Lane Shefter Bishop
Chief Executive Officer

Lane Shefter Bishop is a multi-award-winning producer/director who has received numerous accolades for her work including an EMMY, six Telly Awards, a Videographer Award, three Communicator Awards, a Sherril C. Corwin Award, an Aurora Award, a Davey Award, a New York Festivals Award and the DGA Fellowship Award for Episodic Television. Currently Ms. Bishop is the CEO of Vast Entertainment, THE go to book-to-screen company, with numerous projects, both completed and in active development, including:

Producing Feature Films, THE DUFF for CBS Films & Lionsgate and ASSASSINATION GAMES for MPCA – both based on books. Producing TV Series, THE BRAIN TRUST for NBC, CONFESSIONS OF A SOCIOPATH for Universal Cable Productions, and THE FORGETTING for Netflix – all based on books. Producing the Limited Series, THE DARK DESCENT OF ELIZABETH FRANKENSTEIN for Sony Pictures Television – also based on a book. Writing, producing and directing numerous TV Movies for Lifetime including HIS SECRET MARRIAGE, HE KNOWS YOUR EVERY MOVE, WICKED MOMS CLUB, BLOOD SWEAT AND LIES and THE CHOKING GAME. And Directing the Streaming Movie A BROTHER’S HONOR for Passionflix, based on NY Times bestselling author Brenda Jackson’s popular novel.

Additionally, Ms. Bishop is also a contributing writer to both Boss Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine, is a 3-time speaker at the WGA and numerous writers’ conferences and is author of SELL YOUR STORY IN A SINGLE SENTENCE; ADVICE FROM THE FRONT LINES OF HOLLYWOOD, published by prestigious W.W. Norton & Company (2016). The book hit #1 on Amazon in New Releases five times before its actual release date. In an online interview, CNN dubbed her “The Book Whisperer” of Hollywood.

Ms. Bishop holds a B.A. in Literature from UC Santa Barbara and an M.F.A. in Production from USC’s School of Cinema/Television. She is a director-member of the Directors Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Jiarui Gao
VP of Production

Jiarui Gao is a powerhouse member of the Producer’s Guild of America who began her career in the film industry as a producer’s assistant for the Netflix Movie LOVE GUARANTEED and has since become an award-winning producer whose projects focus on exposing social problems, such as MOUNTAIN, SCARLET, CURE, and more. Her movies have received numerous accolades including 30+ Academy and BAFTA-qualified awards, 20+ Best Producer Awards, and more than 150+ International film festival awards.

Jiarui’s producing career has continued to thrive through the years due to her hard work, integrity, innovative creativity and a well-earned loyal reputation among her peers. She has already produced over 35 short films and six features, such as HARPER, RUSTY BLADE and VERA.

Additionally, Jiarui has worked as both a Line Producer and UPM, with a proven track record of delivering productions on time, under budget and with high production value. Jiarui is honored and humbled to join the visionary team at Vast Entertainment.

Elizabeth Tichenor
Development Executive

Elizabeth Tichenor began her entertainment career in the still photography space, making a strong name for herself in that arena before deciding to branch into television production. After moving to Los Angeles, Liz began producing reality show content for Bishop Lyons Entertainment – developing new shows, doing physical production, as well as shepherding projects through all stages of post. Liz has also been freelancing on the scripted side, putting her creative talents into multiple TV and Film projects over the last few years and is excited to now be part of the Vast team.

Andrew Giannetta
Head, Production Services

With over 20 years of experience as a Director of Photography and Camera Operator, Andrew comes to Vast with a great wealth of technical and creative knowledge and ability. He has worked as Camera Op on over 150 episodes of network and cable television, including hit shows such as Everybody Hates Chris, Glory Daze and the award-winning Fresh Off the Boat. Andrew’s D.P. credits include over 30 episodes of scripted TV, commercials for clients such as Mercedes, Coca-Cola and NFL, and over 20 feature films and TV movies. Andrew is honored and humbled to join this visionary team.

Heidi Hilliker
Executive Assistant

After graduating film school, Heidi Hilliker worked as a Assistant Production Manager at a reality TV company before joining Vast Entertainment. Heidi has the Herculean task of handling all incoming submissions, keeping the company organized as well as performing preliminary creative duties.