Jan is a graduate of the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. Before attending AFI Jan attended Sarah Lawrence College where she studied dance and choreography. Jan spent twelve (12) years in New York as a professional dancer and choreographer. In 2001, she was accepted into AFI's film program and spent her two graduate years making eight short films.

As a second year thesis student, Jan developed her thesis script which won American Film Institute's MARTIN RITT AWARD - a $10,000 cash production grant. She was the only African American recipient of an AFI 2003 Women in Film Scholarship. Jan's independent short film - STONE MANSION was one of the 2004 Showtime Network's BLACK FILMMAKERS SHORT FILM SHOWCASE Winners. Stone Mansion was licensed in 2004 to the Showtime Network and aired over February in honor of Black History Month. Jan's thesis film, was also sold in 2004 to HBO and is currently in rotation. STONE MANSION was sold to AMERICAN PUBLIC TELEVISION (PBS) in 2007 and aired in 45 US markets. Both films have screened in over fifty (50) national and international festivals.

Jan is a 2010 recipient of a PAUL ROBESON FUND FOR INDEPENDENT MEDIA GRANT to develop a feature-length documentary on a landmark racial discrimination case. Jan was part of the production staff of the Damon Wayans Showtime Network comedy sketch series THE UNDERGROUND and was invited to participate in the 2006 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVALS ALL ACCESS CONNECTS.

Jan has several titles in development and is currently working on producing and directing NICE SHOT a short narrative about guns and gang violence in Chicago. Jan lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Joe Goldberger, a master drummer and film music composer.

Wearing her trademark color, Orange, makes this high-powered casting director as memorable as her name, Twinkie Byrd. Whether with braids of orange hair or her au natural Afro she is the reigning Queen of BrooklynÓ, Twinkie has a commanding presence and style that turns heads. Twinkie also has a flair for Great Casting that keeps Production Companies and Ad Agencies coming back for more.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Twinkie went into the advertising biz right out of school. That was 15 years ago. Two years into her ad career, she got invited to do some casting and found her niche. I love it all!Ó Twinkie says÷ÏThe best part is and knowing exactly what my directors are looking for and finding new talent. When you can do that and do a great job for the client it is all good!

Twinkie has been casting Commercials, TV, Music Videos and print coast to coast for 15 years. She has worked with Artists such as NÌSync, Christina Aguilera, Brittany Spears, Black Eyed Peas, P. Diddy, J. Lo, 50 Cent, OUTKAST , DMX, P.O.D. and Eve. Many of the directors she's worked with in the Music Video world have moved onto film. They include David LaChappelle, Brett Ratner , Spike Jonze, Tim Story, Marcus Raboy, Forest Whitaker & Dave Meyers just to name a few. Her Commercial clients include Reebok, Barbie, PEPSI, TGI Fridays MTV, VH1, Home Depot and Dodge Chrysler.

With offices in NY and Los Angeles, Twinkie is poised to empower, uplift and raise the level of quality casting well into the 21st century.

Joe has scored both theme and source music for a variety of American Film Institute film projects.

Other scores include the music for the award winning film:"Stone Mansion" which was shown on the PBS Network during the fall of 2005, and "GAME" the short.

"Sunday Morning Stripper"- currently airing on SHOWTIME, which won top prize in SHOWTIME NETWORKS"SHOWCASE AWARDS (2005).

Joe's music can also be heard on"The Great Commision", which aired on the SHOWTIME network in 2004.

Joe has a vast and diverse background as a performance artist. His many affiliations include Singer/songwriter Mark Radice, the R&B super group,"Brass Construction", jazz pianist - Kenny Drew Jr, tours of Brazil and Japan with Mark Lambert, and Annie Haslam's "Renaissance". Presently residing in Los Angeles, Joe has performed with jazz and blues vocalists, Sweet Baby Jai and Cathy Segal Garcia, among others.