Producers

NEW CHAPTER ENTERTAINMENT is an innovative production company founded by two former Oprah Show producers. Based in Chicago, this global venture develops engaging unscripted programming for television, as well as strategic marketing vehicles for forward-thinking brands. Combining decades of experience from every corner of the entertainment industry, NEW CHAPTER excels in producing compelling, stimulating and thought-provoking entertainment that grabs audiences. 

CoHootz Films, LLC is a Chicago-based film company whose founders want to shed some light and create dialogue on important social issues. The Company works collaboratively with industry experts to create conversation-worthy, non-scripted films about these issues.  

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Kayla McCormick
Executive Producer / Director

Kayla brings almost 20 years of documentary experience. Kayla, a Chicago native, has been a Producer for “The Oprah Winfrey Show”, “Oprah’s Next Chapter” and “The Barbara Walters Specials”, as well as numerous productions for PBS, The Weather Channel , The History Channel and National Geographic Channel and A&E Network.

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 Rick Segall, EVP

Development and Production of New Chapter Entertainment

Rick brings 20 years of broadcast television experience.  His most recent work was at The Oprah Winfrey Show for four years.  He helped produce famous franchises like Ask Dr. Oz and Behind the Scenes of Oprah’s Favorite Things. Rick, an Emmy award-winning producer, also spent eight years as a correspondent/producer for the hit show America’s Most Wanted. He produced more than 100 stories for the legendary crime-fighting program, resulting in the direct capture of more than 20 fugitives and the safe return of two missing children, including Elizabeth Smart in 2003. 

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Candi Carter, CEO

New Chapter Entertainment

Candi brings more than two decades of broadcast television experience to the WY Project. She spent 15 years as a producer at The Oprah Winfrey Show. Carter is skilled in the art of creating transformative television through compelling storytelling. Carter has assembled an entertainment industry “dream team” to build a world-class production company that serves both the broadcast and business communities. 

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John Waller, Executive Producer

John has worked in finance, education and the arts.   In education, he worked with the Alliance for Catholic Education (“ACE”) and numerous international leaders to help create a strategic and financial plan to rebuild the school system in Haiti.  His passion for the arts has lead beyond philanthropic support to identifying and starting music and movie productions. He is currently a managing partner of Waller Helms Advisors, a boutique investment bank, and a partner in Cohootz Films, Pieces of Eight Winery and Signature Bank.

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Kelly Waller, President

Cohootz Films

She also serves as Vice-president and Secretary for Southport Investments which has activity involved in Signature Bank in Chicago, the wine label Pieces of Eight, and real estate properties in California and Michigan. Kelly is actively serves on committees at Sacred Heart Sheridan Road and Whitney Young Magnet High School. Kelly also serves as a member of the Tisch Parents council at New York University. She spent much of her professional career at American Express, where she held numerous sales and executive positions. 

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Ira Antelis
Music Producer

With more than 25 years of comprehensive experience in all aspects of the music business from song composition and commercial production to recording as an artist. Ira also has composed and produced thousands of pieces of music over the last 25 years for nearly every major brand. He has also had songs sung and recorded by the likes of Marc Anthony and Christina Aguillera. Ira has owned and been a partner in many music companies and currently is Co CEO of Jira Productions and Artists and Brands. Ira was one of the founders of Music Dealers which has become one of the top licensing companies in the world and was instrumental in helping Audio tree and New Chapter Productions get their start.

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Michael Lahey
Film Editor

Mike is a documentary filmmaker and veteran editor. He has edited programs for PBS, Discovery Channel, History Channel, and National Geographic Channel, among others. Michael's film Making Waves won Best Feature Documentary at the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and Great Lakes Independent Film Festival. He is currently in post-production on his third feature doc, Shelf Life. In 2004, he founded his production company, Jump Cut Films.