The Filmmakers

JOHN HARRINGTON producer/director
John is a veteran producer of broadcast and interactive media, and a successful entrepreneur.  The Cultivated Life was the result of his passion for documenting a little known aspect of one of the most important figures in American history.  A native of Virginia, John was delighted to discover the state’s burgeoning wine industry after returning from California.  The vineyards led him to Monticello, where the real story revealed itself.

John is a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts.  He founded Madisonfilm, Inc. in 1997, where he is president and executive producer.

ALESSANDRO SANTARELLI producer
Alessandro (Sam) is an accomplished film and television producer and an avid historian.  Sam is a graduate of the University of Virginia, where he developed a keen interest in Jeffersonian history.

Since completing The Cultivated Life, Sam has focused his production efforts on interactive and social media, where he has engineered experiential marketing campaigns for such major brands as Sony, Sports Illustrated, Pepsi, Nissan, NFL Network, Sprint, and many more.

CHRISTOPHER MOSIO cinematographer
Chris Mosio studied cinematography and editing at the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. In addition to commercials and music videos, Chris has worked on over two dozen feature films. His range of experience covers both the micro-budgeted independent film and the Hollywood studio production, where he has worked with such talents as Will Smith, Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett, Lilly Tomlin, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Love Hewitt, and Rhea Pearlman.

Documentary films are an important aspect of Chris’ filmmaking background, and perhaps the genre he loves most.