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Not Rated.
Running Time: 18 Minutes.
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Michele Robertson
Email: [email protected]
Tel: (310) 652-6123
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The short film, “Life Boat,” revolves around six teenagers who are led into an intriguing
game of survival by their guidance counselor.
“Life Boat,” is written and directed by Lorraine Nicholson, and stars Stephen Dorff,
Elizabeth Gilpin, BK Cannon, Chloe Bridges, Kwame Boateng, Moises Arias and
Hopper Penn. The producers are Elizabeth Gilpin, Ross Levine and Nicholson. Behind
the scenes, Nicholson collaborated with director of photography Jackson Hunt,
production designer Sophie Tabet, editor Sam Bauer and costume designer Laura
Waters. The music supervisor is Jed Demoss.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT FROM LORRAINE NICHOLSON
I first learned about the draconian practices of “therapeutic boarding schools” from my
producing partner, Elizabeth Gilpin, who had experienced them first-hand. Entire books, articles
and support blogs not only corroborated her experience, but painted a picture of programs so
extreme they felt ripped from another time, the fantasy of a deranged mind. I was riveted.
As I started digging deeper, conducting interviews – I found a surprising new perspective.
Despite the harshness of the methods, many students felt that they owed their adult lives to these
schools.
The challenge of this piece then became about reconciling these two narratives -- paying tribute
to the experiences of these students whether they be positive or negative. In our short, a group of students are brought together to play a real-life game called “Life Boat.” After the customary “get to know each other” exercise, their counselor Mr. Drexler (Stephen
Dorff) poses a difficult question: If this classroom were a sinking ship, who in the group deserves
to be saved? As in “Lord of the Flies,” the orderly environment quickly descends into chaos as each student
vies to save and be saved. While the film is about teenagers, it grapples with universal themes
that hopefully will resonate with larger audiences.
* * * *
ABOUT THE CAST
STEPHEN DORFF (“Mr. Drexler”)
Stephen Dorff appeared as disillusioned Hollywood actor and single father Johnny
Marco in Sofia Coppola's SOMEWHERE, which won a Golden Lion at the 2010 Venice
Film Festival.
In 2009, Dorff teamed with SOMEWHERE producer G. Mac Brown on Michael Mann’s
gangster drama PUBLIC ENEMIES, starring opposite Johnny Depp and Christian Bale.
The Atlanta native has been acting in movies for over two decades. In 1990, Dorff was
one of 2,000 actors who auditioned for the lead role in John G. Avildsen's THE POWER
OF ONE. He got the part, starring opposite Morgan Freeman, John Gielgud and Fay
Masterson. Dorff also appeared as the "fifth Beatle," playing musician Stuart Sutcliffe in
Iain Softley's BACKBEAT, and as cross-dressing underground movie star Candy
Darling in Mary Harron's I SHOT ANDY WARHOL.
Other highlights in Dorff’s career include appearances in Bob Rafelson’s BLOOD AND
WINE, opposite Jack Nicholson and Michael Caine; Stephen Norrington's BLADE (for
which Dorff won the MTV Movie Award for Best Villain), John Waters' CECIL B.
DEMENTED, Lee Daniels' SHADOWBOXER, Oliver Stone's WORLD TRADE CENTER,
Mike Figgis' COLD CREEK MANOR, Eran Riklis' ZAYTOUN, Gabe and Alan Polsky’s
THE MOTE LIFE, OLIVER'S DEAL, and he recently-wrapped Nick Love’s AMERICAN
HERO.
Dorff was most recently cast in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel LEATHERFACE.
ELIZABETH GILPIN (“Elsa” / Producer)
Elizabeth Gilpin produced and starred in “Life Boat,” a film based on controversial
treatment she endured while attending a therapeutic boarding school in Southern
Virginia. She has two other shorts to be released later this year: “Guerra,” produced
with Frank Grillo, follows a young boxer (Gilpin) returning from prison and seeking
redemption at the boxing gym she once called home; in the horror film “Three Deaths,”
she plays a conflicted and remorseful serial killer opposite Francesca Eastwood.
In the digital world, Gilpin was featured in the final episode of Nicholson's "R.I.P."
series for Blumhouse’s Cryptv. This spring she is set to co-star in an upcoming comedic
web series with comedian Gerry Bednob and Kent Faulcon.
Gilpin was born in South Carolina and spent much of her adult life in New York City.
She currently resides in Los Angeles where she studies with Harold Guskin and Nancy
Banks Studios.
BK CANNON (“Jan”)
Born and raised in Hawaii, BK Cannon came to Los Angeles after high school, where
she continued acting, while also attending college. She graduated from Mount Saint
Mary’s University in 2015.
With a multitude of Guest Star roles on major TV shows to her credit, Cannon is
probably best known for her role as Mary Beth on Freeform’s “SWITCHED AT BIRTH.”
While the second love of her life is her acting career, her first is Camp Ānuenue, a
weeklong camp in Hawaii for children who have/have had cancer. Cannon is a cancer
survivor and attended the summer program for the first time when she was seven. She
is happy to say she has not missed a year since, and is going into her 20th consecutive
year as the newly minted President and Director of Camp Ānuenue, an independent
non-profit. Camp is vital for a specific reason: The cancer experience does not stop at
remission. Cannon and 95% of her staff know this far too well, as they are all survivors
and former campers. To donate or get information, visit the site:
www.campanuenue.com and follow @campanuenue.
CHLOE BRIDGES (“Lucia”)
Chloe Bridges is an actress from New Orleans. She can be seen in the series regular role
“Kibby Ainsley” in VH1’s new drama series “Daytime Divas,” in which she stars
opposite Tichina Arnold and Vanessa Williams. Bridges is also known for her roles on
the hit shows “Pretty Little Liars” on Freeform, “Faking It” on MTV, and “The Carrie
Diaries” on the CW, but she is perhaps best known for her role in the Disney Channel
hit “Camp Rock 2.”
Her other television credits include guest star roles on The Grinder (Fox), New Girl
(Fox), Suburgatory (ABC), and 90210 (CW), and a series regular role on Freddie (ABC)
opposite Freddie Prinze Jr.
She was also featured in the films “the Final Girls” (Columbia Pictures) and “Mike and
Dave Need Wedding Dates” (Fox).
Bridges is a student at Columbia University in New York and resides in Los Angeles.
KWAME BOATENG (“Kyle”)
Kwame Boateng was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the oldest of three
brothers who are also actors, they were all three discovered in the Beverly Center Mall
at the tender age of seven-years-old.
On the silver screen he has starred in notable films such as “Not Easily Broken” with
Taraji P. Henson and Kevin Hart, “The Least Among You,” “I Am Potential and Faith”
and “Dreams.”
On the small screen, Kwame has been seen on numerous hit television shows such as
“Workaholics,”“Chicago Code,” “The Office,” “E.R.,” “Entourage,” “Everybody Hates
Chris,” and many more.
Currently he created, co-wrote and produced his own television show “The Plug,”
loosely based upon his life of an actor and nightlife king. A multi faceted entrepreneur
and young mogul at heart, Kwame launched his own brand marketing consultation
firm, The Boateng Group.
MOISES ARIAS (“Jake”)
Moises Arias is known for work on children’s television, starting with “Suite Life” and
“Hannah Montana”, after “Everybody Hates Chris”.
Twelve years later, after having completed projects like “Kings of Summer,” “Ender’s
Game,” and “The Stanford Prison Experiment” he goes back to high school as the calm
but disruptive JAKE, in Lorraine Nicholson’s film “LIFE BOAT”.
Most recently, he has gotten recognition as a photographer under the moniker “490 TX.”
Arias is a Colombian-American actor from New York. Raised in Atlanta, he moved to
Los Angeles at the age of ten to try and find an opportunity.
HOPPER PENN (“Reese”)
Hopper Penn most recently appeared in the feature film, “The Last Face,” about aid
workers in Africa, starring Charlize Theron and directed by Sean Penn, and Netflix’s
political satire about the war in Afghanistan, “War Machine,” with Brad Pitt.
Penn currently lives in Los Angeles.
ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS
LORRAINE NICHOLSON (Director / Screenwriter / Producer)
“Life Boat” marks writer/director Lorraine Nicholson’s third short film. Nicholson’s
first short, “The Instant Message,” explores teenage sexuality in the internet age. Her
second short “This Magic Moment” depicts the unconventional love between a movie
star and her stalker. In 2017, she was selected to participate in AFI’s Directing Lab for
Women.
In the digital space, Nicholson brought her fresh perspective to up-and-coming artist
Hana’s music video for “Clay,” a trio of stop-motion videos she co-directed for
Grammy-nominated artist Tommy Trash/s “Luv U Giv" EP, and a dance video for
“TriTonal,” featuring spectacular talent Lil Buck. She also worked as a staff writer on
Bret Easton Ellis’s “The Deleted.” Additional writing and directing credits include
“R.I.P.,” an eight-episode web series on Blumhouse’s CrypTV, which champions new
voices in filmmaking.
Nicholson has honed her filmmaking skills working on-camera as an actress for ten
years. Her wide range of credits include the feature films “Click” with Adam Sandler,
“Soul Surfer” with Helen Hunt and Bobcat Goldthwait’s “World’s Greatest Dad.”
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Nicholson graduated from Brown University in 2012.
ROSS LEVINE (Producer)
Ross Levine’s producing career began under his brother Jonathan’s wing on the set of
the critically acclaimed movie “The Wackness” (a film that is a touchstone for anyone
growing up in the ‘90s).
Since then he’s had a prodigious career, producing numerous VMA and Grammy
nominated music videos for the likes of Beyonce, The Killers, Pharrell, Lady Gaga, The
National and Swedish House Mafia- working with burgeoning talent, Jon Watts, Melina
Matsoukas, Hiro Murai and Ruben Fleischer.
His first foray into scripted narrative came on the cult classic and highly controversial
indie neo-noir, “The Canyons,” directed by the legendary Paul Schrader and written by
provocateur Bret Easton Ellis. Levine continued his work with Mr. Easton Ellis on the
full screen original series “The Deleted,” which premiered in December 2016 and has
been referred to by Vice Magazine as “one of the most important digital series to date if
you’re a fan of aesthetics.”
In 2015, he sold a half hour female driven comedy pitch to FX, partnering with Drew
Barrymore and Will Kopelman on the sale. Levine frequently collaborates with actor,
Josh Peck.
Levine graduated from Occidental College via Brown University and currently resides
in Sherman Oaks. He grew up on the mean streets of New York’s upper east side and
will never miss an opportunity to espouse how formative this upbringing was.
JACKSON HUNT (Director of Photography)
Jackson Hunt is a Korean-born cinematographer. He graduated from Emerson College
in Boston Massachusetts in 2010, before moving to Los Angeles. Hunt began his career
by shooting music videos. In 2013, he shot several videos on Beyonce’s Visual Album.
In 2014, he won a MTV Video Music Award for Best Cinematography for his work on
the video “Pretty Hurts.” In both 2011 and 2014 his work was nominated at the
prestigious Camerimage Film Festival. Additionally, music videos that Huny has shot
(Wild Belle “Keep You” and Khruangbin “Two Fish and an Elephant”) have played in
competition at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, Texas.
His commercial work includes both television and internet ads for a diverse variety of
clients. Most recently, Hunt has received praise for his work on the anthem spot for
H&M’s new recycled clothing initiative.
SOPHIE TABET (Production Designer)
Since June 2014, Sophie Tabet has been working as a Producer at Pandemic Film (David
M Rosenthal & Steve Clark). She just co-produced the company’s first feature entitled
“An Actor Prepares,” starring Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston and Mamie Gummer.
A Franco-Lebanese American, Tabet got her start at NYU's Tisch Film School. A cinefile
and writer/director, she started her own production company LANDED NY, which
continues to produce several acclaimed shorts and music videos. Most recently, her
campaigns for Free The Nipple went viral.
In spring of 2015, she launched UNEMPLOYED MAGAZINE, a platform showcasing a
new class of artists, and focusing on making art more accessible. Tabet was raised by
architects and interior designers, which fueled her natural penchant for production
design and creative directing.
FILMMAKER CREDITS
DIRECTED BY……………………………………….….……..LORRAINE NICHOLSON
WRITTEN BY ………………. .....................…………………..LORRAINE NICHOLSON
PRODUCED BY...........................................…………………………ELIZABETH GILPIN
........................................................................…………………………………ROSS LEVINE
........................................................................…………………..LORRAINE NICHOLSON
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY ............……………………………..JACKSON HUNT
PRODUCTION DESIGNER ......................……………………………….SOPHIE TABET
EDITED BY...................................................…………………………………..SAM BAUER
COSTUME DESIGNER…………………………………………………LAURA WATERS
MUSIC SUPERVISOR………………………………………………..………JED DEMOSS
CAST
MR. DREXLER…………………………………………………………..STEPHEN DORFF
ELSA…………………………………………………………………..ELIZABETH GILPIN
JAN……………………………………………………………………………BK CANNON
LUCIA……………………………………………………………………CHLOE BRIDGES
KYLE…………………………………………………………………..KWAME BOATENG
JAKE……………………………………………………………………...…MOISES ARIAS
REESE………………………………………………………………………HOPPER PENN
CREW
Production Coordinator
Andrea Saavedra
1st Assistant Director
Taylor Fauntleroy
Script Supervisor
Jacob Morrison
Camera Operator
Doug Porter
Gaffer
Brandon Musselman
1st Assistant Camera (A CAM)
Stephen Doyle
1st Assistant Camera (B Cam)
Danna Rogers
2nd Assistant Camera
Domo Jones
Set Photographer
Jasmine Safaeian
Hair and Makeup
Nikki Parisi
SFX Makeup
Ruth Haley
Art Assistant
Michelle Sanchez
Key Grip
Swing
Location Manager
Production Assistants
Sound Recordist
Matthew Lim
Ivan Acero
Victor Pesiri, Karen Illidge
Alvin Charles, Sophie Glieze, Austin
Jones, Lorenzo Ortiz, Jaque Rabie
Chris Heck
Boom Operator
Stephon Harrod
Assistant Editor
Imran J Khan
Colorist
Color Facility
Cody Baker
Company Three
Post Production Sound
Sound Designer
Camera Support Equipment
Lime Studios
Adam Primack
HD Optics Camera, Chapman
Leonard Studio Equipment Inc.
Special Thanks
Jordan Berkus
Stewart Brookman
Benjamin Brewer
Mendocino Farms
Drew Foster
Charles Huenergardt
Frank Grillo
Eva Gurfein
Tom Hunter
Lindsey Jacobs
Rachel Jacobs
Zach Kaplan
Charlie Kelly
Juliet Liu
Annabel Fay
John Bannister
Mike Makowsky
Doug Nunes
Sean Penn
Adam Preskill
David Rosenthal
Charlie Schein
Brentwood School
Oren Segal
Stefan Sonnenfeld
Dave Valesquez
Diane Von Furstenberg
Alex Von Furstenberg
Orian Williams
Gil Weisblum
Tommy Kobayashi
Chelsea Grimm
Copyright 2016, Subtility Films and Elizabeth Gilpin
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