Introduction
Melissa Kunnap - Director and Writer
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Thank you for your interest in our Short Film Feast
Hello all, I'm Melissa Kunnap an actor,writer and director in Atlanta. Feast is a passion project of mine. I am a huge horror,slasher,thriller,suspense, dark comedy fan. After attending a few horror film festivals I have noticed a lack of women and specifically women of color whose work is being represented in-front and behind the camera. My goal with this short is not only to tell a story but to empower other women to create and share their work. I made my film directorial debut in 2017 on the film The Stain created for the 72 hour horror film race which won an award for Best Local Actor. I am slated to direct the upcoming short film The Day for Critical Crop Tops micro-shorts project due to start later this summer.
Jason Winn - Director of Photography
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Director Jason Winn is an independent Director and Producer best known for such works as the critically acclaimed feature film The Fat Boy Chronicles , Lifetime Movie The Assault , the horror film Rave Party Massacre, the adult drama Let's Make it, and the recently released family action-comedy Shifting Gears. With 20 years of extensive production experience under his belt, Winn has executive produced two feature documentaries and directed the award-winning feature documentary Spiral Bound . When not on set, he teaches young filmmakers at the University of North Georgia and through the Film Connection in Los Angeles California.
Nicole Kemper- Sound Department
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Nicole is a writer, actor, and video editor with an MFA in Directing for Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago. Nicole has recorded location sound for the web series, Sides, and for short films like Long Con Mom, What Happens in the Barn, Sleeping on the Enemy, and Dick Pic Professional. Together with Hillary R Heath, she co-runs the comedy company, Critical Crop Top, which produces socially conscious comedy in the form of web content, podcasts, and live shows.
Vanessa Aranegui- First Assistant Director
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Vanessa Aranegui began her artistic journey in the theatre and has since shared her passion on stage and on set. She is an actress and writer who also enjoys stage managing, carpentry, and assistant directing.
What We Need
We have our basic equipment such as camera, sound and lights. To get our film from start to finish we need funds for the following :
Meet the Cast
Jackie Costello as Pilar
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Jackie is so excited to join the cast of Feast! She recently played Beth in Pinch N Ouch's production of "The Way We Get By." In addition, she jumped at the chance to join Critical Crop Top in their Feminine Mistake Podcast of "I, Tonya." In 2016, she performed in Grant McGowen's play "Girls Life". Her other theatre credits include: Wall Street Wedding, Some Girls, Speed the Plow, Pizza Man, and The Issues Project. Films: Let's Be Cops, The Promotion, Wherever It Leads, Uncommon Law, No Soliciting, The Drunks, and The Motherload. She also works with several photographers in the area. Check out her Instagram at Jmcostello14. Finally she would like to thank Melissa for offering her a part in Feast!
Brian Ashton Smith as Forest
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Brian is an Atlanta based actor/ writer/ producer. He is always pleased to work with his friends, and is excited to be directed by his girlfriend Melissa, creator of Feast. He's also currently working on a staged musical adaptation of The Man Who Came to Dinner. Some of his credits include Office Christmas Party, Good Behavior, Rainy Season, and Nashville. He most recently starred in the film The Righteous opposite Melissa who plays his girlfriend in the film, and Girls Life by Grant McGowan. He's always looking forward to collaborating and creating new works.
Nicole Burgess as Poppy
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Nicole has been acting professionally for 8 years and has been in regional and national commercials, as well as short films, independent and feature films. She received a Best Actress Honorable Mention for her performance in a short film which was featured in the 2013 New Orleans Film Festival. Nicole currently resides in Atlanta and trains at GregAlan Williams' Actor's Breakthrough Studio.
Nicole is also an author, vlogger and jewelry designer and loves to explore her creative talents. In addition to acting, she is passionate about creating beautiful things and being an inspiration to as many people as she can.
Her website is www.nicknamecole.com.
Omer Mughal as Ellison
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Omer Mughal is an Atlanta based actor and improviser who's most recent on screen credits include FOX's The Gifted and 24:Legacy. His last stage performance at Pinch n' Ouch Theatre for the role of Williamson in Glenngary Glen Ross was a big check off the bucket list and a dream to work along side some of Atlanta's top talent. Omer is the operator of Actors Taping Actors at RMS in Doraville and spends most of his time training, working with actors, giving 30 second hugs, doing yoga, looking for true love, eating poke bowls, and sippin' bubble tea. Omer is gangsta AF and loves to use acronyms like jk, wtf, lol, lmao, and rotflmaool.
Casey McConnell as Rebecca
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Casey McConnell has been acting for over 20 years. Her formal education includes dual Bachelors Degrees in Theatre Performance and Film and Media, from Georgia State University, as well as attendance at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. When not acting, she enjoys working as a 1st Assistant Camera.
Patrick Morgan as Will
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Patrick is an actor and writer from Atlanta, Georgia. He graduated from University of Georgia with a degree in Comparative Literature. In addition to being an actor, he has written short films such as Hi, Grandma and The Decision. He’s studied acting at the Alliance Theater, PushPush Theater, Pinch ‘n Ouch Theater and Drama, Inc. He made his feature film debut as one of the leads in the feature film, The Bitter Better. In addition, he has also appeared in various short films and web series such as 50mm and Vera’s Workplace Sensitivity Training. He’s also written and performed with Critical Crop Top, as well as the One-Minute Play Fest.
Joseph Mazza as Chef
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Joseph grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and enjoyed a nomadic lifestyle around the Midwest before moving to Texas to pursue a BA in English at the University of Dallas. After a year abroad training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and completing his MA in Classical Acting, he is excited to be back in Atlanta and to continue his pastimes of riding his motorcycle, playing paintball, and skydiving!
Brandon Mitchell as Butler
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Growing up around New Orleans, Brandon enjoyed the macabre, magical feeling in the air of southern Louisiana. He is excited to work with Melissa again, previously working on films The Stain and Carnality. He found his way to Atlanta with a little stopover in Philly and DC. Recent Credits include: Writing and and performing with Critical Crop Top, Spring Shorts and Unexpected Guest with Onstage Atlanta, Atlanta One Act Play Festival, and Discovery ID. This summer he will be directing his first short The Duchess of Grant Park for Critical Crop Top's micro-shorts project, and working with Melissa on another film, his! He is proud to call Atlanta home, especially since its only a hop, skip, and jump to New Orleans.
Rylee Bunton as Hope
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Rylee Bunton is a local Atlanta actor in both film and theatre. She got her BFA in theatre performance from Columbus State University, and she has continued training in various studies after graduation including an acting apprenticeship at Georgia Ensemble Theatre, circus arts and stage combat at The Circus School of Atlanta with Havoc Movement Company, and many other workshops through C4 Atlanta. Some of her favorite credits include Noah (Caroline, Or Change) at Columbus State, Liza (Girl’s Life) at Pinch ‘n’ Ouch Theatre, Genevieve (Another Mother) with Essential Theatre, Angel (Means of Punishment) with Greg Daniel, and Rosa (Employability) with Georgia Ensemble and Bekah Suellau. Rylee is incredibly excited to work with Melissa once again, and she hopes you enjoy Feast.
Michelle Pokopac as Joy
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MICHELLE POKOPAC is a film and theatre actor in the Atlanta area. Film credits include: The Defense (Dynasty Tennison), Faust the Necromancer (Varun Giridhar), Solace (Afonso Poyart), Traditions(Publix). Theatre credits include: Sense and Sensibility (Synchronicity Theatre), James and the Giant Peach, On the Verge (Georgia Ensemble), Alice Between, Slur, Play the Play with Cat the Cat (Alliance Theatre), Girls Life, Water by the Spoonful (Pinch 'N' Ouch), A Thousand Cranes, Señora Tortuga (Lexington Children's Theatre). BFA Acting from Columbus State University. Represented by Houghton Talent. Co-Producer of Unproducible Plays: Year of Asian Voices @pokopac
More to come as we complete our cast & crew.
