About Writer/Director James Byrne
Originally from Minneapolis, James Byrne attended graduate school at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned an MFA in video art. In 1984 he moved to New York to pursued a video art career. ByrneÕs videotapes and video installations were exhibited in museums and galleries nationally and internationally. He also directed or designed a variety of collaborative video projects with renowned choreographers and performance artists including Laurie Anderson (Stories From the Nerve Bible), Trisha Brown (Set and Re-Set), Eiko and Koma (Elegy and Lament), and Anthony DavisÕs (Tania).
Byrne returned to Minneapolis in 1994 to concentrate on screenwriting and directing narrative feature films. His feature length screenplay ®Great LakesÓ won the 1996 Minnesota Independent Film Fund Award, which led to its production in 2002. ByrneÕs next screenplay ®Under the SinkÓ was awarded the 1998 Morrow Screenwriting Fellowship and the 1998 McKnight Fellowship for Screenwriters. ®Under the SinkÓ is currently in development and will be ByrneÕs next feature film.
James Byrne heads the screenwriting program at Metropolitan State University and lives in St. Paul.
ByrneÕs Directing and Screenwriting Credits
2001 Great Lakes - feature film
2000 Winter Shorts - short
Will Someone Hold My Coat? - short
Falling Through Air - short
The Runners - short
1998 Under the Sink - feature length screenplay
1995 MorganÕs Orbit - short
1993 Out Takes - short
The Vacuum Cleaner Affair - short
1992 Second Thoughts - short
About Producer Sara Klee
Sara Klee graduated from Metropolitan State University in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in media studies. She also studied theater at the University of Minnesota. A film producing internship in college led her to work with director James Byrne. Klee received her first producing credits in 2000 for ÔWinter ShortsÕ, ÔWill Someone Hold My Coat?Õ, ÔFalling Through AirÕ and ÔThe RunnersÕ. She has also worked as a script supervisor and an assistant director.
About Heidi Jo Langseth (lead actress - Dara)
Heidi Jo Langseth is the former Miss Teen North Dakota and Miss Teen USA Runner up. Heidi Jo moved to Los Angeles soon after high school where she apprenticed at the Roundling Theater. She appeared in ÔBlues Brothers 2000Õ (Universal), ÔThe BridgeÕ (Touchstone), as well as several student films and indie shorts. She has also appeared in many commercials, most notably a Lee Jeans ad in Europe where she played a young Gypsy Rose Lee. ÔGreat LakesÕ is her first starring role in a feature film.
About Jeff Gilson (lead actor - Noble)
Jeff Gilson graduated from Metropolitan State University with a B. A. in Social
Science and minor in theater, and lives in Minneapolis. While doing print
work, commercials and short films in the Twin Cities, Jeff also pursues
interests in photography and writing. He has appeared in short films including
ÔOlfactory GlandsÕ and the ifilm sci-fi hit ÔHeaven 17Õ. Recent roles in feature films include Ted NewburyÕs ÔHollowÕ, and John ErvinÕs ÔVixen Highway. ÔGreat LakesÕ is Gilson\'s first leading role in a feature film.
