BENJAMIN MEYER (writer/director) is a writer, director and editor working in Los Angeles. His short film WHAT ARE YOU HAVING? won the Grand Prix du Court-Metrage at the Deauville Film Festival (Roman Polanski, jury chair), a CINE Golden Eagle, and Best Short Film at the Abuja International Film Festival in Nigeria. His prior short, GEORGIE PORGIE won “Best Short Film” at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, the Boston Underground Film Festival and the Seattle Underground Film Festival; “Best Director” at the Georgetown Independent Film Festival; “Best Drama” at the IFP/Chicago Film Festival; and a Bronze Plaque at the Columbus International Film Festival. He also won multiple festival awards for his prior two shorts, SOLD and BOTHERED. Benjamin received his BA in Film Studies from Wesleyan university with High Honors, and received his MFA in Film Production from Northwestern University. As an editor he has worked on feature documentaries and television specials with such award-winning filmmakers as Michele Ohayon, Ondi Timoner, Eddie Schmidt and Peter Stuart. He edited the feature film NORMAL ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR for New Line Cinema. Meyer’s short story (and yourself) was recently published by Mullholland Books as part of their Popcorn Fiction series.

BETH SCHACTER (producer) just wrapped two seasons as a writer on the critically acclaimed series BUNHEADS for ABC Family, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino. After getting a BA in theater from Kenyon College, Schacter worked as a producer at the Williamstown Theater Festival, New Dramatists and the ground-breaking Dixon Place before getting her MFA at Columbia University in film where she was a Hearst Scholar. While still in school she co-wrote the feature BEAUTY REMAINS for Emerging Pictures which premiered at the LA Film Festival. Beth Schacter wrote and directed the indie film NORMAL ADOLESCENT BEHAVIOR starring Amber Tamblyn and Kelli Garner. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was released by New Line Cinema.

DANA SCOTT (producer) has spent the last 17 years working both in front of and behind the camera. She has worked as a Producer, Director, UPM, and AD. Her recent television credits include Denis Leary’s new USA Network series SIRENS, Showtime’s SHAMELESS, and the Food Network reality series SANDWICH KING. Her film credits include Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER, and DIG TWO GRAVES. She is currently in active development as UPM on the film MONEY IS MONEY for director Gela Babluani (director of 13, which won the World Cinema Jury Prize for Dramatic Motion Picture at Sundance). She also produced and co-directed DOUBLE NEGATIVE, which is currently on the film festival circuit.

MARY CROSS (Susan) is a founding member of two theatre companies: The Production Company in NYC and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble in Chicago, where she also holds the title of Associate Artistic Director. Mary performed in Rivendell Theatre Ensemble’s production of WRENS which won Chicago’s prestigious Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Ensemble and Best New Work. She was also nominated for a Jeff award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Ruth O’Hare in A MISLAID HEAVEN with Chicago’s Famous Door Theatre Company. In the indie feature film ROUGH CUT, Mary played a principal role; and she has been cast in several Industrial films over the years. In addition to theatre and film, Mary has worked in voiceover. She will be seen next spring on stage in Courtney Baron’s Mid-West premiere of EAT YOUR HEART OUT at Rivendell.

SZELES HEADSHOT

MICHAEL SZELES (Sam) has been nominated twice for a New York Innovative Theater Award: Best Solo Performance and Best Ensemble Performance. His extensive theater credits include multiple appearances at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. He has been nominated for Best On Screen Performance at the Chicago Underground Film Festival and the Method Fest in Burbank, CA. He also played Sam in Benjamin Meyer’s short film GEORGIE PORGIE, which screened and won awards at festivals around the world. He appears regularly on the National Geographic Channel as “Jack Conrad”.