About Us
Founded in 2007, Cosmic Toast Studios is an entertainment company focused on developing and producing high-quality and diverse feature films and television content. The studio’s in-house facilities include various divisions such as publishing, animation, production, web design and pre- and post-production. Cosmic Toast has several film and television properties in development. Slangman’s World has completed its first season of programming for American Forces Network (AFN) and is currently in production on new episodes for Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB), the third-largest PBS affiliate in America.
David Burke, Principal
When Slangman isn’t up on his cloud inventing words with his trusty sidekicks Wordy, Gizma, and Crash, he surfaces as David Burke, producer and partner of Cosmic Toast Studios.
David also has a love for music and has trained as a classical pianist since the age of four. He learned how to read notes before words. Eventually he did learn words, and decided to write a book… and then another… and another, and another, and another… You get the picture. He currently has over 60 published books sold in bookstores worldwide via his own company, Slangman Publishing. Did I mention he’s an award-winning author? Because he is!
His prowess as an author got him a regular gig on Voice of America radio, broadcasting to 90 million devout listeners who bestowed upon him the name “Slangman.” Staying ahead of the curve, his natural progression was to delve into the entertainment biz, where he currendy hosts a new animated TV show on PBS called Slangman’s World. The 20 years of piano lessons paid off — he’s also the composer for the show — as well as lyricist, arranger, music director, writer, and producer.
David’s favorite quote: “A sweater is something you wear when your mother is cold.”
Kenny Gage, Principal
Kenny is the only dude at Cosmic Toast who has beat Portal Runner on the PS2 in 4 hours back in the day. And possibly the only individual ever to play it. Oh well…
Kenny has worked for various Hollywood honchos as a writer — a bunch a comedy junk! He, along with writing partner Bill Ceresia, broke onto the scene by selling their edgy cartoon The Pazzinis to Spike TV. Kenny also played his hand on the professional boxing circuit… Ouch! But that’s a whole other story.
He is currently a writer, producer, and creator of the animated children’s show Slangman’s World, now airing in a 174 countries… and counting!
Kenny Gage is a producer and partner at Cosmic Toast, yada, yada, yada… He’s also known for his fascination with Duck, Duck, Goose …
Andrew Pagana, Principal
Growing up was difficult for Andrew “Andy” Pagana knowing that his greatest responsibility of saving the world had to be somehow mixed with his need to boss people around. It wasn’t long before the answer came and he transformed himself into a full-time superhero and part-time director.
Andrew quickly found he could attain mediocre status without really trying and managed to work in various stages of production for several of the biggest names in the business while using his “free time” to write a multi-award winning screenplay, create his own TV show, brave a featured spot on reality TV, and build a plethora of work that somehow hasn’t even found its way to IMDB.
Despite alienating himself from multiple producers for his high opinions of himself (and his opinions in general), Andy has managed not only to save the day time and time again, but to somehow keep himself employed. He’s the director of Slangman’s World and a partner and producer in Cosmic Toast.
David J. Kekst, Partner and Chief Executive Officer
With a child’s love of sci-fi and fantasy genre adventures and a passion for humorous storytelling, David joined kindred spirits at Cosmic Toast Studios, bringing sharp business acumen and legal expertise to the company.
Prior to joining CTS, David served as Senior Vice President of Operations and General Counsel of the William Morris Agency (“WMA”), the world’s largest, oldest and most diversified talent agency.
David’s departure from WMA marked the end of a highly successful 12-year career a key player on WMA’s management team. There, David had authority over all legal matters involving the agency and direct supervisory responsibility for all of the company’s administrative functions other than accounting and
information technology.
Prior to joining WMA, David worked in New York City for the boutique law firm of Arkin Schaffer & Kaplan LLP.
He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 with a B.A. in political science and from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N Cardozo School of Law in 1994, where he earned his J.D. degree.
Jordan B. Gorfinkel, Partner and Head of Comics and Transmedia
Throughout most of the 1990s, Gorf oversaw the Batman comic book franchise at DC Comics (a division of Time Warner/Time Inc.) through most of the 1990s. During his tenure, Gorf and the Batguys (most notably Scott Petersen and Darren Vincenzo) grew the publishing line from two comics per month to two per week, resulting in 400% sales growth and critical acclaim. Gorf coordinated storylines , led an international team of writers, and helped manage the Batman franchise for licensed products, theme parks, film, television, and digital platforms.
He directed Batman: No Man’s Land, the longest running Batman serial in history and pioneered the crossover between comics and Hollywood. No Man’s Land’s storyline also served as inspiration for Batman Begins, which successfully rebooted the Dark Knight feature film franchise.
Gorf also created and launched Birds Of Prey, which was developed into an eponymous WB Network television series. The TV pilot for the show had the second-best ratings in the WB Network’s history , and the comic is the longest-running female superhero franchise after Wonder Woman. Until its Summer 2010 integration into Cosmic Toast Studios, Gorf served as founder and CEO of Avalanche Comics Entertainment (“ACE”). He continues to serve as an innovative producer of comics and illustrated storytelling for transmedia entertainment franchises and corporations seeking to use the comics medium for corporate messaging and branding.
Gorf graduated from Boston University College of Communications in 1990 and attended the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
In his personal time, Gorf serves as the President of the Wayne Foundation and is a trustee and beneficiary benefactor of Arkham Asylum.
William Ceresia, Partner, Producer & Head of Post-Production
Growing up a as a die-hard Los Angeles Rams fan in Upstate thing for Bill: move to LA!! He did, and so did the Rams… to St. Louis. That being said Bill honed his VFX, Animation and Post Production skills and started a career with Universal.
Bill has served as Post-Production Coordinator for Universal Pictures since 2004. He oversaw all aspects of post‐production for many of its feature motion pictures, including Robin Hood, The Wolfman, Public Enemies, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, Land of the Lost, American Gangster, Miami Vice, The Break Up, Van Helsing, You, Me and Dupree, and Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins.
Bill has coordinated post‐production editing, sound design and supervision, mixing, visual effects, music and score, ADR, digital intermediate (color timing) and studio previews. He has worked with such renowned film directors as Michael Mann, Ridley Scott, Sam Mendes, Stephen Sommers, Paul Greengrass, Brad Silberling, Joe Johnston, Peyton Reed and Malcolm Lee.
Bill’s motion picture career began in the summer of 1996 when he joined Universal Pictures Theatrical Marketing Division. In that capacity, he assisted in marketing campaigns for such films as The Nutty Professor, Liar, Liar, Jurassic Park 2, American Pie and The Grinch That Stole Christmas.
