To most audiences, Ashiko Westguard’s transition into acting several years ago appeared to be a relatively natural progression considering that she had spent so much time in front of the camera as a model already. Her performances in the series “Painkiller Jane” and “Kaya,” and the feature film “A Dark Matter" speak leagues to her ability to embody intensely layered characters and effortlessly draw in the audience.

Despite the ease with which she graces the silver screen, in reality Westguard had to make extra efforts to not only forget many of the things that she learned to naturally do as a model, but also to prove the depth of her talent to the many skeptics that at first glance, judged her to be just another pretty face.

While she is well-known for her acting prowess throughout the industry today, Westguard recalls, “For me the transition wasn’t very easy. I think I had to earn respect from casting directors and really earn my place and show them I was not just a pretty face, but a talented one. I grew so much from studying and that really helped me. Studying with renowned Canadian teacher David Rotenberg at Professional Actors Lab really gave me a nice footing, along with Andrew McIlroy in Vancouver.”  
Westguard, who has had continued success as a model for the last decade, can be seen in commercials for Axe Deodorant, Old Spice, Skechers, Honda, Niko, Cafe Royal and Sony, as well as on the covers of Women Magazine, Essentials, Femina, Women’s Fitness, Verve Magazine and other well-known publications.

As the face of national ad campaigns for Revlon, Garnier, L’Oreal, Dita Von Teese, Coca Cola, Mr. Clean, Huggies and more, Westguard has proven to the masses that she’s a master when it comes to the art of expressing different emotions and characters in photographs.

While her confidence and charisma, two qualities needed for any model to reach the rare level of success that Westguard has, have undoubtedly helped her in her acting career as well, there were some aspects of modeling that she had to let go of in order to fully embody her characters on screen.

She explains, “I was an actress as a child but the more I modeled the more aware I became of the outer appearance and physical state, it was hard to be in character…Modeling makes you so aware of your body, but as an actor you want to be natural and not pose.”

Through dedication and constant study, Westguard was able to develop her skills as an actress and she has gone on to play critical characters in a number of projects that have proven her to be a dynamic and diversely talented performer.
 
“I have played everything from a congresswomen to a vampire,” admits Westguard.

Brazilian actor Fred Fleury has created an impressive career for himself in the international entertainment industry through his roles on the multi-award winning series Gringolandia, as well as the films Gragon, Sonic Portraits, The Kiss, Full Circle and many more.

With more than just good looks helping to solidify his place as a sought after actor in the industry, Fleury has continued to dazzle audiences over the years with his impressive range on screen.

Last year Fleury starred in Carina Silva's fantasy film Gragon where he took on the intense role of Wizard Tethios. Blending live action and animation, Gragon erects a fantastical world of kings, queens, oracles and demons. 

The film opens with Princess Pethranie, who is played by Lana Chidsey (Ball Boy, Love Not Equal to LA, K, Forest Date), as she struggles to break out of a nightmare that foreshadows the ominous attacks that her kingdom will soon be forced to defend itself against.

With strongly bonded blood lines connecting him to Princess Pethranie, as members of his family lineage have been the only trusted protectors of past Pethranies on the throne, Fleury's character, Wizard Tethios, catches wind of the princess's sinister dream and rushes to her aid. 

As Pethranie's guardian against the evil forces that be, Tethios wakes her up from the dream and deciphers the meaning of the message. Trusting Tethios's analysis, Princess Pethranie rushes to the balcony to warn her people before embarking on a journey to the planet Zeltrion where, accompanied by Tethios, she consults the oracle Zorga about how to defend against the onslaught of evil attacks that await them on the horizon.   

With Tethios also being the guardian of the portal to the seven worlds, the two continue journeying on through the portal under the advisement of the oracle in search of the dragon, Gragon, the only force able to prevent the kingdom from total annihilation. 

While Fleury has continually taken on both comedic and dramatic roles over the years, this was one of the actor's first experiences tapping into the fantasy genre, and his performance is nothing short of impressive.

"This role took me out of my comfort zone and helped me stretch and improve my acting skills. I was portraying a Wizard from another time and another world, with all of the make-up, props and effects," recalled Fleury. "I had never done that before, so I tried to use the resources I had to give the best performance possible. I believe it’s from those efforts that people grow not only in acting, but in life." 

Earlier this year Fleury showed a totally different side of his craft in Pauline Gefin's film Full Circle, which garnered Gefin the Best First Time Director Award at the prestigious London Film Awards and was chosen as an Official Selection of the 2015 Malta TV Short Film Festival, which is nationally televised on TVM and TVM2, as well as India's LA Femme International Film Festival and Bolgatty International Film Festival, and the SouthEastern Film Festival in the United States.

Sparked by a real life event that happened to director Pauline Gefin whilst living in New York, Full Circle revolves around karma coming full circle as a young woman named Natalie, who had paid for a homeless man's gyro at a street stand the day prior, encounters Mark, played by Fleury, at the very same stand the following day. 

With only a $20 bill in her hand and a vendor with no change, Mark pays for Natalie's gyro with a strong bond that leads to romance forming between the two characters. 

In the film, Fleury starred alongside award winning actor Yaron Urbas from the films Broken Angels, Age of Ice, Joker's Wild, Adriennes Fury and Footprints, as well a the hit series Castle, Nurse Jackie, Kings and 30 Rock, and Charles Prendergast from the TV shows Criminal Justice, Just My Luck and Gotham.

With Fleury's face and talent gracing screens around the world as Full Circle continues its successful run on the international film festival circuit, we can bet that many more award nominations are on the horizon for both the film and this adept young actor.

Growing up in Germany Aleksandra Kovacevic found herself at home on the stage. An actress with unparalleled range and magnetic presence, Kovacevic's talent for tapping into a wide range of characters, including those of the opposite sex, have helped propel her career to the international level.

Earlier this year Kovacevic starred in Lyka Gozon psychological drama film Hush, where she took on the role of Jennifer. The film, which was released earlier this month revolves around Jojo (Shawn McConnell), a man suffering from bipolar-schizoaffective disorder, and Jennifer (Aleksandra Kovacevic), is one of the malicious voices in his head. 

About her character in the film Kovacevic explains, "She is the manifestation of one of the women who turned Jojo down. She is mean, aggressive and downright spiteful. Her goal is to keep frustrating Jojo, she emotionally batters him and is a reflection of how Jojo perceives women."

While Jennifer continually breaks Jojo down and causes him to feel worthless, Jay, another one of Jojo's manifestations who is played by Robert John Torres (LA Stories, The Woodsman, Therapy, Qubitpunk), propels him into drug addiction. 

Unable to cope with the traumatic memories of being sexually abused as a child, an event that ultimately triggers his mental illness, Jojo spends his adult life in a psychological prison battling the voices in his head as they push him closer and closer towards suicide. 

A powerful drama that displays Kovacevic's capacity for darkness, Hush offers viewers a sad and revealing portrayal of what it's like to suffer from a disease that is practically invisible to most outsiders.

In the 2013 film Bits of Glass Kovacevic displayed a completely different side of her craft as a dramatic actress when she took on the starring role of Shelley, a young woman who falls apart after the death of her sister Mallory, who is played by Paulina Sadecka from Pheonix and For Emily. 

The depth of the bond between the two sisters is so powerful that it permeates the physical world allowing Shelley to see her sister even after her death. Although in the beginning she believes that the ability to continue seeing and communicating with her sister is a blessing, as time passes and she receives a work promotion that entails relocating to New York, she is forced to choose between her life and her connection to Mallory.

"Since Mallory’s presence is confined to their family house, moving across the country means that Mallory will disappear forever," explains Kovacevic. "But Shelley has to face reality and realize that she can’t stay there forever, especially with the promotion and because she plans to start a family with her fiancé."

Aleksandra Kovacevic has continued to take on challenging roles over the course of her career, all of which prove the dynamic nature of her craft. In addition to the film Hush, which was recently submitted to the Sundance Film Festival, you can catch Kovacevic in the new Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp directed by two-time Emmy Award winner David Wain.

Some people were just born to perform and actress Sarah Jurgens happens to be one of those unique individuals. Although she was originally born in England, Jurgens spent time in South Africa with her family as a child before migrating to Canada shortly after. Spending time in several different countries in her youth endowed Jurgens with an enriched worldview, but those experiences also prompted her fascination with dialects.
 
She says, "Because I grew up with the good fortune of traveling to different areas of the world where my extended family resides, I developed a keen ear for accents. I really enjoy dialect work, it often opens up an entirely new inner-landscape for me to draw on as an actor, and it brings an edge to the character that I otherwise may not have found."

Jurgens' ability to tap in and become a wide range of characters with starkly different backgrounds is something that not only sets her apart from most other actresses, but it has also proven to be an integral counterpart in her success.

In Michael DeCarlo's (Lost Girl, The Border, Queer as Folk) 2012 film Two Hands to Mouth, which was produced by 
Black Walk Productions, Jurgens took on the role of Anya, a Russian bombshell seductress and the wife of Frank, a business man involved in nefarious ventures who is played by Joe Pingue (Drive, The Book of Eli, Pompeii).

Chosen as an Official Selection of the 2013 Madrid International Film Festival where it was nominated for a Best Actor Award and a Best Editor Award, Two Hands to Mouth revolves around eight blindfolded guests who all meet at a secret pup-up restaurant for a dinner prepared by chef Michael Bradori played by Richard Zeppieri from 24 Hour Rental, Suits and The Bridge.

About playing Anya, Jurgens explains, "Working with a Russian dialect opened up a very specific emotional range for me. It was incredibly fun to play a woman so secure in her sexuality and power."

Jurgens also starred alongside Rachel Skarsten (Fifty Shades of Grey, The Vow, Birds of Prey, Flashpoint), Conrad Coates (Defiance, Saw II, This Means War, The Strain) and Gemini Award winner Ernie Greenwald (Men in Black II, Two and a Half Men, Cellular) in the film.

For Jurgens acting is more than just a career. She admits, "I chose acting as my passion and profession for selfish reasons really. It was the art form that I found most challenging and demanding in terms of self-exploration. As I grow as an individual, I also grow as an artist. It is an ever-evolving process and it’s one that keeps me asking questions, and keeps me engaged with life."

While she has reached an astonishing level of success on screen with leading roles in TV shows including Covert Affairs, Lost Girl, Republic of Doyle and Beauty and the Beast, as well as the films Swearnet: The Movie and The Man in the Shadows, Jurgens has also carved out a place for herself in the international theatre industry.

To date the actress has starred in an impressive list of high-profile theatrical productions including "The Bewitched," "The Clown Show," "The Penelopiad" and "Reasons to be Pretty."

In 2009 she formed the Canada-based theatre production company The Blood Projects with writer/producer and fellow actress Sasha Singer-Wilson. Through The Blood Projects, Jurgens produced and played the starring role of Eve in "This is It" directed by Mark Wilson, and Tessa in "Little Tongues" directed by Paul Lampert.

Although Jurgens admits that she has a strong connection to pretty much every role she's played so far, her role as Queen Ann in Peter Barnes "The Bewitched" has been one of her most beloved. 

Directed by Dora Award winner Nigel Shawn Williams, the production revolves around the true story of the last of the Hapsburg royal line, an inbred family of rulers whose resulting diseases prevented them from producing an heir to the Spanish throne.

"It was a challenging experience playing a historical figure. Maria Anna of Neuburg was Queen of Spain from 1689 to 1700 as the second wife of King Charles II. It allowed me to explore her explosive anger, resulting in seizures and phantom pregnancies," recalls Jurgens.

In Shakespeare's words, "All the world's a stage," that is, at least for actress Sarah Jurgens; and, as she continues to take on new and exciting projects we know that this dynamic performer will continue to dazzle us with her craft for decades to come.

 

 

 

 

Some types of artists, such as writers, tell stories with words. Other types of artists, such as photographers and painters, tell stories with pictures. Russian- born designer and visual effects (VFX) artist Vitaly Verlov tells his stories with motion graphics and special effects.

Modern motion graphics use digital animation to create the illusion of movement and rotation of 2D or 3D artwork. TV stations and commercials use motion graphics to locate viewers to their channels and brand their shows and products.

“Motion graphics is a general term. It's something that visually can be executed in different ways and styles,” Verlov explained. “It can be two-dimensional, flat or illustrated looking as well as three-dimensional.”

Verlov has created motion graphics that have appeared in commercials for some of the largest and most recognizable brands in the world such as Samsung, Nokia and Mitsubishi. He’s also created motion graphics for the worldwide music channels MTV and VH1 and for the Russian channel RUTV.

Even though Verlov’s work has boosted the image of some of the world’s most successful companies, his work is about much more than mere brand identity – Verlov’s work contains narrative.

“Motion design is storytelling,” Verlov said. “When making a TV show opener or a channel ident, you're actually making a short, animated 10- to 15-second piece, which tells a story visually.”

VFX, on the other hand, integrates photorealistic special effects into live action shots, a technique commonly used in film and TV shows to create scenes that would otherwise not be possible. Verlov’s style of motion graphics translated seamlessly to VFX, which has brought him consistent work in the film industry.

“My direction is more 3D oriented,” Verlov said. “That's why it substantially intersects with the visual effects field.”

Verlov was the lead 2D VFX artist for the Chinese sci-fi feature film Impossible, which was directed by Zhou Sun (I Do, Breaking the Silence). During the film’s post-production, Verlov worked on the film’s VFX in the Beijing studio of international VFX production company Pixomondo, which has created VFX for numerous major titles such as Game of Thrones, Furious 7,and Fantastic Four.

But Verlov hasn’t just worked on other people’s projects. In fact, he’s made two films of his own and was heavily involved in the VFX production for each title. 

Verlov’s first film, Forever After, was a sci-fi story about a couple’s encounter with a mysterious alien phenomenon. The film showed at the Cannes Film Festival, the most prestigious film festival in the world, in 2012. Despite the film’s modest budget,Forever After featured breathtakingly realistic VFX and high overall production value.

Redux, Verlov’s latest film, stars Hollywood actors Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables, The Cable Guy) and Russell Fenton (Deceptors, Freshman Psych). The sci-fi drama about a scientist, an assault team and a time-travelling warning message features a retro-futuristic vibe straight out of the 1980s. 

Verlov, who wrote, directed and edited Redux, is currently working its VFX. Redux is the latest credit in what is already an impressive portfolio for Verlov, one that is sure to grow with even more ambitious titles in the future.

You can check out Vitaly Verlov's awesome reel below, and you can also find out more about his work through his website: http://primevalues.net/

In Robert Frost's poem "The Road Not Taken," a story unfolds about the power of taking the road less-traveled—a story, which according to David Orr in an interview with PBS NewsHour entitled "What we’ve gotten wrong about this Robert Frost classic," has been widely misperceived.

According to Orr, instead of being a "paeon to individualism," the poem is actually promoting that it really doesn't matter what road we choose.

On his way to the top of the entertainment industry London-based producer Richard Moore chose the road less traveled, anyone who knows his story would agree. Moore's decision to drop out of high school in order to pursue his career was a key factor in achieving the success he enjoys today, but the path he took didn't turn out well because it was the road less traveled, it turned out well because it was the road that was right for him, and he was whole-heartedly dedicated to it.

The producer ambitiously entered the entertainment industry after submitting an online application for a position as a producer's assistant while he was still in high school, a bold move that proved to pay off when he was hired by director Luke Hyams and producer Louis Figgis for Channel 4.

"Although at the time they thought I was obviously older than I was, it didn't stop me from accepting the position. I worked with them for several years on different productions, always managing to side step the question of my age," recalls Moore. "The time I spent working with Luke and Louis is where I got an understanding of the business and the roles within a large production."

By 18, Moore had founded the production company Mrs Grey with friend and fellow producer, Oliver Barron. Through the company, Moore produced the music video for James Morrison's hit song "One Life," which currently has over 7.5 million views on YouTube, Beefeater Gin's "Mirko" commercial, as well as a commercial for NatWest Bank's mobile banking Android app and others. Within three years of its inception Mrs Grey was achieving an annual turnover of 1.2 million pounds; and Moore had successfully established himself as a leading producer in the field and the jobs continued to roll in without fail.

Through Mrs Grey, Moore also produced the in-depth television documentary Find the Torch for Channel 4. The documentary followed renowned musician Paul Weller as he discussed his love for England, his influences and the progression of his 30-year music career from forming the band The Jam to his recent albums.

"This documentary was directed Palme d’Or and Sundance nominated legendary filmmaker Julien Temple," says Moore. "My role was critical as I brokered the deal with Universal Music and sourced the funding, pitched and sold Julien Temple on the idea of directing and hired the production team to create the documentary."

Despite his young age, which he kept hush-hush for many years, global clients and award-winning production companies recognized Moore as a leading figure in the industry, and they wanted him on board.

In 2013 Bigballs Films tapped Moore as a senior producer for Copa90, an online factual entertainment network focused on football. Some of the projects Moore has produced for Copa90 over the years include 26 episodes of CTRL, 24 episodes of Best Job in The World, 10 episodes of All My Life, as well as Derby Days and Line9.

Something that separates Moore from most other producers, and proves that he made a wise choice when he decided to pursue his career so early on, is the fact that he is a part of the generation that brands want to target, and because of that, he knows exactly how to spike their interest.

"Copa90 was funded by Google as part of a European wide investment trying to take control of sports media through new and original programing targeting 12-30 year olds. A demographic incredibly important to brands and advertising agencies selling sports products," explains Moore.

"At Copa90 I was responsible for the launch and channel management with an annual Budget of $3 Million to spend on programming. I alongside the creative team at the channel were key in pitching, selling and executing brand integrated shows whilst also building our original slate of programs which we would then sell to third party platforms."

Moore was able to deliver beyond everyone's expectations. Today Copa90 has over 1 million subscribers on YouTube, and an extended digital football network that boasts a whopping 8 million viewers across the globe.

Most recently, Moore was a producer on three-time BAFTA Award winning director Anthony Wonke's Being AP, an insightful documentary on AP McCoy, one of the world's most celebrate jump jockeys of all time. The film's world premiere will take place during the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival next month where it was chosen as an Official Selection earlier this year.

In the end, both Moore's story and the aforementioned Robert Frost poem drive home the fact that if a person completely immerses themselves in their chosen path without questioning if a fork in the road might have delivered a better outcome, then there is really no stopping them from achieving whatever it is that they want to accomplish in life.

 

 

The work of a producer entails someone capable of managing an astonishing amount of logistics. From balancing budgets to finding locations and deciding what film festivals are most suitable for showcasing a project after production is completed, the responsibilities that come along with the title of film producer paint a picture of a person with an overly "type-a" personality. However, through producer Filippo Nesci, we see that rigid organization and strategy are by no means, the only qualities necessary for becoming a success in the film industry.

"If I tell you about all the responsibilities I take on as producer you might think I am just crazy to have chosen this profession," admits Nesci.

Handling the ever-mounting expanse of his responsibilities with ease, Nesci's diplomatic approach, combined with his ability to follow his gut and build meaningful relationships with people, have allowed him to accomplish more than most other producers in a relatively short amount of time. His capabilities as a producer are further compounded by his natural creativity, something that allows him to visualize a director's goal for a project and deliver a work that exceeds everyone's expectations.

In 2013 Nesci produced Benjamin Weiss's (The Ferryman, Vision Quest) award-winning film Lineman, which received the $3000 Founders Circle Award from the 2013 Louisiana Film Prize competition, in addition to being chosen as an Official Selection of the Solothurn Film Festival in Switzerland and several others.

The film follows the men and women who keep the power on, an especially dangerous job that becomes life threatening in the face of a storm. Through Lineman, viewers witness age through the eyes of his girlfriend Kira, as he embarks on the journey of becoming a lineman, a challenge that ultimately tests his manhood. Lineman starred Danna Maret, from the television shows Missy from Mississipi and The Common Room, as Kira, and Chase Mowen, from the films Grace, Book of Fire and Thief, as Gage. 

Nesci had his work cut out for him on this project, as the film required him to develop the skeleton of the production in California, but because the goal of the project was to win an award in Louisiana, the film also had to be shot there.

"This implied a lot of problems obviously since all cast and crew had to be moved, for the exact time of the actual production… Once again, to cut expenses I relied on my diplomatic skills," recalls Nesci. 

"I made an appointment with the Mayor of Arcadia to explain to him the meaningfulness of our movie and ask him for help… The meeting was very successful and Mayor Smith allowed me to film freely within Arcadia’s city limits."

Anyone who knows the strenuous effort that goes into applying and paying for film permits, especially in Los Angeles, knows that Nesci's accomplishment is a huge feat. After wrapping the California portion of the film's production, it was off to Louisiana for Nesci and the rest of the Lineman cast and crew. There, his ability to build relationships with the people he meets came in handy once again.

"I was able to make friends also with linemen and some of Louisiana's people, up to the point that one of them invited all of us to live at his place, on the swamp, during our stay for production," explains Nesci. "This was extremely helpful to put all cast and crew within the ambience of the film, plus it allowed our DP to shoot footage of the swamp, which was useful for post-production, since he let us explore it with his boat. And… it was all for free!"

The international success of the film Lineman undoubtedly proves the invaluable nature of producer Filippo Nesci's vast talents to his industry, a fact that he's proven through his work on several other productions as well. 

In 2014, Nesci produced a series of commercials for renowned scotch whiskey company Lagavulin with director Armen Perian. The series included the commercials entitled "Confidante," "Valiant," "Champion" and "Guardian," and went on to receive the 2014 Bronze Clio Award, the National ADDY Gold Award, and others. 

Nesci is currently working on several other exciting productions including the film Pepe the Movie, as well as a scientific documentary on the evolution of mourning in the digital age, which will cover mourning practices across the world surveying dances, artifacts, costumes and music. He is also promoting the film Snippets of Wally Watkins, which he produced with Janus Communications and Movies LLC., at film festivals internationally.