Our Team
This documentary project seeks to bring together a broad coalition of LGBTQ+ people and allies who care about the wellbeing of marginalized groups, to bring this project to life. This team of creatives – from producers to production assistants – is, and will continue to be, representative of the people who have entrusted us to tell their stories. You Must Be Proud will address the trauma of homophobia – both past and present – with the hopes that young people can further break out of this cycle of hate and fear. We’ll examine how homophobia and transphobia is rooted in institutions like religion, sports, media, government, employment, education, and so many other facets of our lives, which we encounter on a daily basis.
Matthew Bardugone (he/him)
Producer, Director, Editor
Matthew Bardugone is a Producer and Director whose credits include AMC, HBO, Nickelodeon, Red Bull Media House, TruTV, Spike, and corporate work with Save the Children, WeWork, and Pfizer. Matthew specializes in unscripted and documentary content, prioritizing work that has a social impact component. Matthew’s inspiration for this project came from his work volunteering with the Trevor Project, a suicide-prevention, crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, seeing how much work we still need to do to help our most vulnerable. When Matthew is not producing content, he is busy chasing his two-year-old son, alongside his husband and dog.
Ayse Reyering (she/her)
Executive Producer
Ayse Reyering is an Emmy-winning Post Producer whose credits include Amazon, Netflix, Showtime, HBO, NBCSports, Spike, History, E!, Lifetime, and Discovery. She’s worked in several arenas including reality, sports, and live events but specializes in documentaries and docuseries. She prides herself on organization, quality control, and network relationships, and is only interested in meaningful projects. When she’s not delivering content, she is busy post-producing independent films with her producing partner in Basel, Switzerland, or spending time with her two kids.
Ellery Lamm (she/her)
Story Producer
Ellery Lamm is an award-winning writer and producer who started her career in theater. Ellery has an MFA in Creative Writing from University of Victoria (BC, Canada), and often writes plays about young adults including: The Fitting Room (Overall Best Show, Bravest Show at Victoria Fringe), Summer Bucket List (Best Original New Work, Best Drama at Victoria Fringe), and Backliners (SKAM Young Company, 2020). Ellery tries to write stories about young people that she wouldn’t have rolled her eyes at as a teen. In her free time, she volunteers as a community counsellor and enjoys discovering the Pacific Northwest with her wife and dog Vesper.
R. Masseo Davis (he/him)
Cinematographer
R. Masseo Davis has worked around the world as a filmmaker and cinematographer with credits that include Save the Children, Spotify, Maybelline, New York University, as well as several documentary features. Masseo has developed his craftsmanship amongst an ever-changing cast of colleagues from activism documentaries in rural, international locations to commercial productions with celebrity appearances. In his free time, Masseo enjoys experiencing the arts, especially dance, in which he is classically trained.