Congratulations to Isobel Stasheff -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Isobel joined the company in the winter of 1999 when, being my sister and happening to be in the house at the time, she was shanghied into playing the role of Druid Ghost in Episode 6 of Pandora's Box. She was a lot of fun to work with and we had a great time on set. I highly doubt I will be working with her again, since she's married and living in Ohio, but I hope to have her son Asher (my nephew) be in a movie at some point in the future.

Congratulations to Joe Ojeda -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Joe joined the company in the fall of 2002 when he happened to be up at the SPC-TV station when I need five people to be sorcerers, and he agreed to be one of them. Joe is an exceptionally talented guy -- as an actor, a comedian, and the host and producer of his own show "Cha". I was very lucky to have a chance to work with him, and although circumstances would probably prevent it, I would love to work with him again.

Congratulations to Michael DiVecchio -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Michael joined the company in the spring of 2001 when he jumped into the role of Mordecai in The Curse. He was a dedicated actor and actually read the scripts before showing up to the set, working with me to craft the character and understand him. He did a fantastic acting job in the role and although I'm unlikely to have the chance to work with him again I would love to. He's an outstanding performer and I was lucky to be able to work with him.

Congratulations to Danny Skirvin -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Danny joined the company in the summer of 1997 when he stepped into the role of First Mate Bob in Destiny III. Over the years he's played everything from lead roles like JJ in The Dragon & The Unicorn to supporting roles like the villainous Reaper in The Perfect Combination to extras in The King of Elflin's Daughter and Pandora's Box. He's a talented actor and above all is hilarious and wonderful to work with. Danny always livens up any set he's on and although he lives far away from the cornfields of Central Illinois I would love to work with him again some day.

Congratulations to Joseph Hui -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Joe joined the company in the fall of 2001 when he agreed to play Minerva's boyfriend Tez in The Gift Bearer (mainly because he was the boyfriend of the actress playing Minerva). Joseph was hilarious as Tez and made him a wise-cracking, sarcastic character. I think he's in Hollywood now working on getting his career as a director/writer/producer up and running. Good luck and thanks!

Since I missed last week, we're celebrating two actors this week!



Congratulations to Brian & Megan Atchley -- this week's Actors of the Week!
The Atchley siblings -- Brian and Megan -- joined the company during the first movie -- Destiny -- in the summer of 1996 when Megan agreed to play the 8 year-old version of Princess Elaina and Brian joined in as one of the gypsies that saved her. They were such a delight to work with and so talented that when I wrote Destiny III and decided to have one of the main plots revolve around Ketlan and Melantha's children, I immediately knew I wanted to cast Brian and Megan as Prince Rowan and Princess Telana. Luckily for me they (and their parents) agreed to return to the Destiny set and they both did a fantastic job. I have always wondered where they are now and what they are doing -- well, where ever you are Brian and Megan thank you for everything! You were both wonderful and talented children to work with.

Congratulations to Adele Ghandi -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Adele joined the company in the fall of 2001 when she auditioned for The Gift Bearer and was cast as Genna, one of the secret time travellers created by the Echelon. Unfortunately no one told Genna she was a time traveller until it was too late. Adele did a great job as Genna (despite having a terrible costume, sorry about that Adele) was fun to work with, even though her main day of shooting was on a very stressful day at the end of shooting season 1. Wherever you are now, Adele, I hope you are doing well. Good luck to you in all that you do and thanks for everything!

Congratulations to Ryan Segovich -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Ryan joined the company in the winter of 1996/97 when he took on the of Gergio in Destiny II and was completely awesome. In the summer of 1997 he played Captain Ternep in Destiny III and was completely hilarious. He played extras (and a stand-in for Calaban) in The King of Elflin's Daughter and The Perfect Combination, then finally got a starring role in The Vigil as Abner, the ghost of a pioneer. Although another movie was written for him to star in, it sadly never got produced. He returned to the Sine Fine "Stage" in Pandora's Box playing Phil Gamon, the Clone of Phil Gamon, and the ancestor of Phil Gamon (General Ralin) in episodes 16-18, 24, and 8-10 respectively. That was the last time I was able to work with Ryan. Not only is he an incredibly talented actor, he's hilarious and great to work with. He always livens up any set he's on. Hopefully in the next few years I'll get a chance to work with him again. Ryan: you. are. awesome.

Congratulations to Andrew Heller -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Andrew joined the company in the spring of 2001 when he played several extras in the Curse including a student, a henchman, and a headless ghost. He also agreed to be the guest director for Episode 6 of The Curse, and did a fantastic job, showing how creative he could be with camera angles and direction. In the summer of 2004 he stepped in to play the part of Mordecai in Eidolon (not realizing what he was getting himself into!) and blew everyone away with his awesome acting talent! He also did some videography for the show, once again proving how amazingly creative he can be with a camera. I hope to work with Andy again as both an actor and as the Director of Photography -- if his schedule permits.

Congratulations to Rebecca Weber -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Rebecca joined the company in the summer of 1998 when she stepped in at the last minute to be an extra during filming of the final scenes of The Perfect Combination. I was desperate for more people to run around in a big chase scene and since she lived in the house we were shooting in we Shanghied her to film with us. She was fabulous and funny and I've always wanted to work with her again. Maybe someday I will. Thanks Rebecca!

Congratulations to Holly Simons -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Holly joined the company in the spring of 2002 when she graciously agreed to be tossed around on the set of The Gift Bearer as a nameless Echelon Agent. She was so wonderful to work with that I really wanted to work with her again and see her in a speaking role. So when I wrote Dream Chasers I knew she would be playing the part of the origional Maria Sanchez. And she was totally fabulous in the role -- and also just a joy to work with. Holly is creative, talented, and a lot of fun to be around. When I had the chance to bring her back to the set for one scene in Eidolon in 2004, I jumped at the chance. Someday I hope to work with her again, because Holly is just so freaking awesome!

Congratulations to Anna Neatrour -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Anna joined the company in the winter of 1999 when she played the role of Zurielle, the Queen of Bandits, in Pandora's Box. She reprised the role in three more episodes in the summer of 2000. Although there isn't a lot to go on in the script, Anna played the part to perfection and I can't imagine anyone else in the role. She was fantastic, and although I doubt she'd have the time to act in another film since she has twin toddlers, I would jump at the chance to work with her again. Thanks for being so awesome (and menacing!) Anna!

FYI: I realized that Paul Nelson (Actor of the Week for ) has actually been in TWO shows, not one. He was in The Perfect Combination AND played an extra in Pandora's Box. His actor certificate has been updated both on this journal and the main website.

Congratulations to Michael Baym -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Michael joined the company in the winter of 1996/1997 when he played an extra in the ballroom scenes of Destiny II (and had one line as a lord at a wedding), then again played a dancing extra in Destiny III, and a well-dressed, evil party guest in The Dragon and the Unicorn. In the spring/summer of 1998 he played his first principal character -- the villainous Malicite in The King of Elflin's Daughter. Also in the spring of 1998 played an evil henchman in The Perfect Combination who died, then mysteriously reappeared in another scene -- a part that earned him the Best Extra Award in the 1998 Frank Awards. Following the strange pattern of being cast as evil henchmen (a pattern I never noticed before writing this) he took on the role of Coskin, Zarina's most loyal soldier/bodyguard in Pandora's Box and appeared in nine episodes (as Coskin or Coskin's clone). Sadly, Pandora's Box is the last chance I've had to work with him. Hopefully I will get to work with him again someday and maybe next time I won't cast him as an evil henchmen! Thanks for always being able to be an evil extra Mike!

Oh yeah, and today's his birthday. Happy Birthday Mike!!!

Congratulations to Erica Valenciana -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Erica joined the company in the spring of 2001 when she agreed to play the part of the mysterious ghost White Feather in The Curse. The part only involved one afternoon of filming, but the character was extremely important to the show. The same character appeared in two other shows and one movie (Dream Chasers, Eidolon, and The Cursed Destiny of Pandora's Gift Box) but since I was only ever able to film with Erica once, the footage was the same one shot for the Curse. I often wondered if she would mind me using that same footage in other shows in the same universe, but I hope she is. Erica was absolutely wonderful to work with and I would definately work with her again if I ever had the chance to. Thanks for everything, Erica!

Okay, so the 10th Anniversary was actually June 15, so I'm a little late posting this (but the poster thingy took longer to make then I expected). In July of 1998 we started filming Mind Games and on June 15, 1999 it premiered to the public at the Planetarium in Champaign. It was a ground-breaking movie for SFF because of it's use of lighting, camera angles, unique sets, and good direction (the stuff Ed directed at any rate, I learned a lot from working with him on this movie). This is my homage to one of the best movies in SFF history!

Congratulations to Jill Hutchison -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Jill is a founding member of SFF and was one of the Gyspy Wanderers. Her first role was the feisty Princess Elaina in the Destiny Trilogy/mini-series. For the next four years she played everything from a dancing extra in The King of Elflin's Daughter and the stand-in for Captain Vesper in Mind Games, to Clara Atwood, one of the mourning friends in The Vigil, and Fifi LaMiche, the flirty french maid in Frumpy Gets It. But her main lead role was starring as Catherine Summers, the clever kleptomaniac in The Perfect Combination. I actually wrote and filmed The Perfect Combination for Jill because I wanted to see her in a lead role -- and she was absolutely perfect in the part! I honestly cannot imagine anyone else playing Catherine/Rini. Jill always brought a smile to set with her bubbly personality and sense of fun. Sadly, Mind Games and additional shoots from the Destiny Mini-series were the last opportunities I had to work with Jill. I believe she is now a successful attorney in Chicago, and is engaged to be married in 2010 (that's the rumor anyway). Congratulations, Jill, and thanks for everything!

Congratulations to Paul Nelson -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Paul joined the company in the spring of 1998 when he played the part of Carl Winters in the Perfect Combination. Since the movie was a screwball comedy, there were adults playing the two children's parts, and Paul graciously agreed to don a propeller cap and play a ten-year-old thief. He did a great job and hopefully had fun. I got the chance to work with him again briefly when he played an emergency soldier in Pandora's Box. I'd love to work with him again. Thanks and congratulations Paul!

Congratulations to Gillian King -- this week's Actor of the Week!
Gillian joined the company in the spring of 2001 during production of The Curse in which she played the loveable con-artist turned actual mystic Madame Maggie. She was perfect in the part, giving Maggie the laid back air of a college student just trying to make it through finals who also happened to have a spirit guide and be slightly psychic. I very much enjoyed working with Gillian who was talented and fun, and as always I would love the chance to work with her again. Where ever you are now, Gillian, I hope you are doing well and having fun!