SAHARA production notes FINAL

Austin then formed the independent production company Stevie Productions, Inc.,
and produced, among other titles, “Out On the Edge,” for which she received the Women
In Film Lillian Gish Award for Best Producer. She produced her first feature film,
“Heartbreak Hotel,” directed by Chris Columbus, before moving on to Carolco Pictures,
where she worked with James Cameron on “T2.” In 1989 she partnered with husband
Scott Thaler in the commercial production company Treehouse Entertainment Group, Inc.
The company has evolved into a multi-faceted venture that includes Roadhouse Films,
Inc., a service that produces screen tests, pick-up shots, and second units for both
independent and major studios, while continuing to produce television commercials and
rock videos.
Austin has been a visiting professor in the Weigand Visitor-in-Residence Program
at the Claremont Colleges and is on the Board of Trustees for the Women in Film
Foundation, where she chairs the Film Finishing Fund. She is also a member of the
Producers Guild of America.
Matthew McConaughey’s business partner in j. k. livin (as in “just keep living”) for
the past eight years, GUS GUSTAWES (executive producer) met the actor when they
were both undergraduates at the University of Texas.
Born in Houston, and brought up in Austin, Gustawes was intent on a business
career, ideally one that combined business and travel. When McConaughey’s acting
career began to take off with “A Time to Kill,” his breakthrough movie, he invited his
friend to join him in Hollywood.
Alongside McConaughey, Gustawes experienced the film business from the actor’s
perspective: a steep learning curve, but a limited one. He extended his terms of reference
by two years with Mike Ovitz’ AMG agency.
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