KUDOS FOR ACTOR-DIRECTOR LAB PARTICIPANTS
(updated 3/9/10)
(updated 3/9/10)
Page Down or click on the link for entries concerning And, for those of you who have taken the Lab, please keep me posted of your new activities!
FEATURES
“The Dry Land,” written and directed by Lab director Ryan Piers Williams, screened in Dramatic Competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. It stars America Ferrera and Melissa Leo. Scenes from “The Dry Land” were workshopped in the Lab.
Lab actor Allie Smith is featured in the cast of “Sympathy for Delicious,” which was directed by Mark Ruffalo, and screened in U.S. Dramatic Competition at 2010 Sundance.
Lab director and actor Antonio Macia is the screenwriter of “Holy Rollers,” which screened in Dramatic Competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival.
Lab actor Jeremiah Ocanas stars in “Ghostown: Drive By Chronicles,” which is now available on DVD. Trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVd9THxc_kM
Lab actor James Pitt appears in a principal role, as the Shuttle Pilot, in James Cameron's “Avatar.”
Lab director Joseph Kosinski has completed principal photography as director of “Tron Legacy,” scenes of which were screened at Comic-Con.
Lab director Shana Feste’s second film “Love Don’t Let Me Down,” is now in production on location in Nashville; it stars Leighton Meester, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, and Garrett Hedlund; scenes from “Love Don’t Let Me Down” were workshopped in the Lab. Shana’s first film “The Greatest” screened in Dramatic Competition at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, where Shana was also honored as one of the Daily Variety “10 Directors to Watch.” “The Greatest” features Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan – and Lab actor Cynthia Boorujy. Shana was nominated for a Humanitas Prize for “The Greatest,” in the Sundance feature film category. Scenes from “The Greatest” have been workshopped in the Lab.
Lab director Ava DuVernay has completed photography on her feature “I Will Follow.” Last year her feature-length documentary “This is the Life” won the Audience Award for Best Documentary and Special Jury Mention for Documentary at the 2008 Pan-African Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Lab actor Marybeth Massett has a role in “The Social Network,” directed by David Fincher.
Lab actor Will Boddington has been cast in “Baryo,” directed by John Sayles, which will be shooting in the Philippines.
“The Joneses,” written and directed by Lab director Derrick Borte, starring David Duchovny, Demi Moore, and Ben Hollingsworth, had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, and will premiere in Los Angeles in April. The trailer can be seen at http://trailers.apple.com/ or http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/thejoneses/
Lab director Stephanie Argy is co-director of “The Red Machine,” starring Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello, which had its world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival. Since then, it has won awards at the Sedona Int'l Film Festival and the Durango Independent Film Festival. In late March, it will screen at Method Fest.
“Another Harvest Moon,” directed by Lab director Greg Swartz, was chosen to premier on the opening night of the Hollywood Film Festival, having won the audience choice awards at both Rhode Island and Louisville Festivals. “Another Harvest Moon” stars Doris Roberts, Anne Meara, Piper Laurie, Cybill Shepherd, and Ernest Borgnine. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAUZsRj9MYw
“Love Songs of a 3rd Grade Teacher,” written by Lab actor Sabrina Stevenson and directed by Lab director Michaela Von Schweinitz, is completed and screened at the Downtown Independent Theater. Sabrina plays the lead role and Lab actors Kathryn Hansen, Binky Van Bilderbeek, and Meredith Flynn are also featured. www.thirdgradeteacherthemovie.com
“Morenita (The Scandal),” directed by Lab director Alan Jonsson is now screening in many Mexican cities. It has screened in competition at the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival. http://paulitofilm.com/morenita_trlr_v5/morenita_trlr_v5.mov or http://www.rec-play.tv/proyectos/morenita/
“Post Grad,” directed by Lab director Vicky Jenson, was released in theaters. The film is produced by Ivan Reitman and stars Alexis Bledel, Jane Lynch, Zach Gilford, Michael Keaton, Carol Burnett, Rodrigo Santoro, and Demetri Martin. http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2832097/post_grad_movie_trailer/
Lab director Doug Atchison is in pre-production for “The Throwback.” Doug wrote and directed “Akeelah and the Bee,” which was nominated for five NAACP Image Awards – for Doug as writer, for the film itself, and for actors Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Keke Palmer. Scenes from “Akeelah and the Bee” were workshopped in the Lab.
Lab actors Kate Del Castillo and Eugenio Derbez star in “Under the Same Moon,” directed by another Two Lights Studio alumna Patricia Riggen. Kate Del Castillo also stars in “Bad Guys” and “Julia.”
Lab director Mark Fergus is a co-writer of “Iron Man” and the upcoming “Cowboys and Aliens,” and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as a co-writer on “Children of Men,” directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Mark’s feature “First Snow,” starring Guy Pierce, premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival, and featured Lab actors John Burton, Jr. and Julie Gawkowski. Scenes from “First Snow” were workshopped in the Lab.
“The Garden,” with Lab actor Vivianne Nacif as co-producer, received an Academy Award nomination in the category of Documentary Feature, and has had theatrical release in many cities, including Los Angeles.
"Amar a Morir," directed by Fernando Lebrija, screened in competition in the Los Angeles Latino International film festival (LALIFF), after having its World Premiere at the 2009 Santa Barbara International Film Festival. (Scenes from “Amar a Morir” were workshopped in the Lab.) “Down for Life” starring Lab actor Kate del Castillo, also screened at LALIFF.
“Like Dandelion Dust,” directed by Lab director Jon Gunn and featuring Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, was the opening night film at the Cinema City International Film Festival in Century City. The movie had its World Premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival, and has won 23 awards so far from over a dozen festivals.
“The Least Among You,” written and directed by Lab director Mark Young, and starring Lou Gossett, Lauren Holly, William Devane and Cedric Sanders, had its World Premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival, and has screened at the Newport Beach Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, San Diego Black Film Festival, Cinequest/San Jose, AFI/Dallas, and the Pan-African Film Festival.http://www.theleastamongyou.com. The cast of “The Least Among You” includes Lab actor Starletta Dupois. Scenes from “The Least Among You” were workshopped in the Lab.
Lab actor Bitsie Tulloch appeared in “Lakeview Terrace,” directed by Neil LaBute, with Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington. She will appear in the upcoming “Uncross the Stars,” with Barbara Hershey and Ron Perleman; and the upcoming “Alpha and Omega,” with Hayden Panettierre and Christina Ricci.
“Transmission,” written and directed by Lab director Owen Dara, is in post-production after shooting in Ireland, with Lab actors Jessica Lancaster and Jeremiah Ocanas in lead roles. Scenes from “Transmission” were workshopped in the Lab.
“Niloofar,” written and directed by Lab director Sabine El Gemayel, has screened in competition at the AFI Film Festival in Los Angeles, the Montreal World Film Festival, the Noor Film Festival, and the Dubai International Film Festival. www.niloofar-lefilm.com. Scenes from “Niloofar” were workshopped in the Lab.
Lab actor Rachel Kerbs starred in “Splinter,” in theaters during 2008.
Lab director Shelli Ryan’s film “Jake’s Closet” had its World Premiere screening in the Dances with Films Film Festival, and is now available on DVD. www.jakesclosetmovie.com/DVD_Sales.html
Lab director John Glenn has completed his film “The Lazarus Project,” starring Paul Walker, and the film is now available on DVD. Scenes from “The Lazarus Project” were workshopped in the Lab. John is a screenwriter on “Eagle Eye” (director D.J. Caruso, starring Shia LeBeouf and Billy Bob Thornton) and upcoming “Clash of the Titans.”
“The Forgotten Ones,” directed by Lab director Jorg Ihle and produced by Lab director Joel Sadilek, has been released in DVD.
“King of California,” written and directed by Lab director Mike Cahill, and starring Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood, had a theatrical release in LA movie theaters. Scenes from “King of California” were workshopped in the Lab.
Lab actor Luz Beato stars in “Something is Killing Tate” which played at the Pan African Film Festival and the Hollywood Black Film Festival.
Lab actor Rachel Stander plays the lead in “People Like Us,” now completed.
Lab director Deborah Brock has completed shooting as director of “The Adventures of the Dunderheads,” starring Olympia Dukakis and Haley Joel Osment.
"All Ages Night," written and directed by Lab director Nancy Montuori Stein, is in post-production. The trailer is posted at www.myspace.com/allagesnight
Lab director Mike Mayer’s “Graduation” received theatrical release by Magnolia Pictures and is available on DVD.
“Night Train,” written and directed by Lab director Brian King and starring Danny Glover, Steve Zahn and Leelee Sobieski, has been released in DVD. Scenes from “Night Train” were workshopped in the Lab.
“Suburban Girl,” written and directed by Lab director Marc Klein, starring Alec Baldwin and Sarah Michelle Gellar, was screened at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, and is now available on DVD. Scenes from “Suburban Girl” were workshopped in the Lab. “A Good Year,” written by Marc and directed by Ridley Scott, had a 2006 theatrical release.
“The Neighbor,” written and directed by Lab director Eddie O'Flaherty, and featuring Lab actor Chip Sickler, has been released in DVD. Scenes from “The Neighbor” were workshopped in the Lab.
“Soldier of God,” the feature debut of Lab director W.D. Hogan, opened theatrically in LA and NY, and is available on DVD.
Lab actor Kathryn Hansen has the female lead in a thriller, "Passed the Door of Darkness," released in 2008.
“My Date with Drew,” co-directed by Lab director Jon Gunn, had a theatrical release in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago and Dallas, and shows on Showtime channels.
“Razortooth,” starring Kat Lague, is now available on DVD.
VIDEOS AND WEB SCREENINGS
Lab director Mathew Cullen won a Grammy for Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow,” in the category Best Short-form Music Video. Last year Mathew won the Best Short-form Music Video Award for Weezer's "Pork and Beans."
Lab actor Jeremiah Ocanas has launched a webseries. “No Kids. No Cry.” www.youtube.com/nokidsnocry
“Rockville, CA,” produced by WB, episodes directed by Lab director Norman Buckley. The trailer can be viewed at http://thewb.com/shows/rockville-ca/
Lab director Allison Beda’s music video, with Canadian recording artist Adrienne Pierce for her song “Museum,” has been picked up by MTV in the US.
Lab director Samuel Albis’ short documentary for the Make a Wish Foundation can be seen at www.youtube.com/watch?v=drs1bGKQKxo
Lab director Mike Dow is executive producing “I <3 Vampires” through Disney’s Take 180. Lab actors Sean Foley, Ruthie Frank, and John Hoskins have appeared in Take 180 productions. http://www.take180.com/show/I_Heart_Vampires/h1a
Lab director Craig Oullette has five new films up at www.TrespassingOnTheLot.com.
“Tyranny,” co-written and directed by Lab actor/director John Beck, is in post-production, and has been launched as a webisodic series. The cast includes Lab actors Kieren Van Den Blink, Bitsie Tulloch, Mikael Forsberg, Rachel Toles and John Beck www.tyrannymovie.com. The trailer can be found at www.youtube.com There is an article about “Tyranny” actor Olga Kurylenko who also stars in Quantum of Solace, at http://news.tubefilter.tv/2008/10/28/tyranny-trailer-brings-bond-girl-glamour/
Lab actor Chip Sickler appears in a web-series with Scott Foley, another former student at the studio, called "Who Cut The Cake." http://blip.tv/file/1316700
Lab director Jay Torres produced and directed a web series "The Lost Archives of Quincy Taylor" for Myspace Tv and RDF. http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=51749600
Lab actor Dono Knowlton’s T-Mobile commercial can be viewed on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muRMsfrbc10
Lab actor Morgan Vukovic appears in "NPR DANCERS," a UCB original video with sketch group Mountain Man Academy. http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/3019
SHORTS
Lab director Vance Malone directed “The Poodle Trainer,” selected to screen at Sundance in the category of U.S. Documentary Short. The 70 short films to be screened were selected from over 6,000 submissions.
Lab director Brian Krinsky has been invited to participate in the 2010 Film Independent's Directors Lab with the feature version of his short “Dish.”
Lab director Steph Green was nominated for a 2009 Academy Award in the category of Live Action Short.
The Two Lights Cinema Randomly Scheduled, More-or-Less Ongoing Festival of Shorts and Features! Since 2004 we’ve been screening shorts that have directors or actors (or both!) from our Studio. For descriptions of previous programs go to the Two Lights Cinema link of the Special Events page. On March 4th we screened this program:
"The Sirens" directed by Sarah Adina Smith with Christine McGraw and Liz Laird
"Kate Wakes" directed by Jasmine Kosovic
"Side Effects" directed by Liz Adams
"The Moment" directed by Insung Hwang
"Life Death Etc." directed by Deja Prem
"Il Destino" directed by Fanny Veliz
"The Staircase" directed by Hanna Andersson
"Swan Lake In America" directed by David Jackson Willis
Lab director Josh Soskin directed "Love Stinks," featuring Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello, played as part of the New Filmmakers LA Film Festival at the Gower Studios on Sunset in Hollywood.
Lab director Patrick Massett wrote and directed “The Seer,” featuring Lab actors Marybeth Massett and Boo Arnold.
Lab director Masami Kawai has cast Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello as one of her leads in her short film.
Lab director Jane Selle Morgan has been invited to present her short film “Nov. 13” for fundraising on the microdonation site Kickstarter.com. To contribute, go to www.kickstarter.com/projects/morgan/november-1st-a-short-film-help-the-morgans-mak
Lab director Sarah Adina Smith’s short film "The Sirens" screened at Zero Film Festival at the Downtown Independent theater. After the screening, The Chapin Sisters performed on the roof-top. www.friendofafriend.la/TheSirens
Lab director Dominika Waclawiak’s short “Gosia’s Witch” was shown in May at the Red Carpet Showcase for the AFI Directing Workshop for Women. The 2007 AFI Directing Workshop for Women included Lab director Jasmine Kosovic, whose film “Kate Wakes” is now available. The 2006 AFI Directing Workshop for Women included Lab director Tanisha White and Lab director Michelle Steffes, whose film “Driftwood” featured Lab actor Adam Van Conant. Lab director Camille Cellucci’s film “Grace,” which she made through the 2005 AFI Directing Workshop for Women, was selected to be part of Method Fest.
In addition to her AFI DWW short, Lab director Jasmine Kosovic has completed EASTER SUNDAY, which stars Jennifer Jason Leigh.
Lab director Allison Beda’s short “30-Love” had its premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival and will screen at the Vancouver Women In Film Festival. Allison’s short “Just A Minute” will or has had screenings at the New Beijing International Movie Week, the Victoria Film Festival , the St. John’s Womens International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival.
Lab director Rene Cruz has completed and screened “Open Door,” which featured Lab actor Cynthia Boorujy.
“Piece of Cake,” written and directed by Lab actor Cynthia Boorujy, was selected to compete in the Reel 13 Shorts competition, and has screened at numerous festivals including the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006.
Lab director Carolyn McDonald completed her short P.N.O.K. The cast included Lab actor Kathryn Avery-Hansen.
Lab director Nancy Montuori Stein's “Stealing Innocence” is available at ITunes
TELEVISION
A number of directors have directed television episodics since they took part in the Lab –
Michael Ruscio (True Blood)
Norman Buckley (Gossip Girl, Melrose Place, 90210, Chuck, Make It or Break It, Privileged, Greek, Middleman, The O.C.)
Jay Torres (Life, Desperate Housewives)
Carlos Avila (Cold Case, Foto-Novelas 2)
Lev L. Spiro (Everybody Hates Chris, Minutemen, Weeds, Ugly Betty)
Fred Toye (Fringe, Lost, Brothers and Sisters, Ghost Whisperer, The 4400, Moonlight, Chuck, Sarah Connor Chronicals, Invasion, Alias)
Karen Gaviola (Private Practice, Castle, Dark Blue, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, Brothers and Sisters, Frozen, Without a Trace, Journeyman, Cane, The Unit, Lost, Law and Order, Bones, Prison Break, Justice, Alias, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, Cold Case)
Robert McNeill (Chuck, Samantha Who?, The Nine, Las Vegas, What About Brian, Desperate Housewives, Medium, Supernatural, Everwood)
Brad Tanenbaum (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation)
Hanelle Culpepper (Guilty or Innocent?)
Peggy Rajski (ER)
Babu Subramaniam (ER, The Division, Strong Medicine, One Tree Hill)
Leslie Kolins Small (Roommates, What I Like About You, Abby, Reba, Girlfriends, Titus)
Tom Moore (Judging Amy)
A number of Lab actors have appeared recently in television series:
Boo Arnold (CSI New York, Nip/Tuck, 24, Criminal Minds, Southland, Monk)
Kate del Castillo (Weeds – regular, The Cleaner)
Netta Most (Criminal Minds)
Jessica Lancaster (The Forgotten)
Blake Reed (Days of Our Lives)
Jennifer Cortese (Criminal Minds)
Chip Sickler (Brothers and Sisters, Lie to Me)
Kevin Cotteleer (Criminal Minds)
Melissa Strom (Desperate Housewives)
Gwendolyn Oliver (Prison Break)
Bitsie Tulloch (House M.D., Quarterlife, Lost, Cold Case)
Gregory Vahanian (Hawthorne, Entourage, Young and the Restless)
Starletta Dupois (Lost, Cold Case)
Debbie Campbell (House, Ghost Whisperer, Castle, Chuck, Young and the Restless)
Lilly McDowell (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Noah Harpster (Community, Dollhouse, Eastwick, Big Love, CSI)
Anne Dudek (House M.D., Mad Men, Big Love, Numb3rs, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, Invasion, Desperate Housewives, Less Than Perfect, Charmed)
Johanna Watts (Star Trek Enterprise, CSI: Miami, and the “Cold Case” episode directed by Karen Gaviola)
Kieren Van Den Blink (Wolverine & the X-Men, Numb3rs)
Greg Wayne (Veronica Mars)
Patrick Pitts (Close To Home)
Morgan Vukovic (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia)
Johnnie Phillips (Mental, Pushing Daisies, Bones, Boston Legal, Numb3rs, Las Vegas)
Ryan Bathe (Bones, Medium, Boston Legal, Brothers and Sisters, How I Met Your Mother)
Steven Lee Allen (ER, Lost, CSI, The Practice)
Wayne Pere (Life, Ghost Whisperer, Numb3rs, Blind Justice, Eyes)
Robert DiTillio (General Hospital)
Caroline Bielskis (Two and a Half Men, Criminal Minds – an episode directed by Lab director Karen Gaviola; Days of our Lives, Passions)
Ivo Nandi (CSI, Weeds, Monk, Without a Trace, Alias, E-ring)
Marc Casabani (CSI: NY, Lost, E-ring)
William August (My Big Fat Obnoxious Boss)
Chris Backus (Will and Grace, The O.C.)
Kathryn Avery-Hansen (Untold Stories from the ER)
Olivia Hack (Avatar: The Last Airbender, Bratz, Cold Case, Family Guy, Gilmore Girls)
Sean Foley (Boomtown, Monk)
Alyson Lyon (Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Amanda Sickler (Charmed)
Sonya Maddox (In Treatment, Malcolm in the Middle)
Lab actors with commercials running (that we know of): Jeff Elam, Blake Reed, Cynthia Boorujy, Alexandra Nowak, Netta Most, Atim Udoffia, Tim Ryan, Gwendolyn Oliver, Jessica Lancaster, Sandy Shimoda, Gregory Vahanian, Debbie Campbell, Patrick Pitts, Dono Knowlton, Kevin Cotteleer, Andrew Patrick Ralston, Chip Sickler, Jared Santinelli, Ruthie Frank, Johanna Watts, Joel King, Kathleen Lague, Sonya Maddox.
Lab director Colleen Mcguinness is a writer this season on “Mercy.”
Lab director Lev L. Spiro directed the film "Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie" which aired on Disney Channel. For the trailer, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3by0q9y23A
Lab director Max Adams is working for Martin Scorsese on production of “Boardwalk Empire.”
Lab director Rene Cruz was honored with a 2009 NAPTE Next TV Festival for Branded Entertainment, for a film from his Lexus series.
Lab director Kamran Pasha is writer-producer on the NBC series “Kings.” “Sleeper Cell,” for which he was a writer, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award and for an Emmy in the category Best Mini-Series.
Lab actor Michelle Gillette appeared in “Labor Pains,” on the ABC Family Channel.
Lab actor Chip Sickler appeared in “A Gunfighter’s Pledge,” airing on the Hallmark Channel.
Lab director Eric Lee Wright’s TV show “Deer Camp” is showing on Direct TV on the Maximum Adventure Network.
Lab actor Anne Dudek was nominated for a SAG award as a member of the ensemble of “Mad Men,” which won the Golden Globe award for best drama.
Lab director Karen Gaviola was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for directing an episode of “Lost.”
THEATER
Lab actor Tobias Jelinek is appearing in “Point Break Live!” at The Dragonfly. http://www.myspace.com/pointbreaklive
Lab director Ben Rock directed “Baal,” by Bertolt Brecht, now playing at the Sacred Fools Theater. Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello appears as Ekart, the second lead.
Lab director Lou Pepe directed “Orpheus Descending” by Tennessee Williams at Theatre/Theater www.brownpapertickets.com/
Lab actor Starletta Dupois is in London performing in “Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry. Starletta has now played all the female roles in that play!
Lab actor Jerry Katell is opening in a new play at the Write Act Repertory Theater www.writeactrep.org
Lab actor Wilson Green producing and starring in “Barbra’s Wedding” at The Blank’s 2nd Stage Theatre www.barbraswedding.com
Lab director Jocelyn Jansons directed a benefit reading of Eve Ensler’s newest work, “I Am An Emotional Creature: The Secret Life Of Girls Around The World,” in Santa Fe.
Lab director Terri Hanauer directed "La Ronde de Lunch" at The Skylight Theater.
Lab actor Jennifer Cortese performs in Girlz Gone Comedy at the M Bar Hollywood www.girlzgonecomedy.com
At the October MIX TAPE Festival of Original One Acts, Lab director Mandi Riggi directed “Willoughby.” Lab actor Kieren van den Blink produced, and also wrote and directed one of the plays, and appeared in another. Lab actor Lulu Brud was also a producer and performer. The Elephant Space Theatre. www.plays411.com/mixtape
Lab actor Jeremiah Ocanas appears regularly at Casa 101. www.casa0101.org
Lab actor Damien Burke performed this summer at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum.
Lab actor Jessica Jolly is performing stand-up at Pig N Whistle, Spotlight Comedy Club, and Hollywood Improv.
OTHER NEWS
Lab director Jim Whitaker is the director of “Project Rebirth,” a chronicle of the aftermath of September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center. Lab actor Jennifer Cortese will be a viral marketing spokesperson for Project Rebirth. www.projectrebirth.org/
“Mother of the Believers,” a novel by Lab director Kamran Pasha, has been published by Washington Square Press.