CAST
Melissa Anschutz as Anne Harper
Melissa majored in Theatre with a minor in literature at CMU and WMU, but believes that study can only polish, not make you an actor. She feels the ability to separate from reality and become someone else for a glimpse is the truth in the craft.
Among various Theatre credits, her last to date was in 2008, where she played Gwendolyn Pigeon, mastering the British dialect in “The Odd Couple”. She joined the screen world immediately following, landing a supporting role in the HBO pilot, “Night Moves”.
In 2009, she earned her SAG eligibility with films like “The Domino Effect” and since, has performed in 26 films, five television series, and several commercials. She spent two years writing, co-directing and performing in a skit driven television comedy series, and has written, co-produced, and performed in the comedic pilot “Paid Programming”.
She currently works as a co-producer and in development and distribution sales for Collective Development Inc.
She is an avid runner, which aids in concentration for character development, as well as maintains the ability to carry the intensity of a physically demanding role.
DJ Perry as Mark Franklin
DJ Perry, Actor, Producer, Writer has built an impressive career in the international entertainment industry. As CEO of Collective Development Inc. and as an independent producer he has overseen or assisted in the overall production of 40 plus feature films in all genres and in all formats.
His award winning films such as "Wicked Spring," (Ardustry) "An Ordinary Killer," (E1) "Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town" (Lionsgate), "Book of Ruth" (Pureflix) have been distributed throughout the world market. DJ has a reputation for delivering high quality product and staying on schedule and budget. In addition, he has produced major commercials for companies such as Toyota and JBL.
Several of his scripts have been produced into feature length motion pictures. Two of his screenplays "Dean Teaster’s Ghost Town" (Debuted at #1 western rental and remained for 7 weeks and top #10 for 16 weeks) and upcoming "Wild Michigan" have already been novelized for publication. He has several scripts in development for production with a variety of international companies.
As an actor he has become one of the most sought out independent leading men, sharing the screen with many legends of the entertainment industry. He does so with a humble, appreciative attitude that makes him a draw in front of and behind the camera.
Remi Ellen Dunkel as Allie Harper
Remi began her acting and modeling career when she was five years old. She discovered early on her desire to entertain. Her first experience with acting and modeling included local resort and visitors bureau videos, commercial, and print for marketing and advertising purposes which she continues to do today.
When Remi was in kindergarten she participated in her elementary school talent show. The standard for involvement was second through fifth grades, but because of her ambitious drive she was able to convince her teacher to include all grades.
When Remi was seven years old she was cast in a music video for a local artist. Being on set was an amazing experience for her, revealing her strong aspiration to further pursue opportunities in the entertainment industry.
Last school year she was cast in her local elementary school musical, The Little Mermaid. Being part of a large musical production was another chance for her to express her passion for acting. Remi has also been involved in local dance fusion and hip hop dance instruction. As her previous experiences assisted her in further developing her skills, her and her family realized that she had found her nitch.
This summer Remi added film to her resume. Remi was cast in The Real Mikado, a feature film in Michigan and is currently working on the next feature film, Bestseller. When Remi is not studying her parts she is actively involved in arts and crafts, biking, swimming, skiing, and singing.
When asked, “Why do you want to be an actress?” Remi often responds, “It’s so much fun playing the part of someone else for a while, and acting lets me do that!”
Remi has always had an immense form of empathy toward others. Her caring heart and positive outlook has helped shape her into the remarkable young lady she is today.
Ralph Lister as Gerald Morgan
British actor RALPH LISTER spent 15 years in main-stage theatre in London, Madrid, Hong Kong, and Edinburgh before moving to Los Angeles as an on-camera actor and voice talent from 1999-2008.
Major motion picture credits include Oz: The Great & Powerful, with James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, Zach Braff, Rachel Weisz, director Sam Raimi; Setup, with Bruce Willis, Curtis ‘Fifty Cent’
Jackson, and Ryan Philippe; Alleged, with Brian Dennehy, Fred Thompson, and Colm Meaney; studio comedy Mr. Woodcock, with Billy Bob Thornton, and Susan Sarandon; Jewel of the Sahara, with Gerard Butler; and A Lot Like Love, with Ashton Kutcher, and Amanda Peet.
In August this year, Ralph guest starred as an attorney in Episode 3 of AMC’s gritty new crime drama Low Winter Sun.
As an audiobook Narrator and voice talent, Ralph’s most widely known international success is as Series Regular Walter “Angel of Death” Dollneaz in blockbuster animé hit Hellsing. Ralph’s voice can also be heard in Walt Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean, in Revolution Studios’ Thirteen Going On Thirty, as the narrator of the 10-Year Anniversary edition of Jean Reno’s The Professional, and for the documentary
accompanying the DVD release of March of the Penguins.
Recent theatre includes leading roles in Equinox, Opus, An American Daughter, Frozen, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, On Golden Pond, and as James Whistler in a biographical exposition supporting the
Whistler Exhibition at the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Ralph shares his time between his homes in Grand Rapids and Los Angeles.
Taylor Nichols as Agent Hayes
After much work in regional theater and on national tours Taylor Nichols made his feature film debut in the Academy Award nominated Metropolitan and went on to star in other indy hits such as Barcelona, Boiler Room and Blackmail. His feature credits include The American President, Congo, Jurassic Park 3 and Case 219, which he also produced. Nichols starred with Charlton Heston and Shelly Winters in Gideon and is in the up-coming Possessions and Hide Away.
His TV work includes the HBO series The Mind of the Married Man and Man of the People (series regular) Evolution’s Child for USA and Norma Jean and Marilyn for HBO. He has recurring roles on Friday Night Lights, Criminal Minds,The Practice and Murder She Wrote. Other roles include Mr. Plympton on Modern Family, Bobby Nichols on The Defenders and he has guest starred on numerous series including NCIS, 24, Larry Sanders, ER, Without A Trace, Grey’s Anatomy, Prison Break and CSI. Currently, he is working with Julia Stiles in a project called BLUE for the Wigs channel on YouTube.
Nichols’ theatre credits include Boy Gets Girl at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, Plunge at Playwrights Horizon in New York, The Lonely Planet, Crimes of the Heart, Baby With the Bathwater and the National tour of Sugar Babies with Rip Taylor. He is an award-winning filmmaker having directed the short Two Heterosexual Men Get Ready To Go Out (One has a Girlfriend) available for download @itunes and Last Train which he wrote, produced and directed. He is a working theater director with Plunge, Getting Out, North Beach and Oleanna to
his credit and in a past life Nichols was an accomplished tap dancer having performed in 42nd Street, My One and Only and On Your Toes.
Mr. Nichols is an avid cyclist and advocate. He was appointed to the Bicycle Task Force in West Hollywood, CA where he lives and writes a column for Examiner.com on cycling and urban planning issues. He is writing a children’s book, Lofty and Sir Knight and is developing a feature film based on the book Diamonds in the Shadow. Mr. Nichols has been awarded Distinguished Alumni status from the T. Schreiber Studio in NYC and the East Lansing Educational Foundation in Michigan. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and UCLA’s Extension School of Journalism.
Mr. Nichols is on the faculty at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles and is married with two daughters.
Lana Wood as Marta
Wood was born Svetlana Nikolaevna Zakharenko to Russian parents, but they grew up far from their homeland: her father lived in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, while her mother grew up in a Chinese province. After her parents were married, they settled in Santa Monica, California, where Lana was born. By this time her parents had legally changed their surname to Gurdin. Her older sister was actress Natalie Wood. They have a half-sister, Olga Viriapaeff, from their mother's previous marriage.
As an infant, Wood appeared in Driftwood (1947), but her scene was deleted from the final version of the film. Lana's first credited film role was in director John Ford's western classic The Searchers (1956), which stars John Wayne and also features Wood's sister Natalie; Lana and Natalie play the same character at different ages, with similar amounts of screen time. Natalie's stage name was Wood, given to her by the producer of her first film. Maria was asked under what last name Lana should be credited, and Maria agreed it would be best if she could be credited as "Wood," like her sister. As a child, she also made guest appearances in Playhouse 90 (1957), The Real McCoys (1958), and appeared in the films Marjorie Morningstar (1958) and Five Finger Exercise (1962).
Early in her adult career, Lana played bit parts in Natalie's films; but, in the 1960s, her own career took off. One of her roles was in the beach party film The Girls on the Beach (1965). After appearing in the short-lived drama series, The Long, Hot Summer, she landed the role of Sandy Webber in the prime-time soap Peyton Place, which she played from 1966 to 1967.
In 1971, Wood appeared in the April 1971 Playboy issue, along with her poetry. The publicity was a major reason for her being cast as Bond girl Plenty O'Toole in Diamonds Are Forever (1971).[3] In a scene with Sean Connery, she appeared wearing only a flimsy pair of see-through panties.[4] Wood had only three minutes of screen time in the film, though it remains her best-known role to date.
Wood has more than 20 other films and over 300 television shows to her credit, including The Fugitive, Bonanza, Mission: Impossible, Police Story, Starsky and Hutch, Nero Wolfe, Fantasy Island, and Capitol. Some of her other film roles have been in the Disney film Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1972) and the western Grayeagle (1977). After appearing in the horror film Demon Rage (1982), she retired from acting, concentrating on her career as a producer. In 2004, she produced the biopic The Mystery of Natalie Wood. She recently returned to acting and has several projects in production. Lana is a character in the 2009 Steve Alten book Meg: Hell's Aquarium.
After a 23-year hiatus, Wood resumed her acting career in 2008. Since then, she has appeared in many low-budget, straight-to-DVD films such as The Book of Ruth: Journey of Faith (2009) and Deadly Renovations (2010).
Terence Knox as Dr. Gardner
Knox was born Terry Davis in Richland, WA, and attended Washington State University and Portland State University. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Dr. Peter White, the medical resident-turned rapist in the TV show St. Elsewhere, on which he appeared during that show's first two seasons (1982–84). Knox followed this with his role as Sergeant 'Zeke' Anderson in the series Tour of Duty. He has guest-starred in numerous other shows such as V.I.P., Pacific Blue, The Dukes of Hazzard, Murder She Wrote and SeaQuest 2032 and has starred in several other series including All Is Forgiven with Bess Armstrong, Rescue 77 and The Road Home with St. Elsewhere executive producer Bruce Paltrow. He was an Inland Gloves amateur boxing champion, with 56 wins and one loss.
Anthony Hornus as George Otto
Anthony Hornus - writer, producer, director – is an award-winning former journalist. He was honored 14 times for writing excellence by The Associated Press, the largest new-gathering cooperative in the world, during an illustrious 30-year career with a Michigan daily newspaper.
Also a gifted character actor, Hornus (“Dean Teaster's Ghost Town,” “Deadly Renovations”), has more than 15 feature films and documentaries under his belt in various capacities.
Hornus' book, the true crime “An Ordinary Killer,” was a 2009 release through Alexander Books (Asheville, N.C.). The movie version, which starred Dan Haggerty (Grizzly Adams), Charles Matthau (son of Hollywood legend Walter Matthau), Terrence Knox (Tour of Duty) and DJ Perry (Bestseller, Ashes of Eden), was an award-winner at the East Lansing Film Festival and is in world-wide distribution.
Hornus is also the Co-Founder of The Red, White and Blue Project, a Michigan-based non-profit production company. The non-profit conducts community outreach programs and events to aid U.S. military veterans and their families, and “honors, empowers and leaves a lasting legacy by telling their stories on the screen.”
The Red, White and Blue Project's 2011 documentary, “Outside the Wire: The Forgotten Children of Afghanistan,” was voted an audience favorite at the Cleveland International Film Festival. The doc has also earned critical acclaim at other festivals and from the President of The Discovery Channel, producers at Oprah Winfrey's OWN cable network, and other TV outlets.
A graduate of Northwood University (Midland, Michigan), Hornus has two grown children and lives in the Great Lakes State with his wife, Betsy.
Amy McFadden as Michelle
Amy McFadden has been on stage for 40 years and in the commercial/film industry for the last 10. Amy can be seen in several commercials and in the feature films Mickey Matson and the Copperhead Treasure and America’s Most Haunted. She is an Earphones Award winning audiobook narrator, and a founding member of Dog Story Theater in downtown Grand Rapids.
Patrick Moug as Sheriff Moore
Patrick Moug (actor, writer, director)- first appeared on stage in a play which he wrote- CAPTAIN BEEFALO. After acting in commercials and industrials, Patrick landed roles in several feature films (An Ordinary Killer, Chasing Sleep, Sucker, etc). Upon becoming a SAG member, Patrick wrote, directed and acted in the action film THE UGLY ONE.
Mr. Moug then directed the documentary BOLD AS A LION. Featured on NBC Dateline, the film sought justice for a girl who had been murdered and set on fire. Next Patrick wrote and directed THE DETROIT 59ERS at the Michigan Actors’ Studio. At the same time, he also produced and directed the television documentary series KEYS TO THE BLUE GOOSE. The ‘BLUE GOOSE’ tells the story of the 122nd Michigan State Police academy.
After 12 years, Patrick rewrote his first play and acted in the now titled CAPTAIN BUFFALO at the Detroit Ensemble Theatre- his screenplay version is being, as they say, shopped in Hollywood. Behind the camera, he most recently directed a music video for CASH MONEY’S recording artist Sarah Lenore.
As a member of the Screen Actor’s Guild, Patrick has worked as a character actor in films with Drew Barrymore, Bruce Willis, Ellen Page, Jeff Daniels, Eric Roberts, etc. In addition to his work with the Detroit Ensemble Theatre, Patrick has appeared on stage at Detroit’s Little Gem Theatre in Jeff Daniels’ TROPICAL PICKLE and NORMA AND WANDA.
Dana Blackstone as Candace
Dana Blackstone was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and made her stage debut at the age of 3. She developed a passion for acting early on, and began her education as a vocalist, actor, and model. Dana has been seen in numerous films and television shows such as Mad Men and State of Play, and starred in numerous independent and made for television films. She has had the great fortune to train in both Los Angeles and Michigan, under the wing of respected mentors such as Arthur Mendoza at The Actor’s Circle Theatre in Los Angeles, the prolific Carl Stillitano of Sorenity Studios, and Gordon Michaels of Michigan among many others. Dana is honored to have been a part of the amazing team that is creating “Bestseller”. She is very grateful for the experience and has loved the opportunity to play Candace. Thanks everybody!
CREW
Christopher Knight Executive Producer
Christina Rohn Director
Christina Rohn, first-time director, used to think her calling would be in front of the camera, but now, she’s most passionate about being behind it. In 2000, at the age of 17, Rohn moved to New York City after receiving a regional scholarship to attend the American Musical Dramatic Academy. She was formally trained for Broadway in singing, acting and dancing, but after one year, decided to move back to Michigan to attend college at Central Michigan University. While there, Rohn pursued a major in journalism with a minor in broadcasting. In 2005, she graduated with her bachelor’s degree and became the editor of the Oscoda County Herald. In 2007, she moved to Petoskey, MI and began working as an investigative reporter for the Petoskey News-Review. She met her business partner, Scott Castelein, in 2008 after reporting on his cycling adventure from Minneapolis, MN to St. Ignace, MI. The two discovered their shared interest in sports, music, photography and videography, and shortly thereafter, started a production company together — Lake Street Media. Since then, Rohn, 30, left the News-Review to pursue her artistic interests with Lake Street Media. In the future she plans to continue directing, as well as dabble in screenwriting. She is currently writing a novel, which she hopes to publish in 2014 and turn into a screenplay.
DJ Perry Supervising Producer
Melissa Anschutz Co-Producer
In 2002, Melissa was the Marketing Executive for ‘Metro Air Express’ where she led point on liaison between automotive dealers and suppliers playing a key role in the company’s launch. From there, she decided to follow her passion and joined, ‘YGTBKMA”, a skit driven television comedy series, where she spent two years writing, co-directing and performing. The experience gave her the inspiration to create, write and produce the television pilot, ‘Paid Programming’. She owns, writes, produces, and performs in the live comedy troupe “Nobody Gets Us’. In 2012 she Co-Produced the Action/Drama Feature Film ‘Ashes Of Eden’. She currently works for Collective Development Inc. in production, sales and distribution, with a focus on development.
Dean Teaster Associate Producer
Teaster's background with accounting and managing large frame computer systems added value in producing motion pictures. He has developed on set accounting software that provides investors and production staff the ability to have (real-time) budget variances. He has co-produced, executive produced on several films. Teaster is currently the chief operating officer for Lansing based CDI.
David Gries Associate Producer, Marketing
Over the past several years, David has been creating a name for himself in the independent film scene by carrying principal roles in feature length and short films, both independent and academic.
Mimesis (an indie feature shot in Michigan featuring Sid Haig and Courtney Gaines) is currently being distributed domestically and internationally by Anchor Bay. Other indie features, America's Most Haunted and Burst Theory are currently in post production and making the domestic and international distribution market rounds.
Most recently, Caleb Slain's traumatic comedy, Free Pie was released on Vimeo garnering accolades such as Staff Picks and Short of the Week.
Although generally in front of the camera, David is taking a step behind the lens to learn the valuable prouction end of a film. With a degree in Graphic Design from the Art Institute, he is heading up the website and other social media for BESTSELLER. This is David's first project with CDI and looks forward to many, many more!
Elizabeth Merriman Unit Production Manager
Elizabeth is a producer and production manager in the West Michigan Area where she live with her husband.
She originally went to school for welding but went after her dream of being a filmmaker 10 years ago, 3 years ago she entered into Compass College of Cinematic Arts and graduated as their first valedictorian.
Michael McDonald Production Coordinator
Michael McDonald is a Writer, Director, Editor and Producer from Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2012 he
received his Associate of Applied Science in Film and Media Production from Compass College of Cinematic
Arts where he produced and wrote the comedy short “Incoming Tempt,” and produced the science-fiction
short “Gemini.” Since graduating he has formed his own production company, True Myth Media LLC where
he produces, writes, and directs digital web content.
He is a runner and avid board gamer. He hopes to someday publish a board game of his own design.
Nathan K. Robertson First Assistant Director
Nathan is an Assistant Director and Producer, and has been a part of the Michigan filmmaking community for the better part of a decade. With a background in commercial work as well as features and television, he has worked on projects ranging from local independents to studio tent poles.
Racheal Floyd Second Assistant Director
Racheal Floyd has a diverse background in Film Production, Social Media, and Event Planning. She attended Tennessee State University as well as The New York Film Academy in 2010. Since graduation from The Academy, she has been fortunate to enough to work on many diverse projects in the Grand Rapids area, ranging from the Grand Rapids Lip Dub to the full-length feature film, “Setup” staring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Her experience has allowed her to rub shoulders with the likes of Bruce Willis, Jane Seymour, and a bevy of other talent. Outside of the film industry Racheal has worked for Grand Rapids Public Schools as a Student Advocate and Intervention Specialist. In addition, she helped found To The Top Media, an upstart media firm in her native Grand Rapids with a focus on social media commercials, brand marketing, and urban event planning.
Samantha Finch Production Designer
Samantha often finds herself seeing the world in terms of artistic choices. Visualizing how she can incorporate mundane objects into her projects in a more interesting and creative way to enhance but serve the story.
She integrates her graphic design sensibilities into her work as she understands the importance of composition, texture and color; and how these elements work together to influence the emotions of the viewer. With these elements in mind, she works from the inside-out gaining an understanding of the history and inner lives of the characters to capture the spirit of the story, and convey it to the viewers’ thru the visual backdrop.
“Collaborating closely with the Producer, Director and Cinematographer I work to create environments that enhance the story, and give the actors an emotion filled setting to play off of.”
Seth Steele Property Manager
Seth has been working in film since 2011 after graduating from compass college in 2011. He has worked in the art dept on a number of features, commercials and television shows.
David Papenfuss Armoror/Transportation
Scott Castelein Director of Photography
Scott Castelein, first-time director of photography and producer, is a man of many passions. He is a musician, photographer, videographer and has an insatiable appetite for adventure. In 2009, after his graduation from the Institute of Production & Recording in Minneapolis, MN, he moved back to his hometown of Petoskey, MI and started a production company— Lake Street Media — with his business partner, Christina Rohn. Since then, the 25-year-old has worked on numerous projects, including music videos, tourism and commercial videography and photography. In addition, he has also added documentary-style filmmaking to his repertoire while filming “Bestseller” author Christopher Knight’s young writer’s camp “Author Quest.” Castelein is excited to lend his eye to the project, as well as collaborate with the wonderful team behind the making of “Bestseller.”