Production Team
Jeff Boerst: Producer, Director, Writer
Eric Brackett: Assistant Director, Locations Manager
Gwynievere Marlow: Production Coordinator
Wes Morgan: Assistant Production Coordinator, Property Master
Rachel Heinze: Publicist, Events Coordinator
Garren LaRue: Cinematographer
Denver Risley: Camera Operator
Mari Boning: Art Director
Amy Prince: Web Mistress
Liz Hammans: Website Designer
Jeff Boerst: Producer, Director, Writer
From the age of two, hiding behind the living room door, waiting for his two imaginary friends to finish their act so he could go on, Jeff has wanted to entertain people. After a decade of watching far too much TV, he got his own 8 mm camera with stop motion, and was hooked on creating for himself that which he loved to watch. At twenty two, he co-founded and ran visual effects for the Lyceum 23 Arts collective in Columbus, Ohio and did video work for local bands.
After taking the courses he needed to fill in the gaps of his self taught knowledge of the industry at the University of North Texas, he visited the Pacific Northwest. Once there (having always been attracted to the Cosmic Horror genre) he looked around and realized that he had found his home. "This area of the country is as (or even more so) conducive to evoking possibilities for Cosmic Horror then the East Coast for two reasons... One is that, with its scattered population, there are many many more dark crevices for aberrations to hide and take hold, and secondly, from the standpoint of modern man... this is literally the far end of the map."
Influenced by such artists as The Butthole Surfers, Survival Research Labs and David Lynch, Jeff quite enjoys making people cringe. "In extreme times, for something to function successfully as a piece of entertainment, it must have extreme sensibilities and aesthetics." Thus he's creating "Unbirthen'd".
Eric Brackett: Assistant Director, Locations Manager
A graduate of the University Of Texas with Degrees in Communication (Radio, Television and Film) And Germanic Studies. He is also a former member of the armed forces (USMC) and has the drinking habit to prove it. His dream in life was to become a director in Iceland making educational videos (or to teach Bjork how to speak English); instead he is a tattoo artist who dabbles in film from time to time, his parents are most proud.
As far as influence goes (in the literary world) he is a huge fan of Robert E. Howard, mainly his Western Works and Solomon Kane more than the Conan works; he was also hugely impacted by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Philip Jose Farmer and other Pulp writers of the late 30's - early 40's period. Also an avid reader of classic works by Phillip Morrow, Lord Byron and Edgar Allan Poe. Music has played a huge part in the construction of Eric and has influenced his writing like nothing else. Bands like The Reverend Horton Heat, Junior Brown, the Misfits and the Damned and many more have helped shape this man into the twisted soul that exists today. Film of course has had its hand in this as well, he draws influence from directors like David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock, Frank Capra, David Cronenberg and Dario Argento just to name a few. Perhaps his parents should have allowed him to watch more Disney flicks growing up instead.
Gwynievere Marlow: Production Coordinator
Its been said that most people's first impression of her is that she is assertive, spunky, with a twisted side, so here's detail as to why.
She has never had a thirst to see certain movies. When she was in third grade, her father exposed her to a horror movie written by Clive Barker, and it has forever terrorized her mind. With that, when it comes to the horror genre, she sticks to vampires, zombies and real life killers. By the age of eighteen, she had seven short works published around Oregon, had been to 38 of the states, Canada, Europe and parts of Mexico. All the while watching the world interact. By nineteen, having a nac for the "beautiful things" in life, she started designing her own clothing, confidant that one day she will do fashion for sci-fi movies. She hasn't done much in getting published lately (she is still working on her life book), her fashion... is catching on.
Wes Morgan: Assistant Production Coordinator, Property Master
Wes Morgan's first production work was in the 5th grade taking part in the 8mm production of "Little Red Riding Hood Was a Jail Bird" where Little Red took a Tommy Gun to the big bad wolf. He graduated in 1986 from the University of Oregon with a Bachelors Degree in Film and Video Production and worked at a 16mm film company for 3 years and Broadcast television for 8 years. For television he worked for 3 years in live news production, then 5 years in administration. For 16mm he worked on a science fiction drug education film in general production, designing and building of props as well as some pyrotechnic work.
Rachel Heinze: Publicist, Events Coordinator
I'm very excited about the making of Unbirthen'd. I've been working closely with Jeff Boerst and the rest of the MindSwinG Production Team. This whole project is on an artistic energy flow and every day we discover or complete a new task that helps us become closer to reaching our goal....to have a rockin' horror movie!!! We have incredible talent in Eugene and the West coast involved in all of our art, music, and overall production. A big thank you to everyone who is involved!
Garren LaRue: Cinematographer
bio coming soon
Denver Risley: Camera Operator
Born Nov. 28, 1971 Merrit Island, Fl., America's true bastion of the weird.
Grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, watching late night scary movies back when local broadcast TV was still independent.
Joined the Navy at 19 to see the world...Boy, did I! I've been to almost every country that borders the Mediterranean Sea, I've been to the U.A.E, eight islands in the Caribbean, spent much time in the triangle (nothing happened), through the Panama Canal, across the Pacific and back. I'll never be the same.
After getting out in 1997, I became a stagehand at the Brady Theatre in Tulsa where I learned the esoteric arts of light, shadow, and illusion...I didn't sign the waiver, David Copperfield, YOU PRICK! In 2003, because the theatre owner was born vastly rich and didn't care about the theatre's success, the gigs dried up and I had to get a steady job.
Two years of truck maintenance for a lawn care company drove me to virtual madness. I became a mendicant riding a bicycle west to San Francisco where I performed poetry at readings in places like Cafe Prague and Club Deluxe in the Haight. I haunted such sites as THE SALOON, SPEC'S, and the wind-tortured ruins of the SUTRO BATHS. At this point I swore I would never work a 9 to 5 job ever again!
After being stranded for a time in Pueblo, Colorado, I received an inheritance from an uncle who had died and with that sum I returned to my stagehand ways by purchasing a CANON XLH1 which I have used, with some success, to make commercials for local commerce in several states across the country.
The present finds me in Eugene, OR, where I'm using my camera and my wits to support independent art.
Mari Boning: Art Director, Designer, Sculptor, Illustrator
Mari grew up making sculptures out of crayons during elementary school, and carrying sketchbooks with her everywhere. After high school her love for illustration paled before a wide variety of other interests, but renewed alongside a fascination with systems biology. She finds that science and art tend to compliment each other. Long fascinated by surrealism, symbology, and the macabre, she relished the chance to collaborate with Jeff Boerst and Jake Bliss on the creation of monsters for Unbirth'end. She looks forward to working on future projects and is expanding her knowledge of film making technique and equipment to better contribute as an art director.
Amy Prince: Web Mistress
Amy is a vivacious woman who doesn't like being told NO. Understanding that success comes one with a strong will and
ferver, she is pursuing her dream of working from home. While enjoying website maintenance as well as mindless graphic design, her
aesthetics in layout and design are welcome to the eye and fresh looking. One of her hobbies is maintaining the Unbirthen'd Official
Newsletter, so zip her an email if you would like to get on the list.
Liz Hammans: Website Designer
bio not available
Effects Studio
Wes Morgan: Assistant Production Coordinator, Property Master
Serina Woodcock: Photographer, Sculptress and Make-up Effects Artist
Jamie Burress: Effect Studio Sculptor, Stained Glass Artist
Charlene Messer: Effects Studio Sculptor
Rose Olexa: Effects Studio Sculptor
Louis Nosce: Effects Studio Sculptor
Wes Morgan: Assistant Production Coordinator, Property Master
See Wes Morgan (above)
Serina Woodcock: Photographer, Sculptress and Make-up Effects Artist
Serina was exposed to many horrific ordeals as a child so much that it was one of the only constants she could cling to. As she grew, she became more aware of what was going on and withdrew from the people around her. She became fascinated with criminal studies and loved to watch horrific events. This is why she turned to horror movies. Serina used to want to be a crime scene photographer/evidence logger, "But you're only recording what some one else has done," she says. "Where as, doing my own little event, I wouldn't be copying any one."
Jamie Burress: Effect Studio Sculptor, Stained Glass Artist
Jamie, originally a tattoo artist from Southern California, moved to Oregon in 2003 to pursue a career in visual arts. She works in many media, and her creations include acrylic paintings, stained glass windows, fused glass pieces, clay sculptures, wood assemblages, clothing, and fiber art. Jamie has always had an interest in horror films and visual effects, and was excited to get involved with sculpting for this movie.
Her website can be found at JamieBurress.com, and her MySpace page JamieBurress.
Charlene Messer: Effects Studio Sculptor
I took 2 1/2 years of art classes at LCC. I have been an artist my entire life. I have always been interested in the gruesome, in your face aspects of art. I like the things that turn others away. I've always loved horror movies as well, so when I saw the ad requesting artists for the movie, I thought it would be a perfect opportunity for me to offer my services. H.R. Giger is my inspiration. I love his biomechanical art. It's dirty sexy fun. I saw this bumper sticker once that describes me perfectly: "I like long walks on the beach, poetry, and poking dead things with a stick."
Rose Olexa: Effects Studio Sculptor
Suckled on the boob tube I loved all the early TV a child could watch and the Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock scared me way more than any "hack em' ups" my brothers ogled over. The prospect of entering another dimension unintentionally and being the victim of a conspiracy were the creepiest. After studying ceramics at City College of San Francisco I went from classical forms to whimsical and surreal and finally produced a series of scenarios depicting the cruel irony of life. They are modeled on the Wallace and Grommit claymation style... deceptively innocent. I grabbed the opportunity to produce pieces for this sci-fi that allowed me to enter and control that other dimension and come out with cool stuff.
Louis Nosce:
Effects Studio Sculptor
Louis Nosce is a graphic designer/web geek and a new Eugenean. He makes monsters for MindSwinG, but his favorite monster is his daughter Ellie, an even newer Eugenean.
Graphic Design Studio
Shanesaw: Graphic Artist
Raul Villalobos: Graphic Artist
Zach Manitz: Graphic Artist, Photographer
Ali Risingstar: Storyboard Artist, Seamstress
Shanesaw: Graphic Artist
Past experience include numerous fliers and posters, silkscreens and album covers for local bands including "Blasphemous Abnormality"and "The Rejectors", just to name a few.
At the young age of 4 Shane remembers watching "The Manitou" at the drive in in Roseburg, Oregon in 1978, beginning a lifetime of love and devotion for the genre as a whole. Not only being an avid collector of movies and movie memorabilia, Shane has a no holds barred opinion of himself and his abilities to push to the limits his knowledge and admiration for the art form . In a tribute to all he's learned, following the horror genre, Shane is ready to give back to the viewer, ..."as I have been given over and over since the age of 4. I hope our movie will better than "The Manitou", because we don't have the budget for "Alien"... yet..."
Raul Villalobos: Graphic Artist
Raul is a conceptual artist and story boarder for the Unbirthen'd project. He enjoys working in any medium available, but currently utilizes PhotoShop as his primary means of production. Currently Raul is a fifth year English major at the University of Oregon, and has eventual plans to attend an art institute somewhere in the Northwest. He has a fascination with video game concept art, and would eventually like to land a job as concept artist with a software company.
Zach Manitz: Graphic Artist, Photographer
Ali Risingstar: Storyboard Artist, Seamstress
Actors' Corral
Kory Weimer: Actor (Joshua Wildhurst)
Robin Schurtz: Actor (Nick)
Kory Weimer: Actor
(Joshua Widhurst)
Kory has never really had a choice when it comes to acting. From a young age, when the other kids were good at sports or school, Kory was good at being other people. Either in front of a camera or in front of a live audience, Kory states these are the times he feels fully at peace. With an aspiration to attend Cal Arts and break his way into the film world, he looks forward to many many more days under the lights.
He says "Being given the chance to work on this project is a very large step in an even larger dream. I am grateful to everyone involved."
Robin Schurtz: Actor (Nick)
* The Halloween Planet (1983),as "Lord Hawkwind", Firebird Productions
* BioHazard (1983) as "Dr. Richards", American Independent Productions
* Honky-Tonky Freeway (1985) as "Robin", Universal Studios
* So You Wanna Make Movies?: The Sid Pink Story (1988) as narrator/interviewer
* Vampire Cop (1989) as "Coleman Frances", CineMacabre Productions
* Parenthood (1989) as "Robin", Imagine Entertainment
* Terminal Force (1990) as "Agent Corman", American Independent Productions
* Vampire Trailer Park (1992), as "Det. Andrew Holt", CineMondo Productions
Plus four seasons of regionally distributed (Fl.) cable television program, Dr. X's CineMONDO (1986-1990)
