Keep the Drama in Front of the Camera!: Conflict Resolution for Film and Television

Fifth House Group President Ken Ashdown is a lapsed musician and former music journalist, indie label entrepreneur, and major label executive. Over his career Ken has worked with some of the music industry's biggest stars, including Shania Twain, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Dire Straits, New Order, David Bowie, the Pixies, and U2. He served as Vice President at PolyGram Group Canada (Mercury/Polydor division) and later at QDesign Corporation. An award-winning, certified adult educator, Ken spent several years as Head of Department at Vancouver Film School's ground-breaking Entertainment Business Management transmedia program and has been hailed as a "master teacher," serving as a special consultant on dozens of films. He earned his Master of Arts (MA) degree in Music Business Management (with Distinction) from the University of Westminster in London, England, and is a Belbin(R) Team Role Accredited facilitator. Among other associations, he is a proud member of the Cultural Human Resources Council and the Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association. Helene Arts, CEO of Fifth House Group, started off thinking that she was going to become a lawyer, but by 1995 she realized that the gods had other plans for her, and thus began her career as a professional mediator. Since then she has been a full-time consultant in the field of conflict resolution within criminal, family, and civil court systems, and in not-for-profit and corporate workplace settings. Along the way she became fascinated with group dynamics, and in 2004 completed a Masters in Human Systems Intervention at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, becoming a specialist in group intervention. For over ten years Helene has also taught university courses in subjects such as mediation, inter-personal communication, group dynamics, conflict resolution, organizational conflict, and group facilitation. She holds a special place in her heart for creative people of all kinds.