Annieorphans Productions Presents
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Annieorphans Productions presents Produced and Directed by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr. DV; 4x3 letterbox; 75 min. Best Documentary – Phoenix Film Festival Best Director – Phoenix Film Festival Press Notes Press Contact NY/LA: Worldwide Distribution Contact: Julie Stevens Lise Romanoff, André Relis Annieorphans Productions Vision Films 8205 Santa Monica Blvd. #1-287 14945 Ventura Blvd., Ste. 306 Los Angeles, CA 90046 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 (323) 573-1939 (818) 784-1702 [email protected] [email protected] www.lifeaftertomorrow.com www.visionfilms.net (1) A Documentary film by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr. SYNOPSIS What do Sarah Jessica Parker, Alyssa Milano, and Molly Ringwald have in common? They all began their careers as child actresses appearing in the hit musical "Annie." Life After Tomorrow is a personal journey of filmmaker and co-director, Julie Stevens, who played one of the orphans in the Broadway cast and National Tour. With partner, Gil Cates, Jr., the filmmakers spoke with over 40 women who played orphans in the show during its original run on Broadway, from 1977-1983. The film explores the life-changing repercussions of child performers in “Annie” as many orphan cast members revisit their experience in the show, their childhood, family support structure, what happened when they left the show and tried to resume a “normal” childhood, and what they are doing today. Life After Tomorrow is not only a “Where Are They Now” glimpse back at the careers of some talented children but also a cautionary tale for any parents considering putting their child into show business. The film also visits with the creators of “Annie” (writer/lyricist Martin Charnin and composer Charles Strouse), fans, agents, adult cast members and a new generation of “Annie” orphans. With a Broadway cast and four national touring companies, "Annie" ran for over five years and 2,377 performances on Broadway. With 7 little girls in each cast, thousands of children get their start in show business through this musical. Life After Tomorrow offers a glimpse of what the “Annie” experience was like and how it shaped the lives of the young women who have gone on to both performing and non-performing careers. Former orphans appearing in the film include MSNBC anchor, Dara Brown, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, recording artist Joanna Pacitti, Emmy award-winning actress Martha Byrne and songwriter Danielle Brisebois. For some, "Annie" marked the beginning of a fruitful career in show biz. Many were able to use the opportunity as a springboard to related careers in entertainment. For others, the incredible experience at such an early age was enough of a taste of show business to last a lifetime. Some girls found themselves struggling with feelings of loss and frustration with having their show business careers end so abruptly. As one cast member in the film remarks, “I feel like my career could not have peaked at ten!” (2) A Documentary film by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr. CAST LIST- Alphabetical order Jennine Babo Mary K. Lombardi William Berloni Louanne Theda Stemler Blackwood Ana Lovelis Mollie Hall Boulware Robert Marks Danielle Brisebois Jon Merrill Arlene Kulis Brothers Monica Miller Dara Brown Robyn Finn-Moosey Martha Byrne Senta Moses Nancy Carson Joanna Pacitti Martin Charnin Sarah Jessica Parker Kristi Coombs Kim Parks Molly Copsey Cameron Randall Phillips Michele de Cuir Harve Presnell Dana Dewes Kristan Sauter Nicole Francis Karen Maria Schleifer Michele Graham Allison Smith Peter Howard Julie Stevens Louie Kahn Charles Strouse Stefanie Ann Kahn Kristin Vigard Bridget Kavanagh Emily Rose Vigard-Pleis Rosanne Kavanagh Stephanie Vine Sarah Kavanagh Mimi Wallace Kathy Raicht Deborah Watson Peter Lawrence Aspen Lee Jackson Lee Roxanne Lee April Lerman (3) A Documentary Film by Julie Stevens & Gil Cates, Jr. Julie Stevens – CO-DIRECTOR/CO-PRODUCER Julie Stevens began performing at age nine when she was cast as one of the orphans in the in the hit Broadway musical, ANNIE. While performing in the show on Broadway, she attended Professional Children’s School, with fellow Annie alumni, Sarah Jessica Parker. Julie played Pepper in the final cast when Annie closed on Broadway after 2,377 performances. Julie went on to earn a BFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts but quickly discovered that a degree in Acting would not help pay the rent. She went back to school and received a Masters Degree in Education from Bank Street College. Julie was able to utilize her acting skills and teaching degree as a teaching artist for many well-known theatre companies in New York, including The Roundabout, National Actor’s Theatre and Manhattan Theatre Club. She helped create educational outreach programs, led pre and post-show discussions, and facilitated drama workshops with New York City public school children. Julie also became an on-set Studio Teacher for professional children working in commercials, studio films, and independent films. Her recent credits as a Studio Teacher include THANK YOU FOR SMOKING, (directed by Jason Reitman), THE VALLEY OF LIGHT, SANTA CLAUSE 3, and the soap opera THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL. After moving to Los Angeles, Julie once again combined her acting and teaching skills, along with an entrepreneurial spirit, to create a motivational deck of cards for performing artists, called ACTING OUTSIDE THE BOX, available online and in specialty stores nationwide. In 2000, Julie launched a website, ANNIEORPHANS.COM, hoping to re-connect with her fellow cast members online. The website quickly became the premiere ANNIE site for fans worldwide and has succeeded in creating a “sisterhood” of young women who appeared in the show. After several get-togethers, Julie discovered that while many of the women shared her affection for the show and the unique childhood experience, some also struggled with strong feelings of frustration and confusion with having their show business career end so abruptly. Currently, Julie’s singing voice can be heard as Barbie in the animated feature film, THE PRINCESS AND THE PAUPER. Her voice can also be heard in the singing Barbie doll, Erika. Other voiceover characters include My Little Pony and Cheer Bear in CARE BEARS LIVE! Julie continues to perform in film, TV and live on stage in theatre in Los Angeles while lending her voice to many demos of new musicals and animated projects. Julie is a member of the Director’s Guild, Screen Actor’s Guild, AFTRA, and Actor’s Equity Association. For more information about the documentary film, log on to LIFEAFTERTOMORROW.COM. (4) A Documentary film by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr. Gil Cates Jr. – CO-DIRECTOR/CO-PRODUCER Gil Cates, Jr. just completed directing a film with Seven Arts Pictures entitled, DEAL. The film, set against the world of high stakes poker, stars Burt Reynolds as an ex-gambler who meets a young hot shot card player who sucks him back into the world he’s been trying so hard to avoid. His previous film was the ensemble drama, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S RAVE, which was released by THINKFilm. RAVE’S cast features Andrew Keegan (10 Things I Hate About You, Extreme Dating), Chad Lindberg (The Fast and The Furious), Sunny Mabrey (XXX 2), Lauren German (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre), Chris Owen (American Pie 1 & 2), Jason London (Out Cold, Dazed and Confused), Olivia Rosewood (Almost Famous), Ted Stryker (106.7 KROQ), and Carrie Fisher. In 2001, Gil wrapped the twisted comedy THE MESMERIST, based on an Edgar Allan Poe short story. The film released by Seventh Arts Releasing, stars Neil Patrick Harris and Jessica Capshaw, and was Executive Produced by Barbara De Fina (“Casino”, “Goodfellas”). Gil’s motion picture directorial debut was the 1997 short film SCREENING, a quirky tale of one woman’s efforts to find the right man. With a cast including Michael Goorjian and Morgan Freeman, the film played at numerous film festivals and was subsequently purchased by Showtime and The Sundance Channel. Following up on the success of the short, Gil wrote and directed his debut feature film SPENT, a serio-comic look at life, love, and addictions. The film stars Jason London and features a cast that includes Richmond Arquette, Margaret Cho, and Rain Phoenix among others. SPENT was distributed by Regent Entertainment in the summer of 2000 and premiered at SXSW Film Festival. (5) A Documentary film by Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr. FEATURED PLAYERS Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah appeared in the Broadway productions of "The Innocents", "The Sound of Music" (along with four of her siblings), and "Annie" (she started as orphan July before becoming the third Broadway Annie). She was cast as one of the lead roles in the 1982 sitcom "Square Pegs." Some of her films include “Footloose,” “Firstborn,” “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “L.A. Story,” “Honeymoon in Vegas,” “Hocus Pocus,” “Ed Wood,” “Miami Rhapsody,” “The First Wives Club,” “If Lucy Fell,” “Mars Attacks!” “Strangers With Candy,” “The Family Stone,” and “Failure To Launch.” She starred in the off-Broadway play, "Sylvia," and the Broadway musicals, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" and "Once Upon a Mattress." Her most notable role to date is as Manhattan sex-columnist Carrie Bradshaw in the HBO series "Sex and the City" for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 2000. Dara Brown Dara Brown is the anchor and senior producer for MSNBC.com’s original programming. Dara hosts “Video Headlines,” “Business Headlines,” "TechWatch" and "The Week in Video." She can also be seen anchoring on MSNBC-TV, CNBC-TV and hosting NBC's "Early Today." Allison Smith At the age of 9, Allison appeared in the children’s chorus for the original Broadway production of “Evita.” While appearing in “Evita,” she auditioned against thousands of hopeful girls and was chosen for the title role in “Annie.” She performed the role the longest with over 1,000 performances before her run ended in September 1982.