Rick Bieber
Director, Producer, Writer
Rick Bieber is the director of Crazy. The film, which stars Waylon Payne and Ali Larter, is inspired by the life of guitar legend, Hank Garland. Bieber also co-wrote and produce the picture.
Currently, Bieber is about to start The 5th Quarter, a new film which he also wrote and will be directing. Another true story, the film chronicles the Cinderella season of the 2006 Wake Forest University football team, and their defensive leader Jon Abbate, whose younger brother was killed in a tragic car accident prior to the beginning of the season.
Previously, Bieber had produced or executive produced several feature films including the recent Aurora Borealis, starring Josh Jackson, Juliette Lewis and Donald Sutherland; Flatliners, which was directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Julia Roberts, Keifer Sutherland, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin and Oliver Platt; Made in America, starring Whoopi Goldberg and Ted Danson; Radio Flyer, directed by Dick Donner and starring Lorraine Bracco and Adam Baldwin; Hard Promises, starring William Peterson and Sissy Spacek; and The Illusion, starring Michael Goorjian and Kirk Douglas.
Rick Bieber has owned and operated his own independent company as well as serving as the chief executive of several, prominent entertainment companies. They include Stonebridge Entertainment, a company that he formed with Michael Douglas; HBO Pictures; Fox West Pictures; and Harmony Pictures. In addition, Bieber co-created Third Stone Music, a record label and satellite company of Atlantic Records where featured artists included Nona Gaye and Saigon Kick.
He has also produced or been responsible for the production of over 30 television and cable movies, including the recent Caught In The Act, starring Lauren Holly; Mandela, starring Danny Glover and Alfre Woodard; Last Innocent Man, directed by Roger Spottiswood and starring Ed Harris; Clinton and Nadine, starring Andy Garcia and Ellen Barkin; Long Gone, starring William Peterson and Virginia Madsen; Baja Oklahoma, produced by Ray Stark and featuring Julia Roberts; Apology, starring Peter Weller and Lesley Anne Warren; The Man Who Broke 1000 Chains, starring Val Kilmer; Act of Vengeance, starring Charles Bronson; 12:01, starring Jonathan Silverman and Helen Slater; Lifepod, starring Ron Silver and Robert Loggia; John Landis’s remake of The Munsters; and Hostage for a Day, in which he arranged for John Candy to direct his first and only movie.
Bieber began his career in the New York offices of Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., after receiving a J.D. degree from Vermont Law School and an undergraduate degree from Hofstra University.
Filmography:
Crazy (2006)
(producer/director/writer)
Aurora Borealis (2005)
(producer)
Illusion (2004)
(executive producer)
Caught in the Act (2004)
(executive producer)
Made in America (1993)
(producer)
Radio Flyer (1992)
(executive producer)
Hard Promises (1991)
(executive producer)
Flatliners (1990)
(producer)
Jason Ehlers
Writer
Born and raised in York, Nebraska, Jason Ehlers graduated from Wayne State College with a Bachelor degree in English and Theater. A published and award winning poet, Crazy marks his first foray into writing for the big screen. Currently, Ehlers is developing a series for television, and the World War II drama, Milk Run, for Craig/Serra Productions.
Filmography:
Crazy (2006)
Brent Boyd
Writer
Brent Boyd grew up in Minnesota. He studied playwriting at various institutions in Minneapolis, Iowa and Georgia. His plays include Pro Bono, BIG TOP JEREMY and SEX WITH PIRANDELLO. For the last several years, he has worked as a writer in film in television. His first produced screenplay, AURORA BOREALIS, premieres at the Tribeca Film Festival in April, 2005. He lives in Los Angeles.
Filmography:
Crazy (2006)
Aurora Borealis (2005)
Steve Vai
Executive Producer
As a GRAMMY award-winning guitar virtuoso, Steve Vai’s sheer breathtaking facility on the guitar is acclaimed in the world of rock music and beyond. His unique musical vision remains unclassifiable and he continues to push the limits of both his instrument and his emotions. “For me, the true excitement is when I hear a strange or beautiful sound in my head and then make it real using the devices I have as a musician”, says Vai. “The things that have never been done before are what interest me most.”
Vai’s stints with Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth, and Whitesnake all helped solidify his presence in the consciousness of mainstream rock audiences. However, it’s been as a solo artist that Steve has made his most valuable and indelible musical contributions. His 1984 independently released debut “Flex-able,” opened listener’s minds and ears, while sonically setting the stage for his 1990 breakthrough release, “Passion And Warfare.” This influential album expanded the lexicon of rock guitar and ushered in an era of unparalleled guitar virtuosity. “I didn’t know what people were going to think of that record. I just knew that I had to make it,” recalls Vai. “I locked myself in the studio and the music that had been building up in my imagination for years all came rushing out. Honestly, I thought the record was going to sell about 10 copies. Instead it went gold in a week.” Similar to the reactions this record received over a decade ago, the effects of Steve’s influence continue to be felt just as strongly today.
Throughout his more than a dozen solo recordings, Vai has continued to use music as a microscope for peering into the human spirit, with equal attention paid to both the darkest obsessions and the most exalted impulses contained therein. Each of his releases have remained unique, varied, and compelling. With multiple GRAMMY nominations, a GRAMMY Award (“Sofa” from Zappa’s Universe Rock Group), and a host of other accolades to his credit, Steve Vai stands tall among rock’s most elite musicians.
In addition to his recording career, Steve Vai has further established himself through a number of other music-related organizations and endeavors. In 1999, Vai launched this own Favored Nations record label with partner and Guitar Center founder, Ray Scherr. The label already has a GRAMMY award along with several nominations to its credit and continues to thrive and flourish. In addition to overseeing the label, Vai has also served on the prestigious Board of Governors with NARAS for almost three years until being elected to Trustee. Finally, Steve has teamed with top equipment manufacturers over the years with the goal of pushing the limits of technology in the same way he does the limits of music. The result has been a line of signature gear that is always on the cutting edge of innovation and at the highest level of quality.
Despite his monumental levels of success and achievement, Steve Vai nevertheless remains confident that the best still lies within him. “I don’t feel like I’ve made a record that expresses my full potential on guitar,” explains Vai. “While I still have the chops to do it, I want to make my definitive guitar statement.”
For comprehensive information on Steve Vai please visit www.vai.com
Ray Scherr
Executive Producer
Music has always played a major role in the goals and decisions that Ray Scherr has set for himself. Born and raised in Brooklyn N.Y., Ray’s musical inclination was apparent at the age of nine, when he began playing guitar and this love of music has continued throughout his life.
After his completion of high school, Ray took a job in sales, unrelated to the music field that he loved. It wasn’t long before he quit that job, taking a position working for a musical distributor at one third of his previous salary, just to be involved in the music industry. At the age of 22, Ray was promoted to Regional Manager of the West Coast Division, and he moved to California.
In 1975, after several successful years as an instrument distributor, Ray made a career change to the retail side of the business. He became the manager of Guitar Center, a small chain of music stores in California. Within three years, his dedication and hard work paid off and he became president of the company. The company flourished under Ray’s guidance, and finally in 1983, he purchased the company, becoming the sole owner. Through Ray’s insight, intuition and hard work, the company grew into the nation’s largest retailer of musical instruments.
It was during this time that Ray had the vision to establish an historic landmark dedicated to music. He founded Guitar Center Hollywood’s Rockwalk, to honor the musical pioneers that have significantly influenced the course of music as we know it today. This gallery now displays over 120 handprints, including Stevie Wonder, Eddie Van Halen and Les Paul, just to name a few.
In 1996, Ray sold his company. This presented him with an opportunity to explore new ventures, and pursue those in which he could best utilize his experience and passion for music. He has donated millions of dollars to various charities, his favorite being the Alliance for the Arts, and he’s an active participant in its direction. He is also a board member of NARAS, continuing to share his knowledge and expertise in the world of music.
It comes as no surprise that Ray is now utilizing his knowledge and ability to expand into yet another arena of music by spearheading a record company.
Craig Haagensen
Director of Photography
Bio forthcoming...
Tom Rolf, ACE
Film Editor
Tom Rolf has a long and prestigious film-editing career. He has collaborated with such notable directors as Martin Scorsese, John Frankenheimer, Paul Schrader, Ridley Scott, Michael Mann, Philip Kaufman, Robert Redford, Adrian Lyne, John Badham, Alan J. Pakula and John Woo to name a few. Tom also received an Academy Award for his work on The Right Stuff (1983). Tom is currently residing in Europe.
Filmography:
Crazy (2006)
Windtalkers (2002)
The Horse Whisperer (1998)
The Devil's Own (1997)
Heat (1995)
The Pelican Brief (1993)
Jacob's Ladder (1990)
Black Rain (1989)
Stakeout (1987)
Nine 1/2 Weeks (1986)
The Right Stuff (1983)
WarGames (1983)
Prophecy (1979)
Hardcore (1979)
Blue Collar (1978)
New York, New York (1977)
Black Sunday (1977)
Taxi Driver (1976)
French Connection II (1975)
Kristin M. Burke
Costume Designer
Kristin M. Burke was born March 20, in Orange, CA. Educated at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, she majored in both Radio/Television/Film and French Studies. Ms. Burke was trained in the art of costume design at Northwestern by Virgil C. Johnson, an acclaimed designer for opera and the theater. While at Northwestern, Ms. Burke garnered awards at the Seattle Short Film Festival, the Nimes Festival in France, and the Dallas Film Festival for her experimental short films.
She has designed costumes for over forty feature films, including Crossing Over, Death Sentence, Time To Kill with Nicolas Cage, The Grudge 2, Running Scared, The Cooler, The Slaughter Rule, and Star Maps. She has also designed costumes for music videos, commercials, and two television series. In addition, Ms. Burke is an internationally-exhibited artist, specializing in collage and mail art, and had her first solo exhibition in Los Angeles in September, 2001.
Burke has also authored two books - the first of which she co-authored with Holly Cole of Ohio University, Costuming for Film: the Art and the Craft, was published in August, 2005 by Silman James Press. It is a college-level textbook on the ins and outs of designing costumes for films. This book is also intended to reach industry professionals looking to broaden their understanding about the role of costumes in the collaborative medium of film. The second book, Going Hollywood: how to get started, keep going, and not turn into a sleaze, was published in September, 2004, and is in use at film schools and universities in 7 countries. Ms. Burke is honored to be represented by Sandra Marsh Management
Al Cohen
Co-producer
With an extensive technical background beginning in post production and continuing through almost all aspects of cinematography and now production, Al has been a significant force on a number of extremely successful movies including, Santa Clause II, Swat, Blades II and III, Ring II, and the Sentinel, starring Michael Douglas. Al also produced Crazy, overseeing line responsibilities including all aspects of budget and crew management.
Richard Mann
Line Producer
With an overall career track record of over 23 motion pictures and numerous television programs, Richard has received multiple creative awards and has established himself as proficient in the business of motion picture, television and new media development and production.
With over 24 years of hands on production experience, Richard Mann is a seasoned veteran of the Hollywood film and television community.
Richard has found success both as a business entrepreneur and film and television producer, writer and director. Richard has successfully managed substantial business growth and created operational infrastructures that have proven to be exceedingly effective and successful within the entertainment, production, post-production and new media-high technology business.
As president of Prosperity Pictures, Richard managed the development, production, post-production, and delivery of multiple slates of feature length motion pictures, all of which are currently in worldwide distribution.
As president of Prosperity Pictures Richard was responsible for operations and managed funds of approximately $20,000,000 per year. Richard oversaw the performance of anywhere between 50 to 200 employees and independent contractors at any one given point in time.
Concurrently to Prosperity Pictures, Richard supervised and managed the design, build-out and subsequent operations of a state-of-the-art digital film, television and new media production and post-production facility, New Standard Post. Housed within a 40,000 square foot building in the heart of Hollywood, New Standard Post provided quality production and post-production services to many high profile Hollywood films and television programs.
Richard created and managed the operations and growth of Digital Studios Group (DSG), which actively produces DVD and interactive media for the entertainment industry. Richard completed the sale of DSG to Crest National Video Labs in December 2000.
Richard is currently active in the development and financing of multiple feature film and television projects.
Richard Rudolph
Music Supervision
Bio forthcoming...
Larry Klein
Music
Bio forthcoming...
Monika Mikkelsen
Casting
A California native, Monika Mikkelsen graduated from UCLA in 1991, and has enjoyed casting fantastic actors in feature films for an exciting group of filmmakers ever since. Working on CRAZY with director Rick Bieber re-invigorated her commitment to casting films lead by emerging directors with a fresh vision.
Joel McDonell
Associate Producer
Upon Graduating from the prestigious American Film
Institute with a Masters in Fine Arts in Producing,
Joel McDonell formed his own production company
McDonell Entertainment.
McDonell has and extensive background in commercial
production and has won many awards for his
accomplishments in that field. He was also presented
scholarships for his hard-work and dedication to the
art from both the American Film Institute and the
Hollywood Foreign Press Association; who are better
known as the group who started the Golden Globe
Awards.
His AFI Master’s thesis film project, “The Legend of
Razorback”, starring Kevin McCarthy (Invasion of the
Body Snatcher and Death of a Salesman) was chosen by
the American Film Institute to show their board of
associates at their annual luncheon to represent the
accomplishments of all the students at AFI. It was
received with high praise and proudly presented to the
board by AFI’s Director and CEO, Jean Picker
Firstenberg.
As well as his film career, he is also a musician and
has played in numerous California based rock bands.
He can occasionally be seen playing solo performances
at venues throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
