Let's Get to Know Each Other [Cast and Crew Bios]

CREW BIOS:

Writer/Director/Editor AVERY UDELL decided to become a filmmaker at age twelve after seeing Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow. She applied for Interlochen Arts Academy and was accepted as a freshman, but decided to defer to junior year, when she made her first film, Possession. Though Possession was rejected by no less than eleven festivals in its first year, this only further fueled Udell’s determination to succeed in the film business. She began working on the screenplay for her next film, then titled Reden.

Reden was inspired by the Tokio Hotel song of the same name, which is about a one-night stand with a fan developing into a personal connection. Udell drew heavily from her childhood crushes on her favorite musicians, as well as her extensive collection of rockumentaries, to write the screenplay.

Before He’s A Rockstar had even begun shooting, Udell was already working on the screenplay for an experimental short film, tentatively titled What's Left of You, with fellow filmmaker Matthew Antonino. She is set to attend McDaniel College this fall and is planning to study cinema, psychology, and creative writing.

Director of Photography KEATON MANNING spent the first seventeen years of his life in rural Pennsylvania, where artistic curiosity and a bulky VHS camcorder lead to his discovery of passion for filmmaking. Committed to deviate from his action-packed life surrounded by grazing cattle, Keaton made his way to Interlochen Arts Academy, an arts boarding school in Michigan where he satisfies his artistic appetite as a motion picture arts major. Keaton’s senior year at Interlochen presented substantial opportunities that stimulate his determination for more opportunities that will allow him to persevere as a student artist.

Assistant Director TRAVIS COE is currently a junior in the Motion Picture Arts Department at Interlochen Arts Academy. He is from Woodbridge, New Jersey and has ambitions in both film and theater. His professional theater credits include Novus Production’s Bright Obvious and Arabian Nights, Terra Firma’s Fall Dance Repertory Concert, and Cleo Mack Dance Company Sirens. Film credits include Ophelia (Director), The 36 (Producer), Absent (Assistant Director), and He’s a Rockstar (Assistant Director).

Producer GUS PEWE was born near Portland, OR and spent half of his childhood in Naples, FL and the other half Horton, MI. Gus began making films with his friends an family at a very early age, being influenced by Pee-wee Herman, Monty Python, Star Wars, Michel Gondry, Robert Crumb, Tim and Eric, and Japanese monster films. He progressed from school video projects, to stop-motion animations, to absurdist comedy films. In 2010 he made The Three Vivid Dreams, a film that won him the opportunity to attend Interlochen Arts Academy for his senior year of high school. In May of 2011 he released his next film, My Favorite Planet.

CAST BIOS

SHERIDAN STEVENS is from Portland, Oregon and is currently a junior at Interlochen Arts Academy. Prior to attending the IAA, Stevens attended Riverdale High School and had one season at the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp in 2007. His latest role was the Beast in Interlochen’s production of Beauty and the Beast. He’s A Rockstar was Stevens’ first major role in an Interlochen thesis film.

ERIN JOHNSON has been doing regional theater since second grade and is so grateful for those experiences, learning about theater, but also life in general. Prior to He’s A Rockstar, Johnson had never worked with film before, preferring to work in musical theater. She has worked with The Davidson Community Players, Theater Charlotte, Children's Theater of Charlotte and The Old Courthouse Theater. While her favorite role was Sally Brown in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, because, she says, “I have a real knack for acting 5 years old,” playing Jolene in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels at Interlochen Arts Academy is easily a close second. Of her experience in He’s A Rockstar, Johnson says, “Working on this film was really cool and much different than I anticipated. Thanks so much to Avery for this opportunity and everyone's patience with me on set!”

SIDDHARTHA RAJAN is from Huntley, Illinois and has attended Interlochen Arts Academy as well as Huntley High School. In addition to He’s A Rockstar, Rajan’s most recent credits include Andre in Interlochen’s production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Adam in the one-act play The Vagabond of Boise. He will be attending University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the fall, studying biology.