ALLIE REUSCH, Founder + CEO
Allie Reusch, who you may know in the industry as Allie Long, is the Founder + CEO of Toolmaker Productions LLC. She has an impressive range and repertoire beginning her professional career as an actor and artist in Chicago, graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. She then went on to study at the world-renowned The Second City, as well as the prestigious School at Steppenwolf.
Allie is a SAG/AFTRA actor, producer, acting coach and film-festival director. She has performed in theaters all over the world and has appeared in network TV shows, films, commercials and print ads. She coaches acting privately and has led audition workshops at such establishments as Illinois State University and Columbia College Hollywood, Los Angeles. During her time at Columbia College Hollywood, she worked as the Associate Director of Community Relations touring high schools nationwide to engage, excite and encourage young artists to pursue their passions in the arts through higher education. Additionally, Allie has served as the Co-Creator, Executive Producer and Director of the New Optics Film Festival.
She lives happily in Chicago with her husband, Trevor, their son Walker and their rescue pup, Roo. Learn more about Allie here.
LeGrand Love, Producer
LeGrand Love is the producer, director, writer and owner of LuvThat Entertainment, an independent production company based in Los Angeles, California. Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, LeGrand’s love for film emerged as a young kid during Sunday evening outings with his mother watching Kung Fu films.
After a 22-year career as a submarine sailor in the navy, LeGrand retired and made his way to Los Angeles to pursue his passion of storytelling through film. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinema, with an emphasis in Directing, from Columbia College Hollywood, Los Angeles, in 2019. He then began working for the Community Relations Department and now serves as an Admissions Counselor for Columbia College Hollywood.
Most recently, LeGrand wrote, directed and produced a short film entitled, Roots of Tension, a film exposing the reality of racism and stereotypes. He is currently producing a documentary that aims to address negative stigmas in the African-American community surrounding mental health in women. Stay tuned! Learn more about LeGrand here.
Angelica Robinson, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educator
Angelica Robinson is an educator in the field of higher education with over 11 years of experience in teaching diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as student affairs. A Southern California native, she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degrees in Sociology and Philosophy from the University of California, Los Angeles.
As the resident educator of diversity, equity and inclusion at Toolmaker Productions LLC, Angelica is passionate about her work with social justice advocacy, promoting diversity awareness via the implementation of educational programs and creating spaces and opportunities for honest conversation. She has taught classes and led workshops addressing issues surrounding the social construction of race, class, gender, ability, sexual orientation and privilege.
“I believe that schools have a responsibility to provide diversity education opportunities for students. I conduct my work as a diversity educator collaboratively and in ways that are inclusive and empowering by advocating for integrity-based social justice efforts that are non-performative.”
Because of her love for travel, she believes her experiences have holistically broadened her worldview and her understanding of and appreciation for the diversity that exists locally and globally. She has learned that the awareness of and, ultimately, appreciation for our differences, is best achieved through empathy, compassion, open dialogue and mutual understanding.
Khaki Pixley, Associate producer
Khaki Pixley is like a Swiss army knife for Toolmaker Productions LLC. You might know her as an actress seeing her co-star in 2021’s Christmas with Felicity on AMC+, or you might even know her as a filmmaker, acting and directing in the award-winning short film, Memorial Day. You may even know her as a singer performing at a theater production near you. But this Jane of all trades has another tool up her sleeve as Toolmaker Productions’ go-to associate producer.
Learn more about Khaki here.
The inspiration
Growing up in the outskirts of Detroit, my dad worked as a Toolmaker for General Motors. For as long as I can remember, my parents were counting down the days to retirement. My dad always told me he worked this job so that we could have the opportunity to go to college, follow our passions, and excel in careers we love. The sacrifice of my parents working blue collar jobs they didn’t love, (my mom and step-dad worked for the Post Office) has instilled a drive and an unrelenting hustle in me to make their sacrifice worth it. I'm happy to say that I've never settled and I'm living my dream. Also, all of my parents (Mom & step dad, and Dad & step mom) are happily enjoying their retirement. — Allie Reusch, Founder and CEO
