Our Team
david w. valentin
Executive Producer & Founder
David W. Valentin launched his career at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic, where he contributed to landmark films including Star Wars: Episode I, Men in Black, and The Green Mile. He later served as VFX Producer for Zhang Yimou’s Hero, collaborating with international teams to bring one of China’s most ambitious features to award-winning completion.
As storytelling moved beyond the big screen, David founded Mr. Smith Studios to produce authentic, strategically aligned content for mission-driven clients. For John F. Kennedy University, he partnered directly with senior leadership to shape narrative and messaging, producing over 150 original videos and dozens of events that helped reposition the university’s brand and increase applicant engagement. His broader work has generated millions of organic views and helped clients grow their digital reach exponentially. His fundraising videos for organizations like Juma Ventures and the Felton Institute have contributed to multimillion-dollar donations and grants supporting vital community programs.
Respected for his calm, collaborative leadership and clear-eyed problem-solving, David works closely with clients from concept to delivery, ensuring each project meets its strategic and emotional goals. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Visual Effects Society, where he launched a global mentorship program for emerging talent from underserved communities—many of whom now work at top studios including Pixar and Lucasfilm.
alec douglas
Editorial & Post Production Lead
Alec is part of a new generation of filmmakers — thoughtful, technically fluent, and deeply human in his approach to story.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alec leads with quiet confidence and a sharp editorial eye. He’s Mr. Smith’s go-to editor: calm in the chaos, tireless in the details, and trusted to bring clarity to every frame. His work is intentional, well-crafted, and often sublime — built not just to inform or entertain, but to reflect something internal, something quietly resonant. Whether he’s cutting corporate content or personal narrative pieces, Alec’s aesthetics show a rare commitment to emotional precision and flow.
Outside of Mr. Smith, Alec is an accomplished filmmaker in his own right. His short films — including Taking a Beating, Goin’ Up, and My Darling, Look at Me! — have screened at festivals such as WorldFest Houston, Culver City Film Festival, and the Bay Area & Sacramento Shorts Film Festival. His work has earned awards for Best Director and Best Editor, further underscoring the depth of his creative voice. He is emblematic of a generational shift: a filmmaker who wears many hats, who taught himself the language of production, and who’s unafraid to bridge genres, tools, and tones to get to the truth of a moment. As a collaborator, he’s generous and open; as an artist, he’s still becoming — and it’s a journey well worth watching.
Debra Bean
Executive Producer Nonprofit Strategic Relationships
Debra Bean brings a decades-long track record at the intersection of media, institutional development, and strategic transformation. Her career began in Chicago’s film and postproduction industry, where she led high-performing marketing and development teams that supported the city’s cultural and corporate sectors. That early work shaped a lifelong focus: helping organizations navigate change, tell their stories, and build the relationships that sustain them.
With advanced degrees in Art & Technology (MFA, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago) and Leadership (MS, Northeastern University), Debra transitioned into the nonprofit and education sectors—quickly becoming a trusted executive voice across fundraising, planning, and operational design. She has held leadership roles including Dean, Provost, and University President, and has successfully led accreditation renewals, fundraising campaigns, digital learning initiatives, and structural turnarounds. Her efforts have secured over $100 million in institutional support, including major grants, strategic partnerships, and targeted funds for programs and scholarships.
At Mr. Smith Studios, Debra leads our partnerships with educational institutions, cultural nonprofits, and community-serving organizations. She specializes in aligning media production with institutional values, strategic goals, and evolving delivery models—whether that means digital curriculum, public storytelling, or internal engagement campaigns. Her insight and calm leadership help clients articulate their mission, deepen stakeholder relationships, and respond to today’s complex landscape with agility and purpose.