Since I started making independent movies, I chose issue oriented projects ranging from domestic violence to marriage equality to gender identity. And all of those projects were feature length with the exception of ONE DAY IN MAY, which was my first short documentary. Last January, I thought of doing something light-hearted, which focused on relationships. But I wanted to talk about unconventional relationships. Unlike the stereotypical portrayal of straight and gay individuals and relationships by the mainstream media, I wanted to show the other side that audiences rarely get to see.
Growing up I loved John Hughes' PRETTY IN PINK and FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF and I also wanted to pay an homage to the eighties romantic comedies. Unfortunately, the week after I wrote the first episode, John Hughes suddenly passed away. So this is my tribute to him for making wonderful films that inspired my generation.
I was fortunate and blessed to have a wonderful cast and crew led by a fabulous Director, David Lassman. I first met David when I was working on my first documentary, DRAG: NOT JUST MEN IN HEELS in 2006. Later I worked with him on his first feature, THE RISE AND FALL OF JEREMY STARR. David's hard work and attention to details really comes through, and will be obvious with successive episodes when all the stories become intricate and complex.
We intend to gradually build an audience and are taking it slow instead of aggressively pushing this series. And we hope that those who like it will spread the word. You can watch all the episodes and related videos at www.nostringstheseries.com
Here's a look at our wonderful and talented cast and crew and what they bring to this web series:
CAST:
GERRAD BOHL (Andy)
Gerrad is a dedicated entertainer of full spectrum. He is committed to a life time of passionate work as an actor in theatre and film, as well as in modeling, dancing, singing, writing, directing, and producing. NO STRINGS ATTACHED is Gerrad’s first lead role in a film/series project. He considers himself to be in the midst of learning the ropes of film acting, but is loving every second of it and looks forward to continuing to grow as an actor with many more projects to come. Gerrad is from Montana and currently resides in San Francisco.
AMY LOU CLUFF (Claire)
Amy Lou got her start by writing and performing songs in grammar school, leading to a promising stage career as a teenager, when she appeared in You Can’t Take It With You and in Macbeth as Lady Macbeth, among other plays. Her classic theatrical studies continued with the Sacramento Theater Company Ensemble as well as the Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. After a decade of theatrical performances, Amy Lou focused her sights on film and video, earning her BA in Film and Digital Media. Her film credits as an actor include many student films, music videos and independent productions.
CHRISTOPHER SUGARMAN (Justin)
Christopher is a trained stage actor, and the co-founder of an award winning theatre company based in Santa Cruz, California. He has appeared in several music videos, television series and over 70 stage productions. Christopher's film credits include TWEAKER WITH AN AXE, THE RISE & FALL OF JEREMY STARR, AND THEN CAME LOLA, IMP OF SATAN, HELP WANTED, ALONE FOREVER, BLACKOUT, THE OPERATORS, BEDFELLOWS, MY NAME IS KHAN, FUNNY PEOPLE and MILK.
ISAAC BENJAMIN (Ethan)
Isaac has been acting in the Bay Area for the past ten years. After taking a long break, he resurfaced by accepting to play a lead role in No Strings Attached. He love's playing different characters and love's acting on stage and in films. Isaac's theater credits include Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, Your A Good Man Charlie Brown, West Side Story and Godspell. He played a lead role in BETWEEN PLACES as an Egyptian Immigrant trying to stay in the U.S. after 9/11. Other films to his credits are THE OUTER SUNSET and THE WRITE STUFF.
He also starred in a music video titled Tonight Tonight by Xavier Toscano, which was in the top ten on LOGO Channel's countdown.
JAMES MAHER (Jonathan)
James has been a stage and film actor for many years. Although he currently works mainly with the very talented indie film makers of Northern California, he has played leading roles in such notable plays as Middle Aged White Guys and Man of La Mancha to mention but a few. James has appeared in the following films: THE UNWILLING, HARRISON MONTGOMERY, WRONG TURN, WHISKEY SLIDE, EVE, VALLEY OF THE HEARTS DESIRE, SCREWBALLS, PHOENIX RISING, THE GUARDIAN’S GATEWAY, MR. MILITANT and UNDER ONE SUN.
JESUS FUENTES (Adrian)
Jesús was most recently featured in the Prizefight Films' short, THE PRISONER, directed by Ria Fay-Berquist. He was also featured in Brant Smith's indie sci-fi feature, IN-WORLD WAR as Bartollio. Jesús has also worked on student films at the Academy of Art Institute, The Berkeley Digital Film Institute, and The Art Institute of San Francisco. Onstage, Jesús has worked with numerous theater companies that include Dragon Productions Theatre Company (as Patrick Chibas in "Spinning Into Butter"), Stanford University's Department of Theatre (as Leo in "Grease," and as Thing 1 in "The Sweetest Hangover"), and staged readings with the SF Playwrights' Center. Currently, Jesús is an Actor and Educator with The New Conservatory Theatre's YouthAware Educational Theatre Program in San Francisco.
JENNIFER WINTER (Brenda)
Jennifer's an artist dedicated to the creative process, who desires working with stage and film professionals that share her love of the medium and the power it holds to affect the lives of its viewers.
Her performing experience began at an early age doing Children's Theater with the Portland, Oregon based Playbox Players. She studied theater and dance at Jefferson High School for Performing Arts, and perfomed with the regionally acclaimed Jefferson Dancers. She went on to dance with Portland and San Francisco based dance companies and choreographers for the next 20 years. In 2001, Jennifer participated in a production of The Vagina Monologues, for which she received accolades and a subsequent Tennie Award from local arts reviewer Kevin Nance of the Tennessean (for Best Supporting Actress). Her most recent theatre project was "Same Time, Next Year", which was performed at the Playhouse Theatre near Union Square in San Francisco.
Jennifer's done film projects as an actor and a dancer for various independent film houses including Cinema West, Arora Production Studios, Flashlight Productions, and Nashville's Watkins Film School. A few years ago, She played the lead in an independent feature titled RATSTAR, written and directed by Christian Bergmans. Think Sigourney Weaver on a low budget. Think Aliens meets Rats for a styrofoam love story. She recently worked on Amir Jaffer's UNDER ONE SUN and David Lassman's THE RISE AND FALL OF JEREMY STARR.
LYDIA BELL (Dr. Irene)
A graduate of Princeton University, Lydia is a print/broadcast journalist and media consultant whose background includes work in the television production, marketing and advertising industries. She has also worked in the entertainment industry as an occasional model/actress. Recent film credits include BACK TO LIFE.
NANCY SALE (Andy’s Mom)
Nancy Sale, a UC Berkeley theatre graduate, recently retired from a long career teaching theatre in the public schools. Her retirement has brought a new interest in film acting - she has enjoyed roles in many indie films and in commercials.
CARISSA WEIR (June Christina)
Carissa was born in Port Antonio, Jamaica, and lived there until the age of nine, when she moved to London, England. Onscreen, Carissa has appeared in the films BETWEEN PLACES, DEPARTURE, RICE CRACKER and THINGS DONE CHANGED. In 2005, she founded Cacao films and is currently wrapping up post-production on TWO WEEKS FROM MONDAY, the company’s debut feature.
CAROL CLEVER (Ms. Dietrich)
Carol Clever is a performer, singer, artist, and costume designer. She appeared in several films and projects in the past year, including UNDER ONE SUN by Aisha Media, SISYPHUS by Joel Pincosy and FENCELINE by Brian Rasmussen, winner for best independent film at the Tiburon Film Festival 2009. Carol has also performed onstage as Cleante in Moliere's Tartuffe and Sen. Montague in W. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for Deep Impact Theatre. She studied private classical vocal and speech training, and piano in Europe and performs as a Soloist and with the Summit Singers.
CHRIS RESCINITI (Tyler)
Chris has coordinated stunts on several films, including THE KING’S HAND. He is a black belt instructor of Tae Kwan Doe, has coached boxing and is a nationally certified personal trainer. Chris has studied multiple martial arts including Mui Thai Kickboxing, Jiu-Jitsu, Jeet Kune Do, Kang Nei Shin Kung Fu and Shaolin Long Fist Kung Fu. As an actor he has appeared in the films TWEAKER WITH AN AXE, AND THEN CAME LOLA, THE OPERATORS and THE RISE AND FALL OF JEREMY STARR.
CREW
DAVID LASSMAN (Director and Executive Producer)
For the past 15 years, David has been associated with San Francisco's Public Access Television, where he has also taken courses on producing, directing and editing for television. In addition, David has acquired additional training through BAVC under the instruction of Dov S. Simens. David’s film career behind the camera includes co-directing UNDER ONE SUN for Aisha Media and writing, producing and directing THE RISE AND FALL OF JEREMY STARR for his own film company, Gloria Ruth Productions. As a performer, under the guise of his drag persona Chablis, David appeared in a number of episodes of Nash Bridges, several music videos, the documentary DRAG: NOT JUST MEN IN HEELS and hosted a succesfull monthly talk show CITY BEAT WITH CHABLIS.
AMIR JAFFER (Writer, Cinematographer & Editor)
Amir began exploring the world of filmmaking with his father's video camera at the age of thirteen. In 2004, he realized his childhood dream by co-founding Aisha Media to tell intriguing and captivating stories through moving pictures. With a Bachelors Degree in International Relations and a passion for filmmaking, Amir believes in making movies that are meaningful and that make people think.
He has produced narrative features and documentaries that have screened at local and international film festivals. In addition, some of the music videos he produced, were broadcasted on LOGO Channel - an affiliate of MTV.
DOUG ROBERTSON (Sound Engineer and Producer)
PAM SAUER (Director's Asst. and Script Supervisor)
KEVIN KRANZKY (Production Assistant)
SCOTT SANDEFUR (Production Assistant)
Scott is a recent graduate of the University of Miami with dual degrees in Video/Film and History. He has worked with such companies as Rakontur Productions (Cocaine Cowboys), ESPN 360, 8bit-SF and has worked with for DJ CB Shaw. Scott was also the director of the live webcast of the 2009 ACC Track and Field Championship.
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