.


Here, Ted & Gary work together on location in Las Vegas to bring Astro-Zombies to the screen.



BLUE HERON'S ROLE



In addition to directing a number of award-winning documentaries, Gary Lester has also shown skill in creating sheer fictional movie entertainment.


For the feature production, The Corpse-Grinders 3, Gary worked as second unit director for all scenes shot in the USA.


Meanwhile, principal photography was completed by a Spanish production crew in Barcelona, Spain.


Richard Lester served as assistant producer.



TIME TO RELAX



Anyone who has worked on a feature movie knows that hectic schedules result in long hours of work, few hours of sleep, and no time for relaxation.


Yet, Ted Mikels & Blue Heron's Richard Lester find time to enjoy a fabulous Las Vegas breakfast buffet before a new day of shooting.