Michael R. West

Starting out as an editor for a local production company in Newport, RI, Michael West was above all else an entertainment fan.

After five solid years of editing independent films and learning from the world's greatests by watching films, he directed Lunch: The Spec Pilot in 2009 which received an 'Official Finalist' award at the Las Vegas Film Festival. His followup was to a self-made short Night which will be finished in the fall/winter of 2010.

In addition to editing Satan & The Saint & Tiny Tim: The Last Hurrah, Michael has appeared on large projects, working as cast & crew, such as Waterfront, 2008 Jazz Festival & Grown Ups. He continues to help the independent scene in New England working with The Nate Mott Band with upcoming music videos.

Michael has received multiple nominations in screenplay festivals. In 2008 the Action On Film International Film Festival nominated his script Medulla with Best Crime Drama and Best Comedy Scene. In 2010, his script At Last, Alone was nominated for Best Horror by the same festival. It won Runner-Up in July.

Barbara Newman

Barbara Newman's initial entry into the art world was encompassed making glass beads for her unique jewelry, taking photographs of the world around her and now the world of film. She’s had museum exhibits showcasing her work at two New England museums. Many of the cast and crew photographs taken during the filming of Festival were taken by Barbara.

Her introduction into film was a production class taught by Ken Golden, a Hollywood producer. The next step was taking classes and crewing at QATV, Quincy’s public access television, in audio, camera and producing her own show. Barbara joined Festival as Key Production Assistant but quickly took on the tasks of Assistant Director, and recently was a production assistant on Boil Alert for Cast Party Production.

Barbara is looking for more opportunities in film as an assistant director or producer.

Ben Seligman

Ben Seligman studied literature and creative writing and involves himself with filming and editing. Always having a fascination for amazing stories, real or fictional, in written or visual mediums, has lead him to the professional film industry.

Starting recently, Ben has already been building a resume working as a Production Assistant on Zombie, Fox Sports Events and of course Festival. Other work includes Assistant Camera on Cietta and a Key Grip on What A Pill.

When not working on professional sets, Ben operates a Panasonic HVX200 and edits on Final Cut Pro. His aspirations have no limits when working with film.

John Golden

A proud film geek since his first viewing of Star Wars as a child, John Golden is a fresh and excited new face to the world of movie making. Since graduating from the Center of Digital Imaging and Arts at Boston University in 2009, in the field of Digital Filmmaking, he has tirelessly worked on numerous projects, in varying roles, for both film and television.

Immediately following his graduation, John landed his first job as Director of Photography for an independent thriller entitled Family Secret, shot in Springfield, MA. In addition to his duties on Festival he has also done production assistant work for HBO Sports and Fox Sports Network for their televised boxing and mixed martial arts events. In May of 2010 John completed an internship with PBS affiliate WGBY Channel 57, in Springfield, MA where he had the honor of doing camera work for their in-depth talk shows, which included guests such as Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. He has several other credits for crew positions on pending independent films.

Currently, John is working on the inspirational drama Luke Eleven his second film working as Director of Photography. He hopes some day to move to California and direct movies like Festival himself.

Tara Brooke Watkins

Tara Brooke Watkins is a theatre director and instructor in Boston, MA. She is a graduate of Eastern Nazarene College. For years, she portrayed the role of a colonist for the nationally renowned living history museum, Plimoth Plantation while also traveling around New England as a public speaker for Monster's Making It Count.

For six years, she served as Artistic Director at Riverside Theatre Works in Boston where she produced over 10 productions a year, directed for Boston's Annual Theatre marathon, founded the Teen Production Company which provided technical and designer jobs for teens as well as trained them in the art of various theatrical genres.

She now directs Eastern Nazarene College's theatre program and runs her own theatre school, The South Shore School of Theatre. She is also a board member of CBACT (Consortium of Boston Area Children's Theatres). Her directing credits include: The Importance of Being Earnest, No Exit, Big River, The Music Man, Peter Pan, The Trojan Women, The Dining Room, Les Miserables: School Edition, The Apple Tree, 42nd Street, and the show she grew up with Oklahoma!

Tara is blessed to feel so supported by her wonderful husband, Bruce. This is her first film.

Gary Bosek

Gary Bosek began his acting career in 1995 producing and starring in his own sketch comedy show for cable television. Gary did several celebrity impersonations including Steven Segal, Jay Leno, & Jack Nicholson along with some original characters. Gary trained at Second City Detroit under Keegan Michael Key (MADTV). “I had so much fun working on Festival with this incredibly gifted cast and crew!”, says Gary.

Gary has some directing chops himself and has a feature film under his belt Harmless Thoughts as well as a cable television series titled The Other Universe currently in development. The feature, as well as the series, is along the lines of the old Twilight Zone or Tales From The Crypt and incorporates short, mind-bending stories.

Gary often gives himself roles in his own films as he enjoys portraying “creepy characters” in dramas and thrillers. Gary admits, however, that his real niche is comedy; “It dawned on me when I finally realized that no matter what I do on film, people are laughing-“, he quips “-and that makes me really, really happy!”.

Melissa McMeekin

Melissa McMeekin has been acting as long as she can remember. While growing up in Bellingham, Washington, a small town near the Canadian border, she took part in every school play and did as much community theater as they’d let her, often crossing paths with Hilary Swank who was acting in the same circles.

A move to Seattle allowed her to pursue the stage more seriously and she built an impressive and extensive resume while there. After moving to Boston she decided it was time to finally pursue her dream of making the transition to film. She was quickly cast as Little Alice, a sister of Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, in the biopic of Lowell boxer Mikey Ward, The Fighter. She has worked steadily since, traveling to New York to film The Hole in The Wall opposite French film star Roxanne Mesquida. She goes to West Virginia later this spring to work on Hiding Games playing a meth addict released from prison and trying to reconnect with her children.

Filming has begun on the psychological thriller The Visionary, in which she has the lead role as the mother of a young girl who after being cast in a major motion picture becomes the obsession of the director. And recently filmed a small role in Time and Charge$, a new film directed by Academy Award Winner Ernest Thompson.

Carol Drewes

Carol Drewes was once almost as England-obsessed as her character Priscilla Dragon. Carol’s acting and costuming experience includes work with Chanhassen Dinner Theatre in Minnesota, Weathervane Summer Repertory in New Hampshire and many regional and community theatres in various other Midwestern and east coast locales.

Carol continues with her acting being in local theater and will be on stage later spring 2010.

Bill Doherty Jr.

A versatile veteran actor in the Independent Film scene. Bill Doherty Jr. has been a part of numerous short and feature length films spanning throughout New England, New York, and L.A. playing roles such as insane bellhops, failed heroes, gang members, narcissistic business men, troubled lovers touching all genres.

In the Independent Film scene Bill has played a failed hero in the upcoming thriller The Machine written and directed by Jeffery Stallman, an unsuspecting victim in Jack in the Box directed by award winning director Frank Kerr, a ball busting party goer in 3 in the Clip, 1 in the Chamber directed by award winning director Garry Medeiros, and with his Directorial and Producer debut, a gunman in a comical 3 man hit crew in his film Love Hurts, and is currently working on a film in New York where he plays a doctor confronting a man who killed an extremely close person in his life.

His theater experience ranges from renaissance ensembles to dinner and local theater. He has played an Irish rogue in King Richard's Faire, and many roles for the acclaimed murder mystery dinner theater company “whodunnit” such as, english museum curator, a rich, spoiled heir to millions, a detective, and many more.

He starred/featured in commercials including Converse, Amazon, Bud Light and Coors Light. He has been in intense, constant training with Carter Thor Studios East since 2005 to keep his acting fresh, and push everything he has already learned to levels he couldn’t imagine. He is always looking for new challenges and opportunities to push the envelope, take risks, and bring his talent to new levels.

Matt Surette

Born and raised in Malden, MA Matt Surette graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester with a B.S. in Economics. Before finding acting he labored in Financial Services and rose to the rank of Regional Vice President, Sales and Marketing, SunLife Financial. The economic downturn cost Matt his job but gave him the gift of time to begin developing an acting career.

Since August of 2009, Matt has been involved in numerous feature film, short film, theatre, commercial and industrial films. His work on Festival has been a highlight along with CO2, Gabrielle starring Michael Madsen, Room Serviced, The Last Shot & The Play Front. Others include The Marriage Counselor, Bucky the Clown, Slow Moves, Ashley/Amber, Drop Dead! (Theatre), and Twentieth Century (Theatre). Matt was just recently cast as the co-host of a TV Pilot that begins production this spring called Current Bid along side Festival's featured model Vanessa Leigh.

Matt plans to move to Los Angeles to further his acting career and would like to thank friends and family for support and love. "I loved working with you guys and gals", he says. "Hope we get the chance to make another hilarious film"!

Megan Phelps

Megan Phelps is a 21 year old actress from Carver, MA. Her first role was a fairy in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She was 6 and thought the play was going to be about clowns. Two of her favorite theater roles are "Ben Affleck" in the play Matt and Ben and "Bananas" in The House of Blue Leaves.

Megan was recently seen in the Umass Boston Production of Wit? or Without You!, a play directed by Carrie-Ann Quinn. Her performance as "Kit" in the 1920s ensemble-based play, based off of short stories by Dorothy Parker, earned her a nomination to represent her University's acting department at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF).

She is currently working on Gabrielle an independent film starring Michael Madsen in New Hampshire. She has plans to move to Los Angeles attending college there this Fall.

Boston Casting Page

Holly Travis

Holly Travis is a veteran performer and has worked in theater, film, TV, radio, and voice-overs. She holds a B.A. in Integrated Arts from Wheelock College, and a prestigious certificate from Connecticut School of Broadcasting.

Holly has been in the haunted attraction industry for 9 years, working for 6 years for Spooky World and now can be seen every October at Count Orlok’s Nightmare Gallery in Salem, MA. Besides Festival, she will also soon be seen in several films including Hooked (Winterbeast Entertainment Group), Opening Night (Final Curtain Films), ROLH (BU Films), and if you look real hard, you can see her in Furry Vengeance with Brendan Fraser. She will be performing live in The New England Pirate Faire with Pastimes in June. She can currently also be seen as Donna the Dropout in My Totally 80’s Reunion with Elvis Collins Productions co-starring fellow Festival-er Andrew Gerst.

Boston Casting | Agency Pro Talent

Addison Graham

Addison has been acting since she was 4 years old and is the 2009 Miss MA Preteen National Teen. She has been involved in a number of film projects. Most recently, she was cast in a new kids & family drama adventure being produced by Sagacity Productions. She made her big screen debut in The Game Plan. Though a quick flash on the screen, the experience made a huge impact on her and deepened her desire to become an actress.

She can be seen in a Public Service Announcement, currently airing for Big Sisters of Rhode Island. She appears in Adam Sandler film Grown Ups during the water park scene in which the small group she was filmed with took direction directly from Sandler. She also appears, as a prep school student, in the Knights Of Bostonia music video by State Radio - directed by Andrew Mudge, from the album "Let It Go".

She's had the opportunity to work with Academy Award Winner Ernest Thompson, when she was filmed in a couple scenes in Time And Charges$. She has worked on two independent films projects with Classico FIlms. She also has her own show Out & About With Addison Graham, currently in production with her local Comcast CATV. She is the 1st Youth Advocate appointed by the One Warn Coat organization and the 1st Youth Advisory Board Member appointed by KooDooz, Inc.

Addison was honored as an "Everyday Young Hero" by Youth Service of America. She was recently notified that she was being honored as the local winner of "Kohl's Kids Who Care". Addison, an environmental advocate and supporter of community service & volunteering, will be competing for the 2010 National American Miss MA PreTeen Title in July.

Timothy DeCoff

Nine year old Timmy DeCoff started his acting career at ripe old age of four. Since then Timmy has appeared in over a half dozen features such as Beyond The Dunwich Horror and the award winning Tricks of a Woman. He photo doubled for Mathew McConaughy at the age of 8 in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

Timmy has trained with instructors such as Lorna Brunell, Anastasia Barnes, and Jennifer Salvucci. Timmy says the best of acting is all the really nice people he gets to meet and most importantly becoming their friend.

This young man recently has worked as a Casting assistant for The Bunker. He is not just interested in acting but has trained behind the camera, claymation, sound, credits, and yes ..directing, and script writing! This summer he will expand his training by delving into Shakeshere at a young actors summer camp. Hamlet is by far his favorite.

Timmy trains in Judo (green belt), Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, and gymnastics.

Timmy's favorite actors are Mathew McConaughy, Johnny Depp, Jennifer Garner and Sarah Nicklin. He is the son of actor William DeCoff (who for some reason he does not list among his favorite actors). Ain't it always the way!?

Thomas Bonifacio

If you look in the dictionary under "master mimick", I am sure you will find Thomas Bonifacio's name listed. From Alvin to Dog The Bounty Hunter, nobody is safe from his observations. Thomas loves to put on shows and keep everybody laughing. Thomas can be seen in Violent Blue directed by Gregory Hatanaka which will travel the festival circuit in 2010. Many other films are planned for the end half of 2010.

Donald Crane

Actor and Voiceover Artist, Don Crane has recently appeared in several independent films including Thoughts Count Too, Gerry, That's Just Life and Wingman.

Don also provided the voiceover narration for the film The Complete Life of John Hopkins.

Oneika Phillips

From Grenada, West Indies, Oneika Phillips holds dual degrees in Dance Performance and Business Management from Shenandoah University and Conservatory, Virginia. She has received prestigious U.S. scholarships to the Bates Dance Festival, the Urban Bush Women Summer Institute and Jacob’s Pillow and has worked with the likes of Doug Elkins, Elisa Monte, Renee Harris, the Parsons Dancers and Urban Bush Women.

Currently Oneika is playing Bill T. Jones’ FELA! (FAY-la) on Broadway as a Swing and Understudy to two of the show’s leads. This new musical about the life and music of Nigerian musician and rebel, Fela Kuti, is the winner of three 2010 Tony Awards with the most Tony nominations of the season.

Oneika’s primary dance performance company was Abdel Salaam’s acclaimed “Forces of Nature Dance Theatre” of New York, where she toured nationally and internationally as a featured company member. She served as assistant choreographer to Abdel Salaam on Busch Gardens’ Katonga, an award winning show created by the producer of Broadway’s The Lion King. She has performed the professional works of Tony Award winner George Faison, Philadanco, Obediah Wright, and Stephen Koplowitz Dance among others. She has also worked with numerous international artists such as Sean Paul, Nelly, Pharell, Collie Buddz and Rihanna.

Most recent acting credits include The 50th Anniversary International Tour of Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story. This was her catapult to the international spotlight where after two tours in the ensemble Consuela she attained the lead role of Anita. In this role, Oneika and the London Sadler’s Wells Theatre cast of West Side Story, were nominated for “Best Musical Revival” at the 2009 Olivier Awards and won the 2009 Theatergoer’s Choice Award in the same category.

Jacquelyn Scafidi

Jacquelyn Scafidi, a native of Brooklyn New York, studied at the new ballet school Feld Ballets NY on a full scholarship. She was a featured soloist with Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech for seven years. Jacque has also danced with Smuin Ballet San Francisco, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dario Vaccaro Dance Group, Kaleidoscope Dance Theater, and the International Tour of West Side Story (dance captain/assistant to the choreographer).

In addition to performing around the world Jacque has done both modeling and print work. Her credits include Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Dance Spirit, and Runway shows in Bryant Park. Jacque was featured on the cover of Lois Greenfield's Calendar and was a body double for Michelle Pfeiffer in a commercial for Bea Arthur's comedy Revue.

Adam Lendermon

Adam Lendermon holds a BFA in Acting and a Dance Minor from Adelphi University. He has toured nationally with Cats (Skimbleshanks) and internationally with West Side Story (Big Deal).

Regional credits include: The Specialist/US Cousin Kevin in The Who’s Tommy (Arkansas Rep), Greg in A Chorus Line, (Merry-Go-Round Playhouse), A Christmas Carol (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), Beauty and the Beast (Artpark), Chantal in La Cage Aux Folles (Arvada Center), and Cabaret (Gateway Playhouse).

Lauralyn McClelland

Lauralyn McClelland was most recently seen on Broadway in the revival of West Side Story. Before that she toured with Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage. Previously she had the privilege of performing in Grease on Broadway.

She is a graduate of Oklahoma City University and loves hiking, the smell of lilacs in summer and her adorable nephew!

Graham Kurtz

After much begging and pleading on the part of creative, production and unrelated third parties, Graham Kurtz acquiesced to lending his humble genius to Festival. After electrifying the airwaves dancing "The Microwave" on 30 Rock and spouting improvised brilliance on the upcoming FX series Louie, he decided it was time to give back to the little people. He can also be seen picking up the slack in the upcoming Bernadette Peters film Coming Up Roses.

You're welcome.

Kimberly Wolff

After being classically trained in ballet and graduating from North Carolina School of the Arts, Kimberly danced with the Richmond Ballet before moving to New York City to broaden her career into musical theatre. She danced in Radio City Music Theatre’s Christmas Spectacular. She has particularly enjoyed the role of “Lily St. Regis” in Annie at the Fulton Opera and the role of “Graziella” in West Side Story in many theatres regionally, and internationally in theatres all over Europe and Asia. This includes The Chatelet in Paris and Sadler’s Wells in London’s West End, where they were nominated for an Olivier Award.

She has also enjoyed dancing and performing with the Cecilia Marta Dance Company in New York City. Currently she is featured on Capezio’s Professional Line of Tights packaging. Television credits include dancing on a Superbowl E*Trade commercial, an NFL Pro-Bowl Awards Clip, dancing on the Academy Awards Show with Hugh Jackman, and most recently dancing with Matt Morrison on the TONY awards.

Daniel Shea

Daniel Shea, a New England native, started dancing at age 18 when a classmate asked him to audition for a show. He’s been performing ever since.

Currently, Daniel is teaching dancing in Providence and is developing an exercise program geared toward middle to senior ages. His mantra is “Oh just get up and move!” He’s also working on a comedy show and hopes to get it mounted by years end.

Daniel was beyond thrilled to work with the Festival team. A most joyous experience and he states unequivocally that he will go through flaming hoops to work with both Mike and Brett again. Really, he will.