PRINCIPAL CREW
Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Ryan began acting in his late teens and has appeared in various theatre productions in Winnipeg, Toronto and throughout Canada. He studied theatre, film and music at the University of Manitoba before relocating to Toronto to concentrate on acting. He graduated with honors, receiving a BFA in Acting from Ryerson University in Toronto.
Film credits include: Sidekick, About Face, The Little Guide to Haircuts and Follicular Manipulation and Nature of Wildlife. Stage credits include: Place To Be: The Nick Drake Project, Crazy Gary's Mobile Disco, Fusion. He is probably best known for originating the role of Ash in the cult hit Evil Dead the Musical (Off-Broadway, Toronto, Montreal - Original Cast Album) for which he received a 'Best Actor' nomination - Dora Mavor Moore Awards (Canadian Tony's). He has also written, performed and toured his plays, Wurn and Nocturnal Musical throughout Canada to critical praise.
Ryan has directed two short films, which have played at festivals in Canada and the United States. Son of the Sunshine is Ryan's first feature.
Born in Sudbury, Ontario, Matthew has a BFA in Acting from Ryerson University in Toronto and is currently pursuing an MA in Creative Writing at the University of New Brunswick. While at Ryerson, he began work on 'Place to Be: The Nick Drake Project', a dark musical and adventure inspired by the life's work of Nick Drake, which received a public reading at the 2008 Summerworks Theatre Festival in Toronto. He is also the winner of Toronto Fringe Festival's 24-hour playwriting competition for his entry, 'Disperare'.
In early 2008, he was one of two recipients to be awarded a commission by Playwrights Theatre Centre, in Vancouver, BC. Four months of development with the theatre led to a full-length play, 'red barn'. A reading of the play was directed by Martin Kinch, as part of the Centre's New Play Festival this past June. Matthew is currently working on a surreal Canadian western about Albert Johnson, the Mad Trapper of Rat River, inspired by the films of Sergio Leone.
Paul Fler has quickly made a name for himself as a producer who can get things done while working with the smallest budgets. Before producing his first feature, Son of the Sunshine, Paul served as a Production Manager on the award-winning films Reel Zombies, This Beautiful City and Found Objects, as well as countless music videos. His other producing credits include the short films Nightclub Story and A Short Recess.
Mike Masters is an award winning writer and producer of commercials, shorts and feature films. His work has screened at festivals internationally including Sundance, TIFF, AIFF, AFF and VIFF.
A writer all his life, Mike has written seven feature screenplays. He has seen his work optioned as well as placed as a Finalist in The Hollywood Next Success Screenwriting Contest, a semi-finalist in the 2006 AAA Screenwriting Contest and, in 2000, he had a short play produced off-Broadway at the Pulse Ensemble Theatre in NYC. He was the recipient of the 2001 Edward R. Rollins' award for Outstanding Screenwriting.
Mike has produced 7 features including Reel Zombies, Zombie Night, Zombie Night 2: Awakening and Your Beautiful Cul de Sac Home as well as Line Produced Jerry Cicoritti's Blood, starring Jacob Tierney, Robert Budreau's That Beautiful Somewhere, starring Roy Dupuis, and 2.22, starring Val Kilmer. Mike is currently in development of The Corridor, a feature screenplay he optioned from writer Josh MacDonald, which he plans to shoot in 2009.
Born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Chayse discovered his obsession for cinematography when he was enrolled in film school at Capilano University. After completing his first year, he enrolled in the cinematography program where he received the Dean's List Honour.
Soon after graduation, Chayse booked his first feature, Switch, for which received much critical acclaim. He now works full-time as a duel Canadian/American citizen shooting feature films, documentaries, commercials, as well as music videos around North America and abroad. He is also the youngest Director of Photography in 'International Photographers Guild' history.
Sam recently finished a post-graduate program in Post Production (say that five times fast) at Humber College, and has taken to editing like a fish takes to water (if the fish understands timecode, that is). Along with Son of the Sunshine, the first feature Sam has cut, he has also cut three short films: The Pickpocket, At Risk and Alleyway. He has also worked as an assistant editor on the reality series "Family Challenge" and "Style Dept". Sam continues to work in post, and when not doing so, can be often found in Various Respectable Establishments.
Sean Karp is a Sound Designer, Mixing Engineer and the founder of Karp ADM Studios. He brings over 10 years of experience in sound supervision for Filminclude feature films, documentaries, and television series.
A Toronto native, Deirdra Morris has been Production and Costume Designing for film and television since 2004. Studying studio art and theatre at the University of Guelph, she began her career designing for theatre.
Deirdra's portfolio to date is quite diverse. From Costume Designing such independent films as Sweet Karma (2009), and Ten for Grandpa (2008): to Art Directing Toronto Stories (2008), and Your Beautiful Cul De Sac Home (2007). She also works extensively in commercials and music videos; and just completed work on a new HBO series "Forbidden Science", slatted to air early 2009.
Son of the Sunshine marks Deirdra's 6th feature film as a Costume Designer and 2nd as a Production Designer.
An Honours graduate of York University's Film Department, Michael is an award-winning Canadian screenwriter and producer. His debut feature, the superhero-themed Sidekick, co-starring Daniel Baldwin, played in numerous worldwide film festivals and was theatrically released in Canada before going on to sell home video and television rights in multiple international territories. His follow-up production, Maple Flavour Films, a documentary on the current state of the Canadian film industry, which Michael also directed, is currently making rounds on the film festival circuit.
As a screenwriter, Michael has had several screenplays optioned and several in active development. Son of the Sunshine marks Michael's first credit as an Associate Producer.
