MEET THE CAST
Jump to: Team | Supporters
PAUL SCHEER
"Officer Hart"
Paul Scheer is a SAG Award-winning actor, writer and director who has established himself as one of today’s go-to comedic artists in film and television. He can be seen opposite Don Cheadle in the Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg produced series BLACK MONDAY.
He will also reprise his role in the Emmy-winning HBO series VEEP as well as return in season two of Hulu’s FUTURE MAN. Screen credits include starring alongside Chance the Rapper in the A24 feature SLICE and the SXSW coming of age drama SUMMER 03 with Joey King and Andrea Savage. He also had a role in the Oscar-nominated A24 film THE DISASTER ARTIST. Additionally, he co-hosts one of iTunes’s most popular podcasts, How Did This Get Made and, recently, Unspooled which debuted as the #1 podcast in TV and Film and in the top 20 in the top 100 podcasts on iTunes.
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JONAH BERES
"Sam"
Jonah began acting at age 6 in his hometown of Seattle, WA. His film credits include STRANGE NATURE (premiere at Twin Cities Film Festival), GIRL FLU (premiere at LA Film Festival), and Akiva Goldsman’s directorial debut, STEPHANIE (Blumhouse/Netflix).
Jonah made his TV debut as the lead in an episode of SMALL SHOTS (Netflix). Other credits include ANIMAL KINGDOM (TNT, guest star), THOSE WHO CAN’T (TruTV, guest star), SPLITTING UP TOGETHER (ABC, recurring), and the Emmy-nominated Hulu original series, PEN15 (recurring).
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JAYLIN OGLE
"Adam"
Jaylin kicked off his acting career with a heartwarming performance as Chicken George in the History Channel mini-series adaptation of ROOTS. He has shown versatility with TV credits such as CRIMINAL MINDS (CBS, guest star) and the comedy, GROWN FOLKS (Bounce TV, guest star). He’s worked with director Thomas Carter and actors Chad Coleman and Reggie Miller. Jaylin enjoys football, gaming, and spending time with his friends.
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CARSON SEVERSON
"Jason"
Carson started acting at the age of 10 after repeatedly asking his parents to please let him act. Credits include WRINKLES & OTHER UNFORTUNATE OBJECTS (Loyola Marymount University), BYE MOMMY (Chapman), and, DOPE MISTER DEE.
He has studied at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre LA and Tim Robbin’s Actors’ Gang. In addition to acting, Carson plays guitar, piano, and violin.
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DAVID GURROLA
"Tyson"
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BIANCA LOPEZ
"Mrs. Brody"
Bianca Lopez is a native Angeleno, that started acting on stage at the age of five.
Bianca made her Film debut with her portrayal of Fontana, in THE PRINCESS DIARIES directed by Gary Marshall. She just wrapped COVERS, opposite Dakota Johnson and Tracey Ellis Ross.
You can catch Bianca’s stand up all over LA, with her monthly show she produces with all female stand ups, The Comedy Coven.
JIM HANNA
"Coach Colella"
Jim is an L.A. based actor and writer. His stage worked has earned him an L.A. Drama Critics Award and 2 L.A. Weekly nominations, both for best actor (EQUUS and OTHELLO). His most recent written work. "The Mayor's Debate of Tranquility, Nebraska" earned 10 nominations and The Theatre Unleashed Award for best ensemble at the 2019 Hollywood Fringe Festival. Recent TV work includes JANE THE VIRGIN, STATION 19, BLESS THIS MESS and HBO's upcoming PERRY MASON.
JACY KING
"Connie"
Jacy King is a Los Angeles Time Critic’s Choice actor known for The Affair (2018), Glee (2015), and Star Trek New Voyages: Phase II (2016). She has starred in Zoey Cassavetes’ Tribeca winner OTHER SIDE OF THE GAME, and Ron Howard’s Sundance short WHEN YOU FIND ME. Her stage performances in THE TRIUMPH OF LOVE and FIRST LOVE were both honored as Los Angeles Times Critic’s Choice picks, and her original musical compositions for NIGHTCOIL garnered a LA Weekly Awards nod.
She currently stars opposite Christy Carlson Romano in the Amazon Studios film DREAM KILLER. Look for her soon in the thriller WHILE WE SLEEP by first time director Andrej Sekula, former Tarantino DP, of PULP FICTION and RESERVOIR DOGS fame.
ERIC TIEDE
"Derek"
Eric Tiede is industry renowned for his versatility as an actor having guest starred on a wide variety network television series including MODERN FAMILY, NCIS, 2 BROKE GIRLS, CRIMINAL MINDS, GRIMM, HAPPY ENDINGS, CASTLE, 90210 and MAJOR CRIMES while playing recurring characters on series such as FAMOUS IN LOVE, LOPEZ, KICKIN’ IT and HOLLYWOOD HEIGHTS.
Film credits include THE 41 YEAR OLD VRIGIN WHO KNOCKED UP SARAH MARSHALL, HEAVENQUEST, PICKIN’ & GRINNIN’, ANIMAL AMONG US, BLACK LIMOUSINE and CHASING THE RAIN.
In addition to on-screen work, Eric is a highly sought after Voice-Over artist with credits that include CAPTAIN MARVEL, THE MAGICIANS, WTF 101, KC UNDERCOVER and INTO THE BADLANDS, video games such as CALL OF DUTY, LEGO STAR WARS, CRACKDOWN, BATTLEFIELD and TITANFALL as well as recurring national spokesperson campaigns for TOYOTA, APPLE, MINI COOOPER, TACO BELL, JIMMY JOHNS and HELZBERG DIAMONDS.
MEET THE TEAM
Jump to: Cast | Supporters
JEREMY MERRIFIELD
Writer-Director
Jeremy is a writer, director, and producer who recently began making films after spending more than a decade working in New York’s Broadway theater community and the advertising industry. His most recent film, BALLOON, stars Paul Scheer (Black Monday, The League) and Jonah Beres (Hulu’s PEN15) and uses the superhero myth to examine toxic masculinity and how we raise our boys. The film premiered at Palm Springs International Film Festival’s Short Fest and has been seen at New Orleans Film Festival, Hawaii International Film Festival, and HollyShorts Film Festival where it won Grand Prix qualifying for the 2020 Oscars. He wrote and directed a spec comedy pilot, FOR REAL, a satirical examination of American narcissism in the age of the social media star. In addition, his first short film, LINE, is based on his childhood growing up in a commercial fishing community and tells the story of a family of fishermen on the frontlines of the climate change crisis. In the theater, he produced the concert and workshop for Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown’s debut musical SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD. In casting, he worked on THE BOY FROM OZ starring Hugh Jackman as well as Cameron Mackintosh’s CATS. As a director, he assisted the New York Theatre Workshop production of Houshang Touzie’s OUR SWEET LIFE BY THE PACIFIC OCEAN starring Shoreh Agdashloo and exploring the life of a Persian family living in America. Other credits include YANK! (Off-Broadway, associate producer), MARY POPPINS (Broadway, assistant to the producer), MISS SAIGON (Broadway tour). In the advertising industry, Jeremy has worked internationally providing creative direction and consulting for Fortune 500 companies such as Oracle, Canon, Lucent, and Pfizer. His production company, Dream Three Films is currently developing a full slate of new projects including features based on BALLOON and LINE, as well as a musical episodic starring his partner, Michael James Scott (Genie in Disney's ALADDIN on Broadway). Jeremy has an MFA in Directing from The American Film Institute. jeremymerrifield.com
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DAVE TESTA
Co-Writer
Before attending the American Film Institute Conservatory, Dave studied at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, studying English literature and creative writing. While at AFI, he has written four short films including THE BELL (directed by Jeremy Merrifield), THE VISITOR, BLOOD, and LOST.
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CHRISTINA CHA
Producer
Christina is a writer/producer who recently optioned her first screenplay, LILITH, to Miramax. She worked under the mentorship of Scott Steindorff & Dylan Russell, handling story development, creative outreach, and a variety of producing assignments. Previous producing credits include LOST IN AMERICA, REDISCOVER AMERICA, and A TRAVELING SYMPHONY (dir. Jeremy Merrifield). Prior to filmmaking, Christina worked as a creative media consultant with companies such as Disney, NBC Universal, FOX, CBS/Viacom, Lionsgate, SONY, Technicolor, and Amazon. She’s a graduate at AFI Conservatory with M.F.A. in Producing and has B.A. in Mass Communication from CSU of Fullerton.
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MICHAEL JAMES SCOTT
Executive Producer
DREAM THREE FILMS
An award winning actor with a career on Broadway, Film and TV for over 25 years. Michael has played “The Genie” in Disney Theatrical’s production of ALADDIN in New York, Australia, Los Angeles, and London. He has originated roles in shows such as BOOK OF MORMON, ALADDIN, SOMETHING ROTTEN, HAIR. He can be seen in the upcoming Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg produced series BLACK MONDAY (Showtime) starring Don Cheadle.
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ALEX PEURYE
Line Producer
A CPA and a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington with a Bachelors in Theatre, Accounting and Finance; and the Tom Todoroff Conservatory. He brings project management experience from Fortune 500 clients he served with both PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte, as well as from Peurye Hissong, his own accounting practice. Previously collaborated with Jeremy Merrifield on FOR REAL as Production Accountant.
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KATE CHAMURIS
Associate Producer
DREAM THREE FILMS
Kate Chamuris is a producer at Dream Three Films and has worked with director Jeremy Merrifield in varying capacities on all of his films including LINE, FOR REAL, and most recently BALLOON (Grand Prix winner, HollyShorts). She has produced seven films at The American Film Institute including MILLER & SON (BAFTA Student Award, Gold Student Academy Award), IF THIS IS WRONG, UNSPEAKABLE (SXSW Official Selection) and BLOCKS. As a director, her work includes the comedic short A SARI FOR PALLAVI (Best Comedy Short at Rhode Island International Film Festival). In the advertising industry, she worked as an account manager for major clients including ROLEX Global.
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MATTHEW HENDERSON
Associate Producer
A producer and production manager, Matthew has worked throughout the Australian entertainment industry for the past twenty years. Credits include THE BOY FROM OZ, FAME, WE WILL ROCK YOU (Australia & Japan), Disney’s THE LION KING (Australia & China), MISS SAIGON (Australia), Disney’s HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL (Australia) and OzOpera’s tour of MADAME BUTTERFLY.
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FRANCES KROON
Cinematographer
Frances Kroon, or ‘Franki’, is a South African Cinematographer who earned her MFA in Cinematography at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. She speaks 4 languages (English; Spanish; IsiXhosa and Afrikaans). She came up through the camera department, working on features such as SAFEHOUSE and MAD MAX FURY ROAD; as well as a large variety of both local and international commercials in South Africa. Her recent work on the short BALLOON won the Grand Prix at HollyShorts and was nominated for a ASC Student Heritage Award. Her conceptual piece (which she both directed and shot) AFRIKA IS A COUNTRY was awarded a silver medal at the Young Director Awards at Cannes Lions 2019 and won best experimental film at the European Cinematography awards. franceskroon.com
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JERRY MARSINI
Production Designer
A production designer, dramatist, and creative director based in NYC. Previous collaborations with Jeremy Merrifield include a TV pilot, FOR REAL, and two shorts, LINE and A TRAVELING SYMPHONY. He is co-author of UNNATURAL ACTS, Drama Desk Award nominee for Best Play. In addition, his creative marketing work has include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, HBO, Playground Entertainment, The Body Shop, La MaMa, Abingdon Theatre Company and Dream Foundation. marsini.com
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BOWEI YUE
Editor
A graduate of the Beijing Film Academy (BFA, Audio Art), Bowei worked as a sound editor and composer for many short films and commercials during his undergraduate years. His short, FINE SWEET, was nominated for a Golden Award for Best Picture at the Beijing Film Academy Golden in 2013. His first feature, TO US FROM US, will be released in China later this year. His latest work, DARK WOLF GANG, an AFI Directing Workshop for Women short, will premiere at the Directors Guild of America next year.
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ALI HELNWEIN
Composer
Ali is an Emmy winning composer and has orchestrated Grammy winning projects. He composed all the music for 13 “Touch of Evil” short films, featuring an all-star cast including Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Glenn Close, Jessica Chastain, Viola Davis, to name a few. As an arranger and orchestrator he did the strings on the title track to Florence & The Machine’s No. 1 chart topping album “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful.”
In 2010 his “Rain” Violin Concerto premiered in downtown LA’s historic Million Dollar Theater, conducted by David Campbell. In 2006 he founded the Traction Avenue Chamber Orchestra, which he has successfully conducted since.
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DEBBY ROMANO, CSA
Casting Director
Debby has been casting television and film for more than 25 years. She is best known for casting television comedy with her business partner, Brett Benner. Together they’ve assembled the casts of many shows including SCRUBS, UNDATEABLE, COUGAR TOWN, and most recently THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT. In addition they’ve taken over the casting for series such as LAST MAN STANDING and ONE TREE HILL. Debby made the leap to starting Romano/Benner Casting after casting the pilot and first season of THAT 70S SHOW with Liberman/Hirschfeld Casting. It remains one of her most proud moments in casting to this day.
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FLYING
TELEKINESIS
Todd Nowacki
Jeanna & Mike Merrifield
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HEALING
Nikole Flannery & Michael J. Merrifield
Wendy Goldstein
Independence Hall
Íce Mrozek
Steven Pickett
Jolene Schulte
X-RAY VISION
Elana Horwich
Celene & Roland Peurye-Hissong
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LASER VISION
Jonathan Cha
John Davis
Amy Foo
Dee Merrifield
Paul Mpistolarides
Oklahoma Tool & Machine
Anne Garefino
David Geiger
Peter Gellman
Ben Good
Kira Harris
Zachariah Hennessey
Leopoldo Hernandez
Leah Howard
Sylvia Lan
Michelle Larsen
Sherylanne McCoy
David Burton Morris
Chris Merrifield & Erin Savage
Sam Morse
Cathy Nathan
Lisa Jackson Ringer
Debby Romano
FORCE FIELD
Annette & Daniel Testa
Stephanie Testa
Stephen Testa
Cole Vallis
Kevin Williams
Eric Wyatt
Kira Yu
Robin Zibelli
Adrienne Angel
Laura Arellano
Amy Armstrong
Allen Calvert
Jinwoo Chung
Patrick Ecclesine
Alex Geana
Andrea & Jim Hoog
Tina Kerins
Ginger Klee
Josh & Nichole McCoy
Tina & Matt Merrifield
Christopher Laughter
Anna Pacitto
Oren Peli
Robert Saposh
Forrest Shinners
Michael The
Darby & Nicholas Testa
Irene & Michael Testa
Kate & Zach Zipay
SPEED
Michael Abbott
Alan Akahoshi
P. Albert Austria
Tim Beck
Tyler Bergener
Jaclyn Bethany
Frank Cao
Anna & Bella Carswell
Hans Christopher
Joe Cilento
Rafael Colon
Suzanne Fain
STRENGTH
Clarie Florian
Kimberly Gallegos
Ernie Halvorsen
Martina Henderson
Melinda Hersh
Elisabeth Indriani
Grivas Kopti
Angel Levy
Nikki M. James
Steve Maltez
Kathleen McNenny
Dan Merrifield
Paolina Milana
Jaume Mora
Thomas Mumey
Justin Peurye-Hissong
Hua Shang
Warren Shaw
Rita Suley
Brandon Sutton
Cody Toler
Jonathan Vanderzon
Gerald Voigt
Joseph Yoo
