Actor Cast For 21 Below Film

SAMANTHA BUCK (Director/Creator)

21 Below is Ms. Buck’s directorial debut. Her television credits include Comedy Central’s Stella opposite Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter and David Wain. On Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Samantha portrayed Detective G. Lynn Bishop opposite Vincent D’Onoforio. She has also had recurring roles on Third Watch, David Milch’s Big Apple, Six Degrees, Z Rock and has appeared on Sex and The City. Film credits include Searching for Paradise, Wirey Spindell, 24 Hour Woman and Woman in Burka (Spirit of Slamdance Award 2008). She is a recent graduate of The Edit Center where she was an additional editor on the feature films Cold Weather and For Once In My Life.

JENNY MAGUIRE (Producer/Creator)

Jenny has been a professional New York actor in theatre, television and film for over fourteen years. Most recently she worked with Director Doug Liman on the upcoming feature film Fair Game starring Naomi Watts and Sean Penn and the short film “The Regular”, (Dir. Jamie Kirkpatrick). She has guest starred on “That 70’s Show”, “Law&Order:SVU”, “Stella” and appeared in the feature films The Baxter (Dir. Michael Showalter) starring Michelle Williams and The Girl In The Park (Dir. David Auburn) starring Sigourney Weaver. Off-Broadway and regionally she has worked with award winning playwrights and directors such as David Auburn, Steve Earle, Lee Blessing, Jessica Goldberg, David Lyndsey-Abaire, Michael John Garces, Kate Robin, Lucy Thurber, Michael Greif, Pete Masterson and Kate Whoriskey. She stood by and went on for Sarah Jessica Parker in the off-Broadway play Wonder of the World, MTC. In addition, Jenny worked with Jerry Poynton at Swiss Effects, the digital video-to-film transfer company, helping to introduce and educate filmmakers on the new technical and creative possibilities of digital video. With directing/producing partner Jenni Tooley, she produced the16mm short film “Somewhere is the Middle”, 2009/10 festival circuit, associate produced the High Def short “Break” and is collaborating on developing the feature narrative Surrender, presently a quarter finalist in The Ultimate Filmmaker Competition and a documentary about 3 Irish sisters and a different generation of courtship, love & family. Jenny is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of James Madison University.

SOPHIA RAAB DOWNS (Producer/Creator)

Sophia is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has worked in production on NBC’s Law & Order, ABC’s Spin City, independent feature films and music videos. Her producing credits include the feature film “Racing Daylight” directed by Nicole Quinn and starring Academy Award Nominees David Strathairn and Melissa Leo, and “Gospel Hill” directed by Giancarlo Esposito, starring Angela Bassett, Danny Glover and Julia Stiles. She is in pre production on the film SLAP&TICKLE, her sophomore effort with writer director Nicole Quinn, starring Gloria Reuben, Linda Powell, Adam Lefevre, Giancarlo Esposito, Melissa Leo, and introducing Cailtin Quinn. The legendary Ruby Dee has said of the script: “It is an engaging story, and its multigenerational focus and novel perspective on race complexities intrigue.” 21 Below, which is the story of the women in her family, is Sophia’s first foray into documentary.

RYAN HARRINGTON (Executive Producer)

Ryan Harrington runs the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund and works as an independent producer; his recent films include 21 BELOW, ENTRE NOS, P-STAR RISING, and the upcoming HUNGRY IN AMERICA and RADIO UNNAMEABLE. Harrington managed production for A&E IndieFilms, the theatrical documentary arm of the A&E Network for four years. Throughout his time there he championed the Oscar-nominated films MURBERBALL and JESUS CAMP, and the Sundance hits MY KID COULD PAINT THAT and AMERICAN TEEN.

CACTUS THREE (Executive Producers)

Cactus Three executive produces high-end documentary films and non-fiction programming. Founded in 2003 by Julie Goldman, Krysanne Katsoolis and Caroline Stevens, Cactus offers a unique blend of production and co-production expertise, creatively developing projects as well as securing both funding and distribution. Cactus has developed a model that minimizes the financial risk of production by identifying the most appropriate partners on a global basis and tailoring each project to specific distributors, broadcast strands, private equity investment sources and end users to maximize revenue.

In 2009 Cactus is premiering a slate of wide-ranging films: 21 BELOW directed by Samantha Buck and produced by Jenny Maguire & Sophia Raab Downs; Mandy Stein’s Tribeca Film Festival hit Burning Down The House: the Story of CBGB; Bradley Beesley’s Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo; New World Order from the Darkon filmmaking team of Andrew Neel, Luke Meyer and Tom Davis; Hair: Let the Sun Shine In directed by Pola Rapaport and The Nine Lives of Marion Barry directed by Dana Flor and Toby Oppenheimer.

Other recent feature documentaries include: Once in a Lifetime (Miramax); Sydney Pollack’s Sketches of Frank Gehry (Sony Pictures Classics); Three of Hearts (THINKFilm/NBC-Bravo); BAFTA-nominated Black Sun; Emmy-nominated What Remains (HBO/BBC); Doubletime (Discovery Films); SXSW Audience Award winner Cat Dancers (HBO Documentary Films); Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother (A&E IndieFilms/Channel 4) and loudQUIETloud: a film about The Pixies.

Previous productions range from the acclaimed HBO series Family Bonds to Don Letts’PUNK: attitude (IFC/Fremantle); Lewis Lapham’s The American Ruling Class (BBC/Sundance Channel); John Landis’ Slasher (IFC); Honky Tonk Blues: the Life and Death of Hank Williams (PBS/BBC); and Easy Riders, Raging Bulls (Trio/BBC/TF1) based on Peter Biskind’s bestselling book.

Cactus is currently completing production on several films, including: Michel Negroponte’s I’m Dangerous With Love and Burning Ice: Cape Farewell’s Expedition to Greenland. In addition to those films, Cactus is developing a Neil Labute film based on his play, Autobahn and an animation series with Curious Pictures.
www.cactusthree.com

BOB ALEXANDER/INDIEPIX (Executive Producer for Indiepix)

IndiePix is the world’s leading distributor of critically acclaimed and hard-to-find independent films. The company was set up in 2005 by Bob Alexander and Barnet Liberman to break down barriers between filmmakers and audiences in the global film community through the creation of a world leading shop and online service dedicated to making independent films available to film fans everywhere. The company is committed to supporting the independent film industry through its sponsorship of film festivals and its unique business model that returns the highest share of sales straight to the filmmaker. Following the June launch of IndiePix Studios – the world’s first virtual studio for independent filmmakers and the official production arm of IndiePix – it has today unveiled its first film production and release slate. The five independent films, which include a mixture of documentary and narrative, have been hand picked because of their varied genres and strong themes. So far, IndiePix has invested over $700,000 in the projects and serves as Executive Producers on all of them. This latest announcement comes at a time when many independent filmmakers are struggling to find funding and distribution channels. Indiepixstudios.com provides an online ‘virtual studio’ which enables independent filmmakers to submit their films for distribution via Indiepixfilms.com. In addition, filmmakers are able to monitor sales and accounting statements, review contracts, network with other filmmakers from around the world, and review news. The IndiePix Studios also provide a major new production and distribution outlet for independent filmmakers.

ZEKE FARROW (Writer/Associate Producer)

AS A SCREENWRITER: Outward Blonde (Miramax), Slo-mo (HBO, Sundance, Telluride, Atlanta Jury Award, Austin Audience Award, Nantucket Special Jury Prize), the feature length Slo-mo (Single Cell), VOID (Stellar Networks Screenwriting Award), In Your Dreams: The Hot New Teen Musical (soundtrack at www.inyourdreamsthemusical.com), Drama School, Organics, My Mother the Rockstar, Five Year Plan, Reality Check, Killer Blondes From Outer Space!, Gutter, Great Lakes, …and Jane makes Five, Poolboys, My Mother the Pornstar, Gowanus, and Abilities. Zeke is also the co-creator of the web series Sherri Davis: R-CA (youtube.com/user/zekeness). AS A PRODUCER: Woman in Burka (co-producer, Slamdance Spirit Award, Arizona Film Festival Merit Award), AS AN ACTOR: Daria (MTV), Gettin’ Stoopid (Comedy Central), IN (Buena Vista Television), Woman in Burka (Slamdance), Karma Calling, Aspen Comedy Festival, HBO/WB Workspace, Toyota Comedy Festival, Comedy Central Stage, Williamstown Theater Festival, O’Neill Theater Center, Milwaukee Rep., P.S. 122, Arsnova NYC, The Westbeth, Here, Nada, Pure Pop Festival, NY Performance Works, The Slipper Room, Fez. ADVERTISING: Creative consultant and writer of national television and print campaigns for Old Navy (fall 2006, summer 2007, summer 2008, Holiday 2008) and Baby Phat. Zeke is a guest lecturer in screenwriting at The New York Film Academy.

ROBBIE STAUDER (Director of Photography/Field Director)

Robbie Stauder is a producer and cinematographer specializing in documentary and documentary style productions. His work has been broadcast on PBS, ABC, WE, A&E, MTV, FUSE, and TLC as well as having been shown in many film festivals throughout North America. Notable productions include WARPED: INSIDE AND OUT, a six-part series about the behind the scenes of the famed Vans Warped Tour, HOOKING UP, a five-part series about internet dating produced by ABC NEWS and GUBERNATORIOUS, a feature length documentary that is nearing completion which follows four average citizens that ran for Governor of California. He also produces and directs music videos, industrials and marketing films for a variety of corporate clients such as Diesel, Smirnoff, Disney, Miller Lite, General Mills as well as several non-profit organizations focused on education and international communication. Previously he was a media producer for NBC’s multi-award winning web site for the 2000 and 2002 Olympic games. He received his BA in Film and Sociology from University of California, Santa Cruz where he shot and directed his first short film RECESSIONS, which premiered at Leicester Square in London at the 2000 BBC British Short Film Festival. He is an avid traveler and has made several extensive trips through out South America and Asia.

DANIELLE DIGIACOMO (Associate Producer)

Danielle DiGiacomo is the Community Manager at IFP, the the nation’s oldest and largest membership organization, and premiere advocate, for independent filmmakers. Previous to that, she worked for 5 years as Head of Documentary Acquisitions for IndiePix Films, building up the documentary feature catalogue and spearheading the successful multi-platform releases of films such as Jeremiah Zagar’s IN A DREAM, Kristi Jacobson’s TOOTS, and Jason Hutt’s ORTHODOX STANCE. She also developed and produced the first and second annual Cinema Eye Honors for Nonfiction Film, and found funding for two major documentary features, Jennifer Venditti’s Billy The Kid (Best Documentary Feature, L.A. Film Festival 2007, South by Southwest 2007) and Samantha Buck’s “21 Below” (premiered at Hot Docs 2009), for which she is credited as “Associate Producer.” DiGiacomo has programmed in conjunction with the Woodstock Film Festival, Brooklyn Independent Cinema Series, Rooftop Films, and the Culture Project, and has presented on panels about film distribution and production at Woodstock Film Festival, Newport International Film Festival, Hunter College, IFF Boston, NewFest, Rooftop Film Series, Big Sky Documentary Festival, East Silver Market in Jihlava, Czech Republic, Sheffield Doc/Fest,  Krakow Film Festival, and Guth Gafa Film Festival, among others. In addition, Danielle has taught “Contemporary Documentary” and “Documentary Distribution and Marketing” at NYU. She is now working on producing and consulting on several independent projects, including Chris Kelly’s upcoming documentary CAUSE OF PROGRESS (funded by Northern Irish Screen) and David Rosfeld’s fiction feature, VICTOR (for which she was shortlisted for the Sundance Creative Producers’ Lab). She also consults as a panel programmer for several international film festivals and is advising on the distribution strategy of several feature documentaries.

JENNY GOLDEN (Editor)

Jenny Golden began her editing career in London editing commercials and music videos for such notable clients as Nike, Land Rover, Levis, Canon, BP, Showtime and Interpol. Returning to New York, Jenny went to work with notable directors Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky, as well as editing an episode of the Frontline series entitled JEFFERSON’S CHILDREN for Tom Lennon and the Tom Lennon Documentary Group. In 2005, Jenny started work editing MANDA BALA which was completed in 2006 and went on to win the grand jury prize in the documentary category at the 2007 Sundance film festival and also the 2008 Indiepix Eye award for outstanding editing. In 2006, Jenny edited a video compilation as part of an installation for Yoko Ono and her European museum tour, which included Moma in New York. This led to a series of music videos comprising a featurette that was packaged with Sean Lennon’s 2006 record release. Also in 2006, Jenny edited the pilot episode for THIS AMERICAN LIFE, and continued on the program as the lead editor for the first season. Jenny’s next feature documentary project was GOGOL BORDELLO, NONSTOP-a documentary about the creators of gypsy punk music. Jenny lives in Red Hook Brooklyn with her husband Steve and her daughter Odette.

FRANK REYNOLDS (Editor)

Frank has edited over seventeen feature films. His most well-known is Miramax’s IN THE BEDROOM, which was a Best Picture nominee at the 2002 Academy Awards. Two of his films (2005′s CAPE OF GOOD HOPE and 1999′s MAN OF THE CENTURY) have won the National Board of Review’s Special Recognition for Excellence in Filmmaking. Another one of his films (2004′s UNKNOWN SOLDIER) was both a nominee for the 2005 Independent Spirit Award’s John Cassavetes Award, and a winner for Best Editing at the 2004 Woodstock Film Festival. Other films he’s edited include the 2002 drama SWIMMING, the 1996 cult film TROMEO & JULIET, and M. Night Shyamalan’s first film, 1993′s PRAYING WITH ANGER. Frank Is a graduate of the New York University film school, where his editing mentors were Paul Barnes (THE THIN BLUE LINE, THE WAR) and Lora Hays. He also graduated from the editing program at the American Film Institute, where his editing mentors were John Burnett, Steven Cohen, and Brian Chambers.

PETER SALETT (Composer & Singer/Songwriter of 21 BELOW theme song)

Peter Salett has been both movie scoring and writing songs for film, most recently writing, arranging and performing songs for Universal Pictures’ “Role Models”, starring Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott and Elizabeth Banks, which was released in November of 2008. He also co-scored Harris Fishman’s HBO documentary “Cat Dancers”, which premiered in December 2008 after winning the SXSW Special Jury Prize.

Salett was extensively involved in the Universal Pictures romantic comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”, executive produced by Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Superbad), which was released in April of 2008. Peter and star Jason Segel co-wrote three songs sung by characters in the film, “Inside of You”, “We’ve Got to Do Something” and the Dracula puppet musical finale “A Taste For Love”.

In 2007 Salett wrote and performed an end title song for David Wain’s film “The Ten”, starring Winona Ryder, Famke Janssen, Paul Rudd, and Jessica Alba.

In 2006 Peter scored David Jacobson’s “Down in the Valley”, starring Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood. Five of Salett’s songs, written for the movie, are featured as well, including the opening title. When “Down in the Valley” was released in May 2006, Salett received press from around the country for his unique contribution. “Peter Salett’s song score is haunting” – Houston Chronicle. “The movie starts to float away on its longueurs, propped up by a lovely soundtrack of Peter Salett’s acoustic ballads ” – Boston Globe. ATO Records released the soundtrack.

In 2005 he contributed 3 songs to Michael Showalter’s IFC film “The Baxter,” a collaboration that includes Salett’s end title song for Showalter and David Wain’s cult classic, “Wet Hot American Summer”, which starred Janeane Garofalo. Salett’s 2000 release “Heart Of Mine” was the main theme of “Keeping The Faith,” a film directed by and starring Edward Norton, with a remix by T Bone Burnett on a Hollywood Records soundtrack that included Tom Waits and Elliott Smith. Salett also scored Bittersweet Place, starring Seymour Cassel, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2005.

Other films that have featured Salett’s music include two songs in Salma Hayek’s Showtime film “Maldonado Miracle”, (with Peter Fonda and Mare Winningham); Dan McCormack’s “Other Voices” (2000, with Campbell Scott) in which Salett’s epic song “Only Mine” was used on the closing credits in a collaboration with Lili Haydn and the Russian National Symphony; and 1997 Sundance Audience Award winner “Hurricane Streets” for which Salett co-wrote (with noted composer Theodore Shapiro) and sang the song “Beautiful Dream” as the end title.

In July of 2008 Salett released his 5th record for Dusty Shoes Music entitled “In the Ocean of the Stars”. The record features Salett’s longtime crew – Bill Dobrow on drums (Martha Wainwright), Jeff Hill on bass (Rufus Wainwright), Joe McGinty on piano and organ (Ryan Adams), and the great Don Piper on lap steel and electric guitar. Chris Carmichael (Steve Earle) added the voluptuous string arrangements. The record was mixed by Todd Burke (Ben Harper, Jack Johnson) with additional mix production by Marvin Etzioni (Lone Justice). Onstage Salett has performed in support of David Gray, Rufus Wainwright, They Might Be Giants, Ron Sexsmith, and Patty Griffin.

“It’s easy to understand why the accessible sounds of Peter Salett often serve as cinematic backdrops. On songs of loneliness and love lost, Salett proves that less is indeed more, letting his rich vocals soar over a sole piano accompaniment or spare acoustics. His every yearning and pang feels like your own.” – Entertainment Weekly