Principal Photography Begins on Jack, Jules, Esther & Me!

07/06/11

Principal photography has commenced on Jack, Jules, Esther & Me! We couldn't be more excited about it—literally! We have four extremely talented actors playing the title characters: Aaron Sauter as Jack, Jessica Rothenberg playing Jules, Alice Lee as Esther, and Alex Flores playing Luis. They have a natural chemistry together and it's really a pleasure to watch them in front of the camera.

On the other side of the camera are Director of Photography Adam Miller and Assistant Cameraperson Djuna Wahlrab. Assistant director Abe Halpert is keeping the gears of production turning smoothly with help from the tireless efforts of Production Managers Antonio Aguinaga and The Adam Massey Experience. The lovely and charming Megan Poliner is producing, and Betty Colins and Jessie Coles are manning the Art Department, unashamedly dressing sets and actors alike. Phil Ward is our esteemed sound mixer and Eric Rothman is editing, hard.

Check back back soon for updates. Oh, and like us on Facebook! You can like us in real life too.

Auditions for Summer Shoot!

4/1/11

I'm really excited to begin auditioning for my feature directing debut this July. The working title is Jack, Jules, Esther & Me. I will update the website soon with more details, but for now please check out a super short synopsis and a description of all the roles we're auditioning for below.

Please help us get the word out about the auditions. You can submit resumes/headshots directly to my casting director, Julie Schubert, or by clicking here.

Thanks so much and happy spring!

Dan
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SYNOPSIS
A raucous comedy that is also poignant, warm-hearted and socially relevant, JACK, JULES, ESTHER & ME follows four friends in New York City - two are rich and two are poor - in their last week of summer vacation before starting college and going on to very different futures. Great romantic schemes are hatched and foiled with comic ineptitude, and along the way, new friendships are created, old bonds reignited, and all four are greatly changed by their last week together.

NEW YORK BREAKDOWN
ULTRA LOW BUDGET FEATURE

Producer: Daniel Poliner
Director/Writer: Daniel Poliner
Casting: Julie Schubert
Shoot Location: New York
Shoot Dates: Approx. July 8 - August 3
SAG & NON-SAG

PLEASE SUBMIT HEADSHOTS TO:
JULIE SCHUBERT CASTING

LOUIS, 18, Hispanic, he's very sharp and funny, also is willing to put his heart on the line. He grew up poor but won a scholarship to attend a prestigous all-boys prep school in New York. He's caught between the world his family inhabit and the world of his wealthy school friends. Should be comfortable speaking Spanish. LEAD

JACK, 18, handsome, charming and rich -although a little bit dorkier than a typical leading guy. Some of his confidence comes from having incredibly wealthy and well connected parents. His has a way with the ladies and it gets him in trouble. LEAD

JULES, 18, rich and beautiful with an easy confidence. She's not a stereotypical snobby private school girl, she's warm and genuinely charming. But she's in need of some real friends. Many people know her, but few know her well. Strong sense of humor and an ability to put people at ease. LEAD

ESTHER, 18, Korean-American, is beautiful, extremely hard working and seemingly shy. She was born in South Korea and moved here with her parents when she was six. She was accepted to a top private college but won't be attending because she didn't receive enough scholarship money. She's depressed that she'll instead be attending city college and staying home to help with her parents' grocery store. When pushed, she can be tough, funny and very sarcastic. She's someone who never had time to consider true friendships and romantic connections and gets swept off her feet when they come. Ideally would speak a little Korean. LEAD

CARLOS, 18, Hispanic, Louis's childhood best friend. They parted ways when Louis got a scholarship to prep school. He's not graduated yet from high school and is a bit down on his luck. Also funny and deeply loyal to Louis, despite his frustrations with him and the wealthy kids he now hangs out with. SUPPORTING

LOUIS' MOM, 40, Hispanic, hard working woman, loving mother. She's so proud of Louis but also frustrated that he's not behaving better in his last week before school. She's also having a hard time with his impending departure for college. MUST SPEAK SPANISH. SUPPORTING

LOUIS' DAD, 40, Hispanic, hard working man and loving father. He just wants what is best for his son. Incredibly humble and faithful. Not a yeller. MUST SPEAK SPANISH. SUPPORTING

ESTHER'S MOM, 45, Korean, hard working and cautious. She loves her daughter but is also occupied with her grocery store. She will reveal a soft, loving side. MUST SPEAK KOREAN. SUPPORTING

ESTHER'S DAD, 45, Korean. He loves his daughter and is very protective of her. He also knows he's more dependent on her than he should be. MUST SPEAK KOREAN. SUPPORTING

JULES' MOM, 45, elegant and very pretty, she's the 3rd wife of an older super wealthy husband. She has too much poise to simply be a trophy wife, but that is what she thinks people think of her. She doesn't need a job and lacks the courage to push forward with her career goals, which disappoints her daughter Jules. Only Jules can get her to stop smiling and let her true feelings out. SUPPORTING

Right Foot, Left Foot purchased by Sundance Channel!

11/16/09

Starting January 1, Right Foot, Left Foot will begin airing on the Sundance Channel! Check back here for specific dates and times. Get your TIVOs and DVRs ready! More to come...

We're in the Washington Post!

7/16/09

A nice little blurb about The Campaign appears in today's edition of Chris Cillizza's Morning Fix, a widely read political column in the Washington Post. Click here to read it.

You can view the trailer here. Please keep sending out. Every click helps get the word out!

The Campaign Trailer Premieres on Funny Or Die!

7/12/09

A 1 minute trailer for The Campaign is now up at Funny or Die. Click here to watch it. We're trying to build a grass roots movement and get as many eyes on it as possible so please share the trailer with your friends!

Also, we had to cut 1 minute behind the scenes featurettes about The Campaign and The Year of the Sublets for an upcoming pilot competion. Click here to watch The Campaign or Sublets.

It's a Wrap on The Campaign

7/15/08

We just completed production on The Campaign, a comedic short I wrote over the winter. It was shot as a stand-alone piece but will be shopped around as a pilot for a new series. Joshua Levine produced it along with co-producer and production designer Liz Cipollina. Chad Davidson, my cinematographer on Right Foot, Left Foot, once again did an amazing job.
The Campaign is a comedy that follows Bernice Garrety, a brilliant but down-on-her-luck campaign operative who is forced to represent arguably the worst possible candidate in the most remote and exasperating state house district. I wrote Bernice for Woodwyn Koons, wonderful actor I've been lucky enough to work with a few times. Woodwyn recently had a baby, so I decided to incorporate that into her character's story. Old friends like Dave Walton, Djuna Wahlrab, Chris Chan Roberson, Alek Lev and Scott Hurlbert, who I've collaborated with as many as ten times previously, were key participants. The great Debra Jo Rupp led our newest group of collaborators. It was a thrill and an honor to work with her. Jeremy Bobb, Ryan Woodle, and Larisa Polonsky and Gene Perelson also joined the ensemble. Here's a link to an article that ran in a local paper in Connecticut while we were shooting. We've just started editing, check back her for updates.

Obscured Pictures is Bar Mitzvah Clubbin'

1/2/08

The Bar Mitzvah Club now officially has its first producer: RJ Millard and his company Obscured Pictures. RJ started as the Press Officer for the Sundance Film Festival and a Producers' Services Rep at the Utah Film Commission. From there, he became head of marketing and publicity for Samuel Goldwyn Films and Roadside Attractions. In 2005, he founded Obscured Pictures, working with clients including New Line Cinema and IFC Films. I am thrilled to work with RJ and I'm sure we'll have more good news to report soon.

Film Update: This Is What I Know

11/1 /07

I am currently working on a feature film that picks up where the characters in The Year of the Sublets and Right Foot, Left Foot leave off. Lilly plans for marriage and Becca confronts demons from her past and present. We flash back to see the genesis of Harry and Lilly's relationship and watch as they meet each other perhaps for the last time. Click here to see some story-boards for the film. Check back for updates.

Nadia is on Broadway!

10/26/07

Nadia Bowers (The Year of the Sublets) is currently starring opposite Hank Azaria in the Broadway premiere of “The Farnsworth Invention.” The play was written by Aaron Sorkin (creator of The West Wing) and is being produced by Steven Spielberg. Go Nadia! For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

Guy Boyd is Coming to a Screen Near You!

10/24/07

Guy Boyd, The Year of the Sublets, is featured in The Savages starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney. Click here for showtimes and here to watch the trailer. Please go see this movie and support Guy; he's a great actor and a wonderful person.

Shaula Chambliss vs. The Ore

10/22/07

Shaula Chambliss (Right Foot Left Foot & Year of the Sublets) stars in The Ore, a science fiction short that's been getting played all over the internet. Shaula is terrific and it's stunning how much the directors of the piece were able to achieve with such a tiny budget. Click here to watch Shaula kick some serious Ore ass.

Djuna wraps!

10/19/07

Djuna Wahlrab, my longtime storyboard artist and collaborator (her amazing artwork is featured in The Bar Mitzvah Club Promo) just finished principal photography on an animated short film. Click here to follow her progress. The movie is breathtaking.

See CCR Performing Live!

10/16/07

Chris Chan Roberson, editor and featured performer in many of my shorts, performs monthly with his improv comedy group ETC. They are hilarious. Check out their site and if you are in the city, catch a performance.