ELEANOR DRIVE PICTURES AND FOLKLORE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT
A FILM BY RACHEL MCDONALD 24 MINS, 25 SECONDS
STARRING: JOSH PENCE, GALE HAROLD WITH MICHAEL BOFSHEVER AND MELANIE GRIFFITH
OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2014 LOCARNO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
ELEANOR DRIVE PICTURES 822 WOODLAWN AVE. VENICE, CA 90291 310.733.8699 WWW.THIRSTFILM.COM [email protected] @THIRSTSHORTFILM THIRST
SYNOPSIS
Billy, a troubled man ready to erase himself, finds mercy and companionship among the weary denizens of a rundown bar. He makes an unlikely connection with Sue, a wilted beauty, who provides new inspiration for Billy to take the first halting steps toward a new sense of purpose.
FRENCH Billy, un homme perturbé prêt à se suicider, trouve enfin la paix et l’amitié parmi les résidents miséreux d’un bar délabré. Il y fait une rencontre invraisemblable avec Sue, une beauté fanée, qui va lui procurer de l’inspiration afin qu’il réalise, ses premiers pas hésitants vers une nouvelle raison d’être
ITALIAN Billy, un uomo perturbato, trova finalmente la pace e l’amicizia tra i residenti miseri di un bar rovinato. Li fa un incontro improbabile con Sue, una bellezza fanée che li dara l’inspirazione per realizzare i suoi primi esite passi verso una nuova raggione per esistere.
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DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Thirst was born out of conversations with my friend and our writer, Michael Albanese. Michael and I were developing a feature film together and one day he said to me, “When something haunts me, I write about it.” He then told me a story about a dark time in his life when he was living in New York City and felt completely hopeless and despondent. Michael was broke, alone and lost. With only a few quarters to his name, he set out determined to remedy his situation.
Michael’s story struck a chord with me and there were aspects of it that I believe many people can relate to, myself included.
In my life, I have witnessed the way humans can become completely disconnected and paralyzed when life doesn’t work out as planned. One thing that seems consistent is that we need and want to have a purpose and for our lives to have meaning.
What speaks to me in these scenarios is the process that people go through when they come out of the darkness, accept the dissonance in the universe and decide to make a change. I find this courage fascinating and, in the case of Thirst, quite beautiful. Billy, our hero played by Josh Pence, chooses to face his life and finds himself staring across a seedy bar at an unlikely collection of saviors. I love this idea of finding grace and compassion amongst complete strangers. Billy finds a renewed purpose through an unexpected friendship with Sue, a beguiling broken beauty, played by Melanie Griffith. His connection with Sue is at the heart of our story and provided the foundation for me to shape this narrative.
As a director, it was incredibly inspiring working with this remarkable cast to bring Billy and Sue’s story to life. The emotion and honesty they gave to these characters was extraordinary and those performances moved me and guided throughout this entire process.
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DIRECTOR’S BIOGRAPHY
A native of Pass Christian, Mississippi, Rachel McDonald’s charm, vision, and relentless creative drive is what brings her films to fruition. She credits her craft as a narrative storyteller to her childhood in the American Deep South.
After losing all of her belongings to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Rachel’s adventurous spirit became her home. She sought inspiration in work assignments in places such as Egypt and Uganda.
Having spent the first half of her film career working for heralded filmmakers like Frank Darabont, Nancy Meyers, and Clint Eastwood, Rachel has since honed her style as an intuitive and fiercely visionary director in her own right. After years of directing commercials, branded content and an award winning short documentary, Thirst is Rachel’s first narrative short.
She is currently developing her first feature film.
DIRECTOR’S FILMOGRAPHY:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2576505/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 www.rachelmcdonald.us
Director (2 credits) Writer (1 credit) Thirst (Short) 2015 Thirst (Short) (story) 2015 Uganda: Friends of the Gorilla Producer (1 credit) (Short Documentary) 2010 Thirst (Short) (producer) - 2015 **Winner Silver Arara - TOUR FILM BRAZIL
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MELANIE GRIFFITH
Melanie Griffith received an Academy Award nomination, a BAFTA nomination and won a Golden Globe award for her memorable role as Tess McGill in Mike Nichol’s smash hit Working Girl. In 2003, she made her Broadway musical debut in Chicago as the fame-hungry Roxy Hart, impressing critics and audiences alike.
Griffith’s performance opposite Liev Schreiber, John Malkovich and James Cromwell in the HBO movie RKO 281 earned her both an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination. She received rave reviews for her performances in the following films - Crazy in Alabama, directed by her husband Antonio Banderas, in Larry Clark’s Another Day in Paradise, and in Woody Allen’s Celebrity, opposite Kenneth Branagh. She also provided the voice of ‘Margalo’ in Sony’s family hit, Stuart Little 2.
Griffith has collaborated with some of the film industry’s most important directors. Her career began at age sixteen in Arthur Penn’s Night Moves. She then appeared in the murder mystery The Drowning Pool starring Paul Newman; gained attention as a starlet who holds the missing piece to the murder puzzle in Brian de Palma’s Body Double; and then co-starred in Jonathan Demme’s off-beat comedy-drama Something Wild. She received Golden Globe nominations for her roles in both Body Double and Something Wild.
She went on to star in Mike Figgis’ stylish film noir Stormy Monday with Tommy Lee Jones and Sting; Robert Redford’s The Milagro Beanfield War; and John Schlesinger’s psychological thriller Pacific Heights opposite Michael Keaton and Mattew Modine. Reteaming with director Brian de Palma, she starred with Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis in Bonfire of the Vanities, before joining Michael Douglas and Liam Neeson in the World War II espionage romance Shining Through.
After starring in Paradise with Don Johnson, Griffith followed with Sidney Lumet’s police drama A Stranger Among Us; a remake of Garson Kanin’s Born Yesterday; and Robert Benton’s Nobody’s Fool opposite Paul Newman. Her other film credits include Richard Benjamin’s charming comedy Milk Money opposite Ed Harris; a cameo role in Now and Then; Fernando Trueba’s Two Much, starring Antonio Banderas and Daryl Hannah; Lee Tamahori’s Mulholland Falls with Nick Nolte; and Adrian Lyne’s controversial film Lolita.
Her other credits include John Waters’ Cecil B. Demented, the crime thriller Tempo, and Shade opposite Sylvester Stallone and Gabriel Byrne. Her most recent work was as Betsy in Suri Krishnamma’s Dark Tourist; and her next movie planned to release in 2014 she will be seen starring alongside Antonio Banderas in Gabe Ibanez’ Automata.
On television, Griffith starred in the comedy Twins, opposite Sara Gilbert. She also starred in the mini-series Buffalo Girls, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination; and starred with James Woods in the HBO film Women & Men: Hills Like White Elephants. She also appeared in the casino drama Viva Laughlin. She can last be seen guest starring on the TV comedy series Raising Hope and in USA network’s TV movie; Call Me Crazy. Griffith recently wrapped production on CBS’ Hawaii 5-0.
In 2001, Griffith was honored with a Special Festival Award for her body of work at the Cannes Film Festival. In June, Melanie was honored with the 2014 Taormina Arte Award in Taormina, Italy.
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JOSH PENCE
A Santa Monica native and Dartmouth College graduate, Josh Pence began his career under famed New York acting coach Sheila Gray and made his feature film debut in Robert DeNiro’s THE GOOD SHEPHERD. Upon returning to Los Angeles in 2007, Josh appeared in Ian McCrudden’s THE THINGS WE CARRY. He then landed the coveted role of Tyler Winklevoss in the Oscar-winning David Fincher drama THE SOCIAL NETWORK. Since then, Josh’s credits have included Christopher Nolan’s THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (playing the young Ra’s Al Ghul), Peter Berg’s BATTLESHIP, Josh Schwartz’s FUN SIZE, and Ruben Fleischer’s GANGSTER SQUAD, with Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, and Ryan Gosling. In April, Josh starred in Ivan Reitman’s DRAFT DAY alongside Kevin Costner. He begins filming the indie drama Containing Charlie in September.
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GALE HAROLD
Gale Harold is from Atlanta, Georgia. After studying photography and printmaking the San Francisco Art Institute, Harold began studying acting at the suggestion of writer and producer Susie Landau Finch. After three years of training and theatre work, Harold was cast and starred for five years as “Brian Kinney”, the lead character in the SHOWTIME adaptation of the British series “Queer As Folk”.
Harold’s film credits include WAKE, PARTICLES OF TRUTH (Tribeca Film Festival), RHINOCEROS EYES (Toronto Film Festival), FATHERS AND SONS, THE UNSEEN, and FALLING FOR GRACE.
Along with executive producer David Bowie and producer Mia Bays, Gale coproduced the film SCOTT WALKER: 30TH CENTURY MAN, directed by Stephen Kijak. The film’s world premiere was at the London Film Festival, and debuted internationally at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film’s U.S. premiere was at the South By Southwest Film Festival.
This Spring, Harold will be appearing in Rockne S. O’Bannon’s new SYFY series, “Defiance”.
Gale recently had regular roles on the CW series “The Secret Circle” and ‘Hellcats”. He has recurred on Emmy and Golden Globe award winning shows including “Deadwood”, “Desperate Housewives”, and “Grey’s Anatomy”. He has made guest appearances on “The Unit”, “Law and Order SVU”, and “CSI: NY”.
Harold’s stage credits include Tennessee Williams’ SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER opposite Carla Gugino and Blythe Danner for the Roundabout Theatre Company, Williams’ ORPHEUS DESCENDING at Theater/ Theatre, Austin Pendelton’s UNCLE BOB at the Soho Playhouse, Gillian Plowman’s ME AND MY FREIND at The Los Angeles Theatre Center, and various productions with A Noise Within Repertory Company.
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MICHAEL BOFSHEVER
With more than thirty-five years of industry experience, Michael Bofshever is an accomplished actor, director, teacher, author and moderator. Michael’s acting career began at Boston University College of Fine Arts where he earned his BFA. His first professional job was in Al Pacino’s Richard III for the Theatre Company of Boston. He continued his studies with the legendary acting teacher Michael Howard in New York City. As a founding member of the Actors Producing Company, Michael performed in a wide variety of plays, ranging from Moonchildren to Misalliance. His work has been seen on stage at Circle Repertory Company, Ensemble Studio Theater, Emelin Theatre and the Actors Studio. Most recently in 2011, Michael received rave reviews for his return to the stage as Philip Gelburg in Arthur Millers’ Broken Glass for the WCJT.
His film credits include: United 93, Housebroken, Certifiably Jonathan Winters, Dirty Deeds, The Fan, Crime of the Century, Rosewell, A Low Down Dirty Shame, Funny About Love and Star Trek VI. A veteran of episodic television, Michael was a series regular on the hit Disney Channel show The Jersey. He has made multiple appearances on Breaking Bad, True Blood, Private Practice, The Shield, Desperate Housewives, NYPD Blue,The Practice, in addition to innumerable guest starring roles, and hundreds of television commercials.Mr. Bofshever is the author of Your Face Looks Familiar…How To Get Ahead as a Working Actor (Heinemann Drama Press). His seminar, Journey of the Working Actor, has been co- sponsored by the SAG Foundation at more than half the union branches throughout the country.
The Actors Guide To Qualified Acting Coaches: Los Angeles (Smith & Krauss) recognizes Michael as “one of the finest acting teachers in Los Angeles.” Michael has taught a private scene study class for over twenty years as well as classes at UCLA Extension and USC School of Cinematic Arts.
As a moderator for film and television discussions on behalf of the SAG Conversation Series, Michael has conducted interviews with such theatrical luminaries as Helen Mirren, Jeff Bridges, Jonathan Winters, Marion Cotilliard, Kevin Bacon, Hilary Swank, Bryan Cranston, Lynn Redgrave, Liam Neeson, Julian Fellowes, Jim Sheridan and countless other actors, directors and writers.
In 2012 Michael produced and acted in the award winning short film, Losing Gracie.
Mr. Bofshever is represented by Leslie Allan-Rice Management Tel. 310 247 1234 www.michaelbofshever.com
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CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES
MICHAEL ALBANESE WRITER
Theatrically, Michael has worked with Tony award-winning actor Richard Easton and Logan Marshall- Green on his play, Turning Night in the Dying House. His death-row drama, Red Herring was produced in New York with Thomas Jefferson Byrd & Shane McRae and won “Most Outstanding Play of the Summer”. Currently, Michael is in development with his script, McCleskey, which chronicles the life and death of Warren McCleskey, a history-making death-row inmate wrongfully accused of murder. The script was a semi-finalist in the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences prestigious Nicholl Fellowship. Michael also is a co-founder of Element Lifestyle and is a contributing writer for Bespoke & Montage magazines. Michael lives in Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.
KATIE KNAB PRODUCER
A recovering architect, Katie most recently produced the short documentary FLUTTER, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and has traveled the festival circuit worldwide. She is a recent Film Independent Producers Lab Fellow for the feature project, RESONANCE, which is also a recipient of Alfred P. Sloan Tribeca Film Institute Production Grant. Katie is currently producing the feature project, BLACK SUN, which chronicles a rebellious playboys demise amongst the Lost Generation in Paris. When not working in the world of independent film, she travels globally to produce TV campaigns for international luxury brands such as BMW, Clinique, Jergens and John Frieda. Katie lives in New York City.
TOBIN OLDACH DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Tobin Oldach is a cinematographer based in Los Angeles. He was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico and spent his youth between Santa Fe and Encinitas, California. Tobin graduated from the Moving Image Arts Program at the College of Santa Fe with a focus on cinematography.
Tobin has spent the last 12 years working in the camera department under such heralded cinematographers as Greig Fraser, ASC, Claudio Miranda, ASC, and Stefan Czapsky. Tobin found cinematography as a way to marry his love of photography and film, seeing it as a perfect balance of both a technical and artistic medium. In addition to narrative short films, Tobin has spent the past few years shooting numerous commercials, music videos and branded content.
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CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES
MIKE FAY EDITOR
Mike most recently assistant edited on the Academy Award-winning Life of Pi. His career began in New York City as an apprentice sound editor and then as an assistant picture editor. He has assistant edited both television and film including You Can Count on Me and Rachel Getting Married for Jonathan Demme. His television credits include the acclaimed Baltimore crime drama The Wire and Emmy award-winning Boardwalk Empire, both for HBO. As an editor, Mike has worked with Anne McCabe on the feature film Margaret and the short film Lorimer, written and directed by Michael Lannan. Mike recently relocated to Los Angeles and dove right in by editing the above teaser. He is thrilled to join the Thirst team.
MONICA SONAD COMPOSER
Composer Monica Sonand was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. Her musical training was in opera by day but she played in pop bands by night.
It was on her band’s US tour in 2011 that Monica fell in love with the the United States and thus embarked on her journey to America.
Working at Hans Zimmer’s compound, Remote Control Productions, Monica has contributed to the scores of many films and television shows including Rush, Ruby Sparks, Savages and NBC’s Chicago Fire. Thirst is Monica’s first US produced short film.
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CAST & CREDITS
CAST (in the order of appearance)
Billy Josh Pence Pike John Oldach Teddy Johnny Sneed Fielding Michael Bofshever Sue Melanie Griffith John Gale Harold Homeless Man Roy Lee Jones
Company Credits: Eleanor Drive Pictures and Folklore Entertainment
Directed by Rachel McDonald
Written by Michael Albanese
Produced by Katie Knab Rachel McDonald Michael Albanese
Director of Photography Tobin Oldach
Edited by Mike Fay
Music by Monica Sonand
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CAST & CREDITS Continued
Executive Producers Digital Imaging Technicians Wynn Everett Brenden Emery Yuliya Yevsyeyva Conrad Radzik
Associate Producer Jamie Metzger Kimberly Boatright Andrew Oliver K.C. Colwell Techno Crane Operator Line Producer Randy Johnson Arlo Rosner Techno Crane Technician Production Consultant Jacy Belyeu Jeff Hubbard Still Photographer 2nd Assistant Director Jenny Tunberg John Klymshyn Production Designers Stunt Coordinator Greg Anderson Hubie Kerns Kate Bunch
Script Supervisor Art Director Sara Branscum Caryn Marcus Erin Grumley Set Decorators 1st Assistant “A” Camera Stuart Frossell Bennett Cerf Miguel Lopez Luis “Weezie” Gomez Art Production Assistants 2nd Assistant Camera Clay Barnes Luke Brigham Justin Whitmer Jared Jordan Amado Stachenfeld Costume Designer Jason Yap Mairi Chisholm
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CAST & CREDITS Continued
Set Costumer Production Sound Mixers Kim H. Ngo Alan Freed Scott Tipton Key Hair & Make Up Tina Lucy-Soares Sherer Boom Operators Carlton Diggs Make Up Artist: Mrs. Griffith Paul Losada Anita Brabec Speed Ratliff Joanne Wu Hair Sylist: Mrs Griffith Dean Banowetz Casting Director Lotus Seki Ania O’Hare
Gaffers Background Casting Charlie Balch Tony Hobbs Manny Tapia Location Manager Electricians Josh Hughes Kevin Campbell Bryce Lansing Unit Production Manager Tim Richardson Joaquin Poblete Riley Sidore Production Coordinators Key Grip Mary Catherine Keith Dyron Pacheco Jake Oldach
Best Boy Grip Production Assistants Sean Delahunt Trenton Brown Chris Milliken Dolly Grip Eddie Diaz Tyler Hart Mia Smith Katie Faulner Elizabeth Suggs Shane Graham Alberto Zacerias
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CAST & CREDITS Continued
“Smoke Machine” Written by Jesse Woods Performed by Jesse Woods Courtesy of Jesse Woods
“Sun Moonshine” Written by Jesse Woods Performed by Jesse Woods Courtesy of Jesse Woods
“How Could It Take Us So Long” Written by Jesse Woods Performed by Jesse Woods Courtesy of Jesse Woods
“Pj” Written by Jesse Woods Performed by Jesse Woods Courtesy of Jesse Woods
“Standing in the Doorway Crying” Written by Jessie Mae Hemphill Performed by Jessie Mae Hemphill Courtesy of Shout Factory
“Lonestar” Written by Jon Darling Performed by Jon Darling Courtesy of SOUTH
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TECHNICAL SPECS
Runtime: 24 mins 25 seconds
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital 5.1
Image: Color
Shooting Format: Alexa
Aspect Ratio: 1.85
Frame Rate: 23.98
Screening Format: DCP 2K
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SOCIAL MEDIA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstshortfilm
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirstshortfilm
@thirstshortfilm
WEBSITE: www.thirstfilm.com
CONTACT
ELEANOR DRIVE PICTURES 822 Woodlawn Ave. Venice, CA 90291 310.733.8699 [email protected]
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