CAST & CREW
NATHANIEL EATON "Eddie Vassick"
Nathaniel Eaton started his career as an extra on Knight Rider, toured North America as a circus clown, was found dead on Law & Order and sold chicken nuggets in a national campaign for McDonald's. He is co-founder of Living Fiction Films, and his new memoir Packing For The Apocalypse has just been optioned for a feature film.
JONATHAN MOORE "Warren Vassick"
Jonathan began his career training at the acclaimed Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in his native New York City, as a teen. He continued studying with Sally Johnson at The Sally Johnson Studio for the next 16 years. Since becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild in 1989, his training has rewarded him well. Known for being a "Director's Actor" because of his unique dramatic ability, Jonathan has won roles in NBC movie True Blue, indie feature A Question of Time, and a host of films, TV shows and TV Movies. He currently divides his time between Los Angeles and his beloved New York.
FRED BERMAN "Oliver Perry"
A born and bred New Yorker, Fred recently completed filming the role of “Adam Berman” for the MTV pilot Daily Pops, and can also be seen as “Andy Conway” on ABC’s All My Children. He has performed in a variety of films and television shows, such as Four Letter Words, An Argentino in New York, VH-1’s Scavengers and Law & Order. He is also a strong advocate of New York theatre and has participated in numerous productions, such as The Normal Heart, Shockheaded Peter, Room Service, and The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde, as well as regional theater productions like Biloxi Blues, The Buddy Holly Story, and The Tin Pan Alley Rag, for which he received a Carbonell nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Berman has also appeared in countless television commercials and has recorded hundreds of voice-overs for a variety of media. Learn more about Fred Berman at www.FredBerman.net.
DEIRDRE COLEMAN IMUS "Dana Carpenter"
Renaissance woman Deirdre Imus is founder and president of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology. She also co-founded Imus Ranch, a working cattle ranch for kids with cancer, where she is currently co-director. Deirdre began her career as a professional model, after graduating from Villanova University. She went on to perform noted roles in film and television, before moving on to focus on philanthropy. She was born and raised in Hartford, Connecticut.
VALERIE PERRINE "Gloria Vassick"
Valerie's acting has generated numerous awards and nominations. For her dramatic role in Lenny opposite Dustin Hoffman, directed by Bob Fosse, she received the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival, the New York Film Critics Award, the British Academy Award, the New York Board of Review, the National Association of Theaters Award, the United Motion Picture Association Award, the Hollywood Women's Press Club Newcomer of the Year nomination and a nomination for an Oscar as Best Actress at the American Academy Awards.
An Ace Award nomination for a Miss Piggy-type bimbo in Shelly Duvals' Faeire Tale Theatre proved her talent as a comedienne.
After making her debut in the Kurt Vonnegut Classic Slaughterhouse Five, Valerie has played with some of the most respected actors of our time: Gene Hackman in the Superman franchise, Jack Nicholson and Harvey Keitel in The Border, Robert Mitchum in Agency, Jackie Gleason in Mr. Billion, Dennis Hopper and Wesley Snipes in Boiling Point, Robert Redford and Jane Fonda in The Electric Horseman and Mel Gibson in What Women Want, to name a few. She has also appeared in numerous MOW's, TV pilots and TV shows, such as Third Watch, The Beast, Nash Bridges, The Practice, Homicide and ER.
Valerie has lived all over the world: four years in Japan, two years in Paris, four years in London, and two years in Rome, where she appeared in Italian films and television. Valerie moved to New York in the mid-nineties, where she became interested in theater performance. She hadn't performed in front of a live audience since debuting as a Las Vegas dancer in her late teens.
Valerie continues to work on stage, television and film, pushing the envelope in dramatic performances that earn accolades and awards. In her spare time, she enjoys needlepoint, sewing, reading, painting, gardening and writing. She also loves traveling; the act of studying foreign cultures and languages intoxicates her. She hopes to incorporate her interests into her art.
JAID BARRYMORE "Carla Bass"
As an independent producer and founding partner of Phaze 3 Filmz, Jaid has over thirty-five years experience in the entertainment industry. Born in Europe, she moved to New York, then on to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, studying with Stella Adler, Estelle Harmon, Rick Walters, and Gene Bua along the way. Jaid started out in commercials; she “squeezed the Charmin” before winning critically acclaimed roles on stage and screen. She stole the scene in hit theater productions, such as Playing for Time, Grandma Sylvia’s Funeral and Dressing Room, as well as film classics like Night Shift, Funny Valentine, and The Last Days of Disco. She also hosted underground cult favorite Jaid Barrymore Uncensored for America Online.
As Jaid progressed in the industry, she began working extensively behind the scenes as well. She co-executive produced indie film This Revolution, with Rosario Dawson and Amy Redford, which premiered at Sundance in 2004. She channeled her love of acting into teaching, and became a sought-after private acting coach. She refined her writing craft, and went on to pen much-loved novel Secrets of World Class Lovers, before focusing on screenwriting.
Jaid is currently co/re-writing three films that are set for production this fall: Phaze 3’s The Ryde and Latin Lyrics, as well as Rym and the LD’s for producers Elis Pacheco and Jim Chankin. She also works as a creative consultant for Freemangroup Films, and is collaborating on their latest project Dead Aim.
With a clear understanding of the marketplace, Jaid can pinpoint the potential success of material. She feels that her hard work, instincts, intelligence, contacts, luck, sense of humor, and relentless passion has contributed to her success in the business. “The opportunity to inspire, influence, and entertain is both a privilege and a challenge,” she says.
Jaid is the ex-wife of late actor John Barrymore and mother of actress Drew Barrymore. She currently resides in New York.
STEVEN MARCUS "Jacky Dunkirk"
Veteran actor Steven Marcus' credits in television, film, and theatre include some of pop culture's hottest properties. He has appeared on television shows Law & Order, Arrested Development, The District, NYPD Blue, and Ellen. He counts films Bristol Boys, Party Monster, The Tavern, and Savage Hearts among his credits. He is also a pillar of New York and regional theatre, performing scene-stealing roles in Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine by Warren Leight at the Penguin Repertory Theatre, Ah, Wilderness, directed by Daniel Sullivan at Lincoln Center Theatre, and Balm in Gilead, directed by John Malkovich at the Minetta Lane Theatre, among many others.
Steven, currently, enjoys spending time in his native New York with his family.
NASHID FAREED "Skrim"
Nashid is committed to the continuing development of his crafts: acting, poetry, and dramatic writing. Born and raised in the Bronx, he was exposed to the vast diversity of New York City. Upon graduating from high school, he attended the University of Rochester, majoring in political science. However, he left college after freshman year and returned to New York City to pursue his writing outside of academia.
As a young and developing writer, Nashid has committed himself to years of intensive self-study, focusing on the works of Khalil Gibran and Lorraine Hansberry. Over the years he has experienced a number of successes. Many of his plays have been produced off-Broadway, and he has been invited to read his poetry at awards' ceremonies, graduations, and community events. His writing has facilitated his career as an actor, director and producer.
LAURENCE N. KALDOR - Writer / Producer / Director
Actor's director Laurence N. Kaldor makes his directorial debut with Redirecting Eddie. It is the culmination of a fruitful, 17-year filmmaking career in which Laurence has worked on a multitude of independent films, television shows, and commercials. He has worked in almost every industry capacity, including as an award-winning producer, actor, writer and editor.
Laurence received his Bachelor of Arts from State University of New York at Stony Brook, and his Master's in history from the University of San Diego. He studied law at Golden Gate University in San Francisco, where he received his Doctorate of Judice Prudence. He has been admitted to both the New York and California Bar Associations.
While attending law school, Laurence doubled up to pursue his education in film, during nights and weekends. He attended Arts Foundation in San Francisco and Film Video Arts in New York City, before earning his Master's in Directing and Producing at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
Laurence's drive and determination extend far beyond his passion for education--to the very living of life itself. On September 28, 1984, at age 16, Laurence miraculously survived an airplane crash that dramatically changed his life. He lost his left leg, his right eye and his father, but found his incredible will to live. He has persevered through excruciating trauma and wants to inspire others to overcome obstacles, through the magical medium of film.
Laurence is currently developing several feature films for his production company Kaliber Films. Through his projects, he hopes to establish a legacy of enlightening material that raises consciousness and communicates uplifting ideals to vast audiences. He has the absolute stamina and persistence to accomplish his lofty goals.
AVERY O WILLIAMS - Writer
Avery O Williams has experienced a dynamic filmmaking career, with success in both film and theater. He has collaborated with some of the entertainment industry’s hottest names on feature film, shorts, and screenplays, as well as major theater productions across the country.
A graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Avery earned his Master’s Degree with Honors in Dramatic Writing from New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts, where he became the first Graduate Student Artist-in-Residence for the department. He also received the Waldo Salt / Ian Hunter Award for Excellence in Screenwriting.
Early in his career, Avery wrote and directed a public service feature for the City of Atlanta entitled Surviving Domestic Violence. He wrote and co-produced the film short The Willie Witch Projects, which was showcased at the Cannes Film Festival and later distributed by Trimark Pictures. He also wrote short subject screenplay The Chocolate Factory, Part 1, which was later produced.
Avery penned and produced feature film Notes in A Minor Key, with award-winning director Adisa Jones, under the Walt Disney / Hollywood Pictures Discretionary Fund Program. The film stars Emmy winner Keith David (Platoon, There's Something About Mary) and Harry Lennix (The Matrix Reloaded, 24) and has won the top prize in multiple film competitions by respected institutions, including The Black American Cinema Society, Black Filmmaker Hall of Fame, and the Atlanta / Image Film Festival. The film was also a finalist in the NYU Mobil Awards, and was hailed by Stephen Holden of the New York Times as "...crisp, assured...tightly constructed and well-acted."
Avery’s success has spilled onto the stage as well. He co-produced Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues, directed by Penny Marshall in 2005. He also wrote and produced musicals for the Amazing Grace Conservatory, including TLC (A Tribute to Tracy Coley), The Chocolate Factory, Pino and Everything Changes. For the national stage, Avery wrote and produced A Mother's Prayer and What A Woman Will Do For Love, starring Disney Channel’s Raven Symone, and R&B sensations Cherrelle, Ann Nesby, Howard Hewett and Lashun Pace. Most recently Avery co-produced Tom Coles' Medal of Honor Rag, starring veteran rap star Heavy D, and executive produced by Will Smith.
Avery is currently writing a feature film for Nia Long (Big Momma’s House, Are We There Yet?) and hip-hop superstar Tip “T.I.” Harris. He is also co-producing urban feature Crossed, with Heavy D, which is slated to begin production later this fall.
ABE SCHRAGER - Director of Photography
Abe Schrager began his photographic career at age 7 when a painter / photographer uncle first gave him a camera. When he was in high school, Abe shot for the school’s daily newspaper, literary magazine, and yearbook. Upon deciding that a career in mechanical engineering was fit for another, Abe entered the professional world of still photography. He begin making waves in a career that would eventually encompass motion pictures and stretch across four decades.
In photography, Abe specialized in advertising illustration, fashion, architecture and journalism. He documented the Al Capone courtroom drama for the federal archives, Hockey legend Bobby Hull’s 54th goal for Sports Illustrated, and a Beatles concert for the Chicago Daily News.
In the film world, Abe started out as a grip, specializing in dolly and crane movement, and also in camera rigging. He, then, switched to the camera department and built a great reputation as an assistant cameraman, before advancing to camera operator and director of photography. In these two categories, Abe’s work has ranged from commercials to features, from industrials and documentaries, to short films and music videos. He has photographed some of pop culture’s finest, including astronaut Neil Armstrong, Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, and The Rolling Stones.
Abe has worked as director of photography, camera operator, and / or 2nd Unit D.P. on scores of feature films, including The Hours with Nicole Kidman who won the Best Actress Oscar for her role. He photographed The Hurricane with Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington (Training Day, Glory) and Oscar-nominated cinematographer Roger Deakins ( A Beautiful Mind, The Man Who Wasn’t There). Abe has worked on hot television properties such as Sex & The City with Sarah Jessica Parker, Law & Order, and The Education of Max Bickford. He has shot commercials for some of the country’s most successful corporations, including American Express, Amtrak, Citibank, Coca Cola, Hallmark, and the Wall Street Journal. He has also shot industrials for Adidas, Avon, Sears, Sony and TWA Airlines.
Abe has enjoyed an abundant career, filled to the brink with worthwhile productions and collaborations. He currently enjoys spending time with his family in Forest Hills, NY.
DAVID OLTMAN - Producer
David Oltman has worked in independent film production in various capacities for the past 12 years. Redirecting Eddie marks his debut as a producer. He has also worked as a line producer, production manager or producer in noted independent projects, such as Four Lane Highway, The Event with Parker Posey (Superman Returns, Best in Show), Wholey Moses with Linda Hamilton ( Batman Beyond, The Secret Life of Girls), and Saturn, featuring Scott Caan (Ocean’s Eleven Franchise, Friends with Money) and Mia Kirshner (The L Word, The Black Dahlia). He also counts Before It Had a Name with Willam Dafoe (The Last Temptation of Christ, Spider-Man Franchise) and Twisted Fortune with Charlie Murphy (Chappelle's Show, Norbit) and Ike Barinholtz of Mad TV fame among his credits.
Most recently, David worked on Paul Sorvino’s (father of Mira Sorvino) upcoming The Trouble with Cali, which is scheduled for release in 2008.