Louie Cowan – Writer/Producer/Director

Louie Cowan is originally from Cape Town, South Africa. He started his show business career after studying acting at the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. A few  years ago, Louie relocated from Chicago to Columbus.

While in Chicago, Louie performed in a handful of television commercials, on stage in the critically acclaimed Catbox Cabaret, and in the Bailiwick Theatre’s production of Margaret Atwood’s Rape Fantasies – as a rapist with a head cold, and also as the lead singer and MC on the Spirit of Chicago cruise line.

Amongst other productions, he has appeared in the South African premiere of Forever Plaid as Jinx, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Joseph, as Don in Athol Fugard’s People Are Living There, The Sound of Music as Rolf and Godspell as John the Baptist and Judas.

Before leaving South Africa he wrote, produced and directed a highly successful musical review called 2½ Tenors, featuring himself and one very large opera singer. He regularly performs in commercial, industrials and print ads in the Ohio area. Recently, Louie played the role of First Reporter in the feature film Green Card Fever and as Nigel in Death 4 Told (starring Margot Kidder). He has also worked as Sound Designer and Chief Lighting Technician on local short films Spotless and The Space Between, and has directed and produced three of his own short films, Safe House, The Squirrel Militia and Turkey Day under his production company “Red Key Productions”. He is also the Associate Producer and Editor for a Columbus Filmmaker’s Consortium PSA.

Challenging points in his career so far have been 5 months of living in a youth homeless shelter in New York City, and an incident that he could never forget... when he was performing his personal cabaret on the “Achille Lauro” cruise ship and it caught on fire and sank 3 days off the coast of Somalia! (True to his mantra of turning lemons into lemonade, he captured the entire event on video and was able to sell the footage to CNN!)

High points have been finishing his first short film Safe House, winning the Cape Times Best Actor in a Musical Award in 1989, being nominated twice for a Vita Award (the equivalent of a Tony Award in South Africa) and the birth of his first child in November 2001.


Keith Carter – Producer/UPM

Keith Carter is a multi-faceted artist with a mind geared toward building institutions. He has been leaving a mark on society from the time he served as a student Representative on the South African working Group at the Ohio State University. He was a Student Organization President and Vice president at Geneva College, and founded the credited discussion group Bridges of Understanding.

While at Geneva he studied Mechanical Engineering and Lighting Design. He also served as Lighting Manager and Staff member of the Bagpiper Theatre where he lit numerous stage productions. Following college, he Co-wrote, Directed and produced the seasonal play Mersava, which ran for four consecutive years. He has acted in eleven productions. His work in film includes The Brass Ring, The Worlds Most Haunted, Only For a Moment, Spotless, Do You What to Rap With Us, Angel Blade, The Calling, NightOwls of Coventry, and Ritual.

Keith currently serves as a Trustee and Financial Secretary for a local Congregation and works as a freelance Grip/Gaffer and Rigger/Stagehand for The Jerome Schottenstein Center, Entertainment Control Management and has been tapped as a Team leader for live events for The Diamond Mine/Graham Production Services company. He has recently Produced, Directed and was the Co-DP for The Space Between which has been accepted into the 2002 Ohio Independent Film Festival and Market. He continues to work toward his ultimate goal of building a self-sustaining Film & Arts Production/Educational Institute.


Bo Buckley – Producer

Bo began his education at the University of Southern California, focusing primarily on film production, where he won honors over a number of competing students for co-directing job on his first short 16mm film. He later transferred to Wright State University’s Film Production program and produced two additional short 16mm films before finally earning his degree in Industrial Design Technology from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Along with his film production experience, Bo has been educated in many other areas including set design and construction and special effects fabrication.

Over the past several years, Bo has designed and constructed sets and props for local events and attractions in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, most notably the entire design and construction of a 6,000 square foot attraction that premiered in Marietta, Ohio. His design work has been exhibited and enjoyed by thousands of people over the past few years.

In 2000 Bo returned to his first passion, film and video production. His commercial work ranges from sports and events videos to marketing and promotional videos for such clients as Upper Arlington schools, The River Cities Symphony Orchestra and Continental Office and Real Estate. His latest work is a narrative trilogy that was produced in the summer of 2002.

Bo currently works as a graphic designer and has designed numerous marketing and promotional materials as well as gameday programs and advertisers for the Columbus Crew and Columbus Landsharks.


Christopher Cook – Associate Producer

Christopher is the Internet Manager of Academic Services at OARnet, a regional Internet Service Provider (ISP) and division of Ohio State University. As Internet Manager, Christopher ensures projects are complete on time and within budget. He has led pricing, product offering, and cost management initiatives to benefit of both his clients and company. With over 16 years of business experience, he is a valuable asset to the successful completion of any project. Christopher has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio and a Master of Science in Marketing and Communications from Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio.


Larry Marotta – Composer/Musician

Larry Marotta, a lifelong musician, has composed music for films since 1995 when he performed a well-received score for the surreal film "Ballet Mechanique" on electric guitar and vacuumn cleaner. To date, he has worked on 16 silents and one documentary, most of which do not include household appliances. Three of the silent scores -- "Genuine," "Phantom," and "Mystery of the Leaping Fish" -- are available on DVD through Kino International. Just recently, four Buster Keaton silents he scored were sold to Turner Classic Movies.

Although he has played with popular Columbus music acts such as hip-hop group Poets of Heresy and modernist swing ensemble Honk, Wail, and Moan, his main area of interest is experimental music. He plays frequently throughout the midwest, self-releases CDs of his solo guitar improvisations, and promotes concerts at several Central Ohio venues.

Larry Marotta was born in New Jersey but raised in Miami, Florida. After receiving his BA in Philosophy from Florida Atlantic University in 1989, Larry relocated to Columbus where he currently lives with his wife, Becky, and their daughter Kate. Check out his site at www.larrymarotta.com


Joey Wishnia – Joseph

Joey was educated at Rhodes University and received a Teaching Diploma (Licentiate) in Speech and Drama from Trinity College, London.

He has worked in practically every facet of the entertainment industry, having been actor, director, teacher and appeared in music hall, opera, cabaret, revues, movies, TV and many radio dramas, serials and soap operas (remember radio?).

He has written scripts for children’s theatre, devised and appeared in four one-man shows and developed several educational programs aimed at encouraging children to read. He is also a story-teller whose script, Stories Small, a program of African folk-tales from all cultures, was performed at the ‘Blooming Lights Festival’ at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens in New York in December, 1999.

In 1993, he was the recipient of a special award for his contribution to children’s theatre in South Africa. He came to the United States in 1993 and quickly established himself in Denver, Colorado as actor and director concentrating on classical theatre.

He has appeared in numerous television commercials, industrials, and the most recent stage plays including The Sisters Rosenzweig; as Scrooge in A Christmas Carol; Herr Schultz in Cabaret for which he received raves from the critics and most recently appeared as Louis Howe in Annie and Mark Twain in Big River.


Joseph Baker – Hot Dog Vendor

Joe received his BFA in acting from Wright State University, where he was trained primarily in acting for the theatre.  Though he loves life on the stage, Joe also greatly enjoys film acting so he became involved in as many student films at Wright State as he could.  "Turkey Day" marks Joe's second appearance in an independent film. (His first speaking role.)  Although Vinnie (Joe's name for the Hot Dog Vendor) wasn't a particularly large part it was still a great stretch for Joe, since Joe is highly into fitness and nutrition so he almost never even touches a hot dog. 


Cassandra Bennett – Make Up Assistant

Cassandra Bennett received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University and went on to pursue a Masters of Science in Marketing and Communications from Franklin University.  Her experience as a make up artist began as an Associate Consultant for Clinique traveling to stores for special events and promotions.  She has also worked on 4 short films, fashion show and weddings.


Shelly Ciccarelli – Ideal Family Mother

Shelly Ciccarelli started acting back in Houston, Texas about 7 years ago and appeared in various local commercials, movies and a music video. Along this road she undertook the journey to LA to see what Hollywood had to offer.   As luck would have it she ended up falling in love with a person from the mid-west and relocated.  She is currently finishing her degree in Computer Science and is counting the days until she graduates. She plans on resuming her acting career once she completes her degree.


Ryan Clardy - Jim

Trained at the University of Virginia's Drama Department, he worked solely in theatre -- mostly acting and directing.  After his graduation in May of 2001, he started working the regional and stock theater circuits: acting for Seaside Music Theatre of Daytona, FL; Actors Theatre of Louisville in KY; Heritage Repertory Theatre in Charlottesville, VA; and currently Phoenix Theatre Circle in Columbus, OH.  "Turkey Day" is Ryan's debut film.  It was an amazing experience so he hopes that TDay will be the beginning of a great career in theater AND film.  Till then, he'll do the other things he enjoys: singing, dancing, reading, painting, and long walks in the park.


Ryan Dean - Gaffer

A recent graduate from Kent State University, Ryan Dean had the luck to be employed by a production company during his education.  There he learned the hands on of video production, working in professional positions before graduation.  He currently works freelance for companies in the Ohio area and on independent films during his free time. His favorite areas of production work are in audio, graphics, and editing.


Belle Francisco – Script Supervisor

Belle Francisco was born in Beijing, China and grew up in Hong Kong. She was trained in Chinese Classical Dance, Ballet and Theatre. She became a member of the Hong Kong Youth Theatre during high school. Later, she became a member of the Hong Kong Urban Council Repertory Theatre Company after a family friend recommended that she try acting as a career. She holds a B.A. degree in Theatre and a B.S. degree in Dance Education from Bowling Green State University. At Bowling Green, she performed and worked as a choreographer for the University Dance Company. She appeared as Connie on the PBS situation comedy "Waiting Tables" in the late 80's.  After moving to Columbus, Ohio, she received her M.A. in Dance from Ohio State University, focusing on Labanotation. Among her many "careers", she has been a studio/print model, a dance educator, a creative movement teacher in the Ohio Artists-in-Schools program, a casting/talent coordinator, and manager for the inside-sales team in a technology firm.

 Belle started her film career working as the production coordinator of "The Calling". Currently, she works as script supervisor/continuity clerk for film productions and TV/Commercials. Her feature/short film credits include: "Green Card Fever"; “Soap & Roses”; “The Space Between”; "Jean" and "Spotless”. Some of her credits on industrial films include corporations both in the USA and overseas, such as: West Law Publishing, Wendy's, Big Lots, Wal-Mart, and AT & T; and commercials for Cedar Point and Corner Stone Pictures, Value City, Sunkist, SOGO, and Lane Crawford.  At the end of year 2002, she was part of the Lexington, Kentucky production crew for Universal Picture’s  “Seabiscuit”.

 

Michelle Gay -  Brenda

Recent film credits for Michelle Gay include: Pludette in Pluto's Plight starring Buster Douglas, Camille in Ritual (nominated for an audience choice award, Fireshocks film festival Sacramento, CA), and Amber in Solve for "X" (A John Whitney Production). Video work includes a Panic Disorder Video for the Ohio State University and a Designated Driver Public Service Announcement for the Department of Safety. Michelle is an Equity Member Candidate and an Ohio Theatre Alliance board member. Her training includes Ohio State University and Shakespeare & Company. In her spare time Michelle can be found reading to the sight impaired on the Central Ohio Radio Reading Room Service.

 

Terry K. Giancaterino – Large Arm Man

Terry Giancaterino has been a Martial Artist for 18 years. He has studied Tae Kwon Do with long time Martial Artist and Stunt Man, Master Ray Szuch for the past 12 years. Because of his Martial Arts background and affiliation with Master Szuch, Terry got involved in minor stunt work that led to acting. Terry has worked on over twenty films both in front of and behind the camera. 

Terry had a co-starring role in Cinevid Production's "We Have Your Daughter", which won best action in a short film in the 2003 New York Independant Film Festival. He played the role of "The Large Arm Man" in Turkey Day. Terry is currently working in SOB Production's feature film "Judge & Jury", and Video Verite Production's series "The Seeing" as Director of Photography.

 

Elaine M Grasso – Society Wife 2
Elaine studied acting in High School a long time ago, but her naturally, curly hair did not appear in a stage play until late 1999 when she landed the role of Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet.  Having been badly bitten by the acting bug, Elaine has a diverse resume from Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Myrtle Mae Simmons in Harvey.  She has also sung The Baker in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Penelope Ann in Bye, Bye Birdie.  Musicals, Dramas, Comedies and Tragedies – Elaine loves them all.  She is currently Aunt Ev in Columbus Children’s Theatre production of The Miracle Worker.

Within the past year, Elaine has added film to her list of Things To Do.  So far her accomplishments have included a training video for Wendy’s International, a McDonald’s commercial and her scene in Turkey Day.

 

Eric James Hutton - Extra

Eric James Hutton is an Ohio native, whose first TV experiences has been a news anchor at high school. He went on to the Ohio Center for Broadcasting where he interned at a local cable company and was able to meet in person Brian Lamb and Chubby Checkers.  Since that time he has done lead acting in "Operator" and freelance work with Bare Bones productions in "Seven Shades of Passion", Singer Toni Estes, and the Bare Bones Film Festivals 2001,2002 Muskogee, OK.

 

Kenny Johnson – Society Husband 1

Originally from Arizona, Kenny Johnson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University in1996 and a Masters degree from Harvard University in1999. Kenny recently has been seen as Harry the Horse in Weathervane Playhouse’s Guys and Dolls and Mr. Sands in Women at Play's Two By Pinter.  He now lives in Columbus, Ohio and works as a Special Projects Coordinator at Mills/James Productions.  Kenny is very excited about returning to acting and eager to gain as much experience as possible.

 

Harlow J. Keith - Publicist

Actor, author, and martial artist, Harlow J. Keith brings to the project a wide variety of talent and creative skills. A member of the Shakespeare Theatre Association of America, Harlow has recently performed in Richard III, Macbeth, A Midsummer's Night Dream, Merchant of Venice, Measure for Measure and King Lear.

The author of several management related ebooks, Harlow is the author of the Civil War novel, Cold Harbor. Although this is just his first work of fiction, Cold Harbor has been favorably reviewed and has recently been nominated for the Michael Shaara Award for Excellence in Civil War fiction.

Film experience includes being a part of the cast of the feature film
Size Seven Red, which is scheduled for release later in 2003. Harlow is currently working with RioFilms out of Fullerton, CA, helping them secure funding for their documentary about The Channel Islands

An accomplished martial artist, he holds the rank of 5th Dan Master in the martial art of Tae Kwon Do, and has been trained in the use of Korean swords.

 

Rae Lee – Shortsighted Shopper

Rae Lee has appeared in thirteen films and four commercials, as well as The Jeremy Borger Show and stage productions prior to joining our cast. She appeared in Welcome to Collinwood as a prison inmate, American Splendor as a cashier, The Robbie Kirtland Story in the bus station scene, How Not to Talk About Sex, How Not to Hit on Your Teacher, How Not to Get Caught Cheating, Snowline, 9 Lives, Doggie in the Window as a featured pedestrian, The Pact, Natural Bridges as a beatnik, Look for the Woman as a customer, and in The Hippie Hooker as a hippie hooker.


Tatjana Longerot – Costume Design

Tatjana Longerot, born and raised in Koblenz, Germany, the city at the confluence of the Mosel and the Rhine rivers, uprooted herself and abandoned a magnificent multitude of wine, castles and dirndls despite protest of better judgment, to study theatre in the United States of America, in 1990.  She received a B.A. in Theatre from the Indiana University South Bend, IN with the University’s Excellency in Theatre Award (94’, 95) and Performer’s Certificate in Design (1999). For the following three years, she worked as the university’s costume shop manager and continued to design costumes for various productions at IUSB and Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN.

 A graduate career at the Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, led to local, professional costume designs including The Hostage, Wit, she (OSU); Sleuth, Murder in Green Meadows, The Laramie Project (CATCO), The Beauty Queen of Leenane (The Irish and American Theatre Company); True West (EAT Theatre); and Riders to the Sea, and A Tinkers Wedding (The Ohio Dominican University). Recently she designed a uniquely unusual visual interpretation of Sweeney Todd based on aspects of the Goth culture and the grotesque (Capital University). Tatjana Graduated from OSU with a M.F.A. degree in Costume Design/Design for the Stage in the summer of 2002.  Her thesis costume design for the premiere of the devised work Uncommon Clay emphasized the use of theatrical spectacle, The design included stylized costumes for movement and dance, masks, marionette puppets and visual special effects.. The costume design won the 2001-2002 USITT Peggy Ezekiel Award of Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Arts.  Since then, Tatjana’s adventures as a freelance designer have also resulted in the teaching of theatrical makeup workshops for 4-H and middle school students. She has filled stylist positions for photographers and has been contracted for local wardrobe positions for national tours, including Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, American Idol, 42nd Street and Disney on Ice, Her dream of designing costumes for the screen has begun with the local independent films: The Space Between (Keith Carter), Making the Cosmopolitan (Mike Askew), and Turkey Day (Louie Cowan).

 

Lowell Miller – Ideal Family Father

Lowell started acting in New York several years ago.   He has acted in TV shows such as Fox's “Americas Most Wanted” and has appeared several times on the Fox show “The Street” as a stockbroker.   Lowell has been involved with movies such as “Zoolander” and “Deep Impact”.  Lowell still continues to work with his New York agency for Print and commercials. 

 

Ken Morrow – Miguel / Gaffer

Ken Morrow began his theatre career by studying acting at "The" Ohio State University, after which he began working as a technician...go figure.  The education Ken received as an actor (do they even need one?) did not go to waste, however, and he was "Suzie's special friend" for five years on Fox 28 in Columbus.  Ken was also an electrician for six years with Players Theatre Columbus, Columbus' FIRST equity theatre, as well as having written, directed, managed, promoted, and performed in his own drug prevention touring show.

 

Jeremy Parrott – Aimless Shopper

Jeremy Parrott is a 26 year old graduate of the University of Georgia.  Turkey Day is his first movie appearance.  Jeremy enjoys playing golf and tennis, and is currently working for a technology firm in Columbus, Ohio.

 

Rod Paulette - Bryce

Rod Paulette started of to be an actor. He majored in theater at Providence College but after two years he transferred to Columbia College. There he received a BFA in Directing for Film. While in Chicago, Rod was bitten by the stand-up comedy bug. After a brief stint in advertising, countless open mics and bad advice from friends he hit the road. 

For the last twelve years Rod Paulette has made his living as a professional stand-up comedian, touring clubs and colleges across the United States and a week or two in England. He has appeared on Evening at the Improv, Showtime's Comedy Club Network, Comedy Centrals Short Attention Span Theater and Premium Blend. In 1995 Rod was one of the "new faces" at the Aspen Comedy Festival. He is currently working on a one-man show and can be seen often at the Columbus FunnyBone bar, drinking for free.

 

Munea-Alongwa Redfeather - Extra

Munea-Alongwa Redfeather was born and raised in her ancestral homeland of the Lenape' Nation.  She has an AA degree in Psychology from Southern State Community College in Hillsboro, Ohio, BA degree in Social Work from Wilmington College of Ohio, and Certification from the Ohio Center for Broadcasting in Cincinnati. She has been a minister since 1986. Her ministry has included telephone counseling, food, clothes and temporary housing. She has done consulting work on Native American issues in Ohio.  Her film work has included the "Operator" which she directed and produced. She has worked with Bare Bones Productions in their Film Festival 2002 Muskogee, OK.  Her current and future goals is raising money for land purchase for Native American Gathering Center and historic dramas.

 

Tami Reynolds - Samantha

Tami grew up in the Columbus suburb of Pickerington.  After high school, she went on to university in Ann Arbor, MI where she majored in psychology.  To overcome her shyness, she forced herself to take an acting class.  At first it was torturous, but after acting in several student-produced plays and films, she decided to pursue it more seriously. 

Packing up her stuff with much support and apprehension from her family, she moved to New York to try the city life with her best friend.  Shortly upon moving to New York, she was cast in the lead role in the upcoming film “Project 350,” directed by indie favorite Mathew Harrison.  She acted in several short films and commercials as well.  Although Tami trained at several acting schools, she spent the majority of her time at the Total Theatre Lab. 

Tami now mostly resides in the Columbus area, and is thrilled to get to work with the talented pool of local filmmakers and artists that are here!

 

David Shurmer – Mr Able

David Shurmer studied theater at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, with mostly stage acting experience from school and community theater. 

After an acting hiatus of more than 12 years, David landed a roll in a small, locally produced independent film, "PIG". From there, he went on to become a host of the Adelphia Cable show, "The Midnight Movie", produced in Cleveland, which is currently in it's fifth year. To date, he has had roles in five locally produced films in the Cleveland area.

 

Ericka M. Smith - PA

Ericka Smith graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Arts in Film and Video Studies.  At Michigan she received the university's prized

Hopwood writing award for her first screenplay Fine Print. Fine Print was also a finalist in the Sundance Institute's Screenwriting Competition in 2000.  From print to production, Ericka has performed many different roles both in front of the camera as an actress and behind the scenes on the crew. Her film work includes: The Slippery Element Tree which she produced and directed; producer for the short Recurrence, directed by Mathew Straus; and Director of Photography for Diary of a Taxi Cab driver, directed by Noemi Morales and Erin Hill.  A native of the Cincinnati area, Ericka has been seen most recently in a video for The Museum Center at Union Terminal in Cincinnati and on stage at the Aronoff Center for the Creative and Performing Arts.

 

Dan Telle – Ideal Family Child

Dan Telle, 10 years old, is a 5th grader at Wyandot Run Elem.  Turkey Day was his first audition and first movie.  He has been a singer and dancer in several school programs as well as performing with Sound Celebration.  He sang the National Anthem at a Columbus Clippers baseball game with a group of voice lesson students.

His training has included voice lessons with Lori Kipfer; voice, dance and performing skills with Sound Celebration; acting and modeling workshop at BAM in Los Angeles, CA; and he is presently studying acting and voice with Drama Kids International.  He has a home page with Booking Actors and Models and his address is www.danieltelle.bammodels.com. His passions include playing ice hockey, playing baseball and singing.  He had a blast working on this movie with everyone and is looking forward to his next project.

 

Lisa Vana – Ignoring Woman

Lisa Vana studied acting in Washington, DC, at the Shakespeare Theatre,

Woolly Mammoth Theatre, and the Studio Theatre and has lived in Columbus since 1995. She is a company member of Playback Columbus and improv/sketch comedy troupes Stir It Up and Full Frontal Nudity.  Other local film projects include 'Bottom Feeders' by Tom Bauman, 'The Line,' '16/35,' and 'Filters' by Sheldon Gleisser, 'Going Corporate' by Kevin Carr and PJ Ross, and 'Snakes and Arrows' by Eric Williams.

A member of AFTRA, SAG, and an Equity Membership Candidate, she has worked in radio and television commercial spots, including Donato's, Ohio Health, The Diamond Cellar, and the Hoosier Lottery.  In March, Lisa can be seen on stage at Madlab Theatre in their production of William Seebring's 'The Geldings.'  Currently, she enjoys teaching acting classes in downtown Columbus.

 

Esther Weismann – Kate

A graduate of the Ohio State University with a degree in broadcast media, Esther Weisman is an award-winning actress and has appeared on stage, tv, film and in print.  She has won an award for her performance as Cassie Cooper in Neil Simon’s Rumors at  the Curtain Player Theater. With a range that stretches from drama to improvised comedy, Esther has appeared in the feature film The Calling, the dark comedy short film A Taxing Matter and the independent film festival mockumentary: Going Corporate.  Currently her skills are being honed by acting coach, Richard Brander, who has trained such famous actors as Kevin Costner,  Jennie Garth and Faith Hill.