About Us

Ascendants was originally written by Don Schechter as a two-hour feature film but has expanded into a pilot script (with show bible) for an ongoing series. You can read more about that story and see conceptual artwork on this page.

Don Schechter

Writer/Director/Composer, The Ascendants Anthology; Writer, Ascendants (novel)

Don Schechter is the writer of Ascendants as well as the director, and composer of the Ascendants Anthology film series. He is the founder and owner of Charles River Media and is a Professor of the Practice in Film and Media Studies at Tufts University.

Nadia de Lemeny

Producer, The Ascendants Anthology

Nadia de Lemeny is a film and television journalist from London. Since moving to Boston she has worked as a producer, director, and stylist for various films and theatre productions.

Trevor Chamberlain

Producer, The Ascendants Anthology

Trevor Chamberlain is a filmmaker with nearly three decades of experience in film and video production.

Jon Mercer

Colorist "Family," "Raven," "Day's End"; Editor and Visual Effects"Raven"

Jon Mercer is an award winning filmmaker who work has screened on PBS, and at The MFA Boston, The United States Capitol, and festivals internationally. With a background in post-production, Jon is known for his ability to deconstruct a frame or narrative, finding it’s essential elements and drawing out the underlying emotion. Building drama, finding humor, clarifying reality – his collaborative approach draws out the best and sometimes undiscovered moments of the story.

David Bouley

Director of Photography, "Raven" (shared) and "Day's End"; Gaffer "Family"

David Bouley is an experienced producer, cinematographer, and director. He honed his skills working as a gaffer and grip on a number of productions in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles. His cinematography and camera credits include his work on the independent production “This Killing Business,” as well as for the Boston Celtics, Animal Planet, Life is Good, and MTV.

Tom Fitzgerald

Director of Photography, "Family" and "Raven" (shared)

Tom Fitzgerald has extensive camera credits, including First AC on films such as Infinitely Polar Bear, God’s Pocket, and Oxyana. Check out his full list of camera credits here on IMDB.

Cody Signore

1st AD, "Family" and "Raven"

Cody Signorehas experience as a camera operator, editor, grip, and set dresser for both narrative and documentary films. He has also worked as an Assistant Director/Producer for a number of short films and feature films.

Yvonne LaBarge

Script Supervisor

Yvonne LaBarge is an award-winning writer/director as well as an acclaimed script supervisor (Yvonnetinuity: Digital Script Supervising), an editor, and still photographer. Throughout the span of her career she has script supervised over 40 different projects ranging from short films and features to TV pilots, music videos, web series, commercials, and corporate videos.

“Horizon” Cast Credits:

Colin Allen as Ben
Kate Paulsen as Kayla
Jarice Hanson as Mom
Michael Walker as Dad
Jamaal Eversley as Young Sebastian
Giani Boerner as Young Kayla
Keegan Paradis as Young Ben

“Day’s End” Cast Credits:

Cate Carson as Lara
Paul Kandarian as Doctor
Harry Phan as John
Craig Houk as Rowan
Reesa Guerra as Estrella
Jenna Pasquale as Dancer

“Raven” Cast Credits

Johnny Lee Davenport as Sebastian
Craig Houk as Rowan
Nicholas Goroff as Neil
Cassandra Meyer as Cassandra
Kate Jurdi as Nadia
Alexandra Bettencourt as Lydia
Kevin O. Peterson as Jack
Eliza Morton as Sarah Kimbal
Chuck Schwager as Stanley
Ramona Taj as Doctor
Kim Wilson as Jacobs Administrator
Reesa Guerra as Estrella
Jose Guns Alves as Thug 1
James Cusano as Thug 2
Brian King as Clown
Jenna Pasquale as Dancer
John O’Connor as Breeder Doctor
Terrence Haddad as Breeder Guard
Ascendant Volunteers: Sean Brown, Lauren Foster, Laura Menzie, Olivia Rizzo
Viewers: David Bouley, Danielle Bryant, Ben Didsbury, Dan Felinas, Yvonne LaBarge, Cristina Moody, Maria Natapov, Chuck Schwager
Breeder Victims: Christine Celozzi, Maria Fernandez, Mary Mognihan, Lisa Moore, Rachel Schechter, Hazel Mary Viens
Resistance Members: Annabel Andriotakis, David Bellerose, Katherine Bergeron, Eic Boles, Gregory Couet, Christie Devine, Allyson DiGregory, Lauren Foster, Dylan Gibbons, Mary Hronicek, Catarina Laranjeira Abreu, Jonathan Mendoza, Kathleen Moore, Charles Morgridge, Ana Neshanti, Joseph Oliveira, David Reid, Marky Royster, Ana Tellechea, Mike Weiner
Richard Bailey, Erica Derrickson, and Rick Dumont as Bartenders
Clubbers: Michael L. Budloug, Michela Carlson, Evan Clinton, Lily Davis, Shirley Dulcey, Katrina Galore, Jack Goldman, Mark Resnik, Sybille Rex, Kristin Riopelle, Scott Tarulli, Harry E. Toole, Maurice Toole Robinson, Tanya Washburn, Kendra West

“Serein” Cast Credits:

Laura Menzie as Anna
Erin Brehm as Samantha
Johnny Lee Davenport as Sebastian
Daniel Gelinas as Viewer
Cristina Moody as Viewer
Maria Natapov as Viewer
Chuck Schwager as Viewer
Marnie Hall as Resistance Member
Craig Houk as Resistance Member
Tyler Jung as Resistance Member
Sarah Johnson as Resistance Member
Brian King as Resistance Member
Ken Randall as Resistance Member
Olivia Rizzo as Resistance Member
Ramona Taj as Resistance Member
Stephen Wrobleski as Resistance Member
Kathy Brophy as Volunteer
Sean Brown as Volunteer
Lauren Foster as Volunteer