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Humane Resources follows David, a staffer at a Chicago humane society longing for the cushy corporate life. Created and written by Shaun Baer and with seven short episodes slated for season one, Humane Resources lightheartedly explores the workplace relationships of a Chicago humane society while exposing the audience to the importance of pet adoption and charity. David’s dreams of corporate life are challenged when he discovers that doing good work can mean more than building a resume.
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Interactive Animal Welfare Website
In addition to being the home for the series, our website site will also provide a comprehensive resources for pet care, adoption, spay and neuter services, as well as opportunities to support and volunteer in Chicago.
While many people understand the need for animal shelters, few are truly aware of the staggering numbers associated with this situation. We will continue to be updating this site with information both before and after the series launch.
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The Impact
Animal advocacy is an important social issue in which organizations and people worldwide fight every day to ensure that all animals are entitled to the basic rights and interests that human beings have. As Chicagoans, we are fortunate to live in a state that ranks first in animal protection laws, according to a 2013 report by the Animal Defense League Fund. However, the issue of animal neglect, abuse and homeless pet overpopulation continues to be an issue not only in Illinois, but worldwide.
Humane Resources aims to not only raise awareness and educate viewers regarding these issues, but also to help find homes for sheltered animals and increase funding for animal welfare.
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Other Ways You Can Help
We hope you'l enjoy our show this fall whether or not you're able to contribute to this fund. In the meantime, we would appreciate your help getting the word out:
- Please share this campaign and prologue episode with your friends and family using your favorite social media outlets.
- Continue to visit our website as it develops to learn more about how you can get involved with your local shelters.
Thank you for learning about "Humane Resources."
Production Team
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Shaun Baer is a Chicago actor, born and bred. Film credits include the title role in the short film "Scotty Works OUT", Charles Fleener in the short film "Adieu" and series regular Tyler Linn in the upcoming online series "Dudes". In Chicago, Shaun has worked with several companies including Fox Valley Repertory, Court Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre, Kokandy Productions, Night Blue Theatre, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Circle Theatre, Endpoint Theatre, Babes With Blades, and Chicago Opera Vanguard. Regionally, Shaun has performed with the Little Theatre on the Square of Illinois, Papermill Theatre of New Hampshire, Minnesota Opera, and the Paul Bunyan Playhouse. Favorite stage roles include the title role in "Pippin" with BoHo Theatre, Bob in "Beau Jest" with Oil Lamp Theatre, and Homer in "Floyd Collins" with Theater Latte Da.
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Steven Callas received a Bachelors degree in Marketing and a Masters degree in Cinema Production with distinction from DePaul University in Chicago. He has extensive experience in assistant directing, editing, and producing. He c
urrently resides in Chicago where he runs Callas Media, a small studio that offers pre-production, production, and post-production services for films and shorts of every caliber. He was the producer on the local short film "Iceland" and has assistant directed on Chicago short films such as "Scotty Works OUT" directed by Dan Pal, "Las Fieras (1969)" and "A Priceless Woman (1961)" directed by Alaric S. Rocha, and the local Chicago feature film "It’s the Little Things" directed by Raza Siddiqui.
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Kurt has worked in the film/TV/theatre community most of his life. He has directed countless plays and worked as an acting teacher and coach. He has worked with, and assisted casting directors Jane Brody, Mali Finn, and Lynn Stalmaster. Kurt is also an actor and graduate of The Juilliard School who trained in Russia at The Moscow School of the Arts. On camera, Kurt has appeared in such films as "Public Enemies", "Road to Perdition", "The Express", "Witless Protection", "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer", "Dillinger", "Howard Beach: Making the Case for Murder", and TV episodes of "Chicago Fire", "Chicago PD", "The Chicago Code", "Detroit 1-8-7", "ER" and "Prison Break". He has also been on stage at Steppenwolf Theatre, National Jewish Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare and A Red Orchid Theatre. Kurt is a current member of Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, a former artistic director of The Theatre of Western Springs and former co-owner and director of The Acting Studio Chicago.
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Alex Thompson is a filmmaker, writer and actor based out of Chicago. His recent work includes the short films "Irene & Marie", "The Celebration" and "Calumet", collaborations with Sad Brad Smith, a photo series on masculinity
in film, a documentary on the Mack Race and a feature film in Greece set to shoot this summer. He is so pleased to be working with Kurt, Shaun, Steven and Eddie, and on this fantastic project! Alex is also a staff writer for the web publication "Gaper's Block"
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Eddie Avinashi was born in Chicago, IL. From an early age, he expressed a unique fascination in narrative cinema, specifically taking an interest in the independent/avante-garde variety. Eddie attended the
Digital Cinema program at DePaul University. After generously being offered entry level positions with professional camera/lighting crews on narrative films, music videos, and commercials, he soon found himself immersed in the collaborative craft of filmmaking and sought to find work whenever possible. He is always eager to push his abilities to understand color, light, depth, and visual dynamics working professionally as a Gaffer, Cinematographer, Assistant Cameraman, and Colorist.
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JESS [jes] noun1. A person who is generous, talented, and kindly
1. A short leather strap that is fastened around each leg of a hawk.
Jess has released five EP's: To the Heart of It, Quiet the Room (produced by Jan Smith, vocal coach to Usher, Justin Bieber, The Band Perry), Klutz, Santa Monica, and her most recent self-titled EP released in November 2012. Jess's single, Katy's Side, was featured on “Keeping up with the Kardashians” in 2013. Her voice can currently be heard on the Wisconsin-based Patrick Cudahy radio jingle and the Lia Sophia theme song. Recent Chicago appearances include Mayne Stage, Double Door, Subterranean, Wilmette Theatre, and Bottom Lounge. Tour cities include NY, LA, San Francisco, Atlanta, SXSW, VOODOOFEST, Denver, Toronto, Detroit, Boston, Vermont and Philadelphia. She has performed the National Anthem at the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Bandits, and the Chicago Fire. She was a featured performer at the Human Rights Campaign Galas in San Francisco and Chicago in 2013. Jess has been fortunate to play some incredible venues, but nothing makes her happier than bringing musicians in to perform for the Lincoln Park Community Shelter.
The Cast
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Hillary Marren is an actress/singer who has called Chicago home for the past 4 years. Originally from Ohio, she received her BFA in Musical Theatre, and spent a year living and working abroad in New Zealand on stage and on-camera before making her way to the windy city. She was most recently seen singing 'Day by Day' in Godspell at Theatre at the Center, and rocking out with a scottish accent in Rooms: A Rock Romance with Broken Nose Theatre. Select previous credits include Regan in Bachelorette (Profiles Theatre), Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors (New Zealand), and a small recurring role on The Mob Doctor (FOX). She has also been involved with staged readings and new musical works at Chicago Dramatists, American Theatre Company, and Goodman Theatre. Hillary is ever-happy to be a member of the bitingly funny sketch group Vampeero, and is excited to be a part of the cast of Humane Resources.
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Greg Davies is a Chicago native and graduate of the Theatre Department at Bradley University in Peoria, IL. Locally, Greg can be seen performing with "Golosa", Chicago's one and only Russian folk choir, as well as occasionally loaning out his bass playing skills to local Chicago bands. No stranger to film sets, Greg has worked on a number of feature films shot in Chicago, including “The Dark Knight”. A manager and designer at Leap Real Estate Systems, Greg is happy to come out of actor retirement to be a part of "Humane Resources" before moving to Los Angeles.
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Linda Rudy is a Chicago-actor who has performed with several companies, including NightBlue Theater in "Little Women: The Musical" (Amy), "Chorus Line" (Bebe u/s) and "The Rocky Horror Show," the latter she also performed with Awkward Pause at the Mayne Stage. A regular with the Chicago Kid's Company, she most recently originated the title role of "Chicken Little" with them last season. When not performing, Linda is a veterinary technician for Animal House of Chicago. She can also be found taking care of her own pets, including one dog (Greta, pictured), four cats, one bird, two guinea pigs, three snakes and three turtles.
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Mallory Backstrom is a Chicago based actor and writer. On stage, she has worked with such companies as Endpoint Theatre, Dreamlogic, Mohip Theatre, and Riverside Theatre. She is also the CEO and founder of Kismet & Co. Backstage, Mallory has served as stage manager for the Collective Theatre Company in Chicago. Her first novel, "Reasons for Being," was published this February. In her own words, "Be blessed, be well, choose happiness on purpose when you can, but above all else be brave in the face of your own darkness. It will lead you to your light."
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Chris Brickhouse comes from Savannah Ga where he was co-creator of his coffee shop theatre company "The FowlBrick". He is a graduate from the Acting School at DePaul University. Chris's theatre experience include Mary-Arrchie's brutal military experience "The Brig" and his film credits include Dan Pal's romantic short "Scotty Works Out" and the Independent Web Series Nominated "The Dreamers" as Captain Greg. He currently resides in Chicago where he is consistently shoveling snow.
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Khaki Pixley is a Chicago actress originally hailing from the beautiful Traverse City, MI. Her recent theatre credits include: "Let's Misbehave" at Fox Valley Rep, "A Class Act" at Porchlight, "Time after Time" at Theo Ubique, The title role in "The Baker's Wife" (Circle Theatre) and Petra in "A Little Night Music" (Circle Theatre) for which she received a 2012 Jeff Nomination. She is the co-writer of the short film "A Phony Dilemma" (FreshPic Films) and recently filmed the music video for her recording of the classic Irving Berlin song "I Don't Want Him (you can have him)". She has been fortunate enough to live and perform in Germany and to sing the National Anthem at Wrigley Field. Love to my fam and friends and many thanks to Shaun.