A Long Way from Home was chosen as an Official Selection at The Audience Awards in the Live Action Shorts category, as well as an Official Selection of the Short of the Month Online Film Festival earlier this year.

At 8 years old, Alexander Davis has already procured a reputation synonymous with success, and his recent award win at the 2015 Young Artists Awards proves that this actor is here to stay. Davis received his Young Artist Award for his unparalleled performance as Randy in the acclaimed theatre production of A Christmas Story.

Over the course of the production's 48-show run at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia last year, Davis captured the hearts of audiences with his spot-on portrayal of Randy, the younger brother of the Red Ryder BB gun obsessed Ralphie.

Davis added leagues of hilarity to the stage production as he suited up night after night in the obscenely cumbersome snowsuit, a costume that undoubtedly engrained the Randy character in the minds of viewers upon the release of the film back in 1983.

As stated by his older brother Ralphie in the narration of the story, Davis's character Randy is known for his aversion to the act of eating; and so, in an effort to keep her child from starving, Mother Parker coaxes Randy to engage in some rather odd dinner table rituals that make for great comedy.

In contrast to his character, Davis admitted, "I loved eating oatmeal every show!... the thicker the better!  For those of you who don't know about Randy, he makes piggy noises with his food, loves to hang out under the kitchen sink, and can’t put his arms down with his big snowsuit."

The show received rave reviews, which in addition to his Young Artists Award, have since led Davis to be regarded as a theatre star with the kind of talent that just doesn't quit.

However, what is probably the most surprising facet of Davis's talent is that his ability to enthrall audiences is equally as evident in his performances in the theatre as it is in film and television productions. 

Over the years he has successfully taken on a staggering range of roles solidifying the fact that, beyond the appeal of genres and character traits, this kid just loves to act! 

"I just love acting.  I love being able to become another character.  I act all the time, even when I’m not being paid to act.  One day, I was barking and whimpering like a puppy and getting our dog to bark.  My dog, Bella was convinced that there was another dog in the house," recalled Davis laughingly.

Although Davis's at home impersonations of a puppy got on the nerves of his older brother Richard, who happens to be a well-known actor as well, they turned out to be the perfect preparation for an upcoming role. 

Shortly after, Davis landed roles as the voices of Brownie and Checkers, two guest starring characters (who are puppies) on the third season of the PBS children's series Super Why!, which will premiere in August. 

Throughout his colorful acting career, Jay Kim has caught the eye of many leading directors and producers in the entertainment industry.

With each project he completes, Kim continues to turn heads, and he is frequently asked to lend his skillful talent to productions based solely on his name and reputation.

Among those whom Kim has garnered consideration include Academy and Emmy award-winning director Milton Justice, who recognized Kim’s talent long ago, when he was just an acting student. It was under the tutelage and guidance of Justice that Kim turned his passion for acting from a hobby into a successful career.

Since then, Justice has asked Kim to star in two of his productions, Woman in Mind, and Waiting for Lefty. In each of these performances, Kim infused his roles with such authenticity that one would not be able to recognize him as the same person from one production to the next.

Of Kim, Milton Justice is quoted as saying, “Upon meeting Jay, having taught him, and doing plays together, I demanded he move back to the States to study and nurture his talent. My God, his growth exceeded my predictions.”

Kim has also caught the eye of award-winning producer, actor and writer Timothy McNeil. Known for his roles in Forrest Gump, Contact and Starship Troopers, McNeil more recently broadened his horizons as a writer and producer, reaching out to personally select Kim for his original play, The Straight Bozo. In the play, Kim brings a refreshing comedic element that helps the entire cast achieve a sense of balance.

Esteemed Greek actor and director Yorgos Karamihos also endorsed Kim’s multifaceted talent, giving him a leading role in his production of The Rose Tattoo. In this classic Tennessee Williams play, Kim stars as Jack, an idealistic young sailor who has fallen in love with the beautiful Rosa. Rarely is there a love story that is without difficulty however, and The Rose Tattoo is no exception, as Jack has to contend with Rosa’s bitter mother, Serafina, and gain her permission to betroth Rosa.

While his origins as a standout actor are deeply rooted in theatre, Kim has also appeared in many films, with a wealth of experience in both short and feature films.

Some of the short films in which Kim has recently secured leading roles include Incision, Maestro, and The Love Pentagram.

Kim also commanded control of the big screen in a feature-length production entitled Purgatory, which tells the harrowing story of a man who has died in a car accident and finds himself in Purgatory. During his time in Purgatory, this man meets a variety of characters. Kim commands the screen in his depiction of the dark and disturbed Tod, a broken junkie who committed suicide after a lifetime of being beaten by his father.

When one recalls Kim’s light-hearted roles in some of his theatrical performances, the gravity with which he portrays the character Tod in Purgatory gives audiences a vivid example of the versatility he brings to his acting.

When actor Douglas Bennett, known for his work in Sons of Anarchy and Gone in 60 Seconds, was asked what he thought of Kim’s performance in Purgatory, he replied, “extraordinary performance by a young actor.”

While he might be young, the experience Kim has attained has given him a maturity in his craft that is well recognized by many.

Currently, Kim is shooting a feature film entitled The Dragon’s Lair, a scintillating thriller, which will be released in 2016.

As Kim continues to complete new projects, he will surely continue to catch the attention of both fans and leading members of the entertainment industry. As he is personally approached to contribute his talents to more and more productions, his level of stardom will only rise higher from where it already soars.

The highly watched series not only marked O'Connell's first reoccurring role in a television series, but it catapulted Jai to the top of the television world as well.

She would go on to star in the television shows Pillars of Freedom, Medabots, Monster Force, The Magic School Bus, The Busy World of Richard Scary, Trail Mix, Stickn' Around, Little Rosey and many others.

Jai also starred as Jasmine Matsumuto alongside Oscar and Golden Globe nominated actor Mako (Memoirs of a Geisha, Seven Years in Tibet, Pearl Harbor, RoboCop 3, Rising Sun, The Sand Pebbles), Billy Blanks (Kiss the Girls, Jack and Jill, Assault on Devil's Island) and Adrian Hough (X-Men: The Last Stand, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Fog, Underworld: Evolution) in the film Balance of Power.

An action packed fight film Balance of Power centers on the story of Niko (Billy Blanks), a fighter who runs a dojo for underprivileged kids, and Todo Matsumoto (Mako), a martial arts expert who trains Niko to go up against an evil gang that is determined to destroy the dojo.

Jai's sweet face and innocent approach to her character Jasmine, Todo's granddaughter and a constant fixture throughout the film, adds incredible amounts of cuteness to Balance of Power, a key component in making the film fit for a family oriented audience.

For example, after Jai's character takes Niko to meet her grandfather to help him mend his wounds after being beaten to a pulp in an alley, she fixates her eyes on his sculpted abs and says, "May I?" and subsequently punches him in the stomach. In one of the film's most memorable moments audiences see Niko doing push-up as the small-framed Jasmine sits comfortably on his back nonchalantly reading a book.

A difficult and almost impossible task for many adult actors, Jai has managed to bring that same child-like innocence that we see in Balance of Power to many of her roles during adulthood when necessary.

Adding incredible emotional depth and vulnerability to Birdie, one of the leading characters in the theater production of "What of the Night," Jai gave a standout performance that received rave reviews.

Directed by Caitlin Hart, the play follows Birdie as she grapples with the decision to leave her poverty-ridden family at the age of 14 in order to create a better life for herself; a decision which means leaving everything she knows behind and heading out into the cold cruel world.

A Pulitzer Prize nominated play written by Maria Irene Fornes, "What of the Night" follows Birdie on a 60-year long journey of self-realization, love, betrayal and sorrow. Jai powerfully displays her capacity as an actress as she transforms from the young 14-year-old Birdie who is dead set on escaping poverty to the fragile elderly woman she becomes as years pass before the audience's very eyes. 

Director Caitlin Hart says, "Lisa Jai is an exceptionally professional and talented actor. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her on two shows in Los Angeles and I hope to cast her in all my shows to come! Her talent is limitless and her unique generosity onstage is a rare find. Los Angeles is lucky to have Lisa Jai!"

Staged at the Vagrancy theatre in Los Angeles in 2014, "What of the Night" received an Ovation Recommendation from LA STAGE Alliance, a coveted recognition that serves as a huge testament to the performances given by Jai and her costars.

Considered by many to be the Tony Awards of the Los Angeles theater world, the LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Awards provide a prestigious level of distinction awarding the best plays in LA, which is voted on by 250 professionals currently working in the theater industry.

As an Ovation Recommended play "What of the Night" is now in the running as a possible nominee for the upcoming awards, which are usually held at the end of the year.

 

The multifarious nature of actress Manuela Osmont's craft on both the stage and the screen cannot be overstated. In the world of theater, Osmont has wowed audiences around the globe with riveting performances in a diverse collection of high-profile productions including "Ravenscroft," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?," "Frankie and Johnny," "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark," "Henry VI," "Waiting for Lefty," "The Graduate," and "Orpheus Descending."

Originally from France Manuela Osmont has amassed an incredibly impressive skill set in her short life including tennis, golf, stage combat, stage lighting and the ability to shoot semi-automatic weapons, hand guns and rifles. In addition to living in France, Osmont has also lived in Columbia and England, and she is fluent in English, French and Spanish, and conversationally equipped in Italian, German and Portuguese.

As a champion dressage rider, Osmont also rode for the French national team, a rare accomplishment that will undoubtedly serve her well in the upcoming film Untamed. In the film, which will be directed by Swiss filmmaker Keline Kanoui later this year, Osmont is slated to play the starring role of Maria, an orphan girl who spends her days working as a groom at a stable, but dreams of someday owning her own horse.

Although her beauty is an undeniable asset, Osmont has proven that when it comes to acting, her physical appearance is far less important than her ability to get under the skin of her characters.

"My ego goes out the door as soon as I get on set, most actors are very mindful of how good they look and sometimes they forget that the character doesn’t necessarily have to be so attractive," explains Osmont. "If I don’t like how I look on set, I stop and realize that this is not about me but about the story we are trying to tell. And then I get over it and do my job."

While Osmont has performed a vast number of roles over the course of her career, the ones she has found to be the most fulfilling, ironically, have been male characters. Last year Osmont played the starring role of Sergei Upgobkin in Tony Kushner's play “Slavs!,” which was directed by Bonnie McNeil and performed in Los Angeles.

Osmont recalls, "I had to work really hard to get the Russian accent right combined with the voice of an old man, which proved to be quite challenging, but a lot of fun nonetheless. I also loved the fact that people didn’t recognize me from my picture once on stage during the performances, which is the best compliment for an actor: to disappear into your character."

Osmont has proven over the course of her career that she is capable of taking on virtually any role. In addition to her successful career in the theater, she recently starred in the films Gnossienne, Mariana Can, Vice-Versa and Close Range, all of which are set for release this year.

About what drives her to perform Osmont admits, "I have this need to make something, to create things, and movies are bigger than just me. When people watch and relate to them, they are moved, they laugh and sometimes, just for an hour and a half, they forget about their problems."