Hi friends! My name is Alyssa Ross, and I’m a writer, actor...and humanitarian. I’ve spent the last seven years working for a variety of nonprofits, both large and small, and philanthropies. I took some of my most hilarious experiences and turned them into a TV show, which looks at some of the truly ridiculous things we humanitarians do in our quest to make the world a better place. It also showcases some of the crazy people and insane ideas one encounters in the world of nonprofits. If you’ve ever worked at a non-profit, thought about working at a non-profit, or just wanted to make the world a better place, this show is written for you.
Who we are:
Alyssa Ross (Kate; Writer): Alyssa has a Masters’ degree in Human Rights, where she learned about conflict resolution, famine relief, international law, and why humans have rights but plants don’t. She parlayed all of this knowledge into a world-changing career creating budgets, writing in jargon, and analyzing organizational governance structures. Alyssa is an NYC-based actor and writer. Some of her favorite credits include Through The Glade at Tada! Theatre, 29x/y at The Wild Project, and Nouveau Rich, a webseries which she co-created.
Justine Browning (Producer): An entertainment journalist and red carpet host, Justine has interviewed everyone from Meryl Streep to Jerry Seinfeld. While pursuing a degree in Media at NYU, she studied the arts in various cities throughout the world. Her own humanitarian endeavours include aiding the post-Katrina rebuilding effort in New Orleans, teaching in Tanzania, and assisting with the Council for Blind Women and Child in Afghanistan. She also serves on the board of the Committee For Groupon Addiction Recovery, which she is the sole member of.
Shar Adrias (Director of Photography): Shar runs her own production company, and has produced and directed performance recordings, music videos, and major entertainment events throughout New York. She has shot several major red carpet events and interviews with A-list talent such as Kate Winslet, Jerry Seinfeld, and Ben Kingsley. Shar has also devoted herself to being a part of the dance world as both a performer and cinematographer.
Laura Poe (Magdalena Malia): Laura Poe has had a lifetime of non-sequiturs and incomplete sentences in preparation for the role of Magdalena Malia. She has been in a smattering of film and TV, including Nurse Jackie, Arlington Road, and Law and Order, SVU, as well as a solo-show and various improv groups. Her humanitarian experience has been limited to teaching (ESL, theater…) but she looks forward to pretending she is altruistic for this role.
Amanda LaVergne (Lucia): Amanda Lea LaVergne is an American actor best known for her work on stage. World Premiering the lead role of Campbell in the stage production of Bring It On: The Musical, Amanda has appeared on numerous Broadway, National and International stages. Her role of film documentarian Lucia Thorne in The Humanitarians marks her debut on the small screen.
Lisa McGurn (Thea): Lisa is thrilled to be playing the very enthusiastic Thea. Other than being an avid sports fan, Lisa is the co-creator and co-star of the award winning web series, In Your Dreams. She invites you to visit her web site, www.lisamcgurn.com, for more about her.
Susan Hedges (Jennifer): Born and raised a Long Island girl, Susan is finally continuing her dream after a 20 year hiatus. Spending most of her previous time on stage, she has just recently gotten involved with camera work. She can be seen in Wildlife Productions' short film Graveyard Girl, currently in festivals around the world. Cursed with fine hair, thin skin, thick thighs and a loud mouth, she is blessed with the perfect family (hubby/1 boy/1 girl/1 dog/1 cat) and many wonderful and supportive friends and family. Susan is elated to be working with such a power team of talented women and a fantastic cast full of great characters. The Humanitarians is perfectly written and way too much fun to be called work.
Seth McNeill (Bradley): Seth is not really a douchebag but he plays one on TV. He has been seen on small stages in New York and on larger ones across the country. Favorite roles include The Crucible, Tompkins '88, and The Two Noble Kinsmen in NYC, and Twelfth Night and Love's Labours Lost at the American Shakespeare Center. If you require video evidence of his actorliness, he has appeared in some short films, TV shows, and a little web series called Sitting on Babies. Also a playwright, he has had his plays workshopped and performed with Amios NYC, Fresh Ground Pepper, Primary Stages ESPA, and Emerging Artists Theater.
Brandon Salerno (Gregory): Brandon is a recent graduate of the NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study where he studied acting, entertainment business, and educational theatre. Recent theatre credits include Zanni in A History of Servitude (NY Fringe 2016),Stanley in Brief Encounter, and Tyndarus in The Captives. Brandon can be seen as the title character in the web series Flying High With Charlie, which is available on Amazon Prime and YouTube. He is also a co-writer, producer, and actor in an upcoming short film called Half Empty. In addition, he can be spotted in commercials for #MPWR, Burger King, and Dollar Shave Club. Brandon is very excited to be a part of this extremely talented and funny cast! He would like to thank his family and friends for their support! For more information, please visit www.brandonsalerno.com.
Jason Zednick (Alexander): Jason is an actor and filmmaker living and working in New York City. Alongside appearances in the feature films Serious Laundry, Shadows of Life, Heavy Objects, and Mirror, Mirror, Jason has appeared in awarding winning shorts such as Sypher Films' Anomaly and Humungoid Films' Gasmask. In addition to his film work, Jason works extensively in the New York theater scene collaborating with companies such as Titan Theatre Company, Retro Productions, and The Theater Project.
What we need:
We need about $13,000 to cover our production costs. This money will go towards:
- Our incredibly talented cast of actor/humanitarians
- Our brilliant crew: DP, sound engineer, and lighting tech
- Locations, locations, locations
- Post-production
- Insurance and equipment
- Feeding our amazing team
There are other ways you can help!
If you can’t contribute monetarily, we would love for you to be involved in other ways!
- Please share our Indiegogo campaign with your own networks.
- We are looking for PAs to help us on set when we’re filming -- please let me know if you’re interested!
Thank you all so much for your support, your interest, and for being a part of The Humanitarians! We can't wait to share it with you!
