OUR PLAN

We will shoot the entire 20 minute short on video. There will be 3 or 4 days of shooting in February '07, two or three pick up days may be needed in March '07, and post production will be completed by April '07. The Film is intended for festivals, screenings and public television in '08.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Cinema Gnome was founded in 2001 by Regina Robbins. Its mission is to make charming, novel, and thought-provoking movies through collaboration with a diverse array of hard-working and unique actors, designers and other film professionals

Regina Robbins (writer and director of Previous Tenants) Regina's short films, In the Eye and Queen of Beasts, have been screened at venues across the country, including Chicago's Women in the Director's Chair, New York's NewFest, LA Shortsfest and the San Diego Girl Film Festival (Judges' Award). Recently, she co-produced IBSEN+FOSSE 2006 for Oslo Elsewhere at 59E59 Theaters. Her stage directing credits include Screwball for the Estrogenius Festival (ManhattanTheatreSource), Not a Dream for the Artists of Tomorrow Festival (Six Figures Theatre Company), The End of Andrea for Untitled Theater's 24-7 Festival, and Antony and Cleopatra, Changing Faces, and Flawed for the Looking Glass Theatre Forum. Regina is a graduate of Yale and Columbia School of the Arts.

Susan Rankus (Producer/Actress playing Gittel) This marks Susan's first venture in film producing and her second project with Regina. Recently, Susan wrote and produced her one woman show, Renaissance, at Stage Left Studios. In 2001, Susan graduated Summa Cum Laude from Point Park Conservatory. Immediately afterwards, she was awarded the 2001/2002 Dorothy Haas Acting Apprenticeship at the prestigious Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia where she had the joy of performing on their main stage as Dori in School House Rock and The Ghost of Christmas Past/Mrs. Cratchet in A Christmas Carol. Some of her favorite roles include: Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Caliban in The Tempest, Rita in Sisters, Lady Elaine in Avalon, and Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods. For more information on Susan, please visit her website, www.susanrankus.com.

Alison Mao (Co-Producer/Editor) After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, Alison edited, color-corrected and designed the soundtrack for the 24p dramatic short "Why A Duck?" which premiered at the Hamptons Film Festival. In 2005, she collaborated with Indecent Exposure, an all-female comedy troupe founded at Vassar, as the director of photography and editor of "On the Downbeat," a mockumentary short. Currently she is a video editor and A/V technician at elite advertising agency MFP and has worked on brand portraits for Sapporo and Godiva as well as national commercial spots for Sneaux Shoes. She is one of the founding members of Indecent Exposure Productions, a production company whose mission is to provide female filmmakers an opportunity to collaborate and produce thought-provoking work, and is the executive producer and editor of their first short "Chords," currently in post-production.

Robert Weinstein (Actor playing Haskel) Robert Weinstein studied theatre at the University of Kansas in Lawrence Kansas, Ecole International du Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, France and Kiklos Teatro in Padova Italy. He has worked as an actor, writer and director for theatre productions in Italy, France, Ireland, England and Australia as well as the United States. Since moving to New York, he has worked with The Lite Company, Impact Theatre, John Brown Theatre, Egress Theatre Co., Dharma Road and Untitled Theatre Co. #61. He is a founding member of the theatre Madmen of the Mountain (www.madmenofthemountain.org) and the founder and sole member of Drunken Monkey Productions, for which he has yet to figure out what to do. He'll figure it out one day though. He's sure of it."

Catherine Rush (Actress playing Consolata) Catherine Rush has been a theatre professional close to thirty years. She has worked in New York City and regional theatre as an actor, playwright, producer, costume designer, theatre interpreter, translator, and stage manager. She is a member of Actors Equity Association, AFTRA, and the Dramatists Guild of America.

Eliza Jane Vignogna (Assistant Director) Eliza is a recent graduate of the New York Film Academy - Oxford. She loves to travel and make movies. In the future she wants be a director/writer, A.D, and work and live in England for short periods of time.

Madalene DeLeon (Costume Designer) Madelene has been working in the fashion industry for six years now. With her love of theater, film and fashion she has found a place to combine them all. She finds inspiration in everything life brings to her and loves to be a part of creating the look and feel of a story.

Kayla Rivas (Actress playing Penny) For her, this film represents a big and important adventure as an actress. Kayla is in second grade in a catholic school. She had participated in many Christmas Pageants at school. She is also in her second grade drama club. Kayla is attending dance and singing classes since she was three years old. Kayla is wishing to continue participating in films in the near future.

Shelly Bhalla (Actress playing Laura) Shelly Bhalla studied at the University of Maryland and then went on to the two year conservatory at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York. Upon graduation, she was selected by esteemed casting director Deborah Aquila to take part in a course and showcase in Los Angeles. Some of her favorite roles include: April in Savage in Limbo, Boochie in Den of Thieves, Irene in When We Dead Awaken, Reenie in The Dark at the Top of the Stairs, Rosalind in As You Like It and Sherry in Independence.

Jaquay Thomas (Actor playing Jaquay)

Timur Civan (Director of Photography) is a video artist, cinematographer, and native New Yorker. A graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, his film credits include "Bonehand," "Bloody Mary," and "Katrina." His website is www.timurcivan.com.

Danielle Payne (Production Designer) Artist educated by Saint Louis University, Visitation Academy and Montessori

Katrina Albright (Gaffer)

Ben Dwork (Sound)

CONTACT US

If you would like more information on Previous Tenants, please contact
Susan Rankus
347. 617.7303
susan.rankus@gmail.com