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, The Ascendants (novel)
Don Schechter is the writer, director, and composer of the Ascendants Anthology, the writer of the Ascendants two hour Proposed Series/Feature script, the owner of Charles River Media and Pizza Baby Films, Inc. and is a Part time 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. She is currently working with Charles River Media Group as a voiceover artist, producer, and photographer.
Trevor Chamberlain
Producer, The Ascendants Anthology
Trevor Chamberlain is a filmmaker with nearly two decades of experience in film and video production. In 2006, Trevor started freelancing for Charles River Media Group which began a mutual rewarding working relationship that continues today. Trevor is a Co-Producer on the Ascendants Anthology. Presently, he is directing an episodic documentary on mental illness. More information can be found here.
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 Signore has been working as a freelance filmmaker since graduating at The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University in 2007. He has 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, including the independent feature film The Aristocrat and the Short Film Avarice. His most recent directorial work has been the music video Congested Conjurist for Benjamin Grenville, as well as a fashion piece for Dresscode-Boston.
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. Her most prominent directorial work is a short superhero film about female empowerment entitled, “The Womanhood” (2012), which received international acclaim during it’s festival run.n.
“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