PROJECTS

"SPRING BREAK 83"
ABOUT THE FILMTHE CASTTHE CREWSUCCESS OF THE GENRE

"WHAT LOVE IS "
ABOUT THE FILMTHE CASTMEDIATHE CREW

"CASTING CALL "
ABOUT THE T.V. SHOW

 

 

 

SPRING BREAK '83
(A Coming Of Age Teen Comedy)
Written by Mars Callahan

KEY PERSONNEL:


Mars Callahan - Writer / Producer
The greatest assets of any company are its personnel. The Big Sky Motion Pictures’ C.E.O., Mars Callahan, is a living testament to that, having written, directed and packaged three films by the time he was twenty-eight years old. Callahan also independently created “Poolhall Junkies” starring Academy Award Winners, Christopher Walkin, and Rod Steiger and Academy Award Nominee, Chazz Palminteri. The critically acclaimed film was nominated for best sports movie at the 2003 ESPY Awards. Most recently, Callahan wrote, starred in and directed “What Love Is” starring Academy Award Winner, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Sean Astin, Matthew Lillard, Anne Heche, Gina Gershon and Tamala Jones. As an actor, Callahan has appeared in films with some of the top box office stars in Hollywood, including Tom Hanks, Charlize Theron, Liv Tyler, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, James Garner and Martin Short.

T.V. (acting): “The Wonder Years”. “Cagney and Lacey”, “Growing Pains”, “The Facts of Life”, “ER”
Film (acting): “Kalifornia”, “The Accidental Tourist”, “That Thing You Do”
Film (directing): “The Red Bag”, “Double Down”, “Poolhall Junkies”, “What Love Is”


Rand Chortkoff - Executive Producer & Music Supervisor
Rand Chortkoff’s wide-ranging experience covers every aspect of the entertainment business, including creating a unique and innovative approach to film financing and production that has enabled him to successfully finance seven feature films in the last six years. Mr. Chortkoff is also the C.E.O. of Delta Groove Productions, a record label with worldwide distribution, which also specializes in the production of movie soundtracks, music licensing, publishing and marketing services. Earning accolades from blues and roots aficionados around the world, Mr. Chortkoff has created a series of award-winning record releases. He produced blues legend Billy Boy Arnold’s highly acclaimed comeback release “Back Where I belong” as well as over a dozen successful recordings. In addition, Mr. Chortkoff is a 30-year veteran music promoter, who has produced and promoted 100s of successful live concerts. He is also a lifelong devotee of American roots, blues and R&B music. Mr. Chortkoff’s expansive knowledge of these genres and his extensive industry contacts combined with his keen ear and his own musical talent, make him an invaluable asset to Big Sky Motion Pictures and every film it produces.

View Rand Chortkoff's company website -Delta Groove Productions!


Robert Fitzpatrick - Music Supervisor
Robert Fitzpatrick has been well-known and highly respected within the music industry since the 1960s, when he was The Beatles' attorney. He also represented such high-profile artists as The Rolling Stones, The Who, and singer Peggy Lee. Fitzpatrick later joined with entertainment mogul Robert Stigwood to form the management firm Stigwood Fitzpatrick, Inc., and managed such groups as Cream and The Bee Gees. Fitzpatrick also managed Arthur Lee & Love, Taj Mahal, actor Don Johnson and many others. Fitzpatrick's wide-ranging experience in the entertainment field also includes acting in off-Broadway productions, to producing for the stage and television, and worked on the soundtracks for films such as "Pulp Fiction," "Remember The Titans," and "The 51st State."


Scott Spiegel - Director

Scott Spiegel started his journey in the world of film early on in his life. With childhood friends Sam Raimi (director, The Evil Dead movies and the Spiderman franchise) and Bruce Campbell (actor, The Evil Dead movies, Bubba Ho-Tep), Spiegel shot several movies around his Detroit-area home. In 1979, along with Raimi and Campbell, Spiegel shot Within The Woods, the now legendary precursor to Raimi's cult-classic Evil Dead films. After the huge success of The Evil Dead, Spiegel moved to Los Angeles to help Raimi co-write the script to Evil Dead II, which according to Spin magazine is "one of the coolest considered by many to be one of the greatest cult horror films of all time.

While writing Evil Dead II in Los Angeles, Mr. Spiegel shared a house rented by Raimi and future Oscar winners Joel & Ethan Coen. In 1989, Spiegel wrote and directed his first feature, Intruder. His producer on Intruder was Lawrence Bender, who Spiegel introduced to a then-struggling screenwriter Quentin Tarantino. Scott also collaborated with good friend Boaz Yakin in writing The Rookie starring (and directed by) Clint Eastwood, a 1990 Warner Brothers release.

After Tarantino's success, he introduced Spiegel to Bob Weinstein, the former co-chairman of Miramax. Weinstein hired Spiegel to direct From Dusk Till Dawn II: Texas Blood Money the sequel to the highly popular vampire-western franchise. Harvey Weinstein then hired Spiegel to direct Quentin Tarantino's My Name Is Modesty, which he shot in Romania.

As an actor Scott has appeared in almost every one of Sam Raimi's movies such as Spider Man, Spider Man 2 and the highly anticipated Spider Man 3. Other Sam Raimi projects that Scott acted in include The Quick and The Dead, Darkman and Evil Dead II.

Not one to forget his horror roots, Spiegel co-founded the company Raw Nerve with Eli Roth (director, Cabin Fever, the Hostel movies) and Boaz Yakin (director, Remember The Titans). Spiegel served as an executive producer on both Hostel and Hostel: Part II along with friends Tarantino and Yakin.

Currently, Spiegel is directing Spring Break 83, a comedy written and produced by Mars Callahan (writer/director Poolhall Junkies, What Love Is)


Joy Czerwonky - Producer & Line Producer
Joy Czerwonky has an extensive background in business management consulting finance and accounting. In addition, she has produced/line produced eight independent features of which “What Love Is” is the most recent. This has allowed her to refine her financial and operational skills to fit the Hollywood entertainment industry. In her early days, right after film school, Czerwonky garnered much hands-on production experience by working on numerous film crews in virtually every position there is. In addition, the insight she gained while working at ACI/Pearson Television in distribution accounting, where she tracked production costs, marketing expenses, rights licensing, sales, royalties and collections of over 100 Movies of the Week, gives her the ability to track and audit not only a films costs, but also its revenues and the corresponding proceeds due to the producers and investors. This and the years she spent attending the Cannes Film and TV markets as well as numerous other festivals and markets, give her a comprehensive understanding of foreign sales and domestic distribution.

John Hermansen - Producer
John Hermansen founded Bread Pictures in November 2004 with the interest in developing and producing independent feature films and episodic television. As a Producer, John has produced almost 200 episodes of television and several motion pictures. John began his career working for Director Tim Burton on the film Ed Wood.   John has also worked with Directors Jodi Foster, Peter Yates, Barry Levinson, Christopher Guest, and James Cameron ultimately leading to his work as an Assistant Director on such notable films as Con Air, The Crucible, Almost Heroes, Waiting for Guffman, Home for the Holidays, and a myriad of Independent films. Soon John found himself with opportunities in cable television, most notably producing MTV’s Taildaters (over 130 episodes), MTV’s Burned (30 episodes), GSN’s Vegas Weddings Unveiled, Style’s Ultimatum, VH1’s Love Song’s: SOS,  and  GSN’s Ball Breakers. John has created, packaged, developed, and sold reality episodic television, and animation to cable networks including MTV, GSN, E!, Showtime, and VH1 to name a few. John's most recent producing credits include Yari Film Group’s “Kickin’ It Old Skool”  directed by Harv Glazer.  The film stars Jamie Kennedy, Vivica A. Fox, Miguel Nunez, Chris McDonald, Bobby Lee, Michael Rosenbaum, and Debra Jo Rupp. Additionally in 2007, John saw the release of his 3rd collaboration with Writer/Director Mars Callahan on “What Love Is”.  The film stars Matthew Lillard, Cuba Gooding Jr., Anne Heche, Sean Aston, Mars Callahan and Gina Gershon. and was released in March. In 2006, John Produced, “Gray Matters” directed by Sue Kramer and stars Heather Graham, Bridget Moynahan, Tom Cavanaugh, Sissy Spacek, Molly Shannon and Alan Cumming. John was an associate producer on "Poolhall Junkies," starring Mars Callahan, Christopher Walken, Rod Steiger and Rick Schroeder, which marked his first pairing with director Callahan.

Richard Pagano - Casting Director
Richard Pagano is one of Hollywood’s most respected and experienced casting directors. Mr. Pagano has cast numerous blockbuster films including: “X-Men: The Last Stand”, “Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow”, “Hotel Rwanda”, “Exit Wounds”, “Without Limits”, “Alien 4”, “Strange Days”. “The Scout”, “Rudy”, “Pet Cemetery II” and “Point Break”. Most recently Mr. Pagano cast “What Love Is”, “The Grand” and “Nobel Son”.

View Richard Pagano’s extensive filmography


TAYLOR MADE MARKETING AND CONSULTING GROUP INC.
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS

Steven J. Canino

SENIOR PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES
Robert Brown
Jerry Ross

PRODUCTION EXECUTIVES
Bill Cox
Steven Dhanjal
Sandi Fox
Danny Pape
Kirk Decker
Linas Stern
Andre Walker
Yvette Ford
Mark Maiorino

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS:
Alexander Fernandes
John Bossman
Lori Coats
Robbie Davenport
Shannon Morgan
Loretta Magallion
Sydney Gonzalez
William Hall
Nicole Marguerite-Elise




©2008. Big Sky Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.