LESLIE BATES-BÜYÜKTÜRKOĞLU, producer
Born in Los Angeles, Leslie became a traveler at the age of one. First, her US Air Force father moved her and her family all over America, and then all over the world.
It was while she was in Rome that she began her career in the arts, first in music and theatre. After a couple of years there, she moved to writing and the production side of entertainment in San Diego after getting a degree in Marketing and English Literature from San Diego State.
But not until 1985, after she received her JD from Lincoln Law School did she move to Turkey – To Diyarbakir as a civilian contract specialist for the American government. Over her 15 years in Turkey, she taught English and contract law (of course), represented American companies in the military market, and . . . repaired helicopters for the Turkish Army! She also worked as a legal and technical consultant for several Turkish and American companies, including Etap Holding (previously Coca Cola Turkey) of Izmir and Allied Signal of New Jersey.
Oh, and married Aclan, an actor and director with the Turkish National Theatre, and had two children, David and Sarah.
During that time, she proudly became a Turkish citizen.
Finally, in 1999, Aclan and Leslie decided to try life in the States. They packed the kids, the dogs and the furniture and moved to Los Angeles.
And into the American entertainment industry. Both immediately enrolled at American Film Institute, Leslie in the screenwriting program, Aclan in Directing, becoming the first couple to start AND finish AFI together, and Aclan became the first Turk to obtain a Masters in Directing from AFI.
Two years ago, they established uniCvisions, a film, commercial and video production company. At the same time, they finally had the time to become more involved with the Turkish-American community in Los Angeles, including taking positions on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Turkish American Association (LATAA).
Seeing a huge disparity between the image of Turks and Turkey as portrayed in the media and the truth, they decided to produce popular entertainment to change that. The first step in that direction was to produce the Istanbul National Ballet’s performance of “Agir Roman (East Side Story)” at the prestigious Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood, receiving previously unequaled reviews in the LA Times and other publications in August 2006.
Leslie and Aclan’s next project is the film, “Broken Angel,” based on Chicago novelist, Tulay Pirlant’s “Ruzgarli Sehir,” to be shot in Los Angeles. This film will be the first Turkish-American production of a popular feature film portraying Turks and Turkish Culture in a positive way.
