The Writers/Directors/Actors

Writer/Director Kasi Brown (playing “ABBY”) graduated from the University of Kansas with a BA in theater and film. She produced and starred in A Woman Reported which played at Sundance in 2004. She then went on to perform with the Upright Citizen’s Brigade trained Improv team “Roger”. Some of her acting credits include American Crime Story, recurring character “Paramedic Sue” on Miami Medical (CBS) and co-starring on television shows ER and Monk. Kasi has written several feature films. See more of Kasi at Kasi’s Actors Access Page and here.

 

Writer/Director Brandon Walter(playing “ELIOTT”) graduated from Indiana University and went on to produce his own films including the documentary, Ray Dell Tubbs Gets Famous, chronicling a homeless man’s journey home and short films, Kalu Kala, Girlfriend, 2% and Better Unsaid which premiered at the Florida Film Festival. He also graduated from The Sanford Meisner Center’s two year acting program and trained in improv at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade. He starred opposite Jim Carey in “Yes Man” and can be seen nationally in commercials. He’s written several feature films. For more of Brandon’s shizzle check out Kalu Kala Films and Brandon Walter.

 

The Producers

Adriane Zaudke grew up in Kansas among tornados, yellow brick roads, and endlessly open skies. Fascinated with the human story, she studied Anthropology at the University of New Mexico.  There she realized her penchant for creative story telling and moved to California to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Motion Picture from Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. From there she moved to LA where she worked at a talent agency and got into feature development at Lionsgate for the following two years, leaving to become a Creative Executive at a development company where she adapted books into screenplays from esteemed authors such as Paulo Coelho and Chris Buckley. With five years of story development under her belt, she left that side of the industry to get her hands dirty in production and has since produced several shorts, commercials, music videos and a couple of feature films. Drawing from over ten years of experience in content creation she enjoys partnerships with excellent storytellers creating socially responsive, culturally relevant, and technologically appropriate media to offer the world not only great stories but innovation as well.

Rebecca Hu hails from Toronto, Canada and graduated with honors from the University of Toronto with a triple major in Cinema Studies, English Literature and Psychology.  In 2005, Rebecca Hu was the proud recipient of the prestigious Diversity in Broadcasting Award presented by WIFT – T (Women In Film & Telelvision – Toronto).  After 8 years and close to 100 productions later, she established her own production company Kungfu-Barbie Productions with the core mission of creating “kickass” films from a female’s perspective while also working to broaden opportunities for minorities and the under-represented.  Past producing credits include the independent feature films “1,001 Ways to Enjoy the Missionary Position,”“Pretty Rosebud” and “Mufin Top: A Love Story,” as well as the feature length documentary “I Heart Hollywood,” TV shows “Red Bull’s Rock the Route” and “Digg into Books.”

 

Co-Producer

Kim Sherrell is a filmmaker and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles, California. A West Coast native, she earned her master’s degree in Arts & Letters from Southern Oregon University and is a frequent lecturer on film production and digital media. Her credits include Darwin, directed by Carrie Preston, Abstraction feature film starring Eric Roberts, Hunter Ives, and Korinna Rico, and Staff Room (Comedy Central UK), starring Ryan McDermott and Coronation Street’s Brian Capron. Ms. Sherrell is a producer at Soho.

 

The Cinematographer

Garrett O’Brien grew up in Maryland, where he would go on to receive his undergraduate degree at Mount St. Mary’s University. After filming professional
snowboarders for a documentary, he later found his calling in narrative filmmaking as a cinematographer. While obtaining his master’s degree in film from American University in Washington, D.C he shot several award winning short films such as, “Waiting on a Train”, “Fractured Legacy” and “Constant”. Those films are responsible for premiering at local and foreign festivals, also winning ‘Best of Local short’ for DC Shorts Films Festival, winning Lucerne International Film Festival and even receiving distribution. One of Garrett’s proudest moments was when he was chosen to work with Lucas Film at Skywalker ranch to test cameras for their feature film “Red Tails” amongst other future projects. Over his years of experience Garrett has come to find a common thread in his cinematography; when we’re able to pursue the film’s inherent visual language, then it becomes possible to invoke pathos within our audience. For more of Garrett’s work check out his site at Garrett O’Brien Visuals.

The Score

With a degree in Biology and years of experience in cancer research, it may be a head-scratcher that Thomas Vincent is scoring movies.  However, since he started a band writing original music with his friends at the age of 10, his passion has always been in music.  Also hailing from the indie-rock world with his band The Sea of Cortez and Drosha. Thomas has dabbled in composing for film/TV, but Gone Doggy Gone is his first feature score. Check out his website.

 

 

 

The Cast

Littles the Teacup Terrier (playing “Laila”) was born to Baxter Blu and J’s my Teddy Bear in Hays Kansas on December 23rd. She comes from a long line of oddly named purebreeds like Kala’s Victor Plum, Boyle’s Wee Willey, Zerger’s Bingo Toy, and Freeman’s Rowdy Rastus. Sorry it just get’s worse and worse, so no more. (Curious dog lovers see Laila’s pedigree). She is super smart considering the size of her head and will work for food mainly…oh and occasionally love…when she feels like it. She’s a terrier after all. And a super, bitch-diva on set.

Shaina Vorspan (playing “JILL”) was born and raised in Suburbia, California, and turned to amateur filmmaking and performing as a way to keep busy and an outlet for her creativity. From piano to dance to original soap operas, the fun never stopped in Woodland Hills. She earned her B.A. in theatre from the University of California, San Diego where she performed in and helped produce a number of productions. Back in L.A., she continued her love of theatre by becoming an active member of the Knightsbridge Theatre in Silverlake. There, she co- produced and co-starred in Twenty-Two, an original play by Julia Morizawa, along with performing in dozens of shows and co- starring in the award-winning film Redemption, by Knightsbridge Entertainment.  Although she is primarily focused on acting, Shaina partakes in many facets of filmmaking, including writing and editing.  JesusCat (or How I Accidentally Joined a Cult), is an improv based mockumentary, and another co-creation with Julia Morizawa.

 

Kate Connor (playing “KAT”) has starred in films in Europe, Africa and the U.S., most recently with Eric Stoltz in the upcoming “Fort McCoy” which they also produced and she wrote/co-directed, based on a true story when her mother’s family lived next to a Nazi POW camp in Wisconsin during W.W.II.  Kate won Best Actress at the Milan film festival and the film has won numerous Best Feature awards around the world.  Some of Kate’s television work includes roles on “Mad Men,” “Criminal Minds,” “Lost,” “Brothers & Sisters,” “Heroes,” “Without a Trace,” “Inconceivable” and “Life” with Damian Lewis, as well as improv and sketch comedy on “Punk’d,” “Frank TV,” “Mind of Mencia,” “Lovespring International,” “The Jamie Kennedy Experiment, “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”  She has also done numerous pilots including “Frank” based on the hit talk show she co-hosted. See more of Kate at Kate Connor.

 

Richard Riehle (playing “STAN”) has acquitted himself as one of the best, and busiest, character players on TV and film; probably best known for “Office Space” and “Glory”. Richard has had extensive experience as a stage actor on broadway.  One of his major triumphs in the theatre has been alongside Kevin Spacey in the acclaimed 1999 revival of O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh”, in which he played the drunken, corrupt ex-cop Pat McGloin . See more of Richard at Richard Riehle.

 

 Marsha Waterbury (playing “RUTH”) is in Patrick Wang’s Independent Spirit Award nominated ‘In The Family’ out now on dvd and Netflix. TV has seen her on Smash (first season), recurring roles on Days of Our Lives, and One Life to Live, the network tv pilot Sawdust, the film Prime.  She has 7 Broadway shows to her credit, playing or standing in for leading roles in the original companies of Fiddler on the Roof (latest revival), Mamma Mia, Jake’s Women, and Smile.  She also starred on B’way in They’re Playing Our Song. She’s played opposite the likes of Alfred Molina, Alan Alda and Victor Garber. She starred as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors in NY and Tokyo and has travelled the country extensively playing leading roles in Steel Magnolias, The Heidi Chronicles, Annie, Lend Me a Tenor, Footloose, Nunsense, Unnecessary Farce and Menopause the Musical among many,many others. See more of Marsha at Marsha Waterbury.

 

 Jeff Sloniker (playing “DAN”) is a hilarious writer/performer who can be seen improvising with Cabbages and Kings as part of Upright Citizen’s Brigade’s weekly Harold night. He has also appeared in the shows: The Back Room, Beer Machine, The Flying Medicine show , and Great Adventure. He has a recurring role on “Parks & Recreation” and has appeared on “Key and Peele”. See more of Jeff at Jeff Sloniker.

 

 

Lizzie Peet (playing “ZELDA”)
Growing up in McLean, Virginia, Lizzie has been acting on stage, screen, and television since the age of 5.  After graduating from Tulane University, she appeared in over a dozen plays off-Broadway before venturing west.  Notable LA theatrical appearances include “The Long Weekend,” directed by Bruce Gray, and “Eve2,” directed by Mark Bringelson, for which she won Outstanding Actress Awards from Stage Screen LA for both.  Her first lead as producer and actress, “Over the Shoulder,” won best short from the Houston International Film Festival.  She most recently appeared in “Cake,” with Jennifer Aniston.

 

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