Picture of producers, executive producer, and characters at the premiere screening of "From Earth to Earth: The Lost Art of Dying In America" on December 10th, 2023 (left to right): Reed Freeman, Mikayla Hall, Alyssa Beebe, Michelle Acciavatti, Max Schweik, John D. Scott, Patricia Ladley, and Chess Cabrera

Alt Text: Picture of producers, executive producer, and characters at the premiere screening of "From Earth to Earth: The Lost Art of Dying In America" at the Park Auditorium in the Roy H. Park School of Communications on December 10th, 2023 (left to right): Reed Freeman (p), Mikayla Hall (p), Alyssa Beebe (p), Michelle Acciavatti (c), Max Schweik (p), John D. Scott (ep), Patricia Ladley (c), and Chess Cabrera (p).

Meet The Team

Here lies the Ithaca College Roy H. Park School of Communications students who brought "From Earth to Earth: The Lost Art of Dying in America" to life.

Max Schweik

Roles: Director, Co-Producer, Lead Researcher
Max Schweik is a filmmaker, photographer, and journalist from Amherst, Massachusetts. He is a recent graduate of Ithaca College with a major in Documentary Studies and minors in Outdoor Pursuits and Still Photography. During his time at Ithaca College, he has bridged his love for the outdoors with documentary and photography. His work has been utilized by nonprofits such as the Appalachian Mountain Club and Outward Bound.

Mikayla Hall

Roles: Lead Media Manager, Co-Producer, Assistant Production Manager, Director
Mikayla Hall is a filmmaker, photographer, and screenwriter from Connecticut. As a first-generation student she balances immersing herself in creative media alongside working. Mikayla loves to make entertaining stories as well as impactful works. She’s been a part of several short films and television shows and played many parts behind the scenes: such as Production Assistant, Director, Producer, Editor, Screenwriter, Head Continuity Editor etc. {The Lost Art of Dying in America, “Gossip”, Pop Access, etc}

Alyssa Beebe

Roles: Lead Researcher, Co-Producer, Assistant Financier, Director

Alyssa Beebe (she/her), is a documentarian starting her career from her small town in Colorado. Passion topics she has covered in recent work include women’s rights, education, and inclusivity. Her abilities as a researcher and cinematographer combine to make a producer, but her authenticity brings subjects and audiences close across the screen. While abroad in Rome, Italy, she directed and edited, “Claudia Palmira,” of the docu-series Women In Progress with So Fare Films. In addition to nonfiction work, she has worked as an assistant editor for an upcoming horror feature film, Homecoming (2024), and a music video entitled Brain (2023). She has also worked as director of photography for several short films and editorials.

Chess Cabrera

Roles: Production Manager, Co-Producer, Lead Financier, Media Liaison

Chess Cabrera (he/she/they) is a multimedia documentarian from New York. Beginning their career in media as a freelance journalist circa 2017, Chess has kept community, equity, and access as the core of their work - both in front of and behind the camera.

Chess has a diverse portfolio ranging from film festival producition to finance to cinematography, with notable organizations and partners such as YoFiFest, New York State Homes and Community Renewal, Their Stories Foundation, JED Campus Foundation, mTuckman Media, HamletHub, and The Advocacy Center. Notable projects include The Kid Officer (Their Stories Foundation, 2026), Sports Final (ICTV, 2022-2023), and The Silent Graduation (CCSD, 2019) featured on a variety of global news media such as MSNBC, CNN, Fox, and BBC.

Reed Freeman

Roles: Post-Production Supervisor, Co-Producer, Director

Reed Freeman is a producer and editor from Knoxville, Tennessee, and recently completed their B.A. in Documentary Studies and Production with a minor in Religious Studies. Post-graduation, Reed will be based back in Knoxville, working in the media industry and public administration. Reed has been working professionally in the media industry for eight years now, most notably as a PA for Food Network, the Discovery Channel, Warner Brothers, and as first AC for TLC.

David Shaffer

Roles: Sound Designer / Re-Recording Mixer

David is a Senior Television and Digital Media Production Major at Ithaca College with a Minor in Audio Production. He has a passion for sound design because he believes that sound has the ability to make people feel and experience the full emotion of film and television to the greatest capacity. He’s previously worked as a sound mixer for “Frat Baby” a television series directing class. He is also a producer on Looped In, an entertainment news show on Ithaca College Television

Makai Yllanes

Role: Assistant Editor

Makai Yllanes is a Documentary Studies and Production student at Ithaca College in the Class of 2027. He was previously an assistant editor on an untitled, unreleased documentary by filmmakers Charlie Turnbull and Cameron Ford, creators of the award-winning documentary The Bikes of Wrath. Makai was born in Miami, FL, but grew up in Carbondale, CO. Makai is a writer, photographer, and videographer, for The Ithacan, Ithaca College’s award-winning newspaper. He enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, volunteering, and playing music. Makai hopes to empower individuals to gain an understanding, appreciation, and entrance into the outdoors.

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