A scene from Deutchman and Wexler's film, "Ball in the House."

Ira Deutchman, associate professor and supervisor of the producing concentration in the School of the Arts Graduate Film Division, has teamed up with alumna Tanya Wexler (MFA 1995, Directing) to produce the film "Ball in the House," which screened at the Toronto Film Festival in September.

The film was produced by Redeemable Features, of which Deutchman is a founding partner, and Chimera Films, co-founded by Wexler. "Ball in the House," directed by Wexler, is a dark comedy about a likeable "screw-up" who desperately wants to "stay clean" from drugs and alcohol, but whose highly dysfunctional family seems to be doing everything they can to prevent him. Wexler describes the film as a "dark, absurd drama with comedic aspects."

During her time at Columbia, Wexler only took one class with Deutchman. Their professional relationship began when Wexler's business partner, Stephen Dyer, was working with Deutchman's partner on "Finding North." Deutchman and his partner, Paul Newman, were pleased with Wexler's work on that film and were interested in her next project.

"It was actually good the way we became connected," said Wexler. "It was round-about, but it lent more credibility to my work. Ira is incredibly supportive of young filmmakers. He gives freedom to the filmmaker while staying involved and serving as a mentor."

"Working with Tanya and Stephen [Dyer of Chimera Films] on 'Finding North' has been a great pleasure," Deutchman said in making the production announcement for "Ball in the House," "and we were thrilled when they came to us with this terrific, well-written screenplay. We jumped at the chance to become involved."

Throughout his 27-year career, Deutchman has worked on more than 130 films. His screen credits include: associate producer of John Sayles' "Matewan," executive producer of Jonathan Demme's "Swimming to Cambodia," Gary Sinise's "Miles from Home" and Paul Bartel's "Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills." He is currently the president and CEO of StudioNext, a New York-based digital film and new media production company.

Formerly, Deutchman was the founder and president of Fine Line Features and senior vice president of parent company New Line Cinema. He serves on the advisory boards of the Sundance Film Festival and the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.

While at Columbia Wexler directed the short films "The Dance" and "Cool Shoes." "The Dance" played at the Telluride Film Festival, the Seattle Film Festival and the First Look Series.

Wexler likens her time at Columbia to her role as a mother of children ages one and two—"When my children try to climb the stairs, I spot them, and help them do it on it their own, much the same way professors and graduate school programs offer students a gentle nudging to help them develop—to help them take that extra step on their own. Columbia offers excellent mentors through professors like Ira [Deutchman] and Zipora Trope, an Israeli film director," said Wexler.

"Film school allows you to have a transitional moment, where you are pre-professional and post-graduate… a time to cook a little bit. It gives you the opportunity to hone your skills and ultimately come out further ahead," she said.

In 1998, she and Stephen Dyer formed Chimera films after they produced her debut film, "Finding North," which premiered to sold-out audiences at the 1998 Palm Springs International Film Festival.