Ellen's Press

“My mission is to connect people so they do not feel isolated; so they feel part of society. I do this through film, television, and theater by using diversity and a sense of humanity. I love story telling and was raised in a family that had the incredible gift of humor! That is what got us through . So with all my passion . I walk, trudge, skip, and jump telling heartfelt stories about every day heroes with an accent of humor.” EllenEllen GersteinGerstein Actor. Director. Writer. Known to many as a familiar face and accomplished actress, Ellen Gerstein is a multi- faceted artist working across the platforms of acting, producing, writing, and directing, who won the Robert Proski Character Actor Award 2016. She has received numerous international awards for her filmmaking. Gerstein is well respected in the entertainment industry, a member of the prestigious organizations: Women in Film, Alliance of Women Directors, LA Film Team, The Actors Studio, and SAG- AFTRA. She is an ongoing judge for The Actors Studio Audition Committee, the Roy W. Dean Film Makers Grant, as well as many film festivals and programs including The Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, and the Film Consortium San Diego & SD Film Awards. Gerstein uses her humor, dedication and passion to hone her craft of acting, in theatre, film, and television. She has worked with prestigious directors such as Martin Scorsese, Mark Rydell, Mimi Leder, and Rob Marshall to name a few. Some of the actors she has worked with are Robert DeNiro, AI Pacino, Ted Dansen, John Hurt, James Franco, Kathy Bates, Danny Divito, Alfred Molina, Lainie Kazan, and many more. With acting credits a mile-long, Ellen’s talent can be seen in such projects as, Interior Night, America is Still the Place, Swelter, Treasure Of The Black Jaguar, James Dean Story, Murder of Crows, and Annie. Gerstein recurs as Aunt Rande on Showtime’s hit series, Shameless, and recurred as Tina on ABC’s, The Whole Truth and appears as Lillian on Fresh Off The Boat. As a producer, writer, and director, credits include her international award winning short film, Waiting For Ronald, an inspiring story of a mentally challenged man creating a new independent life. Her passion for diversity led her to create an award winning blended cast. Her international award winning short film, Come Away With Me, which she adapted, produced, directed, and starred in, is about an interracial couple torn apart by war and social pressure who try to rekindle their romance years later. This film sheds light on the trials that war heroes and loved ones face when confronted by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease. Ellen was so inspired by Anne and Michael's love story she wrote the original song, Come Away With Me Tonight, as their 60's love song and produced and directed the music video. Her passion for diversity inspired her to make a documentary, The Making of Come Away With Me, discussing disabilities and highlighting her all women production team. The film continues to have tremendous success at film festivals around the world. Her feature script, Just South of Normal, achieved critical acclaim winning the Roy W. Dean Screenwriting Grant. She co-wrote and starred in the short film, Silent Laughter, out of the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. She brought her experience as a licensed psychotherapist and stand-up comic to the stage as well, writing and starring in her one-woman show, My Psychotherapy Comeback Tour, which was a semi-finalist in the Samuel French Short Play Contest. She also co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and starred in the award winning interactive play, Club Disco, which ran for eight months at the Lillian Theatre. And if all of this isn’t enough, Gerstein currently stars in her self- created comedy web series, Sylvia’s Just Sayin’, available across her social media platforms. Her latest project is a half-hour dramedy series, The Adventures of Ronald and Edgar, in which two high functioning men with developmental disabilities show people how to take a risk in life. Adapted from her international award winning short film, Waiting for Ronald. Gerstein wrote the pilot, bible and created a sizzle reel for this very special show that represents diversity with a capital D. Ellen’s Story Gerstein’s charisma, strength and perseverance blossomed at an early age. Growing up Ellen was lucky enough to be raised in a family with an incredible sense of humanity and humor. I was born in The Bronx… I thought everyone was. When I was two years old I was kidnapped by my parents and taken from New York to Miami. I spent most of my childhood horseback riding and won the Florida State Championship 5 Gate Division for three consecutive years when I was 11, 12, and 13 years old. I was, and still am, the youngest person to ever hold that record in that division. I also was the Florida State Reserve Champion, in the Western Pleasure Division. At 16 I had my own business teaching horse back riding and hauling horses with my two-horse trailer (faded blue) and my old bomb Ford (faded red and white) with holes in the floor boards which I thought of as air conditioning, BETSY! I loved that car. Wish I still had her. I went to school at The University of Georgia, where I not only majored in sociology but was the "salad girl" at Sizzler. I started a tutorial program for underprivileged kids and founded Georgia Students for Human Rights. After graduation… HELLO NEW YORK!!! I became a social worker for the NYC Department of Welfare. After six years of working and a few years of therapy, (back in the day everyone was in therapy), I decided to go for it… Do what I really wanted to do, BE AN ACTRESS!!! I auditioned for Lee Strasberg and studied with him for five years in New York and LA. I loved it! It was a tremendous acting and life experience. I have always wanted to be the best that I can be, so I also studied script analysis for many years with Stella Adler. It fueled my passion for writing. Given the gift of humor I thought it would be fun to do stand-up…so that’s what I did. I met an unbelievable amount of people that needed a laugh and had a lot of fun! Being a multi-tasker, somewhere along the way I went to Antioch University at night and received my graduate degree in psychology. Now I could save a lot of money on therapy and just talk to myself! I feel lucky and fortunate to live my life doing what I love; acting, writing, directing and filmmaking. I love telling stories that touch people’s hearts. Contact Ellen Gerstein Lulu Productions Sylvia’s Just Sayin’ Instagram: @EllenGerstein www.EllenGerstein.com Twitter: @SylviaJustSayin Twitter: @EllenGerstein [email protected] www.YouTube.com/SylviasJustSaying Facebook.com/EllenGersteinOfficial www.imdb.me/ellengerstein www.Facebook.com/SylviasJustSayin ~In a Complex World Simplicity Triumphs~ The Adventures of Ronald and Edgar is a half-hour dramedy series in the vein of The Odd Couple, just a little odder. It’s about two high functioning men with developmental disabilities, who together take on the world! AAdapted from the international award winning short lm, Waiting For Ronald, written, produced and directed by Ellen Gerstein. This is an entertaining and important show that celebrates friendship, courage and new beginnings. It will appeal to a wide audience because everyone wants to belong, just like Ronald and Edgar. The time is now for this show with a blended cast of actors with disabilities and without. It is a true example of Diversity with a capital “D”. RONALDR WALKER (34), very tall, has never lived outside of the Belmont Canyon Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCCDD). He is a perfectionist and complete optimist. His glass is always full. Really full. The fullest! His unique way of sharing his simple wisdom makes him the, go to person for advice. Ronald has the moxie to march into a situation and solve the problem when you least expect it. He has such a charming way he could even sell you a set of World Book Encyclopedias. Ronald’s love of animals leads him to his dream job, at Paula’s Pet Store at the mall. His ambition is to be an entrepreneur and the best roommate in the whole wide world. EDGAR GARCIAGA (33), not tall at all, has been living on his own for 6 months since leaving BCCDD. He is highly competitive and a complete pessimist. He doesn’t know if the glass is full or not, because he is afraid to hold it, no less look inside. Needless to say, he is NOT a risk taker. Edgar organizes, re-organizes and again re-organizes his belongings, as well as Ronald’s. Edgar has a tremendous work ethic and always spouts affirmations to give him courage and keep him going. His affirmations can be found on yellow sticky papers all over the apartment. Being a foodie leads him to his dream job at Big Al’s Tasty Sandwich ShoShop, also in the mall. The buddies meet for lunch whenever they can. His ultimate desire is to fall in love, get married and have a dog name Lassie. Together they set out to approach life from their unique perspectives. They are coping with being roommates, work, romance, and getting through the day, like everyone else. Surrounding these two gems is a colorful cast of characters.

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