About Us
MISSION STATEMENT
Center Mass Studios was formed in January 2008 by a group of like-minded and creative story-tellers interested in pushing the creative boundaries of modern storytelling, focusing on motion pictures. As a company, we are committed to creating innovative and marketable feature-length films for a fraction of the cost of major studio productions. With a combined 20 years of film, design and marketing experience, we strive to carve out our place as a force to be reckoned with in this creative medium.
Our mission is simple: to tell passionate stories through the medium of film that will connect with as many people around the world as possible. Story-telling is the ultimate artistic and creative expression of the human condition and we are interested primarily in telling only the most interesting and unique stories possible. We understand however, that this medium is also an enormous and thriving business, and we are just as interested in marketable, business-minded projects. Our stylistic and elegant productions have been praised by some of film’s most highly regarded luminaries, such as Wim Wenders, Jim Jarmusch, Sam Raimi and Werner Herzog.
WHO WE ARE
DELFINE PAOLINI – Producer/Writer
Delfine Paolini was born in Hudson Valley, New York to an artist mother and a Mensa International member father, who led the way in his field as a criminal-forensic psychiatrist.
As a child, Delfine excelled in school and was pushed ahead two school grades, bringing her to attend the esteemed high school, N.F.A. by age 12, and graduating by age 15. Her work ethic began early, excelling not only in academics but soccer as well. She played on the New York State soccer team at age 11, then the U-18 U.S. Olympic Team by age 15.
After a career ending knee injury, Delfine went into the arts at the distinguished university, Pratt Art Institute in New York City when she was just 15 years of age. She graduated with honors in a double degree program, receiving a BFA in both creative writing and fine arts.
A month after graduating, Delfine was scouted by a modeling agent in New York City and signed a contract with Elite Model Management NY and the Marilyn Agency in Paris. She has appeared in such publications as W, Visionaire, Luomo Vogue, Interview, V, and Italian Vogue, and has been photographed by a number of famous photographers including Craig Mcdean, Steven Meisel, Mario Sorrenti, Kelly Klein, Donald McPherson, Guy Aroche, and Terry Richardson.
Following a few years of modeling, Delfine decided to continue her education on the graduate level and was accepted into Columbia University's prestigious MFA program for creative writing. In addition, Delfine regained interest in her childhood hobby of opera singing and was accepted into the lauded vocal studio of famed teacher and mezzo-soprano, Amy Zorn. Upon completion of her studies at Columbia, Delfine began performing in a number of opera recitals. On one occasion, her childhood friend, director Matthew A. Collins attended and after seeing Delfine perform he insisted that she also try film acting. She became the muse of a series of short films he directed. They took it further, realizing a creative kinship, and soon began collaborating on screenwriting as well. They created their production company, Center Mass, LLC with 3rd partner and producer, Ryan Daly, and began writing and producing narrative fictions, amassing a collection of short films that displayed their unique vision as storytellers.
Delfine, Matthew, and Ryan have collectively written, produced, and directed a prolific amount of material since they began only three years ago. They have their first feature film in the festival circuit, their second feature in pre-production, 7 other feature film scripts completed and in development, two interactive video games in development, and a television series(“The Children Of The Sky”) in development/production. With the help of CAA, “The Children Of The Sky” is now in development in both the US and in France, where it is called “Les Enfants Du Ciel.”
Delfine continues to train with her opera teacher, Amy Zorn in New York City and plans to make a return to the field while continuing to produce, write, and act in film.
MATTHEW A. COLLINS – Director/Writer
Matthew A. Collins is an award‐winning independent filmmaker who has been lauded for hismasterful storytelling ability and visual style as well as knowing how to coax the best from both cast and crew alike. Known for his insightful imagination and meticulous attention to detail, Matthew is the perfect choice for ensuring the best film possible is made.
He has won awards for both directing and screenwriting for the multitude of short films he has made, including Jury prizes for “Fragments” and “A Parliament of Rooks,” (both of which are based on feature scripts) judged by the likes of Werner Herzog, Wim Wenders and other legendary film luminaries. He has since held the top‐rated spot out of thousands of filmmakers on the contest website Filmaka.com.
Matthew was personally tutored in the storytelling language of cinema at an early age by the late academy‐award nominated cinematographer John A. Alonzo (Chinatown, Scarface, Steel Magnolias). Through his teens he made a multitude of short films on 16mm, experimenting with technique and style, as well as writing and directing a myriad of stage‐productions at his high school. He then moved on to film school at the rigorous and intensive Los Angeles Film School, where he directed many short films including a 35mm adaptation of a Ray Bradbury short story “The Small Assassin” in collaboration with Ray Bradbury himself entitled “Scalpel.”
Since then he has collaborated as a screenwriter with major Hollywood players like Joel Silver and Steven Soderbergh until he set out to carve his own path as a writer‐director. With producing partners Delfine Paolini and Ryan Daly he formed Center Mass Studios, LLC and began building a repertoire of independently‐produced high quality shorts in an effort to prove that they were ready to tackle their own feature film slate. Now, poised on the edge, Matthew A. Collins and the CenterMass team are ready to kick their careers into high gear and put their fresh and unique stamp on the film industry at large.
RYAN DALY – Producer/Writer
After diving into a number of career paths and realizing that the entertainment industry was where he was going to make his mark, Ryan started up a small film production company - Center Mass, LLC with partners Matthew A. Collins and Delfine Paolini. Center Mass’ productions have traditionally come in under budget and early while still maintaining a high standard of quality. They’ve won numerous awards and cash prizes and he is convinced that they will continue that trend into the future.
In the past, Ryan has worked for CBS, Inc., several political campaigns, and a number of other projects in the gaming industry.
CENTER OF MASS
The “Center of Mass” refers to the point at which all things are concentrated or focused. In physics, this can also be referred to as the “Center of Gravity.” In film however, this refers to the one thing around which all other elements revolve: the story. A great story is the catalyst for all things in a film, but a poor story will always be a film’s downfall. No matter what your budget, cast, locations, editing or any other element is capable of, without a good story, a film can never achieve greatness. We focus all of our efforts and energy on telling a great story and using the elements of the medium to facilitate and push that story to the fore-front of the production.
