Samantha Kuebler - Ellen Barrymore
Since the age of nine, Samantha has had a passion for acting. It was first on stage that she discovered it's true pleasure. It was when she auditioned for Robert Alaniz’s Timeserver that she fell in love with film. To her greatest excitement, Sam was cast in the role of Casey Brent. She quickly learned there was a difference between stage and film. It taught her patience, understanding, and showed her the power of self-discipline and hard work.After that she was involved in many theatrical productions, including the All Children's Theatre production of Secret Garden as Mary Lennox, Curtain Call Community Theatre's Dina in Schoolhouse Rock, The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie in Annie Jr., Drama Group's production of Gypsy as Baby June, and Specialty Dancer in Music Man and Anne of Green Gables.
When Robert announced his next movie Barrymore’s Dream, Sam didn't hesitate to audition. Not only was she blessed to be involved in what she thought would be a "once in a lifetime" opportunity before, her dreams came true again when she was cast as Ellie Barrymore. With a bigger role and one film experience under her belt, this production (as well as the people she met) taught her about dedication and commitment. It was an experience she would never forget.
Cast as Vicki Damon in Robert’s third movie Bitterblue, she got the opportunity to play a "bully." This role gave her another chance to play against type and explore other facets of her acting abilities.
Her experiences in these films have proved to be highly beneficial to Sam in Robert Alaniz’s The Vision, where she now plays the leading role. From talking about it to living it, filming The Vision has been nothing short of amazing. It has been different from any other production...more devotion, more commitment, more fun.
Sam attends Lincoln-Way East High School where she is on High Honor Roll, participates in football and basketball poms, madrigals, and choir. She also enjoys dancing and singing, and recently sang the National Anthem at the United Center in Chicago.
Believing in her abilities, and giving her the opportunity to do what so many only dream of, her gratitude towards Robert is endless. Being in The Vision has taught Samantha that if you want something enough, you persevere until you achieve it. Pursuing an acting career has now become a reality. She dedicates this performance in memory of her Dad, whose inspiring words to "follow your dreams" will forever be in her.
Jodi London - Angela Thomas
Jodi London is very pleased to be cast in another leading role as Angel Thomas in Robert Alaniz's The Vision. Her most recent accomplishments include a leading role, Kelly Wells, a paraplegic, in the movie Timeserver, a minor role as one of Kate’s (Sandra Bullock) surprise party guests in the movie The Lake House also starring Keanu Reeves and Lynn Collins and a reoccurring role, Gabriella, in the TV pilot series, The New Life.
Native Chicagoan, Jodi is proud that she was previously with the Second City and that she has also studied "The Michael Shurtleff Technique" with The Audition Studio. Jodi has been fortunate enough to receive excellent guidance from many leaders in the industry including Irwin Winkler, Garry Marshall, Lou Gossett Jr, Jane Alderman and Jack Valenti
Her love of the theater began as a small child when she landed her first theatrical role at the age of 6 as The Statue of Liberty Narrator for her school play. This passion for acting continued on throughout grade school, high school and on through college. She has always aspired to be a screen actor and had some minor breakthroughs in commercials, student films and extra work on major motion pictures. Timeserver was her dream come true as her first leading role in a full length feature film. Barrymore’s Dream is the extension of her dream and she will also soon be producing her own film, Run While You Can, a romantic dram-edy that she wrote based on the story of her life.
Gary Gow - Arthur Shawn
Robert Alaniz's The Vision is the fourth Robert Alaniz film project taken on by Gary Gow, who reprises the role of Arthur Shawn.
Gary began performing on stage in high school and has continued honing his acting skills through community theater productions, primarily with the Palos Village Players of Palos Park, IL. Notable productions include Dracula, The Sunshine Boys, Barefoot In The Park, and the world premiere of The Secret of Insignificance. He has been seen on television's The History Channel in two separate episodes of Investigating History with Bill Kurtis. Gary has also appeared in the short film, Bubble-Rama, with Annie Parise (Law & Order) and Ed Kerr (Men in Trees) as well as Michael Keaton's The Merry Gentleman. Rounding out his acting endeavors, he has taken on commercial, print, and voiceover work when time allows.
Gary and his lovely wife currently reside in a southwest suburb of Chicago. After attending Moraine Valley Community College, Gary earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Animal Science (Equine Science specialization) from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Before returning to the classroom as a junior high school science teacher, he made his living managing horse farms in southern and central Illinois.
Lori Duncan - Tania Templeton
Lori has had an incredible experience working with Robert Alaniz's THE VISION's cast and crew and looks forward to more. Lori can also be seen in Mass Romantic at www.myspace.com/massromanticfilm, Every Man For Himself at www.bumbletash.com, and coming soon is Invisible Danger at www.tywfilms.com. Other acting endeavors include commercials, training videos, and theatre. For more information about Lori, you can visit www.imdb.com or www.myspace.com/lori_duncan.
Bruce Spielbauer - Mark Freeman
Bruce was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He now spends his free time in the Chicago area.
Bruce Spielbauer has been acting since he was 14, and he performed exclusively on stage for 20 years, including seven years of professional dinner theatre at a summer repertory theatre housed on a dry-dock riverboat on the Mississippi River. More recently, he has switched to film and television, and his extensive credits include leading roles in the feature film Bled White (a creepy horror movie). Bruce also had a leading role in the short film Kindred, which was just accepted as an entry at the Milwaukee Short Film Festival.
Bruce had a supporting role in All Things Considered (2008), which is directed by Adedapo Akisanya (the director of E.S.P.). Other recent work includes supporting roles in such films as Happy Man's Pants (2008), Office Death, Divine Justice, and A Dry Brain for a Dry Season, among others. On television, Bruce recently wrapped Family Practice, a TV pilot featuring Beau Bridges for the Lifetime Network, in which it is possible that he may be seen in a recurring role as a defense attorney. In December of 2007, Bruce also worked on The Beast for TNT where he worked with Patrick Swayze. He also has other film and television experience, dating back to 1993.
In his spare time, Bruce often works as an extra or a stand-in, and he can be seen in the upcoming The Dark Knight (Batman 2008). Other extra roles in the past have included appearances in The Unborn (with Gary Oldman, not yet released), The Fugitive, Just Visiting, Mo' Money, Rapid Fire, The Babe, and U.S. Marshals with Tommy Lee Jones.
Bruce's stage experience includes more than 100 productions. Some of his favorite stage roles include John Proctor in The Crucible, Rooster in Annie, Moonface in Anything Goes, and Cornelius Hackel in Hello, Dolly! His training was classically oriented, and he also has performed several Shakespearean roles, including Banquo in Macbeth. Bruce also does occasional work modeling and sometimes pops up in print ads and industrials.
Bruce plays the guitar, and also is a trained and experienced fencer.
Upcoming: Bruce will be working on two features in the next several months. In the first, Bruce will travel to Milwaukee to begin work on an exciting Sci-Fi film called Dust for Lightning Rod Studios (filming in April and May of 2008). Dust will utilize some location work and some green screen work, with the latest in CGI technology. It is produced and directed by the same team that previously did Carnivorous and The Sleepers.
Immediately after, Bruce will then travel to Iowa to portray a murderous priest in the film Body In A Dumpster. This film will feature Lloyd Kaufman, the President of Troma Films and the genius behind Toxic Avenger. This horror feature will also star Barron Christian, Larry Laverty, and Joel Wynkoop, and it features special effects and make-up effects by the great Marcus Koch. Bruce has lead roles in both of these projects.
Bruce finally has a pet dog, thanks to the kind folks at Chia Pets.
Nora Quinn
Stephanie "Stevie" Mitchell
Nora Quinn is thrilled to take part in Robert Alaniz’s The Vision. She was an active participant in her junior high speech team and attended the NIU Theatre Arts Camp this past summer where she portrayed Glinda in a production of the Wizard of Oz. Her first taste of film acting was in Robert’s last movie, Bitterblue, where she had a minor role as Alisha; the experience was invaluable and very much appreciated. It was a part of her dream becoming a reality. And now, Robert has given Nora the opportunity to chase her dreams once again in "The Vision." She was ecstatic (to say the least) when she found out that she was cast as Stephanie Mitchell in this new production.
Nora is sixteen years old and a sophomore at Lincoln-Way East High School. In addition to acting, she is on the high school tennis team. The team won conference this past year and Nora took home a first place medal at the second singles position. Nora also participates in Mathletes, Pi Sigma Pi, Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society. She also stays busy with school, maintaining high honor roll while taking all honors and advanced placement courses. Nora is excited to work with this amazing cast and crew. She would like to thank Robert Alaniz for this wonderful opportunity and her family and friends for all their essential love and support.
Michael Stoskus - Michael Barrymore
This is Michael’s fourth film working with Filmmaker Robert Alaniz. "It’s an adventure that just keeps on getting better," says Michael. "It’s like a roller coaster ride that never gets old".
In Robert Alaniz’s The Vision Stoskus reprises his leading role from Barrymore’s Dream (2005) as Michael Barrymore. It was his first leading role giving him the chance to showcase his acting ability. In September of 2007, Michael was proud to attend the Route 66 Film Festival where Barrymore’s Dream won BEST FEATURE 2007.
"Working for a living in the construction industry makes it hard to go for auditions and take time off of work," he says. "With the Lords blessings and if it is meant to be, it will happen".
Michael’s previous credits include extra work in several Chicago based films as well as a small role in the Sole Productions’ most recent film Bitterblue.
Dave Branigan - Randall Thomas
Dave is excited about reprising his role as Randall Thomas. Dave first played the role in Barrymore's Dream. Dave also had a small part as a lawyer in Timeserver. Dave has appeared in several advertisements for DeVry University and a short promotional video for El Valor Corporation. He also acts, directs and produces in community theater. Dave has worked in several productions with Palos Village Players an, more recently, with Gaelic Park Players. When he is not acting on stage and screen, Dr. Dave, who holds a Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University, hones his acting skills teaching software development at DeVry University in Tinley Park.
Maura Locke Antas
Young Angela Thomas
Maura is thrilled to have been a part of The Vision and to work for a second time with Filmmaker Robert Alaniz. Maura previously played the role of "Delaney" in Sole Productions' film Bitterblue.
Maura is currently a member of the cast of R.Ed.I, a prevention theater group designed to reach out to troubled teens through music and drama. Her other stage credits include: Carousel with Wheaton Drama; various parts with Missoula Traveling Theater Company; Acorn Community Theater; Wheaton Park District; and the role of "Scrooge" in her school’s production of A Christmas Carol.
At school Maura is an honor student and is a member of the Wheaton North Varsity Soccer Team, Treble Choir, Show Choir, Math Honor Society, the FLOCK, Crimestoppers, and Key Club. Maura was also recently elected Junior Class President for the 2008-2009 school year. Maura was part of a six person a-cappella ensemble, which placed second in the IHSA Music Competition.
In her spare time Maura dances with Moves Dance Company and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Georgiana Jianu
Victoria Ambrose-Thomas
Georgiana Jianu was thrilled to star as Victoria Ambrose, the wicked Stepmother in "The Vision" movie and hopes to work again in Robert Alaniz's future projects. Originally from Romania, she currently lives in Chicago, performing lead and supporting roles in a number of independent films, television and student productions. "The Vision" is Jianu's second feature film to "The Blind and the Dead" in which she plays the role of Maggie Grimm - a spirited woman who is in complete denial about her adopted sister. Jianu also starred as a feisty wife in "Happy Man's Pants" a big budget short film and co-stared in "Brazil's Roswell" for History Channel. Jianu received coaching in TV & Film from Act One Studios in Chicago.
Savannah Emmrich - Sandi Dexter
15 year old Savannah Emmrich is thrilled to be cast as Sandi Dexter in The Vision. She has been modeling and acting since she was a baby and has appeared in over 50 National advertisements, game and craft boxes, music videos, and tv commercials. A triple threat, Savannah has won 20 talent competitions for voice; her first at age 2 in Texas. She has also danced for 8 years at the United Center as part of the Chicago Bulls Entertainment with both the Jr-Luv-a-Bulls and as one of the original Bullzkidz Hip Hop Dancers. She also danced for 2 years at the Chicago Rush Arena Football games as well as performing as the dancing Cougar Mascot at the Saint Xavier University Football games.
Trained at the Stacey De School of Performing Arts and Improv Olympic, Savannah has performed on stage in Annie, A Midsummer Nights Dream as Puck, and The Road Home where she won a Best Actor Award when she was 8 years old. She had supporting and co-starring roles in the following films: Lost Girls, Bubbles, Stretch Man, Mindy, and And But So Then which won a prestigious short film award.
An Honors Student at Plainfield South High School, Savannah competes on the cross-country and Track teams and has qualified for the National Junior Olympic Games 5 years in a row as a member of the Aurora Flyers Track Team. She specializes in the heptathlon and javelin winning national medals 2 times.
An active youth member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Morris, IL, Savannah has been involved in numerous charitable organizations since she was in elementary school She hopes her performance makes you smile and thanks everyone for their support on the film set.
Tyler Burke - Eric Peters
Tyler attends Lincoln-Way East high school, but will be attending Lincoln-Way North when it opens later this year. He started acting in second grade and hasn’t stopped.
His first experience in film came with a small part in the independent film "Legit", in 2005. Most recently he has been in the Lincoln-Way North productions of Arsenic and Old Lace as "Jonathan Brewster" and The Beverly Hillbillies as "Jed Clampett". Both of which were lead roles. He loves the challenge of playing different types of characters and putting his own special touch on them.
The Vision has been an amazing experience for Tyler. He has learned a lot about film thanks to Robert and his explanation about why things are done the way they are and the big differences between stage and film acting. He loves this business and plans on staying in it for a very long time.
Vic Kuligoski - Tommy White
Over the past few years, Vic Kuligoski has discovered his interest in acting. Starting at Jerling Junior High in Orland Park, Vic auditioned and got the role of Doody in Grease, the school's 2006 musical. In 2007, Vic had the lead role of Aladdin in the school's musical, Aladdin. In between the 2 plays, Vic was casted in Robert Alaniz's movie, Bitteblue, as Gary Donata. Vic learned a tremendous amount about filmmaking during this production. Vic is casted as Tommy White in The Vision. Vic is excited and honored to be working with Robert again.
Currently, Vic attends Carl Sandburg High School in Orland Park. Vic is on the Speech Team where he competes in both the humorous and dramatic duet categories. Vic also was casted in the school's 2008 spring musical, My Favorite Year.
Aside from acting, Vic also enjoys playing guitar and baseball. Coming from a large extended family, Vic feels that he can relate to many life experiences and can draw upon those experiences in any role that he might play.
Ellen Hogan - Amanda
Ellen Hogan is no stranger to the acting world. Ellen has been involved with numerous theatre groups including Curtain Call Community Theatre, Missolua Children’s Theatre, All about Music theatre, and her school theatre program. Ellen lives in Frankfort and attends Lincoln Way East High School as a sophomore. At school, Ellen is involved in choir, dance team, peer helper club, and interact club. She also takes voice lessons, and enjoys playing tennis.
Ellen's first bit of film experience was in Barrymore’s Dream, as an extra. The experience captivated her, thus auditioning and being cast in Robert Alaniz's Bitterblue, as Abigail James. In a bigger role, she learned patience and commitment and found Bitterblue to be a life changing experience. Now, cast as Amanda, in Robert Alaniz's The Vision, she was excited to work with such an amazing group of people. She would like to thank Robert for this opportunity, and her family and friends for their love and support.
Amanda Littleton - Corey
Amanda Littleton is a sophomore at Lincoln-Way North High School in Frankfort, Illinois. She has performed in school plays and has been acting since second grade. This is her second film, the first being Bitterblue, where she played the part of Tess. She is very excited to be in another one of Robert Alaniz's films. Amanda plans to use this film experience to help her grow as an aspiring actress.
Will Martel - Ted
Will has been an actor since the age of 17 and got his start in a teleplay bio about 60's singer Sam Cooke. He also was an extra in the horror film "Candyman", the Wayans brothers comedy "Mo' Money" and played a gangster in the film "Bix". By the age of 20, Will worked as a stuntman on different Independent films. His first stunt job was for a boxing movie in which he doubled for one of the leading actors. One of those being "Gladiator" starring James Marshall from the 90's TV show "Twin Peaks" and Academy Award winner, Cuba Gooding Jr. who had just came off the John Singleton film "Boyz 'n' Da Hood". When film work stopped coming to Chicago, Will continued to act and started to train as a pro wrestler.Will has been around the pro wrestling business since fall of 1986 and has always had dreams of becoming a world champ. On May 8, 2004, his dream became a reality when he became the Evolution Championship Pro Wrestling World Champion. Later that same year he was cast for the action film short "The Raid".
After that project, Will continued to wrestle and pick up extra work and became a print model for a number of companies and got some work on the Fox TV show "Prison Break" Season 2. The episode was called "My Brothers Keeper" where Will played a spectator to a kid being hit by a car and performing CPR on the victim. Will's credits include " The Dark Knight" and the Independent film "Disaster Relief" and had a cameo in "Red in Dreadville" which he was also Assistant Director, Stunt Coordinator and fight choreographer.
In "Robert Alaniz's THE VISION", Will plays Ted, a coffee shop regular who is friends with the eccentric retired newspaper Editor, Mark Freeman.
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