Our collective story-telling experience is derived from our individual experiences traveling down the back roads. From creative ideation through post-production, our team has the full compliment of in-house resources to tell your story in the most compelling and strategic fashion.

Colby Gaines

Founder

Colby Gaines is the Emmy-nominated executive producer and founder of Back Roads Entertainment, in charge of the company's programming, development and day-to-day operations.

Previously, he was the co-founder and owner of Leftfield Pictures, a production company well known for producing hundreds of hours of reality-based programming including American Restoration, Oddities and Pawn Stars.

Additional programs Colby has executive produced include (among others): JUNKies (Science), Door Knockers (DIY), Pawn Stars (History), American Restoration (History), Oddities (Science), Moving In (MTV), Setup Squad (LOGO), What the Sell?! (TLC), The Principal's Office (truTV), Bridal Bootcamp (vh1), Happily Ever Faster (TLC), Hallmark Heroes with Regis Philbin (Hallmark Channel) and InTurn (CBS/CBS.com).

Colby cut his teeth in non-fiction television, news and new media, having worked with a variety of agencies and Fortune 500 companies.

Colby's Back Roads story: he grew up in Texas but today lives in New Jersey. He credits his wife Paige for indirectly inspiring the hit show Pawn Stars - a concept developed during his bachelor party in Las Vegas - and for delivering the best "productions"of his life: his sons Marty and Everett.

Scotty Gelade

Director of Strategy

Scotty Gelade is the Director of Strategy for Back Roads Entertainment, tasked with forging creative alliances with brands, agencies and entertainment companies (videogame, publishing and movie studios, among others).

Prior to BRE, Scotty ran his own consultancy that developed content-driven marketing programs for a number of brands including Conde Nast, Netflix, Yves St. Laurent, National Basketball Association and Sony, among others.

Scotty has also worked with Academy Award-winning filmmakers, successfully sold several unscripted television projects and holds a degree in entertainment law.

Scotty’s Back Roads story: he grew up in Bucks County, PA, stopped in New England for his collegiate years, settled in Manhattan for a bit and eventually set up residence in Princeton. His best alliance has been with his wife Eve with whom he has two boys: Alexander and Oliver.

Minsa Cho

Director of Photography

Minsa Cho is the Director of Photography for Back Road Entertainment, responsible for the style and visual tone on all BRE productions.

With over ten years of experience behind the camera, Minsa has helmed reality shows, feature-length documentaries and new media projects for networks like Showtime, AMC, ABC and Legendary Pictures and brands like Lufthansa Airlines, Monster.com and Axe Body Spray.

In addition to his DP expertise, Minsa has produced and directed for Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, TheFirst 48, and Committed, among others.

Minsa’s Back Roads story: it started when he caught the film and TV bug as a child - he was often taken to see movies in varying genres, from Hollywood Blockbusters to Grindhouse Kung Fu movies. He didn’t know it then but those movies shaped the rest of his life.

Minsa keeps his feet planted firmly on the ground with the love and support from children Cameron and Emerson and wife Jessica.

Elyse Sara

Line Producer

Elyse Sara is the Line Producer for Back Roads Entertainment, overseeing the Production Management Department.

Prior to joining Back Roads, Elyse was a Production Manager at Leftfield Pictures, where she worked on Pawn Stars, American Restoration and Oddities as well as several commercial productions.

Previously, she production managed All Worked Up and Wife Swap for Zodiak USA and produced several independent documentaries, including Dance School: Juilliard for Ovation and The Open Court Mystique for PBS-KIXE.

Elyse's back roads story: she grew up in Schenectady, NY and escaped to the warmth of sunny Los Angeles, where she graduated from the University of Southern California's Cinema-Television School. Now a Brooklynite, Elyse has traded in her beach towel for the more urban-friendly yoga mat.

Sean De Simone

Casting and Talent Development

Sean De Simone heads up the Casting Department for Back Roads Entertainment, sourcing and developing talent while collaborating with development and production on all projects.

Prior to joining Back Roads, Sean operated his own casting company working on unscripted and scripted TV and film, theater, commercial and print projects. From cooking shows to musical theatre, Sean has had a hand in crafting all types of talent for top networks and producers.

Sean’s Back Roads story: Sean was always that shy kid in class who never talked too much, but instead would spend hours on end staring at the world map, day-dreaming about where he wanted to go. He has since traveled the world and back, coming across more then enough “characters” for any film or TV show. Although he’s traveled down a ton of back roads, he will always consider the streets of the East Village in NYC his favorite and his home.