She co-executive produced such diverse high-profile fare as the popular "Back to the Future" trilogy (1985, 1989, 1990), the landmark adaptation of "The Color Purple" (1985), the technological breakthrough "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" (1988), the critically acclaimed Best Picture Oscar winner "Schindler's List" (1993) and the one-time box-office champ "Jurassic Park" (also 1993). The first film produced under the Kennedy/Marshall banner was the inspirational survival saga "Alive" (1993), directed by Marshall.

After that moderate critical and commercial success, they followed up with the underperforming romantic comedy "Milk Money" (1994). Kennedy rolled the dice again and produced "Congo" (1995), a $55 million dollar jungle adventure yarn adapted from the popular Michael Crichton novel, directed by her husband. Shooting in such far-flung locations as Uganda, Tanzania and Costa Rica and utilizing sophisticated FX, robotics and special makeup effects, this project called upon much of the filmmaking know-how Kennedy had acquired working on numerous Amblin blockbusters.

For the remainder of the decade, Kennedy enjoyed success as producer or executive producer on several box-office hits. "Twister" (1996) may have relied more on visual pyrotechnics than story development but it pulled in over $240 million in revenues. The Spielberg-directed sequel "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" (1997), as expected, was a summer blockbuster. That same year's "Contact" may not have met expectations but it was prestige fare thanks in part to leading lady Jodie Foster. While the two 1999 literary adaptations, "A Map of the World" and "Snow Falling on Cedars", seemingly got lost in their end of the year bid for Oscar consideration, Kennedy and Marshall hit pay dirt and garnered a Best Picture nod for "The Sixth Sense" (1999), a surprise box-office hit about a young boy gifted with the ability to "see" dead people.

Victoria Riskin In her professional life, she has a Doctorate from the University of California in psychology and spent 15 years in private practice before changing careers. In 1989 she began writing and producing for television as Executive Producer of an ABC television movie, THE LAST BEST YEAR based on her experiences as a therapist.

She has since produced awarding winning films including,

She has since produced awarding winning films including, A TOWN TORN APART (1992), WORLD WAR II: WHEN LIONS ROARED (1994), and THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING (1996), and she wrote the screenplay and produced an adaptation of Willa Cather's MY ANTONIA.

Ms. Riskin currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Asia Division of Human Rights Watch. is co-chair of Human Rights Watch California Committee South, and was recently elected President of the Writer's Guild. She is married to award-winning writer/producer/playwright David W. Rintels who serves on the Executive Committee of Human Rights Watch California South.

Biography This sensitive, delicately pretty leading actor, mostly on TV, came to fame as a girl playing Laura Ingalls on the NBC period drama series, "Little House on the Prairie" (1974-82), based on the stories by the adult Ingalls. Gilbert has made few feature film appearances, but kept busy on the small screen, for a time recreating famous suffering teenager film roles in TV-movies like "The Miracle Worker" (1979), "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1980) and "Splendor in the Grass" (1981).

She remained very prolific and gradually managed the transition to adult roles in TV-movies including "Choices" (1986), "Forbidden Nights" (1990) and "A Family of Strangers" (1993). "Stand By Your Man" (1992) and "Sweet Justice" (1994). She is credtited as director for MOW and ABC after school special titles including " Me and My Hormones" starring Robin Strasser and Marion Ross. Melissa has also been heard as the voice of Barbara Gordon, aka Batgirl, in the daily Batman: The Animated Series. In all of these, she has been billed under her married name of Gilbert-Brinkman (her marriage to Bo Brinkman has since dissolved). On Friday, 2 November 2001, Melissa Gilbert was elected Screen Actors Guild President, taking the position held since November of 1999 by William Daniels (I), who declined to run for another term.

Martha Coolidge has an extensive background in theatrical films and movies for television. Her features include Valley Girl, Real Genius (winner of the 1986 Grand Prix Award at the Paris Film Festival), Rambling Rose (which received three IFP Independent Spirit Awards for Best Picture, Director and Supporting Actress, and Academy Award nominations for Laura Dern and Diane Ladd), Lost in Yonkers and Angie.