FEATURE FILM TEAM

CHRISTOPHER FOLEY

WRIter/director/Producer

Chris got distribution for his first no-budget feature, Dioscuri, after finishing his Film Masters Degree. He has sold/optioned three feature scripts and has won numerous Screenwriting awards, including first place at Worldfest and semi-finalist at the Academy’s Nicholl Fellowship.

Chris spent a decade in Los Angeles as AD, UPM, and Editor before working full-time at Country Music Television. He has written, directed and produced hundreds of commercials and marketing videos for clients ranging from the Milwaukee Brewers to Toro Lawnmowers. Chris has taught Film and Screenwriting at Tennessee State University and Nashville Film Institute.

Writer’s Statement

“Many people find it odd to see an Irish guy from western New York taking up the story of a slave from Missouri. I may not be the obvious choice to tell Father Gus’ tale, but it is a narrative that has been on my heart for nearly a decade. He and I don’t have skin color in common, but we have something far more important - our Faith. The word catholic means universal, and that is the nature of this movie - something in which EVERYONE can find meaning and relevance.

Today, I see my country torn by racial strife and my church burned by scandal. Now is the time to promote the story of a man whose example shows us how to deal with these exact issues. Speaking across 150 years of time, Father Gus prays us to meet hatred head-on… with patience, strength and love.”

-Christopher Foley

CLARENCE GILYARD

Producer/ACTOR

Clarence is well known for his iconic roles in front of the camera in both Die Hard and Top Gun. And a generation remembers him for his long-running stints on Walker, Texas Ranger and Matlock.

He also brought extensive producing and directing

experience to the table when he came on as a Professor at the College of Fine Arts at UNLV.

As an advisor to the U.S. Catholic Bishops Communication Committee, Clarence is uniquely qualified to bring this story to life. He has spoken at Pope Francis’ World Youth Day and serves on the board of Holy Cross Ministries.

Luke taylor

Producer

Luke Taylor is the co-founder and COO of both Buffalo 8 and BondIt Media Capital. He oversees the financing operations and client management of both businesses on a daily basis. Since inception, BondIt has closed over 200 financing transactions and has scaled into a premiere alternative lender in the film / media space.

Luke has managed multimillion dollar productions, overseen high level film finance deals, and served as Executive Producer on award winning films that have premiered at Sundance, Berlin, and SXSW. Recent credits include Little Men (Ira Sachs directed, Magnolia distributed,) Rodney King (Spike Lee directed, Netflix Original,) and The Con Is On (starring Uma Thurman & Tim Roth).

BISHOP JOSEPH PERRY

HISTORICAL CONSULTANT

Bishop Perry grew up in Chicago and graduated from to St. Lawrence Seminary High School. At Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana, he obtained two B.A. degrees in Philosophy and Theology, as well as a minor in Education. Perry obtained a Master of Divinity from St. Francis Seminary in 1975 and was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 1975.

For over twenty years, he served as a priest in Wisconsin until his ordination as a bishop in 1998. He was then named the episcopal vicar for Vicariate VI of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Perry is a member of the National Black Catholic Congress, being vice-president of that organization's board. He is the national chaplain for the Knights of St. Peter Claver, has been an episcopal for Catechetics and Liturgical Training Publications, and is a judge sitting on the Court of Appeals. In recent years, Perry has become postulator of Father Tolton’s cause for sainthood. As such, he hasd done years of detailed historical research on Tolton, and is considered the leading expert on the man who will likely become the first African American saint.

“Watching the short film ‘Across’ was a very emotional experience for me. Chris has done a wonderful job bringing Father Gus to life. I am so excited to have a committed Catholic telling this vital story and I look forward to see what he does with the feature film.”

-Bishop Joseph Perry of Chicago, Postulator for the Sainthood of Father Tolton

ALEXIS WALKENSTEIN

MARKETING

Alexis Walkenstein is an Emmy Award winning TV journalist turned film producer and PR pro in Los Angeles. After covering murders, fires, the Kennedys, Super Bowls, the sex abuse in the Catholic Church and the death and funeral of now Saint John Paul II, Alexis became the chief spokesperson for Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito in the Diocese of Palm Beach.

Alexis left her mainstream career behind for a diocesan communications role where her passion for her faith could make an impact. In the Diocese of Palm Beach, she managed crisis communications for the largest financial embezzlement criminal investigation in U.S. Church history. After five years in that leadership role, Alexis began to work in the faith based film industry and has worked on over 25 movies in nearly ten years.

She is a co-producer on the 2019 released movie Unplanned and is currently marketing and promoting international release efforts. Other film projects include: I Can Only Imagine, The Shack, Paul: Apostle of Christ, Breakthrough, Little Boy, For Greater Glory, Soul Surfer, The Way, The Mighty Macs, Mully, By the Grace of God, and Blind Eyes Opened to name a few. Alexis hosts Mary's Touch, a national Catholic radio show airing on 60 radio stations around the U.S and world. Alexis frequently appears on EWTN and Relevant Radio.

She currently resides in Los Angeles where she runs her own media and marketing business promoting movies, authors, personalities and causes.

AURIC STEELE

LEGAL

Auric Steele, a native of Toronto, Canada, is an intellectual property and entertainment attorney licensed to practice in the major media centers of Los Angeles, Atlanta and New York City. Auric’s experience includes state and federal litigation and transactional representation in the jurisdictions in which he practices.

Working in development, production and distributiion,
some of his recent credits include Beneath the Leaves
(Mira Sorvino,) Bereavement (Michael Biehn,) and Ring Ring (Lou Ferrigno.) In keeping with his background in Music and the Arts, Auric views creativity as a necessary quality for any successful attorney.

SHORT FILM CREW

Our Crew

Across is a story that had been buzzing around in Writer/Director/Producer Christopher Foley's head for about three years.  When the script was done, Chris turned to his old friend, Producer Matthew Cameron, to get the cameras rolling.  Matt and Chris met at Christendom College and traveled the world together in the 1990s.  But the last time they made a movie together was almost 20 years ago. 

When Matt was diagnosed with Stage IV Cancer in 2017, they decided to re-unite for this very special film.  Matt's production company, Stormlight Pictures co-produced with Chris' Bolder Pictures.  

Heading up the team behind Chris and Matt were Director of Photography Logen Christopher and Assistant Director Corey Rich - Matt's partners at Stormlight. 

Together Chris, Matt, Logen, and Corey put together an incredible group of film artisans.  Although Matt passed away during post-production of the short, the ongoing endeavor to produce the feature film is done in remembrance of him.

CREDITS FOR THE SHORT FILM

Written and Directed by Christopher Foley
Producers: Christopher Foley, Matthew Cameron, Logen Christopher and Corey Rich
Executive Producers: Christopher and Mary Beth Foley, Dave and Karen Iveson, Andrew and Chrissy Youngblood
Associate Producers: Sean and Mary Lou Loftus, Patricia Messineo, Fabian and Kathryn Sriwardene
Director of Photography: Logen Christopher
Editing: Christopher Foley
Music Composition: Aaron Trimble

Gus: Jaylon Gordon
Martha: Nina Hibbler-Webster
Charley: Roman Evans
Peter: Rashad Rayford
George: Dan Michael
Mr. Elliot: Nathan Lee Lewis
Mrs. Elliot: Susannah Devereux
Annie: Zyra Watkins
Young Yank: Cameron Bortz
Father Benoit: Rob Wilds
Union Sergeant: Freddy Lynn Wilson
Muscled Slave: Jeremy Miller
Auctioneers: Curt Fields, Jack Garratt
Rebels: Jeff Williams, Dennis Bagwell, Drew Scholes
Yankees: Tyler Steppee, Lonnie Brown, Bob Bell, Michael Jones, Austin Dubuc, Shannon Bagwell
Slaves: Angelo Tate, Tammy Evans, Ransom Evans, Johnnie Gordon Sr
Paddy Roller: Myers Brown
Wagon Drivers: Bill Glidden, Matthew Cameron

First Assistant Director: Corey Rich
Second Assistant Director: Joanna Kirkova
Art Department: Susan Page, Megan Grisham
Wardrobe: Yoshie Lewis, Lucy Scherrer
Assistant Camera: Logan Michael, Braden Winfree
Gaffer: Derek Cameron
Script Supervisor: Tiffany Stephenson
Grip / Electric / PA: Michael Hamm, Jack Garratt, Dax Araya, Noah Woodard
Sound: Tony Peccorini
Hair/Makeup: Jennifer Whitus
Wrangler: Bill Glidden
Stunts: Otis Steele
Aerial Camera: Kevin Fell
Medics: Dylan Pine, Jeremy Tosh
Lifeguard: Chance Cuthbert
RV: Bill Rush
Row Boat: Allen Muhlbauer
Location Assistance: Josh Walsh, Mike Rayburn, Pam Perdue Pace, Jimmy Campbell, Shannon Killian, Ron Shuff, Carl Thompson, Father Michael Penn, Bill Glidden

Assistant Editor / DIT: Robert Spitz