"THE CREW" Series Character
We are building an ensemble of actors who are helping us
develop the characters and their storylines for the series.
Below are the actors who have been cast,
and the roles we are still auditioning
BUILDING CHARACTERS & STORYLINES
Trayce Gardner "THE CREW" Writer / Showrunner
& Writing Team Contributors
WRITING GOALS
To Build Pitch Package
.
-
Create 'THE CREW' Series Bible
Covering Seasons #1 - 5 (10) 30 minute Episodes Per Season
.
-
Write Episodes #1 - 4, Season #1
"THE CREW" SERIES CHARACTERS
A Series Bible (or Book) includes written Profiles
for each Character. Review the Character Profiles
we have developed (and are still adding to) below.
LOTS OF ACTORS!
During a year and a half of workshops, most of the Actors listed below are the only ones who played their Character.
Four of the Characters (KAZIA, ADIVA, PRESTON, and ALISTAIR) have been played by multiple Actors. Our workshop stand-in for BETTY (ANTHONY's Mom) is the Director of the Brownsville Heritage House, which hosted many of our workshops.
"IT'S NOT EVERY ACTOR
.
who wants to participate in a unpaid
workshoping of a Series still in Story Development -- spread over months
and now almost two years !
.
I'm grateful for all the perspectives
and stories that Actors have shared,
as well as their often sharp critiques.
.
Plus I'm grateful to the other people
who've been my go-to cultural and
artistic consultants. Sometimes for just
one encounter ! Minutes on a clock
don't measure impact. Even when they
didn't know it, I've had a lot of people
on my Writing Team !" - Trayce
CHARACTER PROFILES
& WORKSHOP ACTORS
ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE
Born into wealth, doesn’t want money and “success” -- wants to
be “normal”. Knows his voyage
of self-discovery can only happen
in worlds far from his Greenwich, Connecticut upbringing
.
KAZIA (34)
The new commanding presence
on Anthony's set
.
Attitude Towards Life
Firing on all cylinders as
she sees opportunities opening
up for women DPs; easily frustrated with anything (one)
blocking her
.
Assets
A visual artist with fashion photography background; organized; thinks about
the bigger picture
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Fighting an ulcer; not always realistic about what she can
take on / Has an older fiancé
who wants to have a child soon
.
Identifies With
Anthony as an ambitiousness struggling filmmaker trying to
make the project that leaps you
into the big time (where you
survive full-time as a filmmaker and have paid projects coming
to you). Genre she wants to
work in -- Action Films! Follows
Maryse Alberti (DP for CREED);
big Hillary for President supporter
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
On Set: Baggy clothes,
heavy boots, knotted hair
At Play: Fem dresses,
heels, and hair loose /
Always has chewed on pen that
she uses to sketch on any paper
or surface available
.
Favorite Movies
JURASSIC PARK (1993)
& ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
Quirks
.
1. Doodles
2. Oral fixation (chews on things)
3. Boyfriend made her give up smoking. If there's a smoker,
she'll hang nearby. Still gets
comfort from smelling tobacco.
4. Total caffeine addict. Always
carries a thermos. Always wants
a coffee run. (Coffee and
smoking call up her fashion days)
5. When frustrated she dresses up, goes to the
Medieval Hall at the Met, plays
movie soundtracks in her earbuds
as she shoot stills of hellscapes and battle murals.
TOKI (35)
These days Toki strives to be a warrior through self-sacrifice and humility -- until the "Terrible Temper" overtakes him!
.
Attitude Towards Life
In rebellion against technology, Silicon Valley, and who he’d been; in NYC longs to be with creative and instinctual craftspeople as he tries to practice Ho’oponopono
.
Assets
Honolulu childhood instilled a calming physical laid backness; has savings so he can work unpaid while learning; extremely organized; discovers he’s a McGiver when it come to trouble shooting physical problems on low budget film sets.
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
When he feels out of control of a situation he has a disruptive internal alter ego who emerges. If his alter ego dislikes someone, it can turn to raging hate; he has been physically violent / Trying to undo the rigidity and demands for perfection that his status oriented parents drummed into him as a child
.
Identifies With
His dead Grandfather’s celebration
of Japanese culture; admires the sense of purpose and faith he sees Anthony draw from filmmaking
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Wears as sweaters kimonos passed on from his Grandfather; wears his long black hair up in bun or loose / Carries a pencil and small notebooks he binds himself out of scrap paper; on set always drinks from the Kintsugi cup he repaired and keeps in a pouch on his belt; avid collector of Manga comics
.
Favorite Movies
SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
2) ?
Excerpts from the profile 'Aina
is developing to help him play
TOKI
1. Writes notes to himself on his
pad when he's thinking
2.
3.
4.
5.
AARON (19)
.
Wants so badly to fit in! But doesn’t know how (or that he’s
Attitude Towards Life
After years of surviving, tight, on his own, filmmaking for him is like he’s stumbled thru a secret portal into a fantastical world full of learning and people who interest him!
.
Assets
Super enthusiastic; quick learner, like an autistic savant, absorbs complex details and instructions
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Lacks social skills as if raised in isolation; doesn’t know how to talk about himself. When something he wants is offered he goes at it with a childlike greediness ignoring other people. If someone praises something he does he analyzes everything he did so can keep repeating exactly / His biggest obstacle? Can't bear to have
others know his story and how
he has lived. Reluctant to be
touched; never initiates
physically contact himself
Identifies With
Sound! Was teased as a kid
for having big ears. Has come to
believe he has super-hearing,
and this special skill could make
him into Someone. Is in awe of expert craftsmanship -- when people know how to use brains, tools, hands, and each other to
do something amazing
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Wears secondhand jeans, golf shirts and hoodies that are too big for him -- except for camouflage bomber jacket he bought new and is proud of / He always wears his big professional headphones around his neck like his jewelry
.
Favorite Movies
1) ? 2) ?
Excerpts from the profile Andrew
is developing to help him play
AARON
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
AARON
Newbie Sound Engineer /
Ancestry: Sicilian
ANTHONY (25)
It's not easy being Anthony!
Certain of his own abilities and vision, yet not so sure how to
proceed in the world and
in his relationships
.
.
Attitude Towards Life
Has faith he'll breakthrough and get his feature film project made
if he just works hard enough
.
Assets
Passionate, resilient, and kind
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Afraid to depend upon others;
hides his vulnerabilities; difficult relationship w/single parent
Mom; major college debt
.
Identifies With
Birthplace: Brownsville, Brooklyn; Black Lives Matter; 60's Spy-Cool
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Neutral sweaters, jeans, and baseball cap / Keeps cellphone tripod in pocket to help frame visuals that catch his attention
.
Favorite Movies
.
SEVEN SAMURAI (1954)
.
Quirks
.
1. Always the one to try to lighten
up difficult situations
2. When thinking or feeling,
he constantly touches and
adjusts his cap.
APRIL (21)
April is a mass of mysterious
contradictions as she becomes
an essential anchor to
Anthony's success.
.
Attitude Towards Life
Excited by all the new experiences possible in NYC having escaped
a threatening past in Alabama
.
Assets
Determined, resourceful,
practical, and observant
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Haunted by her past; embarrassed by her emotions; broke, living
in illegal share in Bushwick
with hostile roommates;
has no acting experience
.
Identifies With
Spirit of her Grandma; Southern
wit and grit, Dolly Parton and
Reba McEntire; and craftspeople who love what they do
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Plaid shirts, jeans, battered suede boots, baseball cap / "Mabel", a (1979) Ford Thunderbird passed
on by Grandma, representing the only family she has left
.
Favorite Movies
TOY STORY 2 (1999) ('cause of Jessie)
& FLASHDANCE (1983)
.
Quirks
1. When emotional taps on any
and everything
DANTE (25)
In high school Dante was arrogant because he was "Dante." Now he's arrogant --
because there is no "Dante."
.
Attitude Towards Life
Alternates from being stuck in cruise control -- to forcefully trying
to bend people to his will
Assets
Loyal to Anthony; has a big presence; protective of his Mom
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Won't admit he's overwhelmed and scared where he's headed; derides his dad,a Vet with PTSD;and twin brother who's sensitive;
drinks and smokes too much;
aggressive with women
.
Identifies With
Hispanic (not Asian) culture;
macho men, sports heroes,
and action figures
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Dark hoodies and leather /
Fidget spinner
.
Favorite Movies
SCARFACE (1983)
JACKASS (2006)
.
Quirks
1. When frustrations spill out he
breaks and knocks things over
2. Sniffs when doing something he doesn't want to (or making
a point)
3. Mocks people by imitating them
4. Plays with chin hair when nervous
5. Constantly fixes hair and clothes,
looks at his reflection
ANTHONY
Writer / Director / (Reluctant)
Producer / Ancestry: Afro-American
raised in Brownsville, Brooklyn
PRESTON (32)
.
Miriam Robertson
BETTY (45 - 50)
Note: BETTY has not yet been cast. Miriam is a consultant helping to develop the Character and has
played BETTY in our workshops
.
Attitude Towards Life
Pay your bills before you dream;
stand on your own two feet and
don't look for help from others
.
Assets
Proud she's a single parent who
owns her own house (lives on
first floor and rents second); loves cooking; enterprising with a side hustle of catering small events, working out of her kitchen
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Hard on her son because she fears Anthony will end up being like
"that man", the father Anthony never knew; snuffs her ambitions
by unconsciously believing she's unworthy of success / Suffered a trauma as a young adult that she
never told anyone about, and it
has kept her from sharing more
of who she is with her son and
letting other people get close;
doesn't have extended family here
Identifies With
Though she has Island ancestry
she doesn't identify with anything
laid back, joyful, or musical in life .
Except she loves (and is privately sentimental about) the old movies
that she saw as a kid growing up
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Wears functional, unflattering
clothes, no jewelry /
Has a large DVD collection
Favorite Movies
GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
When BETTY has been cast,
that Actor will provide info for the Character profile
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ADIVA
Make-Up & Hair, Wardrobe Stylist
Ancestry: Pakistani Muslim /
20s-30
MICHELLE (25)
.
Attitude Towards Life
"Can do" attitude instilled as a member of a well-to-do Harlem Sugar Hill family, and as a socially involved Black Sorority alumnus
.
Assets
Ambitious; quick learner; knows
how to win people over with a genuine manner; loyal
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Behaves as Super Woman while hiding uncertainty; believes your first love should be your last love;
addicted to work; after work it's always time for wine; feels uncomfortable, vulnerable
without make-up / Growing
up in a conservative privileged background has in some ways
made her less aware; the only
Black woman in her department
at work; she met Anthony in
college when their differences seemed both exciting and not
so big but now they are big as
she makes good money while
Anthony struggles
Identifies With
Believes Anthony is the one person who can bring out a more intuitive less self-censoring part of herself; her Sorority friends are her social anchor
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Always nicely put together with wardrobe and make-up; wears Sorority jewelry and scarves /
Key Prop is her cell
Favorite Movies
1) ? 2) ?
Excerpts from the profile Shan
is developing to help her play
MICHELLE
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE
Born into wealth, doesn’t want money and “success” -- wants to
be “normal”. Knows his voyage
of self-discovery can only happen
in worlds far from his Greenwich, Connecticut upbringing
.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE
Born into wealth, doesn’t want money and “success” -- wants to
be “normal”. Knows his voyage
of self-discovery can only happen
in worlds far from his Greenwich, Connecticut upbringing
.
ALISTAIR (24)
Poor Alistair. The rich guy with no idea why he always feels like the underdog and is frantic to redeem himself
.
Attitude Towards Life
Believes he's destined to make big $$, bitter it isn't happening yet
.
Assets
He's a charmer with lots of energy
.
Weakness
Won't show he feels anything
.
Identifies With
Greenwich, Connecticut wealth
& fraternity brothers
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Polo shirts & boat shoes
.
Favorite Movies
Wolf of Wall Street
& Harry Potter
Aidan shares a profile he's developing as an Actor to help
him play ALISTAIR
.
1. Never backs down from a dare
2. Gets upset when he can't make
someone laugh
3. Only feels tired when he's alone
4. Sometimes tells people his Coke
is spiked when it isn't
5. Wishes he was closer to his
brother
FAMOUS ACTOR
PRESTON
ALISTAIR
Preston's Wild Younger Brother
Works for Their Ruthless Dad
PRESTON (32)
.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS LIFE
Born into wealth, doesn’t want money and “success” -- wants to
be “normal”. Knows his voyage
of self-discovery can only happen
in worlds far from his Greenwich, Connecticut upbringing
.
PRESTON (32)
.
Attitude Towards Life
Born into wealth, doesn’t want money and “success” -- wants to
be “normal”. Knows his voyage
of self-discovery can only happen
in worlds far from his Greenwich, Connecticut upbringing
.
Assets
Great listener, diligent, inspires trust. Has true talent for cooking
delicious food. His beloved
mother nurtured his spiritual
belief that he must take care of his soul -- while being a trust fund guy with a lot of money.
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
His sense of worth has become
tied to his ability to feed others. Take away food as part of a social context, he feels exposed and retreats to being just nervous watcher. When nervous tells corny jokes and can come off as peculiar. Puts himself in new situations, yet
is not spontaneous when in the situation, weary of the unexpected / Has to hide that he has money because if normal people knew, they wouldn’t treat him normal. Fears shadow of mother’s mental illness one day will overtake him
.
Identifies With
People trying to find their place
in life. Sees food as doorway into people’s cultures and stories. Big Hilary fan – hates Trump who’s pomp and fakeness reminds
him of his father. Holds to Grandfather's old fashion sense
of dignity and decency
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Simple causal expensive clothes worn so long they seem second- hand; wears rugged country-city boots / His chef knives; baseball from his Grandfather; worn copy
of "Catcher In The Rye"
.
Favorite Movies
EAT, DRINK, WOMAN (1994)
THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
John-Riley shares a profile he's developing as an Actor to help
him play PRESTON
.
1. Smiles when feeling awkward
2. Obsessed with being the
opposite of his father
3. Loves making corny jokes
because they remind him of his
Grandfather's laughter
4. Still feels unsettled years after
leaving home
5. Misses a connection to family
and a community
DEREK
Grip (Lifts Equipment on Set) / Looks Up to Dante / Bullies Anthony
/ Dominican / 24 yrs
SAMEER
Reporter / 20s / Adiva's Friend Immigrant From India
DEREK
.
Attitude Towards Life
Family honor is most important. Those who fail deserve it
.
Assets
Strong and a hard worker; loves
his Mami; gets on well with
Guy-guys which helps him get
work as an apprentice on union shoots; enjoys cooking
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Loves his Mami in clinging way; holds on to and won't examine his anger; stubborn to point of self-destructiveness / A childhood illness left him with a slight limp
and self-consiousness; his dead father instilled macho values in him
.
Identifies With
Recalls the good times he had
with his Mami (before she married Murphy) by making Pastelillos
which she taught him to make as
a child; loves Action films and comics; believes in drawing red lines you don't cross
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
At Work: hoodies and work boots; At Play: Slacks, leather, polished shoes / Key Prop - Pastelillos
.
Favorite Movies
??
Adrian shares from the profile
he's developing to help him
play DEREK:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
MURPHY
Derek's Step-Dad / Ex-Cop 50s / White-Irish
MURPHY
.
Attitude Towards Life
Family is most important. Those
who fail can be redeemed ( feels
his own life has been redeemed
after almost going off rails)
.
Assets
Strong, hard worker who feels
made whole by his new wife;
not one to give up; can be
brought to tears by his emotions
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Doesn't like to talk and explain himself; has to fight to keep his
anger and impatience down / Neither his family or Derek
wanted him to cross lines and
marry Derek's mom
.
Identifies With
Cops; anyone who shows courage, honor, kindness, and sacrifice;
loves movies and wants
to become an actor
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Slacks, leather, polished shoes, watch, gold chain around neck /
Bagpipes
.
Favorite Movies
SHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Patrick shares from the profile
he's developing to help him
play MURPHY:
1. Constantly looking over his shoulder
2. Keeps Hands in pockets (from when he was an undercover with a gun in his pocket)
3.Can be a little touchy feely (from being the “good” cop who’s ready to pat you on shoulder or give a hand up, while also patting you down)
4. Is very punctual. Looks at watch a lot
5. Puts his tongue between upper lip and teeth (when getting ready to pounce or holding self
DMITRI
TRAVERS
Union Carpentry Grip / 20s White / New Jersey Guy
GEORGE WHITE (GW)
Union Set Dresser Who Wants
To Make His Own Films / Italian / NJ Guy / 27
GEORGE WHITE (GW)
.
Attitude Towards Life
Feels trapped having grown up
into a film union that his Great-Great Grandfather was part of;
fears if his creative life doesn’t
open up soon, never will
.
Assets
He's a hard worker who everyone depends upon / Damn proud
to be a New Jersey son /
Pragmatic; wrote a low budget horror script because knows statistically they do biggest
box office
.
Weaknesses / Obstacles
Prone to periods of depression and inertia / His union family doesn’t have a love of films or patience for the creatives they work under
/ Hates there's no New Jersey
film industry; hates working for
NY companies even when
shooting in Jersey
.
Identifies With
All things special about New Jersey / Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Whitney Houston and lyrics you can understand / His 2007 Mustang
.
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Plaid or striped long-sleeve shirts and khaki pants / His 2007 Mustang
.
Favorite Movies
Dark Knight & Van Wilder
Matt shares from the profile
he's developing to help him
play GW:
1.
TRAVERS Union Grip Who Wants to Be an Actor / White - What ethnic background) / 27
Attitude Towards Life He believes if he’s passionate, surrenders himself to experience and has fun, he’ll eventually be part of the creative world he dreams of
Assets Born into a union job so has economic base that allows him to take expensive acting classes / Rolls with things / Good at getting people to smile / His friend GW has written a Heather Ledger Joker – inspired villain part for Travers in his horror film
Weakness Often not practical; gets overly enthusiastic to the point where he becomes unfocused and unaware of what’s going on around him
Identifies With
Fanatical about method acting because he feels he grew up around people who didn’t know how to show emotions; Amused by but loyal to his home state New Jersey / All the local sports teams /
Wardrobe / Key Prop
Old hoodies and t-shirts, van sneakers / Key Prop?
(2) Favorite Movies
One should feature famous method acting. Other one can more reflect his personality or hopes
Actor on Character profile:
1. Constant playing with long hair (scratching, putting in a bun, etc.)
2. Messing with jewelry on left wrist. (When? Let it give away a specific mood/emotion)
3. When adamant about a point, sits up with enthusiasm and licks lips.
4. Hand gestures to illustrate what he's saying.
5. Crossing legs diagonally. (When? Let it give away a specific mood/emotion)