Heavy Soul: Cast & Crew

OREN SHAI – Director
Born in Israel in 1981, Oren Shai completed his first short film, ‘Rocking’ – a tale of 1950’s delinquents who terrorize a mutation of an Israeli suburb, in 1999. In 2000, he co-founded ‘Baboon’, a critically acclaimed group of independent filmmakers, and had two successful screening programs in cinemateques around the country. During 2000-2001, developed a TV show to the Israeli channel YTV, based on the short directed for ‘Baboon’, “Moongir & Bernard”. In 2001 Oren moved to New York to pursue film studies at the School of Visual Arts. During the four years to come he has completed 4 short films, music videos to Israeli and International artists Charlie Megira and Shy Nobleman and an MTV2 Promo. Most recently he was presented with the School’s ‘Outstanding Achievement in Directing, 2005’ award for ‘Heavy Soul’, his thesis film which has since screened in various venues in New York, San Francisco, Austin, Santa Fe and Miami. Following great artistic minds such as Russ Meyer and Billy Childish – and with a life-long obsession to the 1950’s, he strives to make his films authentic pieces of Rocknroll…

RYAN GOULD – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Ryan holds a BFA in film production from New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and received instruction through the exclusive BBC Director’s Training Program in London, England. Throughout his time at NYU, Ryan’s capabilities enabled him to attract professional talents like Kim Chan (Lethal Weapon 4, Fifth Element, Kung Fu the Legend Continues) and Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia, Swimfan, Jason vs. Freddy, Mumford) to his projects, despite his student status. Two weeks prior to graduating in May 2001, production wrapped on his thesis film PG, which once completed a year later, won him the Warner Brother’s Film Production Award at NYU and received the honors of acceptance at the 2002 South By Southwest, San Francisco Independent, LA International Short, and Manchester International Film Festivals, as well as the 2003 Valleyfest Independent Film Festival. Ryan has continued his creative involvement with short films as a Director of Photography and Editor on a number of thesis projects. He creates time for his continued writing ,directing and photography interests, as a freelance Videographer, Assistant Editor and Production Coordinator in the New York commercial production industry. Ryan is arranging to begin production on one of his short screenplays in 2006.

ELIZABETH S. CIPOLLINA – Production Designer
Liz has worked as a production designer and set decorator on various film, television, and commercial projects, including award-winning short and feature length films screened at major film festivals across the country. She also continues to work as a wig and makeup artist in theater and film, with experience in this specific area spanning over twenty years. She can be contacted at aaronjess@aol.com.

OSCAR ZAMBRANO – Sound Design
www.zampolproductions.com
Oscar Zambrano was born and raised in Mexico City. While in high school, he played saxophone for a band called Oompa Loompa. After graduating he enrolled at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied Music Production & Engineering, with a minor in film scoring and composition While at Berklee, he was able to participate in several mastering projects. He also became part of the Prentice Hall audio editing team. During his last year of college, Oscar interned at M-Works Mastering, where he assisted on mastering sessions, learned Sonic Solutions, and familiarized himself with various mastering equipment and techniques. In the summer of 2003, Oscar was hired at Sound On Sound Recording in New York City. There he worked as a general assistant, and was involved in several recording and mix sessions. He eventually became an engineer for various artists. While in NYC, Oscar started mastering for several independent record labels. In 2005, together with Jorge Castellanos, Oscar created Zampol Productions with the goal of offering several audio services.

ARNON MOSKOWITZ – Assistant Director
Arnon has directed and written numerous TV shows in Israel (Leech, Double Take) and has directed and written really nice shorts on film both in Israel and in the US. He recorded and mixed sound for the IDF’s air force film unit, studied film and arts in Eironi A high school (maturation years) and is now enrolled in the School of Visual Arts (intellectualizing years). So many years in such a slight amount of lines.

GUIL FISHER (Dr. Lombardy)
Guil began his career under the tutelage of Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse when he shared a flat with Steve McQueen in Greenwich Village. He then did live Television with OMNIBUS, PLAYHOUSE 90 and STUDIO ONE before going on the stage in summer and winter stock (he was nominated for two Barrymore “Best Actor“ awards in 1997 (Philadelphia); winner Best Supporting Actor Award (New Hampshire); winner “Best Actor” for HATFUL OF RAIN. In New York, Guil has performed with the Broken Watch Theatre Company, Performed off Broadway in Sam Shepard’s A LIE OF THE MIND and directed an off Bway production of Sam Shepard’s TRUE WEST. He has done several original play and musical readings and played opposite such leading ladies as Kim Hunter (TROILUS & CRESSIDA for which he was honored with a Hirschfeld drawing in the New York Times) Anne Jeffreys (KISS ME KATE) Cathleen Nesbitt (GIRLS IN 509) Sylvia Sydney (SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH), Lee Grant (INVITATION TO A MARCH) and toured for Columbia Artists in SOUTH PACIFIC (as Emile DeBecque) In films, Guil appeared in GEORGE WASHINGTON, THE FORGING OF A NATION (with Barry Bostwick); a leading role in MYSTIC NIGHTS AND PIRATE FIGHTS; THE DYING LIGHT (Indie film in leading role in post production), BOTTOM FEEDERS, HEAVY SOUL, DANCE OF JIM BEAM (for SVA) and THE PRODUCERS for Universal.