PLEASE STAND BY (2018) Cast & Crew

Ben Lewin, Dakota Fanning, Toni Collette, Alice Eve, and Patton Oswalt

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(Cast, Crew, Production Notes, Review, Photos, Articles)

ABOUT THE CAST

DAKOTA FANNING (“Wendy”)

Dakota recently completed filming OCEANS EIGHT for director Gary Ross and producers George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh. She is currently in production on a film she will also produce entitled THE BELL JAR. Written and directed by Kirsten Dunst, the film will star Dakota with Jesse Plemons and Patricia Arquette. She will also be seen in series THE ALIENIST for Turner Network Television, and in VIENA AND THE FANTOMES in which she stars opposite Evan Rachel Wood in a story about a roadie who travels across North America with a punk band during the 1980’s.

Her filmography includes: AMERICAN PASTORAL, BRIMSTONE, NIGHT MOVES, I AM SAM, DR. SEUSS’ CAT IN THE HAT, MAN ON FIRE, WAR OF THE WORLDS, UPTOWN GIRLS, DREAMER, CHARLOTTE’S WEB, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, THE RUNAWAYS, CORALINE, and THE TWILIGHT SAGA.

She is the youngest actor to have been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award. She has been nominated for numerous Critics' Choice Awards. Dakota serves as an artist ambassador for Save the Children, advocating for families and children affected by poverty and natural disaster.

TONI COLLETTE (“Scottie”)

Toni made an indelible impression on moviegoers worldwide with her breakout performance as the title character in P.J. Hogan’s MURIEL’S WEDDING which earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination. She also won Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for her portrayal of a woman with multiple personalities on the television series UNITED STATES OF TARA, which ran for three seasons. Toni won an Academy Award nomination for her performance in M. Night Shyamalan’s THE SIXTH SENSE. She subsequently starred in the Oscar nominated LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE for which she received Golden Globe and BAFTA Award nominations for her performance along with a Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.

Toni is currently filming ANDORRA opposite Gillian Anderson and Guy Pearce. She will star later this year in Michael Apted's UNLOCKED opposite Orlando Bloom and John Malkovich; MADAME with Harvey Keitel, and BIRTHMARKED with Matthew Goode. She was recently seen in the thriller IMPERIUM with Daniel Radcliffe, THE YELLOW BIRDS with Jennifer Aniston and in the comedy FUN MOM DINNER. Other movies include VELVET GOLDMINE; CHANGING LANES, ABOUT A BOY (for which she received a BAFTA Award nomination); THE HOURS, JAPANESE STORY for which she won Best Actress honors from the Australian Film Institute and the Film Critics Circle of Australia; IN HER SHOES; TSUNAMI: THE AFTERMATH, for which she received Emmy and Golden Globe Award nominations; TOWELHEAD; MARY AND MAX; MENTAL, HITCHCOCK, THE WAY BACK, LUCKY THEM, ENOUGH SAID, TAMMY, HECTOR, SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS, THE BOXTROLLS, MISS YOU ALREADY and KRAMPUS.

Toni garnered a Tony and Drama Desk Award Nomination, and a Theatre World Award win for her Broadway debut in the musical THE WILD PARTY. She returned to Broadway in THE REALISTIC JONESES and shared the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance. Additional stage credits include productions with the Belvoir Street Theatre and the Sydney Theater Company. She was a student at Australia’s prestigious National Institute.

ALICE EVE (“Audrey”)

Alice Eve is an acclaimed British actress known for her work on and off the screen.

Alice recently starred in CRIMINAL opposite Ryan Reynolds, Kevin Costner, Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee Jones as a CIA operative; and in Lionsgate’s MISCONDUCT opposite Josh Duhamel, Al Pacino and Anthony Hopkins.

Her upcoming films include starring roles in THE STOLEN opposite Jamie Dornan and Lola Kirke; THE BRITS ARE COMING opposite Sofia Vergara and Uma Thurman; the sci-fi thriller REPLICAS opposite Keanu Reeves about a scientist who becomes obsessed with bringing back his family members who died in a traffic accident, and BEES MAKE HONEY.

Other films include BEFORE WE GO, STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS, the Neil Labute-directed SOME VELVET MORNING opposite Stanley Tucci and the psychological drama COLD COMES THE NIGHT with Bryan Cranston for director Tze Chun.

She appeared as the young Emma Thompson in MEN IN BLACK 3 and starred in THE RAVEN, ATM, the British independent film DECOY BRIDE alongside Kelly Macdonald, HBO’s ENTOURAGE, SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE, CROSSING OVER and SEX AND THE CITY 2.

RIVER ALEXANDER (“Sam”)

River made his big screen debut in the highly acclaimed Fox Searchlight feature, THE WAY BACK alongside Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, AnnaSophia Robb and Liam James. The film was written and directed by Oscar winning writers, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. He also appeared in the Francois Girard directed feature THE CHOIR, where he stars alongside Dustin Hoffman, Kathy Bates and Josh Lucas and TEENAGE COCKTAIL.

River started his professional acting career in Theatre, performing in the off Broadway production of BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON, the world premiere of the musical, A CHRISTMAS STORY, and the touring company of BILLY ELLIOT. (and many more)

His other television credits include guest stars on RAKE for Fox, MOB CITY for TNT, SAM & CAT on Nickelodeon, PERSON OF INTEREST on the CW and 2 BROKE GIRLS for CBS.

MICHAEL STAHL-DAVID (“Jack”)

Michael is perhaps best known for his starring role in JJ Abrams' CLOVERFIELD. He starred opposite Woody Harrelson and Jennifer Jason Leigh as “Bobby Kennedy” in Rob Reiner’s bio-pic, LBJ last year; in THE LIGHT OF THE MOON written by Michael Cuomo; in THE PROMISE with Christian Bale and in the critically acclaimed series NARCOS.

Other credits include Joss Whedon’s IN YOUR EYES and the HBO miniseries, SHOW ME A HERO. His TV credits include starring roles on THE BLACK DONNELLYS, MY GENERATION, THE GOOD WIFE, NEW GIRL, PERSON OF INTEREST, and LAW & ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT.

Michael was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Play for Neil Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning, LOST IN YONKERS, and starred in Amanda Peet's COMMONS OF PENSACOLA, opposite Sarah Jessica Parker and Blythe Danner for Manhattan Theatre Club. Other theatre credits include THE OVERWHELMING directed by Max Stafford-Clark for the Roundabout Theatre, and BUZZER directed by Anne Kaufman for the Public Theatre. A native of Chicago, Michel resides in New York.

JESSICA ROTHE (“Julie”)

Jessica Rothe’s role as “Alexis” in the Oscar-nominated LA LA LAND has catapulted her to one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. She is now gearing up to star opposite Josh Whitehouse in the musical adaptation of the 1983 cult classic VALLEY GIRL.

Jessica recently wrapped production on FOREVER MY GIRL in which she stars with Alex Roe and will co-star in the horror film HALF TO DEATH, the story of “Tree” who must relive the same day over and over again until she figures out who is trying to kill her and why.

Jessica recently appeared in a scene stealing supporting role in Gabriele Muccino’s SUMMERTIME and another in Bart Freundlich’s WOLVES, co-starring alongside Michael Shannon. Shortly before, she starred in the independent feature, JUVENILES, alongside Stephen Moyer and Beau Knapp. She also co-starred in THE DISASTER ARTIST, directed by James Franco.

Other credits include LILY & KAT and THE PREPPIE CONNECTION; a post-apocalyptic thriller, ALL IS VANITY; and a coming of age drama, TRUST FUND. Rothe has also made guest appearances on CBS’s Emmy nominated series BLUE BLOODS and the CW’s hit show, GOSSIP GIRL. She is also recurred on the popular web series NEXT TIME ON LONNY, as well as the hit web series HIGH MAINTENANCE, which was recently sold to HBO.

MARLA GIBBS (“Rose”)

Marla Gibbs is a five-time Emmy-nominated actress, known for her memorable portrayal of the maid, Florence, on the CBS hit comedy, THE JEFFERSONS and on the NBC series, 227.

Marla is an eight-time NAACP Image Award winner, and has received numerous prestigious honors over the years, including Essence Magazine’s Woman of the Year.

She studied acting at PASLA (Performing Arts Society of Los Angeles), the Mafundi Institute and Watts Writers Workshop. Marla appeared in MEDEA, THE AMEN CORNER and THE GINGERBREAD LADY, before landing her first film role in BLACK BELT JONES.

Marla’s voice has been heard on the animated TV series, 101 DALMATIANS. She appeared on shows including THE FIRST FAMILY, ER, COLD CASE and KING OF QUEENS with recurring roles on PASSIONS, THE HUGHLEYS, THE VISIT, LILY IN WINTER and STANLEY’S GIG for which she won her critical notice.

Marla sang and co-wrote the theme song to the sitcom, 227, and CHECKING IN and in 2006, she released her own CD, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE.

JACOB WYSOCKI (“Male Nurse”)

Wysocki landed his first professional acting job with a recurring role on the ABC Family series HUGE. He followed this up with a critically acclaimed turn in the 2011 Sundance standout TERRI, starring in the title role opposite John C. Reilly. Jacob received a Gotham Award nomination for Breakthrough Actor for TERRI and was highlighted by The Huffington Post as one of 2011’s Fresh Faces in Movies.

Jacob next starred in Matthew Lillard’s directorial debut FAT KID RULES THE WORLD which premiered at SXSW Film Festival and as awarded its Audience Award. Jacob also appeared in the hit Universal Pictures acapella comedy PITCH PERFECT. He was most recently seen in the hit Universal Pictures thriller/horror film UNFRIENDED.

Last fall Jacob filmed NEIGHBORS 2: SORORITY RISING with Seth Rogen for Universal Pictures. He also guest-starred in the pilot for the Showtime series I’M DYING UP HERE from executive producer Jim Carrey. Jacob was recently featured in an episode of COMEDY BANG! BANG! for IFC.

Jacob regularly performs at UCB theatre in LA with his Harold team 8 Babies and his Maude team Karate Karate. He also performs in the COMEDYSPORTZ show at the National Comedy Theater in Hollywood and is a member of the viral video sketch group Bath Boys Comedy.

PATTON OSWALT (“Officer Frank”)

Patton Oswalt is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor and voice actor who is best known for such roles as “Remy” in the Pixar animated film RATATOUILLE and for his role as “Spencer Olchin” in THE KING OF QUEENS.

He was recently seen in KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES with Zach Galifianakis, NERDLAND, THE CONFIRMATION, THE LEGO MOVIE 4D: A NEW ADVENTURE, OBSERVE AND REPORT, BIG FAN, ODD THOMAS and NATURE CALLS among others.

His TV credits include THE GOLDBERGS, AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D, VEEP, FX, JUSTIFIED, AXE COP, BOJACK HORSEMAN, BROOKLYN NINE NINE, PARKS AND RECREATION, COMMUNITY, THE UNITED STATES OF TARA and many more. Patton’s writing resume includes the MTV series HUMAN GIANT. He has released multiple standup specials including TRAGEDY PLUS COMEDY EQUALS TIME.

ROBIN WEIGERT (“Officer Doyle”)

Robin currently stars in the series FEARLESS out of the U.K. but she calls LA her home. Before moving to Los Angeles to join the cast of HBO's DEADWOOD, Robin enjoyed a nearly decade long stage career in New York, where she performed both on and off Broadway, received nominations for DRAMA DESK and Lucille Lortel awards for her work in Richard Nelson's MADAME MELVILLE.

She returned to New York to play the eponymous Angel in Tony Kushner's ANGELS IN AMERICA, which had a much-celebrated run at Signature Theater. She had also, a decade before, played the part of the Mormon Mother in Mike Nichols' Emmy Award winning HBO mini-series of ANGELS.

Stephen Soderbergh cast Robin as the platinum blonde Teutonic hussy Hannelore in THE GOOD GERMAN. Other film credits include NEW MONEY, THINGS WE LOST IN THE FIRE, FRAGMENTS, MY ONE AND ONLY, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK and THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE, CONCUSSION, TAKE ME TO THE RIVER, PAWN SACRIFICE and THE SESSIONS. Robin’s TV credits include SONS OF ANARCHY, CHICAGO PD.

Robin can currently be seen in Marvel’s JESSICA JONES Netflix series as well as in DAMIEN for A&E.

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ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

BEN LEWIN (Director)

Ben Lewin’s career as a writer and director spreads across three continents and includes award-winning documentaries, feature films, TV movies, mini-series and episodic programs. His award-winning film THE SESSIONS is a moving true-life story based on the sexual awakening of Berkeley-based poet and journalist Mark O'Brien who spent most of his life in an iron lung. Starring Oscar nominees John Hawkes and William H. Macy, and Oscar-winner Helen Hunt, the film won numerous international awards including Audience Awards at the 2012 Sundance, San Sebastian and Mill Valley Film Festivals, as well as a 2012 Sundance Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Cast.

Ben was born in Poland and grew up in Australia. As a young man, he showed great passion for photography and creative writing, and also studied and practiced law. He left his work as a criminal barrister when he was offered a scholarship to the National Film School in England. After graduating, he joined BBC Television as a director on the Nation-wide program, followed by other documentary and current affairs programs for Thames, Granada and Channel Four Television. His breakthrough project as a writer/director was THE CASE OF CRUELTY TO PRAWNS, a comedy-drama that won the Best Television Film Award at the prestigious Melbourne Film Festival.

Some of his notable credits include the murder mystery feature GEORGIA, starring Judy Davis, which won eight Australian Film Institute nominations; the much-honored and multi-award winning THE DUNERA BOYS starring Bob Hoskins – the true story of 2,000 English Jews who were mistakenly suspected as Nazi spies and transported to Australia in 1940; the award-winning MATTER OF CONVENIENCE, a tele-movie about marriages of convenience with Jean-Pierre Cassel; and PLEAD GUILTY, GET A BOND, about an aboriginal woman and her conflict with the Australian legal system.

Ben Lewin is best known in the US as the writer and director of comedy features; PAPERBACK ROMANCE, a love story about slightly damaged people starring Anthony LaPaglia and Gia Carides, and the messianic farce THE FAVOUR, THE WATCH AND THE VERY BIG FISH, starring Bob Hoskins, Jeff Goldblum and Natasha Richardson. More recently, Ben Lewin brought his distinctive mix of the preposterous and the perceptive to HOLLYWOOD GOLD, a personal documentary of his misadventures in the Beverly Hills jewelry trade at Oscar time. His episodic television work includes the season's highest-rated episode of ALLY McNealy ("Let's Dance") and TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, as well as a number of episodes of the most popular drama series in Australia, SEA CHANGE.

DANIEL DUBIECKI (Producer)

Daniel Dubiecki is the founder and a partner, with Lara Alameddine, of The Allegiance Theater. He is an Oscar-nominated producer for Best Picture for his work on Paramount’s “Up in the Air”(2010) starring George Clooney. In addition to winning the National Board of Review’s Best Picture Award, “Up in the Air” received six Golden Globe nominations, five BAFTA nominations and six Oscar nominations. Under The Allegiance Theater banner, “Money Monster,” starred George Clooney and Julia Roberts, was directed by Jodie Foster, and made its world premiere at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Released May 2016 by TriStar/Sony, the film has grossed over $93 worldwide to date. Dubiecki executive produced “Cries From Syria,” the documentary directed by Oscar-nominated Evgeny Afineevsky, which tells the story of the Syrian people who have never lost hope; focusing on child protesters, revolution icons, activists and their relatives, and high-ranking Army generals who defected to join the fight of the people. The doc premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival to 2 standing ovations. HBO released the film March of 2017.

Dubiecki started his career at age 18, producing over 20 award-winning short films before making his feature debut with “Thank You For Smoking” (2006), directed by Jason Reitman. He executive produced Fox Searchlight’s “Juno” (2007), which grossed over $230m worldwide and garnered dozens of awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Diablo Cody’s script. Dubiecki produced Cody’s second script, 20th Century Fox’s “Jennifer’s Body” (2009), directed by Karyn Kusama, and starring Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried. He also executive produced Atom Egoyan’s “Chloe” (2010), for Sony Pictures Classics, which stars Amanda Seyfried, Julianne Moore and Liam Neeson; and Max Winkler’s first feature, “Ceremony”(2011), which stars Uma Thurman and was released by Magnolia Pictures. To date, Dubiecki’s feature films have grossed over $600m in worldwide box office. The Allegiance Theater is a film, television, and IP generating Production Company built as a destination of trust and protection for artists and audience to experience character and quality-driven storytelling through all mediums. Working with Hollywood A-list talent, The Allegiance Theater’s goal is to create high quality content for global audiences. In addition to “Please Stand By,” upcoming projects for the company include “Veronica’s Room” written by Mark Bomback based on a play by Ira Levin (“Rosemary’s Baby”) with TWC/Dimension; “A Head Full of Ghosts” produced with Susan and Robert Downey Jr. for Focus Features; and “Gizelle’s Bucket List,” financed by Oddlot. The Allegiance Theater recently acquired the rights to Gary Younge’s new novel, “Another Day in the Death of America,” with David Oyelowo attached to star.

LARA ALAMEDDINE (Producer)

Lara Alameddine is the founder and a partner, with Oscar® -nominated producer Daniel Dubiecki, of The Allegiance Theater, a film, television, and IP generating Production Company built as a destination of trust and protection for artists and audiences to experience character and quality-driven storytelling through all mediums. Working with Hollywood A-list talent, the Allegiance Theater’s goal is to create high quality content for global audiences. Her first project under the banner, “Money Monster,” starred George Clooney and Julie Roberts, was directed by Jodie Foster, and made its world premiere at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Released May 2016 by TriStar/Sony, the film has grossed over $93m worldwide to date. Alameddine executive produced “Cries From Syria” the documentary directed by Oscar® -nominated Evgeny Afineevsky, which tells the story of the Syrian people who have never lost hope; focusing on child protesters, revolution icons, activists and their relatives, and high-ranking Army generals who defected to join the fight of the people. The doc premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival to 2 standing ovations. HBO released the film March, 2017.

Alameddine started her film career at the University of British Columbia film program. She started with a string of branded content shorts fil ms for corporations such as Honda and Atom Films. Over the course of the last ten years she has been working independently developing a slate of feature film and television series from original ideas, books, articles and screenplays. In addition to “Please Stand By,” upcoming projects for The Allegiance Theater include “Veronica’s Room” written by Mark Bomback based on a play by Ira Levin (“Rosemary’s Baby”) with TWC-Dimension; “A Head Full of Ghosts” produced with Susan and Robert Downey Jr. for Focus Features; and “Gizelle’s Bucket List,” financed by Oddlot. The Allegiance Theater recently acquired the rights to Gary Younge’s new novel “Another Day in the Death of America,” with David Oyelowo attached to star.

TODD WAGNER (Producer)

Entrepreneur Todd Wagner made his impact in the technology world when he launched Broadcast.com with his business partner Mark Cuban. Broadcast.com was one of the first platforms to stream live sporting events, corporate events and radio stations over the Internet. As CEO of the company, Wagner helped take the company public in 1998, where it set an opening-day record with shares climbing 249% from an offering price of $18 to a closing price of $62.75. In 1999, Broadcast.com was sold to Yahoo! for $5.7 billion. Wagner continued to lead the business as a division of Yahoo! until May 2000, when he declined an offer to become Yahoo!’s Chief Operating Officer to focus on other interests.

Wagner later fused his passion for entertainment with his business portfolio to build the Wagner/Cuban Companies. This vertically integrated portfolio of companies spans content creation, distribution and exhibition: 2929 Entertainment, 2929 Productions, Magnolia Pictures, Landmark Theatres and AXS TV. As CEO of 2929 Entertainment, Wagner has provided artistic vision and business acumen critical to such important films as the Oscar®-nominated Good Night, and Good Luck and Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room , as well as Akeelah and the Bee, We Own the Night and The Road . Wagner’s business interests also include a stake in the Dallas Mavericks, as well as the Weinstein Company. He also serves on the boards of directors for both the American Film Institute and the Tribeca Film Institute.

In 2014, Wagner founded Chideo , a content-driven fundraising platform that offers celebrities, nonprofits and brands an easy way to quickly drive awareness and raise funds for important causes through the creation of unique and entertaining video content. Chideo’s growing list of distribution partners – Sinclair Broadcasting Group, Tribune Company, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Delta and Virgin America Airlines, Twitter, Facebook and more – offer the opportunity to reach audiences across TV, Online, and In-flight—all to benefit the world’s leading charities.

To expand Chideo’s reach and further disrupt today’s online philanthropic space, Wagner acquired fundraising giants Prizeo — a groundbreaking digital sweepstakes platform that enables influencers to use technology to mobilize their fan base to raise maximum amounts of funding and awareness for their chosen causes; and CharityBuzz – the premier online charity auction platform that has raised over $150 million to date for its nonprofit clients. In unifying three of the top digital fundraising platforms, Wagner has solidified his position as the owner of the largest coalition of charity-based fundraising platforms. Through these partnerships, Wagner created the Charity Network, harnessing the power of celebrity, technology and media to raise awareness and funds for some of the world’s toughest challenges.

In addition to his business endeavors, Wagner has made a very substantial commitment of his time, energy and resources to giving back through the Todd Wagner Foundation. Since 2000, the Foundation has implemented Wagner’s vision of venture philanthropy and invested tens of millions of dollars in cutting-edge programs that empower underserved communities and at-risk youth. This includes significant support for such notable charities as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, KIPP (the Knowledge is Power Program), After-School All-Stars, and the First Tee.

In recognition of his business and philanthropic efforts, Wagner has received numerous honors including induction into the Texas Business Hall of Fame (2012), the After-School All-Stars Inspire Award (2010); Special Care and Career Services Milton P. Levy Volunteerism Award (2008); Dallas CASA’s “Champion of Kids” (2005); Kappa Sigma’s National Man of the Year (2003); and Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2002) by Dallas’ Center for Nonprofit Management. He is a native of Gary, Indiana and received a B.S. from Indiana University, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He holds a J.D. from University of Virginia.

BEN COSGROVE (Producer)

Ben Cosgrove is President of 2929 Productions. At 2929 he produced SERENA, directed by Susanne Bier, and starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper; and DEADFALL directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky, starring Eric Bana, Charlie Hunnam and Olivia Wilde.

Cosgrove served as Senior Vice President of Production at Paramount Pictures where he supervised DREAMGIRLS, THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES, IMAGINE THAT and THE FIGHTER. He developed INTERSTELLAR with Steven Spielberg (ultimately Chris Nolan), DUNE with Pete Berg, LOST CITY OF Z with Brad Pitt and James Gray, and NICK TUNGSTEN with Doug Liman.

Previously, Cosgrove was President of George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh’s Section Eight production company, where he produced THE GOOD GERMAN and RUMOR HAS IT, and executive produced GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK, SYRIANA, A SCANNER DARKLY, THE JACKET, CRIMINAL, and WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD. He also served as associate producer on INSOMNIA. Additional Section Eight productions include OCEAN’S ELEVEN, OCEAN’S TWELVE, OCEAN’S THIRTEEN, FAR FROM HEAVEN and CONFESSIONS OF A DANGEROUS MIND.

Cosgrove began in the entertainment industry as a freelance reader at TriStar Pictures, where he ultimately became Director of Creative Affairs.

MICHAEL GOLAMCO (Writer)

Michael Golamco is a screenwriter and playwright. He currently writes for NBC’s GRIMM and has sold pilots to NBC, ABC Family, and Warner Brothers Television.

His plays have been produced at NYC’s Second Stage Theatre, Chicago’s Victory Gardens, The Geffen Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Guthrie, and many others around the country and internationally. He has been awarded new play commissions from Second Stage, South Coast Rep, and the Geffen Playhouse, and he is a resident of New Dramatists (class of 2016).

Geoffrey Simpson (Director of Photography) was born in Adelaide, South Australia, studied Graphic Design at the SA School of Art and filmmaking at the London Film School. Following this he returned to Adelaide, where he worked on documentaries produced by the newly formed SA Film Corporation and later many independent documentaries in various parts of the world. He worked as 2nd AD on SUNDAY TOO FAR AWAY and as a lighting electrician on PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK .

Geoffrey’s first major film work was as second unit cinematographer on MAD MAX 2 , including all aerial photography and later as DP on PLAYING BEATIE BOW, winner of an ACS Golden Tripod and Milli Award for Cinematographer of the Year. He previously worked with Ben Lewin on THE SESSIONS. Other credits include A MONK IN A FLOATING WORLD, GREEN CARD, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES, MR. WONDERFUL and THE LAST HOLIDAY.

Geoffrey’s awards include the Australian Film Industry Award for Best Cinematography for OSCAR AND LUCINDA, SHINE and THE NAVIGATOR. He was nominated for SLEEPING BEAUTY, THE TENDER HOOK, ROMULUS MY FATHER and THE LAST DAYS OF CHEZ NOUS. He is a member of the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

Lisa Bromwell, ACE (Editor)

Lisa Bromwell previously worked with Ben Lewin on the Sundance Audience Award winning THE SESSIONS. Most recently she was an editor for HOUSE OF CARDS, for which she just won the ACE Eddie Award. She edited the Academy Award-winning short film LIEBERMAN IN LOVE for Christine Lahti.

Lisa served as Associate Editor on the critically acclaimed THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS and SHE DEVIL. Other feature credits include THE LAWNMOWER and SPRUNG. Credits as Editor with writer/director Sebastian Gutierrez include RISE, WOMEN IN TROUBLE and GIRL WALKS INTO A BAR.

Lisa’s television credits include the pilot and 1st season of HBO's acclaimed IN TREATMENT, WEEDS and the Peabody Award winning series NOTHING SACRED. She worked with Randa Haines on Showtime’s THE OUTSIDER and with David Carson on IN HIS LIFE: THE JOHN LENNON STORY for which she was nominated for an Eddie Award.

John Collins (Production Designer)

John Collins was born and raised in Michigan and has a background in architecture and construction. He worked his way up to Art Director on classic Adam Sandler comedies like CLICK, JUST GO WITH IT and YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN. He collaborated with Production Designer Philip Messina as the Supervising Art Director on THE HUNGER GAMES and THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE.

John left the HUNGER GAMES franchise to pursue his own design work on HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN and moved right into designing CELL starring Samuel Jackson and John Cusack. He recently completed work as the supervising art director on Universal's sci-fi/thriller SPECTRAL in Budapest Hungary and the Gavin O'Connor directed action film THE ACCOUNTANT starring Ben Affleck as well as art directing the Sony Sci-Fi feature PASSENGERS starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. His hands-on approach, incredible work ethic and unique vision have kept him in high demand since entering the film industry. He has worked in Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Maui, Kauai, Massachusetts, the Caribbean, Hungary and California. John is also an All-American open water swimmer, capable of swimming vast expanses of cold ocean while battling sharks with his bare hands.

Elaine Hall (Autism Coach)

‘Coach E!’ referenced by the New York Times as the “Child Whisperer,” is a pioneer in using inclusive theater, film, music and movement to bring out the best in individuals of all abilities. She has worked as an on-set acting coach for Walt Disney Studios, Universal Pictures, Nickelodeon, as well as being the star of the two-time Emmy Award winning HBO documentary, AUTISM: THE MUSICAL based on her groundbreaking theater program, THE MIRACLE PROJECT.

Internationally renowned, she has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Italy’s Vogue Magazine and has been seen on CNN, HBO, CBS Morning News, Oprah Winfrey Network, NPR and Showtime.

Elaine was a top Hollywood acting coach when her life changed dramatically after her son was diagnosed with severe autism. When traditional therapies did not work for him, she rallied her creative friends and trained them to understand autism and how to use their talents to reach her son. Slowly he emerged out of his isolation.

She then developed ‘The Seven Keys to Unlock Autism’ which are the underlying principles of THE MIRACLE PROJECT. Her book of the same title is used as a textbook in universities across the U.S. including Brown University.

The United Nations selected Elaine’s memoir, NOW I SEE THE MOON, for World Autism Awareness Day, and she has received honors from Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, the HollyRod Foundation, the Shalom Institute, ETTA Israel and many more for her contributions to theater and autism. She is endorsed by experts in the child development and autism field such as T. Berry Brazelton, Ricki Robinson, Barry Prizant, Temple Grandin and Stephen Shore among others and was nominated in LA Magazine as one of LA’s 50 most inspiring women.

Elaine’s students, once too shy and withdrawn to even walk into a room of their peers, have now found their voice, developed their talents, made friendships and have become part of a creative, dynamic community.

Some have performed live in front of thousands, receiving international notoriety as performers, held guest-starring roles in TV and film including the TV show PARENTHOOD; written songs for and recorded an album, been honored at Carnegie Hall, performed at the World Special Olympics and at The United Nations, and even have appeared on stage with Jack Black, Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Neil Young.

Non-verbal clients have ‘spoken’ via iPad at the United Nations and at high-profile events throughout Los Angeles. Most importantly, they have made lasting friendships with those with and without disabilities. Elaine is committed to creating a more compassionate world with her INCLUSION FROM WITHIN (I WIN) program for faith-based organizations.

Most recently she was invited by the White House to participate in a conversation on Disability Awareness and Inclusion. Elaine is an international keynote speaker and works with private clients and leads group workshops. Her programs are replicable and being requested across the globe.

THE MIRACLE PROJECT www.themiracleproject.org uses a groundbreaking and evidence-based methodology, developed by Elaine Hall that incorporates theater, music, movement and inclusion to bring out the best in people of all abilities and disabilities. Through shared creative experiences, individuals with and without disabilities grow in skills, understanding, compassion and joy.

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(Cast, Crew, Production Notes, Review, Photos, Articles)