MEET THE RED SCARF PRODUCTION TEAM
A special thank you to all the team members from The USC Shoah Foundation and Twiddle Productions Inc. for collaborating and bringinging The Red Scarf - A Story of Armenian Hope to life.
FOR TWIDDLE PRODUCTIONS INC.
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ARPI KRIKORIAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - DESIGNER - ART DIRECTOR Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Arpi Krikorian received her B.A. in illustration from the prestigious Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Her experience in entertainment began at Nickelodeon Animation Studios where she was on the storyboard teams for the shows The Angry Beavers, Cat Dog, Hey Arnold!, Dora the Explorer and Oswald the Octopus. In her current business, which she established in 2014, she creates artwork representing the beauty and joy of her Armenian culture and heritage. Her vast collection of art and related products have gained her an international following and were recently featured in the Armenia! exhibit gift shop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. One of Arpi’s most notable achievements was being commissioned to create and personally present a portrait of the Prime Minister of Armenia’s spouse Anna Hakopyan in April 2019. |
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KEITH KACZOREK
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - WRITER Keith Kaczorek - writer and producer with over 30 years experience in film and TV. He received an M.F.A. in dramatic writing from New York University and began his career writing for MTV’s groundbreaking comedy game show Remote Control. He has written animation. comedy, drama and video games in NYC and Los Angeles for ABC, NBC, CBS, FBC, PBS, CBC, MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, the Disney Channel, Disney TV Animation, Warner Brothers Animation, Jim Henson Productions and others. Career highlights include developing, writing and story editing Nicktoons’ hit The Angry Beavers and writing for the NBC primetime drama Las Vegas. He’s a member of the Writers Guild of America, West, Inc. and Broadcast Music, Inc. as well as an adjunct professor of mass communications for the University of New Haven. |
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MICHAEL Q. CEBALLOS
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - DIRECTOR - CHARACTER DESIGNER - ART DIRECTOR
With a multifaceted animation career, Michael Q. Ceballos has contributed to many prestigious studios. Notably, he worked at Nickelodeon's The Angry Beavers, collaborating with Arpi Krikorian and Keith Kaczorek, who now serve as producing partners on The Red Scarf-A Story of Armenian Hope. In 2010, he founded Twiddle Productions Inc. in Honolulu, Hawaii, specializing in entertainment, education, and cultural animation. Twiddle boasts a global clientele and has earned a multitude of awards. Under his leadership, Twiddle has produced a number of impactful projects, including:
Beyond his creative work at Twiddle, Michael currently spearheads initiatives like the annual Cultural Animation Film Festival (CAFF) alongside Dr. Mary Hattori and the Honolulu Museum of Art at the Doris Duke Theater. He also created the Keiki Coding program and books, using the Scratch coding language developed by M.I.T., which strives to inspire and educate through the power of storytelling and technology. Twiddle Productions also hosts Keiki (kid) classes teaching animation, drawing, and robotics coding.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - DIRECTOR - CHARACTER DESIGNER - ART DIRECTOR
With a multifaceted animation career, Michael Q. Ceballos has contributed to many prestigious studios. Notably, he worked at Nickelodeon's The Angry Beavers, collaborating with Arpi Krikorian and Keith Kaczorek, who now serve as producing partners on The Red Scarf-A Story of Armenian Hope. In 2010, he founded Twiddle Productions Inc. in Honolulu, Hawaii, specializing in entertainment, education, and cultural animation. Twiddle boasts a global clientele and has earned a multitude of awards. Under his leadership, Twiddle has produced a number of impactful projects, including:
- E Ho‘omau series – Three award-winning animated short films, books, and graphic novels based on Hawaiian legends, created as educational tools for struggling fourth-grade readers. Funded through the Native Hawaiian Education Act.
- Ola Na Iwi: Hāloa – A short film depicting the origins of the Hawaiian people.
- Maisa the Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guåhan – Based on a traditional Guam legend, this award-winning short film focused on Guam's culture and endangered indigenous language. It has been integrated into every GDOE school on Guam and plays a crucial role in revitalizing the Chamorro language.
- Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation – An award-winning animated short film examining Princeton University's contributions to the harmful consequences of nuclear research on Native communities, produced in partnership with Nuclear Princeton.
- Stories of Armenian Hope – A project highlighting uplifting stories of hope and kindness during the Armenian Genocide. Episode 1, The Red Scarf-A Story of Armenian Hope, was produced in association with the USC Shoah Foundation as part of the Keep The Promise Armenian Genocide awareness education program.
- Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea – A five-episode limited series based on Nā Kama Kai’s ocean safety and conservation clinics in Hawaii.
Beyond his creative work at Twiddle, Michael currently spearheads initiatives like the annual Cultural Animation Film Festival (CAFF) alongside Dr. Mary Hattori and the Honolulu Museum of Art at the Doris Duke Theater. He also created the Keiki Coding program and books, using the Scratch coding language developed by M.I.T., which strives to inspire and educate through the power of storytelling and technology. Twiddle Productions also hosts Keiki (kid) classes teaching animation, drawing, and robotics coding.
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RIDGE HIRANO
STORYBOARD ARTIST -ANIMATOR - DESIGNER Ridge is an Asian-American/Native Hawaiian animation artist. He earned a degree in Animation and Digital Arts from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Ridge previously worked at Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network as a storyboard revisionist and is now a lead storyboard artist at Twiddle Productions Inc.  CLICK FOR MORE INFO
DEBBIE KWON
ANIMATOR Born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, Debbie has worked on many independent animated films including the award winning Titration: Radioactive Waste, Princeton, and the Navajo Nation for Twiddle Productions in association with Nuclear Princeton. Debbie has also directed her own short film Kites which has been screened at numerous film festivals and she has produced two short films, Walls and Agape. 
KAI LONO
ANIMATOR - CGI ANIMATION/DESIGN Kai Lono embarked on his creative journey as an intern for the E Hoomau Hawaiian legend animated project, where his artistic talent quickly became evident. Rising to the role of background lead artist, Kai not only crafted the captivating background style for the E Hoomau series installments The Menehune and The Birds he was also a pivotal part of the visual storytelling. His artistry continued to flourish as a 3D compositor and animator on Maisa - The Chamoru Girl Who Saves Guåhan, a film that has captivated audiences at screenings and festivals around the globe. Most recently, Kai lent his exceptional skills as the CG animator and model maker for The Red Scarf - A Story of Armenian Hope. Beyond animation, his creative passions span music and game development, where he continues to push the boundaries of his artistry. 
MARGARET NAVARRO
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Margaret handles much of the behind the scenes coordination with Twiddle Production and is the grease that keeps the mighty Twiddle machine moving. She is also the proud mother of four boys Fernando, Justin, Isaiah and Joshua and is a first time Abuella to her granddaughters Arya and Talia. |
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MAURICE F. MORGAN
LAYOUT, PAINT & BACKGROUND DESIGN Maurice is a Los Angeles, California-based artist and illustrator. A graduate of Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, with a bachelor’s degree in illustration. Currently, he works in the animation industry as a senior background designer and painter, 3D orthographic, and concept artist. With 25+ years in pre-production, layout, design, painting, and conceptual works he has amassed a great wealth of experience and knowledge contributing to numerous memorable projects, earning him two Emmy nominations  CLICK FOR MORE INFO
KYLIE TAMAKI
ANIMATOR Kylie is a 2D character designer and animator currently residing on Oahu. After receiving degrees in both Animation and Japanese Studies from Chapman University, she now balances her full time job and freelance work, creating illustrations, streaming assets, and short animations for various clients. She finds inspiration in her experiences growing up on Oahu as well as from Japanese culture and hopes to reflect those influences in the stories she tells and the work she creates  CLICK FOR MORE INFO
KIAKONA ORDONEZ
AUDIO - FILMOGROPHER Kiakona Ordonez, a talented filmmaker from Maui, has a passion for capturing the essence of Hawaiian culture and storytelling. He has made significant contributions to the world of film by working on the first seven episodes of The Peek-a-Bows children’s live action/animated series and documenting the wisdom of Hawaii-based cultural practitioners and scientists for Maka‘ala Bay: Lessons from the Sea for the Hawaiian ocean safety and conservancy organization Nā Kama Kai. His skillful eye for detail extends beyond filmmaking into capturing the magic of life's special moments, as he frequently shoots weddings and other events across Hawaii. Kiakona's dedication to preserving and sharing cultural narratives was further showcased in his work on The Red Scarf - A Story of Armenian Hope. He documented and recorded the children's choir at Shag Mesrob Armenian Christian School, playing a vital role in bringing this important story to life. With a deep connection to his Hawaiian roots and a commitment to storytelling, Kiakona continues to be a sought-after filmmaker and documentarian in the islands. |
FROM THE USC SHOAH FOUNDATION
SEDDA ANTEKLIAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - CULTURAL ADVISOR / USCSF SENIOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Sedda Antekelian develops educational content, programming and community partnerships utilizing Armenian Genocide testimony collections. Sedda received her B.A. in History and Humanities from Loyola Marymount University, Master of Arts in Teaching from UC Irvine, and holds a Single-Subject teaching credential in Social-Science and Art History. Sedda has well-rounded experience working within diverse educational spheres, including the traditional classroom, museum education, online curriculum development and project-based learning. Additionally, Sedda is also a dedicated volunteer within the Los Angeles Armenian community. |
LESLY CULP
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER / USCSF DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Lesly Culp, is USC Shoah Foundation’s Director of Education. In her role, she leads the educational strategic plan to make audiovisual testimonies and interactive biographies of survivors and witnesses of genocide and mass atrocity accessible to educators and students worldwide. She holds an EdD in Educational Leadership, an MA in Education Curriculum and Instruction and a BA in English Literature from the University of Southern California. Previously, she was a National Board Certified ELA high school teacher for 22 years in southern California. |
SAM RIPLEY
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / USCSF CREATIVE PRODUCER
Sam Ripley is a creative producer and video-editor at the USC Shoah Foundation. Sam began his work at the Shoah Foundation in 2022, shortly after graduating from Vassar College, where he studied film, with a focus in screenwriting and creative development. Sam works on a variety of exciting projects, from XR experiences to doc-shorts, helping guide them from scripting through to post-production and release.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER / USCSF CREATIVE PRODUCER
Sam Ripley is a creative producer and video-editor at the USC Shoah Foundation. Sam began his work at the Shoah Foundation in 2022, shortly after graduating from Vassar College, where he studied film, with a focus in screenwriting and creative development. Sam works on a variety of exciting projects, from XR experiences to doc-shorts, helping guide them from scripting through to post-production and release.