Derek Morse: Founder and CEO of MorseCode Productions,
Derek Morse is the President and C.E.O of MorseCode Productions. Prior to founding MorseCode Productions, Derek established himself in the CT hardcore scene. He founded Demonic Productions, a promotions and booking service for bands at the Hanover House from 1996-2000 in Meriden, CT as well as various other venues throughout Connecticut. He booked bands such as Staind, God Forbid, Unearth, Chimaira, Dillenger Escape Plan, Right Brigade, Fastbreak, Blood Has Been Shed, Crisis, Candiria, Divided by Hate, Indecision, Hatebreed, Gargantua Soul, Cable, Reach the Sky, Fear Tomorrow, Buried Alive, Skarhead, District 9, Irate, Shutdown, Voice of Reason, Marauder, 25 Ta Life, Sum of All Fears, Cave In, Blood for Blood, All Out War, Death Threat, 100 Demons, Skycamefalling, Higher Force, Section 8, Wrench in the Works, N.R.S.V, Man Ruin, GroundZero, The Hoods, Where Fear & Weapons Meet, Bad Luck 13 Riot Extrazaganza, E-town Concrete, etc..... In addition, he formed Demonic Records and Distribution, an independent label and distribution company for various national artists in the underground hardcore scene. Both Demonic entities were run out of an apartment in Meriden, with a D.I.Y hands on work ethic and a tight knit group of friends. He also worked firsthand at Jamey Jasta’s promotions and booking company (former host of Headbangers Ball (MTV), singer for Hatebreed and owner of Stillborn Records and Hateware). Using his knowledge of the music business. Derek then moved on from the Hanover House to plant a new seed in the New York City Film Industry, where he would start his company MorseCode Productions in 2004.
Derek moved to New York with a hope, a big dream, and a duffle bag. He somehow fell into the position of manager of Film Friends, a production rental and film service company in 2002. The owner of Film Friends, Mik Cribben is a union member and worked on various films including Oliver Stone’s “Wallstreet.” Mik Cribben collaborated with Intern and N.Y.U. student, Brett Ratner, producer of “Rush Hour 3” and producer/director of “X-Men: The Last Stand.” Mik shot Brett’s “Whatever Happened to Mason Reese,” Bret’s senior thesis short film at N.Y.U., which Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment backed with surprise funding.
Taking the knowledge Derek had gained concerning many aspects of the film industry, Derek moved forward with his future and founded MorseCode Productions in 2004. Derek founded MorseCode in order to have more creative control of the projects that he worked on. Here he began to fulfill his dreams of writing and directing. Through MorseCode, Derek produced the music content reality show “Underground Access,” and has directed and produced many music videos & concerts.
Blake Farber: Director
Growing up in a household having both parents as photographers, Blake Farber began his own career in film at the young age of 16. As a self taught NYC filmmaker, he’s worked on various film projects from Italy, Brazil Portugal, Germany to the back alleys of NYC. Being a musician himself, he mixes both the visual medium blended with his musical background. He’s worked as director, cinematographer and editor with musicians such as Alicia Keys, David Sanborn, Onree Gill, Joe Sample, Branford Marsalis, Hank Jones, Jonatha Brooke, John Mayer, Nile Rogers, Jordin Sparks and many others.
Blake also plays guitar in the actively touring band Olde York.
Melissa Fornabaio: Producer/Director/Writer/Production Manager
Melissa joins MorseCode Productions in 2011. For over 10 years Melissa has worked in television and video production. She has produced series, shows, videos and documentaries for FUSE, MTV, VH1, The Oxygen Network, Fine Living Network, Current TV, Yahoomusic.com, and more.
Melissa is a well-rounded producer with experience in all aspects of production: from pre-production to post-production, working in the field, in the studio, and in the edit. Specializing in music driven content, Melissa also has experience producing reality, comedy, social commentaries, corporate videos, music videos, concerts, news, promos, and commercials for all platforms- TV, web, mobile, and on-demand.
Melissa has interviewed high profile celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Will.i.am, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy, Katy Perry, Jared Leto, LL Cool J, Carole King, Patti Labelle, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Halford, Slash and many more. She’s produced concert shows with artists Nine Inch Nails, R.E.M, Wyclef Jean, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Maroon 5, Duran Duran, and others. Melissa has executed successful branded entertainment programming for X-Box, Kia, Scion, Activision, F.Y.E., The Truth, Nokia, Adidas, Kodak, Twix, and various motion pictures, record labels, and venues.
Melissa graduated cum laude from Seton Hall University in 2003 with a BA in Broadcast Communications and a certificate in Television and Video Production. During college she worked as a marketing rep for Sony Music, while also producing and hosting a music television show, and reporting news on WSOU, 89.5 FM. Melissa has also booked several national tours for underground bands, and multiple benefit concerts raising money for such causes as Save the Rainforest, Children with Cancer, Amnesty International, and The Columbine Relief Fund. She has also toured the United States and Europe performing and tour managing.
Her career in music and television has allowed her to travel to 43 of the United States, 6 of the Canadian territories, and 13 European countries.
