THE TEAM
RICKY BYRDSONG JR
Ricky Byrdsong, Jr. is the co-director of Byrdsong, in which he explores the dark circumstances of his father’s murder, its impacts on the community, and his family’s efforts to turn the tragedy into something positive through their efforts to fight gun violence and hate crimes. Aside from producing, Ricky is approaching his 10th year in Chicagos heavy civil road construction industry.
JOHN PAUL ORICCHIO
John Paul Oricchio is the director of Byrdsong. Oricchio is an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker who focuses on the intersectionality of sports, music, race and pop culture. He has produced documentaries on Baseball Hall of Famers Mike Piazza and Tony Gwynn. Oricchio won an Emmy for his work on MLB Tonight and was also twice-nominated for a National Sports Emmy for his work on the 2016 and 2017 World Series Films.
avery brooks
Avery Brooks is an editor and cinematographer for Byrdsong. Avery got his start in film with MLB Productions, carving out a niche for himself through his camerawork and experience in the field with Latino baseball players. With an affinity for feature storytelling, he has gone on to work as an editor for a variety of sports outlets, including ESPN, CBS Sports, NFL Network, The Players’ Tribune, and NBC Sports.
greg washington
Greg Washington is the director of photography for Byrdsong. Washington is a global fashion cinematographer and BTS shooter with a passion for all filmmaking. Greg has a creative eye, crafting schemes with light, shadows, and cinematic movements to tell the story. Whether it’s skateboarding downhill with a Sony and glide camera or flying drones in Chicago, Greg is our guy to get the shot just right.
Mel Rodriguez
Mel Rodriguez is an editor for Byrdsong. Rodriguez is an award-winning writer/director of the indie dark comedy "In Stereo" starring Beau Garrett and Micah Hauptman and a Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner as an editor on the documentary "We Live in Public" in 2009.
JORDAN MILLER
Jordan Miller is an associate producer, production assistant and intern for Byrdsong. Miller is a senior at Montclair State University where he is majoring in Television and Digital Media with a concentration in Sports Media & Journalism. His interests include sociology, spirituality, philosophy, and traveling.