KUDOS FOR ACTOR-DIRECTOR LAB PARTICIPANTS (updated 1/2/12) 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 Lab actors Bitsie Tulloch and Adria Tennor play lovely roles in “The Artist,” which is winning many awards and nominations. Bitsie also has an independent film called “Caroline & Jackie” which will be released next year. Lab director Ava Duvernay’s film “Middle Of Nowhere,” which she wrote and directed, has been selected for U.S. Dramatic Competition at 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Scenes from “Middle Of Nowhere” were worshopped in the Lab. Ava’s first feature “I Will Follow” screened at the AFI Film Festival. Lab Actor Bobby Naderi stars in “The Taquacores” which premiered at Sundace 2010, and is now available on netflix, Amazon, target, best buy etc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt36AzQ6INU “Daydream Nation,” written and directed by Lab Director Mike Goldbach opened theatrically in Los Angeles and New York, after premiering at the Toronto Film Festival. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDlv4Ooyjas, also http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943667?refcatid=2863 Lab director David Zeiger’s film “Sweet Old World” is completed. Four Lab actors are in principal roles – Julia Rose as Ruth, Gwendolyn Oliver as Cynthia, Jacques Colimon as Ethan, and Eric Peter-Kaiser as Jimmie; plus Lab actors Melissa Strom and Johanna Watts in supporting roles. Scenes from “Sweet Old World” were workshopped in the Lab. http://sweetoldworld.com/ Lab director Steven Sprung directed “Dispatch,” which was an Official Selection for the Hollywood Film Festival 2011 and is now available on DVD http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SDUVEE/ref=tsm_1_fb_lk Lab director Mark Fergus is a co-writer of “Cowboys and Aliens,” which was released this past year. He was a co-writer of “Iron Man” 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. Lab director Gabriela Tagliavini’s film "Without Men" played at the Laemmele Sunset 5, starring Eva Longoria, Christian Slater – and Lab actor Kate del Castillo. A few months ago, she held a reading of the script at Two Lights Studio using our studio actors. Lab actor Pam Paulson appears in "Wigger" which premiered in at the Laemmle Beverly Hills. Lab director Suju Vijayan is in post-production for her film “The Playback Singer.” Lab Actor Gregory Vahanian is featured in "Knuckleheads." http://www.27east.com/news/article.cfm/East-Hampton/378634/Steven-Bauer-Makes-A-Comeback-In-The-Hamptons Lab Director Mark Young’s film “The Least Among You” aired on Showtime. Lab Director Mark Wexler’s documentary feature “How to Live Forever” opened in New York and Los Angeles in May and is rolling out across the country. Lab actor Nick Eldredge was a voice-over artist on the project. “The Adjustment Bureau” opened in U.S. theaters, written and directed by Lab director George Nolfi, starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt. Scenes from “The Adjustment Bureau were workshopped in the Lab. “Tron Legacy,” directed by Lab director Joseph Kosinski, was in release this past year. Lab director Shana Feste’s second film “Country Strong,” was in release this past year. It stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Tim McGraw, Garrett Hedlund, and Leighton Meester; scenes from “Love Don’t Let Me Down” were workshopped in the Lab. Her first film was “The Greatest,” with Susan Sarandon, Pierce Brosnan – and Lab actor Cynthia Boorujy. It 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.” Scenes from “The Greatest” were also workshopped in the Lab. Lab director Jim Whitaker’s “Rebirth” screened as a Documentary Premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. http://www.projectrebirth.org/ Lab director Rachel Fleischer’s film “Without a Home” is available on DVD (www.withoutahomefilm.com). Lab Actor Samueli Vauramo appeared in “The American,” starring George Clooney. Lab director and actor Antonio Macia is the screenwriter of “Holy Rollers,” which received a Gotham Awards nomination. “Holy Rollers” screened in Dramatic Competition at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, and stars Jesse Eisenberg, and had a theatrical release this summer. “Like Dandelion Dust,” directed by Lab director Jon Gunn and featuring Mira Sorvino and Barry Pepper, had a theatrical release, after its World Premiere at the Palm Springs Film Festival, winning 23 awards from over a dozen festivals. http://www.likedandeliondust.com/ Lab director Deborah Brock’s feature film, “Montana Amazon,” with Olympia Dukakis, Haley Joel Osment, and Alison Brie won Best Feature film at the Big Apple Film Festival at Tribeca Center in NYC and two acting awards for Olympia and Alison. “Pope Joan,” featuring Lab actor Sandro Lohmann, screened at the Los Angeles Goethe Film Festival, and on Reelz TV. “A New York Heartbeat,” written and directed by Lab director Tjardus Greidanus, is in post-production. Lab director Hugh Aodh O’Brien was stunt coordinator. “The Dry Land,” written and directed by Lab director Ryan Piers Williams, had a theatrical release in July, after screening 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 Karen Steele appears as “Maria” in “Death and Cremation” which premiered at 20th Century Fox Studios. 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 actor Jeremiah Ocanas stars in “Ghostown: Drive By Chronicles,” which is now available on DVD. “Ghostown” won best feature at the Reel Rasquache Festival. Trailer at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVd9THxc_kM “The Joneses,” written and directed by Lab director Derrick Borte, starring David Duchovny, Demi Moore, and Ben Hollingsworth, screened at the Arclight in Los Angeles in April, after its premiere at the 2009 Toronto Film Festival. 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, and has won awards at the Sedona Int'l Film Festival, the Durango Independent Film Festival, Method Fest, and Cine Gear Expo. Most recently Stephanie and Alec and Donal went to Scotland for the international premiere of “The Red Machine” at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. “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 Lab actor James Pitt appears as the Shuttle Pilot, in James Cameron's “Avatar.” “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. “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. VIDEOS AND WEB SCREENINGS A first look at “H+,” the forthcoming Warner Premiere/Dolphin Ent. digital series, produced by Bryan Singer. The cast includes Lab actors: Caitriona Balfe, Marjo-Riikka Mäkelä and Samuli Vauramo. http://www.ign.com/videos/2011/07/21/h-sdcc-trailer “No Kids No Cry” was nominated for an Imagen Award – Best Web Series. Written and directed by Lab actor Jeremiah Ocanas, featuring Jeremiah and Lab actors Fanny Veliz and Jessica Lancaster and Lab director Owen Dara.www.youtube.com/nokidsnocry. Lab director Valerie Edwards’ short “The Shopping Cart (and The Brujo),” is playing on YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqIkuNcCm9U. Lab director David Hogan’s comedy shorts "Let Lorenzo" starring Lorenzo Lamas and Buzz Aldrin, have posted on Funny or Die. http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/3dd3a31687/let-lorenzo-part-one Link to radio play “The Conformation,” directed by Lab director Paul Solet, featuring Lab actors Jay Lewis, Will Boddington, Tajana Prka, Jeff Elam, Jeremiah Ocañas, Steven Lee Allen, Netta Most. http://www.glasseyepix.com/html/beyondthepale/ “Tyranny,” the creation of Lab actor/director John Beck, is now live, at http://www.koldcast.tv/#/show:tyranny. Season One launched early March, and it is streaming new episodes every Thursday. The cast includes Lab actors Kieren Van Den Blink, Bitsie Tulloch, John Burton, Jr., Jay Lewis, Kurt Hargan, and John Beck. www.tyrannymovie.com. Blog at http://www.tyranny.tv. Web series The Best Friend has launched, co-produced and starring Lab actor Allie Smith, with episodes directed by Lab director Tarique Qayumi. The pilot was directed by Lab director Dani De Carlo. http://www.thebestfriend.tv New episodes will continue to be released through November. You can watch those here: http://www.koldcast.tv/show/the_best_friend. 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 director Josh Soskin directed Earth Day-inspired web series "Greenman," which stars Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello in the title role. Lab actor/director Gabe Cullen directed a commercial for taxslayer.com video contest. It features Lab actor Jenna Macari. 30 Sec Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGd095IXu2I 15 Sec Version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkhOX9weK9k Lab director Rene Cruz’s award winning "Parts Art" web series for Lexus was nominated for a "Streamy" Award (the equivalent of an Academy Award for Internet Series) in the Branded Entertainment Series category. “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, and screened at the Dances With Films Festival. 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. 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 Holle Singer’s short “Bang” is a finalist in competition for best short of The Woodstock Film Festival Lab director. “Bang” was made for the Electric Shorts Film Competition http://www.electricshorts.com/vote/bang_hollesinger.php Lab director Daniela De Carlo co-directed “Qualquer Gato Vira-Lata (Any Stray Cat)” which screened at UCLA. Lab director Beth Dewey’s "The Agency" screened at the American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theater as part of the "Locals" shorts program. Lab director Anna Mastro’s “Bench Seat: A Musical” premiered at the LA Shorts Fest. Lab director Brenda Lau’s “Deadbeat” has been screening at festivals in Dallas, Park City, Las Vegas. Lab director Michelle Steffes was presented with the Academy Qualifying Award for Fiction at the USA Film Festival Short Film Competition, for her film, “The Interview” (which had been workshopped in the Lab). Lab Director Bill Totolo’s short film “Deep Cover” will screen at Cannes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAEk-VqBs-k Lab actor Julie Gawkowski’s documentary short film "Obligation to Endure" was an official selection of the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. Lab director Vance Malone directed “The Poodle Trainer,” which screened at 2010 Sundance in the category of U.S. Documentary Short. The 70 short films 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.” The category of Best Live Action Short at the 2009 Academy Awards included two Lab directors – Steph Green, for “New Boy” and Reto Cafi for “Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” 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 May 3rd we screened this program: "Kiddo" directed by Michael Callahan "The Big Deal" directed by Lucy Rodriguez-Hanley "Supermarket Superhero" directed by Jake Viramontez and featuring Jenna Macari "The Farm" directed by Jon Hill "Death In Charge" directed by Devi Snively "Eye Lift" directed by Roy Cohen Lab director Jocelyn Jansons’ short film “Baby Monitor” screened at Albuquerque Film Festival www.abqfilmfestival.com Lab director Josh Soskin directed "Love Stinks," featuring Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello, which played as part of the New Filmmakers LA Film Festival at the Gower Studios on Sunset in Hollywood, is now on-line in a special web version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUQaLZQst1s Lab director Patrick Massett wrote and directed “The Seer,” featuring Lab actors Marybeth Massett and Boo Arnold. 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 The 2009 AFI Directing Workshop for Women included Lab directors Dominika Waclawiak (“Gosia’s Witch”) and Alexa-Sascha Lewin (“The Honeysting”). The 2007 AFI DWW included Lab director Jasmine Kosovic, whose film “Kate Wakes” (workshopped in the Lab) is now available. The 2006 AFI DWW 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. TELEVISION Lab director Colleen McGuinness is now a writer on “30 Rock.” Lab director Jessica Sharzer is Supervising Producer and staff writer on “American Horror Story.” Lab actor Bitsie Tulloch is a regular on “Grimm” and appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.” Lab director Hanelle Culpepper’s latest feature, “Deadly Sibling Rivalry,” played on Lifetime, following her first feature film, “Within,” which also premiered on Lifetime. Lab director Lorena David exec produced new TV show "My Ride Rules" which premiered with back-to-back episodes on Speed Channel. http://www.speedtv.com/programs/my-ride-rules Lab director M.F. McDowell’s pilot, “La Fontaine,” won Best Drama at the Banff World Media Festival, and was officially selected to screen at the ITV Fest in Los Angeles. http://itvfest.org/video.php?v=202 Lab director David Hogan directed “Behemoth,” shown on the SyFy channel. “Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie,” directed by Lab director Lev L. Spiro won the Emmy Award for Best Children’s Program. The latest documentary from Lab director Ava DuVernay, “My Mic Sounds Nice,” chronicling the art and issues of women hip hop artists, premiered on BET. Lab actor Anne Dudek is a regular on “Covert Affairs.” Lab director Tom Curran’s documentary “The Silence” was broadcast on Frontline. www.pbs.org/frontline/the-silence A number of directors have directed television episodics since they took part in the Lab – Tara Nicole Weyr (Desperate Housewives) Michael Ruscio (True Blood) Norman Buckley (Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Melrose Place, 90210, Chuck, Make It or Break It, Privileged, Greek, Middleman, The O.C.) Steven Sprung (Community) Brian Krinsky (Undercover Boss) 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 (Alphas, Blue Bloods, Off the Map, Chase, NCIS:LA, Miami Medical, 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: Michelle Gillette (Weeds, The Office, Criminal Minds) Annie Dudek (Covert Affairs, House M.D., Mad Men, Big Love, Numb3rs, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, Invasion, Desperate Housewives, Less Than Perfect, Charmed) Boo Arnold (Justified, CSI New York, Nip/Tuck, 24, Criminal Minds, Southland, Monk) Slem Richardson (Detroit 1-8-7) Melissa Strom (Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Desperate Housewives) Kate del Castillo (Weeds – regular, The Cleaner) Phil Kaufman (Harry’s Law) Julia Rose (House) Netta Most (Criminal Minds) Jessica Lancaster (The Forgotten) Blake Reed (Days of Our Lives) Jennifer Cortese (Cougar Town, Criminal Minds) Chip Sickler (Brothers and Sisters, Lie to Me) Kevin Cotteleer (Criminal Minds) Gwendolyn Oliver (Prison Break) Bitsie Tulloch (Outlaw, 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) 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): Melissa Strom, Tobias Jelinek, Irina Costa, Jeff Elam, Ben Weber, 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. THEATER Lab director Ben Rock directs Shakespeare’s “Richard III” at the Sacred Fools Theater. It open January 20 and Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello is featured. Last year Ben directed Bertolt Brecht’s “Baal,” at Sacred Fools Theater, also with Donal in the cast. Lab actor Julia Rose performed in a staged reading of "Cries from the Heart," for a benefit for Human Rights Watch in Santa Monica. Also in the cast were Annette Bening, Julian Sands, Greg Germann, and Vincent Kartheiser. http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/04/18/cries-from-the-heart-a-star-studded-benefit-for-human-rights-watch Lab actor Tyler Pierce played Hap in “Death of a Salesman” at San Diego’s Old Globe. Lab actor Jessica Jolly appeared in "The Writer Speaks." Crown City Theatre. Lab actor Anastasia Roussel appeared in “Bullshot Crummond: The Invisible Bride of Death” at the Whitmore-Lindley Theatre Center. www.BullshotIsBack.com Lab actor Tobias Jelinek appeared in “Drunk Talk” at The Dragonfly. Lab actor Donal Thoms-Cappello performed in "Game Over" at the Lyric Cafe/Hyperion Theater. Lab actor Starletta Dupois performed in a London production of “Raisin in the Sun” by Lorraine Hansberry. Starletta has now played all the female roles in that play! 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 OTHER NEWS Lab director Mathew Cullen, a co-founder of Motion Theory, has joined forces with Guillermo Del Toro and Guillermo Navarro, to launch Mirada. The new company hopes to be a collaborative space for filmmakers and artists to work with its creative team to explore the possibilities of transmedia and multidisciplinary storytelling—what Del Toro calls "an imaginarium." Lab director Kamran Pasha’s second novel “Shadow of the Swords,” has been published by Washington Square Press. His first novel “Mother of the Believers” was published in 2009. Kamran’s blog is at http://www.kamranpasha.com/blog/ |
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