the Cast

Marcus W. Albino is a Writer/Director/Producer known for “Prophecy,” “The Bomb Party,” “American Grace,” and “Black Maria.” Marcus was born June 12, 1991, in Waterbury, Connecticut. After graduating from the Students of Academic Renown at John F. Kennedy High School, Marcus moved to San Francisco to pursue a career in filmmaking. Over the next ten years, Marcus worked as a photographer, bartender, daytrader, research apprentice, and farm hand, while graduating Magna Cum Laude in Political Science at the University of California - Berkeley. During that same time, Marcus was selected for the prestigious Stowe Story Labs and received over fifteen Official Selections and various commendation at film festivals including the Rome Independent Film Awards (Best Music Video), OpenWorld Toronto (Best Music Video), Calcutta Cult Film Festival (Best Film By A Female Director), Culver City Film Festival, and Oaxaca FilmFest X. Currently, Marcus works as Founder and CFO at Cloak & Cauldron Productions, as well as a Legal Investigator for the L.A. County Equity Oversight Panel.

Originally from Virginia, Brad Frizzell moved to San Francisco at the age of 24 to study animation, but quickly found himself creating live action narrative projects with students from his school’s film program. This led to him dropping out and using the refunded tuition money to direct and produce his first short film, "Box". Over the next several years he produced no-budget short projects while working professionally as a PA and set dresser on commercial, episodic, and feature projects shot in the Bay Area. In 2015 he moved to Los Angeles and joined I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 as a on-set dresser. This afforded him the opportunity to learn the craft from some of today’s top filmmakers, working alongside the likes of Taika Waititi, Noah Baumbach, Donald Glover, Miranda July, Mike Mills, Barry Jenkins, and Jeff Schaffer, as well as the industries top artisans. After a hiatus from producing original content, Brad returned to produce “Black Maria”, the first project made under his production company, Greeked Pictures. Starring Michael Raymond James, Augusto Aguilera, Vannessa Vasquez, and Jason Manuel Olazabal, “Black Maria” is a departure from the no-budget projects of the past. His short film script, "Rumspringa", was a finalist in the 2021 Richmond International Film Festival’s Screenwriting Competition.

Casey Merrill is an Art Director, Graphic Designer, and Producer based in Fayetteville, Georgia. He was introduced to the industry at a young age as a stunt double for Todd Beasley (The Berminator) in the 1994 movie “Little Giants”. In late 2002 Casey joined the consumer marketing company, Tremors, naming the film “Eurotrip” and editing the screenplay for the movie “Torque”. It was during this time as a high schooler in Newbury Park that his passion for Visual Communication was ignited in an ROP program. He spent the next 11 years studying graphic design at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in LA, followed by the Academy of Art University (AAU) in San Francisco. While attending AAU in San Francisco Casey rekindled his love for film and television production, producing and designing graphics for several no budget shorts alongside friends in the school’s film program. He took on many roles during these early efforts, from 1st AD and Production Designer, to Title Designer and VFX Artist. Casey has since brought these talents to professional film and television projects, moving to Fayetteville in 2016 and joining I.A.T.S.E. Local 479 to continue his work in the budding Georgia film and television community.

Barbara Estelle DeJesus is a Writer/Director, Producer, and Actress, known for Prophecy (2019) and American Grace (2020). Barbara's work has been selected by over fifteen film festivals around the world, including the Oaxaca Film Festival and the Rome Film Awards. In 2019, she was awarded Best Music Video by the Open World Toronto Film Festival and Concorso Vivere di Musica, as well as Best Film by a Female Director at Calcutta International. Barbara is recognized by the International Assembly of Spiritual Healers and Earth Steward Congregations as an Ordained Minister, Certified Spiritual Healer, and Diplomat of Earth Stewardship. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associate's Degree in Anthropology from Saddleback College in 2021.

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Justin Arbabi is an award-winning filmmaker with a strong focus on producing and editing  scripted narrative content. Once hailing from a handful of small towns across mid-Michigan, he has lived and worked professionally in Los Angeles now for close to a decade. Justin has worked on a range of narrative films available on major streaming platforms, in addition to productions that he himself has spearheaded, such as “Zenith” - which landed multiple awards including Best Picture and Best Editing at Indie Short Fest and Independent Short Awards. Justin also owns/operates a co-working space for filmmakers based in East Hollywood and a production company of the same name - Superba House.

Devynne is an enthusiastic and driven young designer who loves bringing characters to life through their surroundings. Growing up in Bucks County, PA, she developed a passion for history and an appreciation for the past. She holds an affinity towards period pieces and loves merging the old with the new. Devynne has worked as a designer and decorator in a variety of cities including New York, Boston, Charlotte, Atlanta & Portland and is always open to traveling for work and leisure. She is an I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 Set Decorator and working towards joining Local 800 as a Production Designer.