Services
Feature Film Production
Creative Development
Film Financing & Co-Production
Production Services
Post-Production Management
Branded & Commercial Content
Meet the Team
Great films start with great storytellers. With years of experience in production, financing, and development, our team is dedicated to bringing bold ideas to life.
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Partner
Michael Kase is a producer and production executive with over 25 years’ experience in the motion picture industry. Currently, he is a founding partner of R8:18 Films, a newly formed independent production company with a mission to deliver visual content.
Kase was previously president of production at Bay Films, joining the company in 2007. Kase worked on and produced several films, including Universal Pictures’ Ambulance, Netflix’s 6 Underground and Paramount Pictures’ Transformers: The Last Knight, 13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, Transformers: Age of Extinction and Pain and Gain. To date, Kase has worked on nine Michael Bay-directed films that have grossed over $4.2 billion worldwide.
Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Kase attended Hofstra University where he studied communications and broadcasting. After moving to Los Angeles in the early 90s, he began his career working as an assistant to entertainment mogul and producer Lee Rich, founder of Lorimar Television, and director Joel Schumacher.
Kase next honed his skills joining the creative department at Orion Pictures, working on the Academy Award-nominated movies Ulee’s Gold, starring Peter Fonda and Blue Sky, for which Jessica Lange won an Oscar for Best Actress. During his years at Orion, he also produced and directed the award-winning documentary series Secrets of War for the History Channel.
Michael Kase then formed his own production company, Regulus Productions, selling his first original screenplay, Remember Sunday, to DreamWorks. Kase is a member of the Writers Guild of America. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife Tamara, daughter Maribella and son Michael Jr.
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Partner
Since leaving his perch as Head of the Film Group at FIFTH SEASON in May 2024, Garcia has founded CAT5, an action film label that co-financed David Ayer's A Working Man, starring Jason Statham, and launched a joint venture with Robert Rodriguez called Brass Knuckle Films.
At FIFTH SEASON, he built and ran the Film Group, financing and producing over 40 films in four years. His projects included The Peanut Butter Falcon, Blue Miracle, 80 for Brady, The Lost Daughter, Cha Cha Real Smooth, and upcoming release Friendship starring Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd.
Garcia worked closely with R8:18 Films partner Michael Kase on the FIFTH SEASON film Ambulance directed by Michael Bay. He'll continue to build CAT5 and Brass Knuckle Films while supporting R8:18 with his creative and business skills.
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Partner
Ken is a seasoned owner, operator, and investor with a diverse entrepreneurial background in the fitness and real estate sectors. With years of experience owning and managing gyms in Southern California, as well as running an industrial real estate company where he’s transacted over 30 million square feet of buildings and more than 5,000 acres of land throughout the United States, Ken brings a wealth of strategic insight and financial expertise to R8:18 Films.
Having built and scaled successful businesses, Ken has developed a deep understanding of investment strategies, asset management, and the importance of long-term growth. His track record in identifying high-potential ventures and managing risk makes him a valuable partner in the entertainment sector.
Combining his financial acumen with entrepreneurial drive, he actively contributes to the strategic direction and financial stability of projects. Ken takes a hands-on approach to managing investments, while fostering innovation and supporting high-quality productions that have the potential to leave a lasting impact on the industry.
Ken is committed to driving value and growth in the production space, leveraging his experience to help projects reach their full potential.
While he currently resides in Los Angeles, California, Ken grew up in New York, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Hofstra University.
