ASHBY
OFFICIAL SELECTION – TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2015
World Premiere – Spotlight Section
Starring
MICKEY ROURKE
NAT WOLFF
EMMA ROBERTS
SARAH SILVERMAN
MICHAEL LERNER
Written & Directed By
TONY MCNAMARA
TRT: 102 minutes
Monday, April
20th
Press & Industry Screening
at 9:45am -- Regal Battery Park Stadium, Theater 1
Public Screenings
Sunday, April 19th at 9:30pm – SVA Theater, Theater 1
Monday, April 20th at 5:30pm – Regal Battery Park Stadium, Theater 4
Wednesday, April 22nd at 3:30pm – Regal Battery Park Stadium, Theater 11
Friday, April 24th at 6:30pm – Regal Battery Park Stadium, Theater 11
Press Contacts:
Falco Ink.
Office: (212) 445-7100
Erin Bruce: cell: (917) 375-6908 / ErinBruce@FalcoInk.com
April Tonsil: cell (610) 858-5763 / AprilTonsil@FalcoInk.com
ASHBY
Short Synopsis
Awkward Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff) moves to a new town with his single mom
(Sarah Silverman) and needs help fitting in. Brainier than his peers, Ed figures
playing high school football might be good way to make more friends but his only
new friend Eloise (Emma Roberts) thinks its odd. When Ed gets an assignment
to write an essay about someone from an older generation, he introduces himself
to his neighbor Ashby Holt (Mickey Rourke) and the two embark on an unlikely,
immediate friendship. Ashby’s style of tough love takes some getting used to but,
overtime, Ed learns a lot from Ashby including how to be courageous…which is
very much needed when he learns his new best friend is a former CIA assassin.
With up-beat music, including a song by Nat Wolff’s band “Nat & Alex,”
and supporting performances from co-stars Michael Lerner, Kevin Dunn and
Zachary Knighton, writer/director Tony McNamara’s ASHBY is a spirited, selfreferential film inspired by classics like Harold and Maude.
ASHBY
Long Synopsis
Retired government hit man Ashby Holt (Academy Award nominee
Mickey Rourke) is given a terminal prognosis but he’s accepting of that provided
he can settle some old scores.
Ed Wallis (Nat Wolff of “The Fault In Our Stars”) just moved next door
to Ashby and has a high school assignment to write an essay about someone
from the older generation and Ashby agrees provided Ed will drive him around
town for some errands. Those errands lead Ed to seriously doubt Ashby’s claim
he was a retired napkin salesman but nonetheless the two embark upon the most
unlikely of friendships in the motion picture ASHBY from director-writer Tony
McNamara.
Ed and his single mom June (Sarah Silverman of “Wreck It Ralph”)
have been on the move constantly, both trying to fit in. Brainier than his peers,
Ed figures playing high school football might be good way to make friends but his
only friend Eloise (Emma Roberts of “Meet The Millers”) thinks it odd and
moreover, she’s more concerned—unapologetically so-- with running MRI tests
on anyone willing. By default, Ashby becomes Ed’s father figure with Ed learning
the finer points of being a getaway driver, learning to box and drinking scotch.
But the pair also bond over a shared sense of humor as Ed develops the courage
that Eloise already has in spades. And Ashby comes to terms with what’s
important in the time he has left.
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Co-starring Academy Award nominee Michael Lerner (Academy Award
nominee for “Barton Fink”), Kevin Dunn (“Veep”) and Zachary Knighton (TV’s
“Happy Endings”), ASHBY is a Langley Park Pictures and Tagline Pictures
production in association with Head Gear Films and Metrol Technology of a Film
by Tony McNamara. The movie is produced by Kevin McCormick, Rory Koslow,
Josh Kesselman, Phil Hunt and Compton Ross. Stephen Kelliher, Hilary Davis,
Elliot Ross and Finella Ross serve as the movie’s executive producers.
ASHBY
Production Information
“Ashby’s a character who lives by a code and very entrenched beliefs
about himself, his country, masculinity and his religion. Whereas Ed is a secular
kid who doesn’t really have much to believe in or trust, so he’s a bit lost,” says
McNamara. “I was interested in the idea of those divergent ways of looking at life,
coming together and what they would do to each other.”
McNamara’s script was inspired by one of movie history’s oddest
couplings of divergent characters: “Harold and Maude” directed by Hal Ashby.
McNamara is a huge fan of the late director (hence Rourke’s characters name)
and the movie starring Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort. “I’ve always loved movies
about and older and younger generation; where you get to in your life and how
you realize maybe where you went wrong and then the teenager, who has no
clue how to live.”
Momentum built on the script when McNamara found that Mickey Rourke
had read the script and loved it and wanted to me with him. “I went to his house
and we had these long discussions focusing on the fact that while the movie has
killings in it and action, it was really a cross between comedy and drama.”
Later on in the process when McNamara knew we was thinking that he
wanted Wolff to play opposite Rourke, he had the two actors read and improvise
together at Rourke’s house. “As soon as we saw them together, the chemistry
was obvious. They were a lot of fun and they were having fun and everyone
knew they were going to be great together,” says producer Josh Kesselman.
And because there’s a boxing scene in the movie and Rourke has been a
professional boxer, the audition at the house also included impromptu sparring
between the two actors. “With Mickey, you never know what you’re stepping into
on screen or and he’s a professional boxer but he went easy on me,” recalls
Wolff. “He give me a couple slaps to the stomach and then I punched him back
and he goes, ‘Yeah!’
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But the others watching the boxing had a bit of trepidation. “Well, first off,
Nat is not going to have a boxing career unlike Mickey but when they started
going at it there was this fear of ‘What if Mickey puts him down? ‘recalls producer
Rory Koslow.
“When I was 12, I made a list of my favorite actors because I knew I
wanted to act and three names on there were Dustin Hoffman, Robert DeNiro
and Mickey Rourke,” says Wolff. “But part of a dream coming true is that you
can’t really act with someone you idolize, so I had to get over that.”
Wolff and Roberts have each known each other since they were children
Nickelodeon shows and ended up attending a lot of functions together. “I’ve
known him since I was taller than him which has to be a long time ago, since he’s
now a giant…and, well, I’m not,” notes Roberts. And after all these years, we did
two movies nearly back-to-back together (“Palo Alto” filmed in 2013).
“What I loved about the script was that it read like a novel,” says Roberts.
“Eloise very much knows who she is and has no apologies. Ed on the other hand
is searching for who he is and maybe the courage that Eloise and Ashby both
have,” says Roberts.”
There is one scene where Roberts and Rourke interact and avid
moviegoers will no doubt recall the movie from 30 years ago when Rourke and
Roberts’ father, Eric started in “The Pope of Greenwich Village.”
“I wish I had more scenes with him because he’s so cool and smart but
also because it was great listening to him talk about working with my dad,” says
Roberts. “It’s crazy how everyone connects in this business; I’ve known Nat since
I was 10 and Mickey worked with my dad…it’s crazy, wonderful.”
Because of her talents as a comedienne, it’s easy to overlook the qualities
Sarah Silverman has as an actress. “The role was sort of difficult because the
character of June (Ed’s mom) is a bit scattered, dating too many men and trying
to pull her life together. But at the same time, I didn’t want it to be a weak
person,” says McNamara. “Sarah has the strength the character needed and I
think that comes from her humor. Her scenes are very funny but they’re also very
moving and a bit sad.”
Prior to shooting beginning, Wolff has to go through some football training
to approximate a star wide receiver. “My favorite part of making the movie was
that I got to fulfill a lifelong dream of being a football player,” says Wolff. “I love
the community of being part of a team—even if it’s a fake team. But I worked my
ass off and trained with Nate Poole who was a receiver for the New Orleans
Saints.
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“I sort of sucked at the beginning and the other guys on the South
Mecklenburg high school team didn’t seem to pleased helping me train but I think
I earned their respect because I worked really hard.”
The movie was filmed in Charlotte, North Carolina during June and July of
2014. The football and school scenes are done at South Mecklenburg High
School in Charlotte. Ashby’s house and the Wallis house were shot on Clement
Ave. in Charlotte. The scene of Ashby and Entwistle sizing each other up was on
the 31st floor of the Charlotte City Club. Many scenes with Ashby and Ed, took
place in Ashby’s car, a 1966 Oldsmobile Cutlass.
ASHBY
CAST BIOS
MICKEY ROURKE (Ashby Holt) is recognized as one of the seminal
actors of the last 30 years starting with his captivating single scene opposite
William Hurt in “Body Heat” in 1981. In quick succession came touchstone
starring performances in movies such as “Diner,” “The Pope of Greenwich
Village,” “Angel Heart,” “Rumble Fish” “Year of The Dragon,” “9 ½ Weeks,”
“Barfly” and culminating in his Academy Award-nominated performance in 2008’s
“The Wrestler.”
Born September 16, 1952 in Schenectady, NY, he moved as a teenager to
Miami, where he focused, in order, on boxing, baseball and acting. Beginning
boxing at age 12, by 20 he had suffered a couple of concussions and decided to
retire from boxing. He eventually moved back to New York and studied acting
under the actress Sandra Seacat. Bit parts in “1941” and “Heavens Gate” and a
few television movie of the weeks did little to presage the explosion of admiration
audiences and fellow actors expressed for his 1980’s body of work.
More recent movie credits include big budget movies such as “Man on
Fire,” Sin City,” “The Immortals,” “The Expendables” and “Iron Man 2.” In addition
to his 2009 Academy Award nomination for “The Wrestler,” Rourke was awarded
a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture-Drama and
also won the BAFTA for Best Leading Actor.
Rourke is a Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio in New York City.
Coming off two wildly successful, coming-of-age films, The Fault in Our
Stars and Palo Alto, actor/musician NAT WOLFF (Ed Wallis) is building his
resume as a formidable young film star. The Fault in Our Stars, the film
adaptation of John Green’s best-selling novel, debuted to a stunning $48 million
opening weekend on June 6, 2014 and subsequently made over $300 million
worldwide. After his work on “Ashby,” Wolff then starred in the adaptation of
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Green’s novel, Paper Towns. It re-united him with The Fault in Our Stars team,
including writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer,
The Spectacular Now), and producers Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen
(Twilight). The film will be released on June 19, 2015.
In The Fault in Our Stars, Wolff gave a scene-stealing performance as
Isaac, a blind teenager battling cancer. Critics lauded his performance as
“outstanding” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone); “After his scene-stealing
performance, Wolff will surely be declared a newcomer to watch” (Paula
Bernstein, IndieWire); “The 19-year-old actor steals scenes. It should prove to be
a big career boost for Wolff, who has several intriguing projects coming up” (Kyle
Buchanan, New York Magazine).
In Palo Alto, directed and adapted by Gia Coppola from James Franco’s
collection of short stories, Wolff delivers a gripping performance as an angry,
damaged and oddly charming antihero. Palo Alto premiered to critical success at
the Venice, Toronto and Telluride Film Festivals, and was released by Tribeca
Films on May 9, 2014. Critics layered on the praise: “Nat Wolff is a true find and
a star in the making” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone); “a dead-on performance”
(Mark Olsen, LA Times); “Wolff has a bit of Robert De Niro's early, fascinating
dash in Mean Streets, with just the right kind of dangerous charisma” (David Noh,
Film Journal); “Nat Wolff, in the film’s best performance. He’s the one you can’t
take your eyes off” (Sara Stewart, New York Post).
In addition to upcoming film Paper Towns, Wolff will star next in Nancy
Meyers’ The Intern for Warner Bros, opposite Anne Hathaway and Robert
DeNiro; and a remake of Stephen King’s The Stand for director Josh Boone and
Warner Bros. On the music side, Nat is releasing new singles with his brother,
Alex Wolff, under the moniker Nat & Alex Wolff. Their latest two songs are
currently available on iTunes.
Past film credits include Stuck In Love, directed by Josh Boone, opposite
Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Connelly and Lily Collins. The film premiered to glowing
reviews at the 2012 Toronto Film Festival and was purchased by Millennium
Entertainment. WOLFF’s performance was a standout, with IndieWire naming
him one of their “10 Faces to Watch in 2012.” He was also seen in Behaving
Badly, opposite Selena Gomez (2013), Admission opposite Tina Fey and Paul
Rudd (2012) and Toronto Film Festival dramedy Peace, Love and
Misunderstanding opposite Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen
(2011).
In 2005, Nat gained overnight recognition after starring in and providing
song and lyrics for the musical-comedy film The Naked Brothers Band: The
Movie. It garnered the Audience Award for Family Feature Film at the Hamptons
International Film Festival, and following the tremendous success of The Naked
Brothers Band: The Movie, Nickelodeon piloted the spin-off television series The
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Naked Brothers Band (2007-2009). The subsequent TV series earned WOLFF a
Broadcast Music Incorporated Cable Award for songwriting, two Young Artists
nominations, a Kids’ Choice Award nomination for Best TV Actor and a Best
Band nomination at The Australian Kids Choice Awards.
EMMA ROBERTS (Eloise) has amassed an impressive career over the
course of a decade, mixing in mainstream studio hits with independent movies as
well as television showing off a wide range.
In May 2014, Roberts starred in Gia Coppola’s directorial debut “Palo Alto”
alongside Nat Wolff. Roberts played a high school student coming of age and
begins a questionable relationship with her soccer coach, played by James
Franco.
In February 2014, Roberts starred in the IFC indie film “Adult World”,
directed by Scott Coffey where she plays a recent college graduate who is forced
to take a job at an adult bookstore due to the bad economy.
In October 2013, Roberts starred in “American Horror Story: Coven” as
party-girl teen witch Madison, who attends a special institution in New Orleans
that is devoted to train and educate the few remaining witches to keep their
coven from extinction. Roberts currently stars in “American Horror Story: Freak
Show” that premiered on FX in October 2014. Roberts plays fortuneteller Maggie
Esmeralda.
Roberts appeared in the box office hits, “We’re The Millers” opposite
Jennifer Aniston and Jason Sudeikis; in the romantic comedy ensemble
“Valentine’s Day,” “Hotel For Dogs” and in 2007 she was named ShoWest
Female Star of Tomorrow for her role in “Nancy Drew.” The previous three years,
Roberts had been starring as Addie Singer in the Nicleodeon hit series
“Unfabulous.”
Other movie credits include “Blow,” “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” and the
fourth installment of the revival of the “Scream” series. Indie movie credits
include, “Empire State,” “The Art Of Getting By,” “Celeste and Jesse Forever,”
“What’s Wrong With Virginia?,” Lymelife,” “The Winning Season,” “Grand
Champion” and “I Am Michael.”
Roberts was recently cast in the Fox comedy-horror series “Scream
Queens” created by “Glee’s” creators Ryan Murphy, Brad Flachuk and Ian
Brennan. The series is slated to premiere in the fall of 2015. The anthology
series, also starring Jamie Lee Curtis, will revolve around a college campus that
is rocked by a series of murders.
Originally from New York, Roberts currently resides in Los Angeles.
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SARAH SILVERMAN (June Wallis) is a 2-time Emmy winner and as
versatile of a performer as they come. Her repertoire includes everything from
film and television, stand-up comedy, to iconic online videos, and she added
author to this list when she released a book in 2010, the New York Times
Bestseller, The Bedwetter: Stories of Courage, Redemption, and Pee. Silverman
debuted an hour-long stand-up special, “We are Miracles,” on HBO in 2013. She
was awarded a 2014 Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding Writing for a Variety
Special category. The special was also nominated for Outstanding Variety
Special, and Silverman recently received a WGA nomination as well. An album of
the special was recently released through Sub Pop Records, which earned her a
2015 Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. Silverman will next be seen
as the lead in the drama “I Smile Back,” a film adaption of a novel by Amy
Koppelman and which premiered at Sundance. She also recently had a recurring
role on season two of the Golden Globe nominated series “Masters of Sex.”
Additionally, Silverman is a part of JASH, a comedy collective on YouTube
featuring original content by Silverman (and friends Michael Cera, Tim & Eric and
Reggie Watts).
Last year Silverman was seen in Seth McFarlane’s “A Million Ways to Die
in the West” opposite McFarlane, Charlize Theron, Liam Neeson and Amanda
Seyfried. She also voiced a character in the Oscar nominated Disney animated
film “Wreck It Ralph,” alongside John C. Reilly, and was seen starring opposite
Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen in the Sarah Polley film “Take This Waltz.” In
2004 Silverman made an impressive splash with her concert film “Sarah
Silverman: Jesus is Magic,” which garnered major attention at the Toronto Film
Festival and created huge national buzz. Silverman also received critical praise
for the documentary feature, “The Aristocrats.” Her other film credits include
“Gravy,” “Peep World,” “I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With,” “The School of
Rock,” “There’s Something About Mary” and “The Way of The Gun.”
Silverman was nominated for a 2009 Primetime Emmy in the Outstanding
Actress in a Comedy Series category for her portrayal of a fictionalized version of
herself in her Comedy Central series “The Sarah Silverman Program.” This
marked Comedy Central’s first ever Emmy nomination in a scripted acting
category. She also received a WGA nomination for her work on the show.
Silverman won a Primetime Emmy in 2008 in the Outstanding Original Music and
Lyrics category for her musical collaboration with Matt Damon. In addition, she
was honored with a Best Actress Webby Award for her online video “The Great
Schlep,” in which she persuaded young kids to encourage their grandparents in
Florida to vote for President Obama prior to the 2008 election.
Silverman has guest starred in a slew of acclaimed and notable television
shows such as the Emmy nominated drama “The Good Wife,” and “Monk,” which
earned her an Emmy nomination in 2008 in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a
Comedy Series category, “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Seinfeld,” and “Mr. Show
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with Bob and David.” Silverman has also lent her voice to the Emmy nominated
Fox animated series, “Bob’s Burgers.”
Silverman was dubbed “the most outrageously funny woman alive,” by
Rolling Stone. With her comedic timing and stage presence it’s no surprise that
Sarah has been asked to host major award shows. In 2007 she hosted the MTV
Movie Awards and she has also twice hosted the Independent Spirit Awards.
Silverman grew up in New Hampshire and attended New York
University. In 1993 she joined “Saturday Night Live” as a writer and feature
performer and has not stopped working since.
Silverman currently resides in Los Angeles.
MICHAEL LERNER (Entwistle) has appeared in numerous feature films,
television series and on stage during a career that spans over thirty years. His
portrait of crass, fictitious film mogul Jack Lipnick in the Coen brothers’ “Barton
Fink" earned Lerner a best supporting actor Oscar nomination and a best
supporting actor award from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.
An original member of San Francisco’s American Conservatory Theatre,
Lerner made his film debut in 1970 in the feature “Alex in Wonderland,” with
Donald Sutherland. After several roles including the 1972 film The Candidate,
with Robert Redford, he gained notice for his performance as Katz, the
Machiavellian lawyer in Bob Rafelson’s “The Postman Always Rings Twice “and
as World Series “fixer” Arnold Rothstein in John Sayles’ “Eight Men Out.”
He has since appeared in the feature film “Harlem Nights,” “Amos and
Andrew,” “Radioland Murders,” “The Road to Wellville,” “Godzilla,” “Celebrity,”
“My Favorite Martian,” “The Mod Squad,” “Attention Shoppers,” “29 Palms,”
“Mockingbird Don’t Sing,” “Larceny” and “Shallow End.”
Lerner has also made a name for himself in television movies portraying
real-life characters. The list includes Pierre Salinger in “The Missiles of October,”
Jack Ruby in “Ruby & Oswald,” film mogul Jack Warner in “This Year’s Blond,”
Columbia Studio head Harry Cohn in “Rita Hayworth: The Love Goddess,” and
impresario Oscar Hammerstein in “Melba.” He’s appeared in television miniseries “Picture Windows,” a noted episode of “Tales From The Crypt: People
Who Live in Brass Hearses,” with Bill Paxton and E! Entertainment’s “Murder at
the Cannes Film Festival,” with Bo Derek, among others.
In 2009 Lerner recently returned to the stage after a 15 year absence
appearing at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles in Jon Robbie” Baitz’s
Mislansky/Zelinsky” and at the Westwood Theatre in Los Angeles in “HurlyBurly,” with Sean Penn and Danny Aiello.
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Born in Brooklyn, New York, Learner attended Brooklyn College and
studied Theatre and English at Berkley before attending LAMDA in London,
England on a Fullbright scholarship.
ASHBY
Filmmaker Bios
TONY McNAMARA (Director, Screenwriter) is one of Australia’s most
successful writer/directors for stage and screen.
Tony’s stage plays have enjoyed great success in Australia with seven
world premiere productions at the Sydney Theatre Company. His first play,
“The Café Latté Kid,” was produced by Sydney Theatre Company’s New Stages
and was nominated for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards in 1995, the same
year he won the Phillips Parsons’ Award for Young Playwrights. This was
followed by “The John Wayne Principle,” where it enjoyed a sold out season
before transferring to Playbox Theatre in Melbourne. “ The Recruit” opened in
2000 at Sydney Theatre Company and had another production in 2002 at
Melbourne Theatre Company. Also that year, “ The Virgin Mim,” which Tony
wrote and directed, premiered at Sydney Theatre Company where it sold out.
Tony’s plays continue to enjoy commercial and critical success with “ The
Unlikely Prospect of Happiness” and “ The Give and Take” premiering in
2004 and 2005 respectively at the Sydney Theatre Company, the later
transferring to Melbourne Theatre Company in 2006. Tony’s play, “ The
Great,” had its world premiere in 2008 and was nominated for multiple
Sydney Theatre Awards. Tony’s latest play, “The Grenade,” premiered at
Melbourne Theatre Company in early 2010 and transferred to Sydney Theatre
Company later in the year.
Tony directed the feature film adaption of “ The Café Latte Kid,”
retitled “ The Rage in Placid Lake,” starring Rose Byrne, Miranda
Richardson and Ben Lee. In 2003 it screened at the Brisbane International
Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival (winning the Audience
Award), Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Tokyo International
Film Festival. Tony won the 2003 AFI award for Best Screenplay and was a
duel winner at the 2003 AWGIE Awards winning the Feature Film
Adaptation Award for “The Rage in Placid Lake” and the 2003 Major Award
for his work that year.
Tony’s television writing has been prolific; he wrote multiple episodes
of “The Secret Life of Us” s e r i e s 1 , 2 & 3 and “Love My Way” series 1, 2
& 3 winning him AWGIE awards and nominations. Tony has worked with
production company Kudos on the UK on its sister--‐ series “ Moving
Wallpaper” and “ Echo Beach” and is one half of the writing team for all
three series of Showtime’s drama “ Tangle.” He has also written episodes for
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Southern Star series “ Spirited,” produced by Claudia Karvan and Jacqueline
Perske and “ Offspring,” the hit television series on Network Ten. His most
recent endeavor “Puberty Blues” (series 1 & 2) which Tony wrote (as well as
serving as the showrunner). won the AACTA award for B est Television
Drama Series.
KEVIN MCCORMICK (Executive Producer) is President of Langley Park
Pictures; a studio-based production company at Warner Bros. McCormick most
recently produced “The Gangster Squad,” starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan
Gosling and Emma Stone. He is also the producer of the romantic drama “The
Lucky One,” starring Zac Efron and the 2011 comedy “Arthur,” starring Russell
Brand and Helen Mirren.
Previously, McCormick was President of Production at Warner Bros.
Pictures. Assuming that post in January 2008, he had day-to-day oversight of,
and responsibility for, Warner Bros. Pictures’ creative team and the movies
produced by the company, including such award-winning and critically acclaimed
films as “Gran Torino”; “The Dark Knight,” which broke box office records
worldwide and is currently the third-highest-grossing film of all time, domestically;
“The Hangover,” which is, domestically, the highest grossing R-rated comedy of
all time; and the worldwide hit “Sherlock Holmes.” Among the studios’ other films
during his tenure were “Get Smart,” the top-grossing “Harry Potter” franchise,
“The Informant!,” “Watchmen” and “Terminator Salvation.” In addition, he
oversaw the division’s London office and reported directly to Jeff Robinov,
President, Warner Bros. Pictures Group.
McCormick joined Warner Bros. Pictures in 1999 as Executive Vice
President, Production, overseeing such notable films as Tim Burton’s “Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” “Michael Clayton,” “Blood Diamond,”
“The Last Samurai,” “Matchstick Men,” “Insomnia,” “Syriana,” and Burton’s
“Corpse Bride” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
McCormick began his career as an executive producer on the film
“Saturday Night Fever.”
HILARY DAVIS (Executive Producer) is co-managing director of
Bankside Films, an international sales, production and financing company
founded in January 2007. Since its inception, Bankside Films has been a major
investor in independent cinema and has established a reputation for identifying
exciting new talent as well as working with proven filmmakers and directors.
A modern languages graduate fluent in French and Italian, Hilary started
her film career over 30 years ago at Warner Bros’ European head office in
London and subsequently worked at HandMade Films for 15 years (under the
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ownership of George Harrison until 1984 and then under the ownership of
Paragon Entertainment Corporation until 1998).
In 1999 Hilary became one of the founding partners of Alibi
Communications and remained there until 2002 as Director of Sales & Marketing.
Between July 2002 and December 2006 Hilary was Head of Sales &
Acquisitions for Beyond Films (an Australian public company quoted on the
Sydney stock exchange) based in their London office leaving to set up Bankside
Films.
Hilary has received an executive producer credit on “A Good Woman,”
“Oyster Farmer,” “The Hard Word” and “Belle” (released through Fox Searchlight)
and was an associate producer on “Hector and The Search For Happiness.”
Hilary is a member of Skillset 100, a founding board member of Film
Export UK and regularly teaches the business in the UK and abroad.
STEPHEN KELLIHER (Executive producer) is a director and head of
sales and marketing at Bankside Films, an international sales, production and
financing company he co-founded in January 2007. Since its inception, Bankside
Films has been a major investor in independent cinema and has established a
reputation for identifying exciting new talent as well as working with established
filmmakers and directors.
His role in the company focuses on the successful international
distribution of Bankside titles. He is also closely involved in creative work with
filmmakers especially at script stage and during the edit/post production period to
ensure that every film has the best possible chance of success in the
international marketplace.
Stephen’s credits include executive producing ”Belle” by Amma Asanta
and as associate producer for Peter Chelsom’s “Hector and The Search For
Happiness.” Kelliher has over 20 years experience in international sales and
marketing at companies including Beyond Films and Vine International Pictures.
He has worked on a wide range of films, including: “The Pillow Book,” “Chopper,”
“Ghosts,” “The Door,” “Wasteland,” Trishna” and “Everday.” Stephen is a former
chair of Film Export UK, the trade association which represents the interests of
UK based sales companies. He also regularly offers his time to speak regularly at
industry events.
RORY KOSLOW (Producer) is the senior vice President of production at
Langley Park Pictures, a feature film production company based at Warner Bros.
Recent projects include “Gangster Squad,” starring Sean Penn, Josh Brolin,
Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone; the 2012 romantic drama “The Lucky One,”
starring Zac Efron; the 2011 comedy “Arthur,” starring Russell Brand and Helen
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Mirren; and the London stage musical of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,”
directed by Sam Mendes, which has been nominated for seven Olivier awards
including “Best Musical” and broken numerous West End box office records. He
comes to this from previous stints with Warner Bros. Pictures, Initial
Entertainment Group, and legendary film producer Roger Corman. Originally
from New York City, he received a B.A. from Wesleyan University.
After graduating California State University in San Luis Obispo with a
degree in finance, JOSH KESSELMAN (Producer) was hired by producer John
Davis of Davis Entertainment. At Davis, he worked on such films as “Courage
Under Fire,” “Grumpier Old Men,” “Out To Sea,” “The Chamber” and “Dr.
Dolittle.”
In 1998, Kesselman started his own production company, Jericho
Entertainment. Jericho’s features included Jonathan Kesselman’s “The Hebrew
Hammer” starring Adam Goldberg and Judy Greer; “Fall” directed by and starring
Daniel Baldwin; the television movie “Bobbie’s Girl” starring Rachel Ward and
Bernadette Peters for director Jeremy Kagan.
In 2005 he joined Principal Entertainment, where he co-produced both
feature versions of “Death At A Funeral,” directed by Frank Oz and Neil LaBute,
respectively; produced Laurence Malkin’s “Five Fingers” starring Laurence
Fishburne and Ryan Phillippe and Stephen Kay’s “Isolation” starting Eva Amurri
Martino; and executive produced Stephen Elliott’s “A Few best Men” starring
Xavier Samuel and Rebel Wilson.
In 2012, Josh produced the Sundance
favorite “For a Good Time Call” starring Ari Graynor, Lauren Miller and Justin
Long, which was released by Focus Features in 2013. Other producing credits
include “Like Sunday Rain” written and directed by Frank Whaley and starting
Leighton Meester, Debra Messing and Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day).
PHIL HUNT (Producer) is Co-Managing Director of Bankside Films, an
international film distribution company as well as the founder and Managing
Director of Head Gear Films, and Kreo Films – both film investment
companies. He provides finance for producers as well as executive producing
and international distribution. In the past decade Phil has invested in over $300
million of production in more than 50 films. Other aspects to his career include
being a BAFTA voting member; mentor to National Film and Television producing
students; regular speaker on the industry circuit; and founder/festival director of
the British Film Festival of Kurdistan, Iraq (www.bffk.net). Phil began producing
feature films in the mid ‘90s with micro budgets that occasionally found more
than a micro audience. Prior to the film business, Phil was an advertising and
music photographer and sporadically still dusts off his Hasselblad.
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COMPTON ROSS (Producer) has worked in the international oil and gas
industry for 35 years, 30 of these as a company director both in the United
Kingdom and the United States, responsible for finance and sales and marketing.
He is a co-founder and co-owner of Metrol Technology Ltd, a specialized oil and
gas service company formed in 1987. From its inception Metrol has expanded
internationally and has two subsidiaries in the United States and Middle East. It
has a large international client base in over 50 countries and has developed into
a multi-million dollar business.
His commercial, financial and marketing skills and experience on both the
domestic and international stage has enabled Head Gear Films and Bankside
Films to develop rapidly into an active and progressive international film
production company. Compton is co-managing director of Head Gear Films and
Bankside Films. He has been executive producer on over 50 feature films,
including “Trishna” directed by Michael Winterbottom, “IIl Manors,” written and
directed by Ben Drew and “Belle” directed by Amma Asante.
CHRISTOPHER BAFFA, ASC (Director of Photography) has worked in
the motion picture industry for 25 years, following his 1990 graduation from the
University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television. He began his
career working in a variety of capacities within the electric and camera
departments before achieving his first theatrical director of photography credit in
1994.
Christopher has been quite fortunate in sharing his time between
television projects and theatrical feature films. He photographed Ryan Murphy's
“Running With Scissors,” starring Annette Bening, Alec Baldwin, Gwenyth
Paltrow, Brian Cox, and Joseph Fiennes, as well as the comedy
“Unaccompanied Minors,” starring Lewis Black. Christopher’s other feature film
credits include the hit comedy “Next Friday” starring Ice Cube, “Idle Hands,” with
Seth Green and Jessica Alba, “Suicide Kings” starring Christopher Walken,
Henry Thomas, and Denis Leary, and the independent films “Growing Up and
Other Lies” and “The Road Within.”
His television credits included the NBC series “Crossbones” starring John
Malkovich, the pilot and subsequent seven seasons of FX Network’s Golden
Globe winning drama “Nip/Tuck,” the pilot and first three seasons of the multi
award-winning series “Glee,” as well as the first season of the VH-1 series “Hit
The Floor.” He also photographed the pilot episodes for TNT's original dramatic
series “The Closer,” starring Kyra Sedgwick, as well as FX’s drama “American
Horror Story” starring Jessica Lange.
Christopher was awarded Variety’s Ten Cinematographers To Watch
Award in 1999, and honored with an invitation to become a member of the
American Society of Cinematographers in the spring of 2007.
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MATTHEW FRIEDMAN (Editor) is on the Editing Program Faculty at AFI.
Upcoming credits in 2014 and 2015 include “Posthumous” (starring Brit Marling
and Jack Huston); “How To Make Love Like and Englishman” (starring Pierce
Brosnan, Salma Hayak, and Malcolm McDowell); and “Behaving Badly”(starring
Selena Gomez, Mary Louise Parker, Patrick Warburton, Elisabeth Shue, Heather
Graham, Cary Elwes, Jason Lee, and Dylan McDermott). He's edited features in
numerous genres, including the children's “Alvin and The Chipmunks: The
Squeakel”, the 3D dance movie “Step Up Revolution , the comedy “What Happen
in Vegas,” the web series “Hunting Season” and several pilots, including the
series “The Loop” But he is perhaps best known as the voice of the talking bird
in “Scary Movie 2.”
BRENT THOMAS (Production Designer) previously served as the
production designer on films as varied as John Gatins’ “Dreamer” and David
Frankel’s “The Big Year.” Other credits include “If I Stay,” “Mad Money,” “Return
To Me,” “Walking Tall” and “Catch & Release.” Thomas has also production
designed a number of critically acclaimed television projects, including “Door To
Door,” “The Baby Dance,” “Captains Courageous” and TNT’s period western
“You Know My Name.”
“NAT & ALEX WOLFF” BAND
Nat & Alex Wolff are brothers, actors and Billboard-charting musicians. In
2005, the duo gained overnight recognition after starring in and composing and
performing the music for the musical-comedy film The Naked Brothers Band: The
Movie. Following the tremendous success of the movie, Nickelodeon piloted the
spin-off television series The Naked Brothers Band (2007-2009). The Wolff
brothers’ wrote and recorded the show’s two soundtrack albums. Their single
“Crazy Car” reached #23 on the Top 200 Billboard Charts.
Following their individual success as actors, the duo branched off as Nat &
Alex Wolff in 2009. They released their first studio album, called Black Sheep, in
2011, and have gone on to release multiple singles. The Wolff brothers consider
acting and performing equal passions, which has allowed for unique
collaborations on many movie soundtracks. Nat's song “I Won’t Love You Any
Less” was featured in his 2013 hit, Stuck in Love, and “Rock Star” was included
in the 2014 indie favorite Palo Alto. Alex's song “Losing You To The Crowd” can
be heard on the soundtrack for his 2013 film HairBrained, and his song "Rules"
was included in Nat's film The Fault in Our Stars. Both Wolff boys have
performed alongside artists Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Train. The
brothers continue to tour nationwide.
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ASHBY
Full Cast & Credits
Cast
Mickey Rourke
Nat Wolff
Kevin Dunn
Zachary Knighton
Michael Lerner
Emma Roberts
Sara Silverman
John Enos III
Paul Rolfes
Adam Alderks
Seth Dousman
Ashby
Ed Wallis
Coach Bruton
Father Ted
Entwhistle
Eloise
June Wallis
Coach Wally
Jerry
Valchek
Garry Smits
Crew
Tony McNamara
Kevin McCormick
Hilary Davis
Stephen Kelliher
Elliot Ross
Fenella Ross
Rory Koslow
Josh Kesselman
Phil Hunt
Compton Ross
Angela Demo
Libby Umstead
Alec Puro
Emily Batson
Matthew Friedman
Brent Thomas
Christopher Baffa, ASC
Writer & Director
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Producer
Producer
Producer
Producer
Casting
C.S.A. Music Supervisor
Music
Costume Designer
Editor
Production Designer
Director of Photography
###
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