Jason M. Berman is the co-founder of FilmForward Independent, LLC. Along with his partner Michael Jenson, FilmForward Independent’s objective is to create a direct outlet for young and emerging filmmakers from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. FilmForward Independent is the first company to hold this unique partnership with the USC School of Cinematic Arts and currently is developing a slate of twenty projects scheduled for production or sale within the next six months. Berman recently wrapped production on his first feature film entitled The Dry Land, which he co-produced with Heather Rae (Frozen River) and Mark Mathis (Brick). The film was written and directed by Ryan Piers Williams, whose USC thesis film Jason also produced. The Dry Land stars America Ferrera, Melissa Leo, Wilmer Valderrama, and Ryan O’Nan. It premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in the US Dramatic Competition and won the Grand Jury Prize at the Dallas International Film Festival. The film will be theatrically released by Maya Entertainment and Freestyle Releasing in July 2010. Berman is in pre-production with producer Mark G. Mathis on two other films being produced this summer: The Brooklyn Brothers Beat the Best, written and to be directed by Ryan O’Nan; and The Links of Utopia, written and to be directed by Matthew Dean Russell.