About Us
Make It Happen Films is an independent motion picture production company created by Matteo Ribaudo in 2005. He wanted to create a company of creative entertainment industry professionals with a common goal of producing independent films that amaze audiences. In 2019, Jaclyn Kalkhurst joined him in furthering this dream by co-producing their productions. Their unique brand of films are made with care and understanding of high production value, cost-effectiveness, and marketability. A formula designed to yield high returns on investment and a positive mark in the world of cinema.
The Team
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Founder/CEO/
Creative Director
Matteo
Ribaudo
CAO/Producer
Jaclyn
Kalkhurst
Matteo Ribaudo is an award-winning Writer/Director/Producer. He founded Make It Happen Films in 2004, after successfully producing and directing a fitness video starring Janet Jackson and her trainer, Tony Martinez.
Matteo, an Italian-American, was born and raised in NY, where he attended college earning an Associate’s of Art in film and then a Bachelor’s of Science in Sports Medicine, in Springfield Massachusetts. He acted and performed in New York before heading to LA to continue his study with Aaron Speiser. His passion for acting led him to writing and directing. His first film “In the Name of My Father,” won Best Comedy Drama at the New York Film Festival. In May 2006, it screened at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
His first feature film “Silverlake Video” is being re-released in 2020 as “Ben’s Reel Love.” The film screened all over the United States and won Best Feature at Mockfest and at the Houston Comedy Film Festival. His highly controversial short film, “Ophilia,” is currently making rounds on the festival circuit.
His latest feature film “Broome Street,” starring the late John Heard (“Home Alone” and “Sopranos”), will be released later this year. It’s a crime drama throwback to Scorsese’s “Mean Streets,” the great 70’s genre films “Serpico,” and the “French Connection.” For TV he directed and produced a TV comedy pilot called “Going Dental” starring Jon Polito (“Miller’s Crossing” and “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”) through Theater Company Los Angeles.
Matteo also just wrapped "Beyond Paranormal", in Los Angeles, as writer and director. His new hit will be a science fiction horror film, to be released in 2020 World Wide, starring Oliver Cooper (Project X, Office Christmas Party, and The Hangover Part III).
Jaclyn Kalkhurst, originally from Hong Kong, moved to Los Angeles in 2004 to attend the University of Southern California. Her love for theater drew her to their Bachelor of Fine Arts program in Stage Management. After she graduated, she maintained a successful career in the field for 10 years, achieving her union status with Actors Equity Association, which she still maintains.
She has worked with some of the most culturally significant theater companies across LA including Playwrights’ Arena (“Ruby, Tragically Rotund” by Boni Alvarez, “Calligraphy” by Velina Hasu-Houston, and “Girl Most Likely To” by Michael Premsrirat), Shakespeare Center, Los Angeles (“Romeo and Juliet” directed by Chris Anthony), Boston Court, Pasadena (“The Sequence” by Paul Mullin and “Oedipus El Rey” by Luis Alfaro), East West Players (“Road To Saigon” directed by Jon Lawrence Rivera and co-created by Jenni Paz, Jennifer Kwan and Jennie Selma, “Wrinkles” by Paul Kikuchi, and “Tea, with Music” by Velina Hasu-Houston), The Getty Villa (“HELEN” by Nick Salamone and “Mojada: A Medea in Los Angeles” by Luis Alfaro). To support future Stage Managers, Jaclyn’s family created the Kalkhurst Scholarship Fund with USC School of Dramatic Arts to provide financial assistance for students seeking to join the field.
Following this, Jaclyn began Producing at The Getty Center as the Interim Program Coordinator for the Public Programs department. This department hosts all film festivals, fashion shows, staged readings, and concerts for museum guests throughout the year. She has also consulted and produced shows around Los Angeles, keeping active in the community. Her latest production was “Tales of Clamor” by Traci Kato-Kiriyama and Kennedy Kabasaras premiering at the historic Japanese American Cultural Center in February 2019.
Jaclyn later met Matteo Ribaudo and had an instant connection realizing they make the perfect team. Matteo brought her into Make It Happen Films LLC as a co-producing partner and they are now producing three of Make It Happen Films’ projects: “Broome Street,” which will be released next year in 2020, “Beyond Paranormal,” which Matteo and Jaclyn just finished shooting and should be released in 2020, and “The Chemist,” which is currently in pre-production. Through their unity, they are very excited to share with the world the power of story and imagery to make compelling films that will change the way one sees the world and other worlds.
