Welcome to Top Dead Center Films
A full-service Film and TV company driven by a team of experienced, award-winning executives. With a rich history of creating and producing hit tv series, films, and branded entertainment. TDCF is comprised of excellent directors, producers, writers and exceptional below the line talent. We pride ourselves on turning unique visions into reality.
Our expertise spans across original films, TV series, unscripted content, and third-party productions, backed by our comprehensive post-production facility, Parking Garage Post.
We are dedicated storytellers who prioritize quality, efficiency, and excellence in every project. Whether it’s a feature film, a television series, branded content, or any other visual narrative, our commitment is to deliver exceptional and cost-effective content that stands out in today’s competitive market and resonates with audiences worldwide. Join us on this creative journey, where imagination and professionalism converge to bring stories to life like never before.
“The name for the company came from a mechanical term. Top Dead Centre is the position of an internal combustion engine’s piston when it is at the very top of its stroke and working most efficiently. The concept of efficient and well produced content without wasting energy on things that do not matter was inspired by the term”
- Gary Auerbach
Gary Auerbach DIrectors reel
Gary Auerbach
CEO
Read Bio
Mr. Auerbach’s feature film and documentary history includes writing and directing the dark comedy feature "Just Your Luck" starring Vince Vaughn, Jon Favreau and Virginia Madsen. Other films and docs include: "The Occupants" starring Cristin Milioti and Michael Rady, "The Great American Christmas", "Prescription Thugs", "Karaoke Superstars", "Hampton High Revealed", "Choose You" with Hilary Swank and numerous "Rockumentaries" for MTV and VH-1.
As key member and creator for MTV, Gary lent his talents creating and producing shows including "The Jon Stewart Show", "Singled Out", "Punk'd", "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County" and Peabody Award winning documentary, "Decade."
From 2013 to 2016, Auerbach served as the Executive Vice President of Development and Production at NBCU Wilshire Studios, where he managed Wilshire Studios for NBCUniversal.
As Founder and CEO of Go Go Luckey Entertainment, Gary created and produced thousands of hours of TV, feature films and digital content including: "Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County", "Paranormal State", "Decoded", "The Occupants", "Kidnap and Rescue", "Exorcist Files", The crypto, zoological, horror series "Lost Tapes", and the Cannes Lions winning "Hampton High Revealed."
Auerbach’s newest venture is "Top Dead Center Films", "It’s a culmination of everything I love to do, write, direct, produce and sell". "It’s been my motivating vision and dream since I made my first zombie student film in High School."
Julie Auerbach
CCO
Read Bio
Julie is a Film and TV Writer and Producer lending her talents to some very successful programming including James Cameron’s “Dark Angel”, “24”, “Birds Of Prey”, and “Charmed.”
Auerbach began her career modeling as a teenager in Paris, Milan, Tokyo and NYC and eventually landed in Los Angeles where she Co-Founded and played bass in an all girl band, Wench.
From there Auerbach started ghost writing for some of Hollywood’s biggest writers as well as working on series. In 2003 Julie Co-Founded Go Go Luckey Entertainment with her husband, Gary Auerbach. They successfully created and produced many hit TV shows, Films, Digital Content and Live Events. Including the genre changing “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County”, “Paranormal State”, “Decoded” “The Occupants”, and “Buried Alive” among many others. In 2017 Auerbach was instrumental in successfully orchestrating the sale of Go Go Luckey Entertainment.
Julie also works with Merrill Herzog a global risk and intelligence company. She formerly consulted for The Guidry Group the #3 Kidnap and Ransom firm globally. Her experiences with these companies has greatly influenced her writing and expanded her access to a vast array of contacts in those diverse and interesting fields.
Julie is thrilled to be doing what she loves, writing, producing and identifying new projects and talent. Auerbach is excited about Top Dead Center Films and the opportunity to be a part of this groundbreaking company.
Auerbach is a member of the WGA
Todd Beck
Executive Producer/Media Strategy
Read Bio
Todd Beck is the CEO of BECK Media, the marketing and communications firm he founded in Los Angeles in 2000. Today, the firm employees more than 40 people across five regional offices (Santa Monica, New York City, Austin, Atlanta and San Francisco) and serves a clientele of leading businesses in entertainment and technology.
Before starting BECK Media, Todd handled communications in an agency setting, at a major U.S. broadcast television network, and at a trailblazing online casual gaming company. Today, Todd works with founders and CEOs to help them grow emerging companies and market leaders. He is primarily responsible for maintaining the agency’s results-oriented culture of creativity, innovation, and technology.
A ravenous media consumer with an offbeat creative marketing streak and a deep love and respect for the power of words, Todd and his team develop and execute work that drives change and creates value for transformative companies of all stages.
David Grant
Chief Strategy and Business Officer
Read Bio
David has a long and successful track record as an executive and entrepreneur in the content business, including founding and serving as President, Fox TV Studios (acquired by Disney), Executive Vice President, FOX Network/FOX Sports, President PopSugar Studios (acquired by Group Nine Media), and SVP Business Development, News Corporation.
Joel
Petrie
Production Manager / Editor
Read Bio
Joel has been working as a professional in Postproduction since 2002. All that experience has rewarded him with a few grey hairs and a wealth of knowledge. His Post-Supervisor experience alone includes 4 Television series, a dozen feature films and countless short films-- the most recent of which has been nominated for an Academy Award! (Ninety-Five Senses, 2024). Joel is also an active nerd who uses the full amount of his free time fitting in as much video games, reading, Dungeons & Dragons™, noodles and coffee as he possibly can!
Kevin Tavolaro
Writer / Producer
Read Bio
Kevin Tavolaro has been fortunate enough to turn his lifelong passion for scary stories into a career.
After producing and writing for such television shows as American Haunting, Hangar 1, Ancient Aliens, Ghost Lab, Buried Alive, and The Unexplained, Kevin moved into scripted features with Top Dead Center Films’ Babysitter Must Die, Ava Bravo Hunts, and Give me your Eyes.
He’s excited to be working with writing partner Julie Auerbach, developing a host of upcoming TDCF projects that draw on his love of horror, comedy, action, and character-driven storytelling.
Paul Eckstein
In-Memoriam
9/11/63 - 6/6/23
Read Bio
Paul was a brilliant writer, producer, director, actor, and a mentor to so many.
He was a devoted husband and father who loved his sons Sebastian and Marley with all his heart. We will always hold him in our hearts and remember his friendship, love, kindness, and that infectious laugh. Rest Paulie, you done good.
Paul Eckstein has been writing, producing, and acting for over 40 years. He grew up in Brooklyn then graduated from Brown University with degrees in International Relations and Creative Writing. He went on to immerse himself in New York City Theatre where he was a founding member of the Naked Angels Theatre Co., acted on Broadway, Shakespeare in the Park and Minneapolis' Guthrie Theatre. He spent a decade cutting his chops originating, collaborating, writing, directing, and developing dozens of plays, films and TV shows. Paul completed production of season two of the acclaimed hit Godfather of Harlem (2019) which he co-created, starring Forest Whitaker and Giancarlo Esposito on EPIX. Prior to that, Paul lead the writer's room on the first year of the Netflix hit drama Narcos (2015). Paul also wrote and produced the Disney/ABC biblical epic Of Kings and Prophets (2016) on location in South Africa. His other writing credits include: Street Time (2002) (Showtime), Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001)(NBC), The Dead Zone (2002) (USA). As a movie producer, Paul co-produced the MGM/UA film Hoodlum (1997) starring Laurence Fishburne and Andy Garcia. These are just some of a long list of projects Paul has worked on over the years that emphasize history, high stakes, excellence in execution with a focus on stories and culture from people of color.
