Rogues: Production Diary

The result of an old CIA mind-control experiment gone bad, Felice Quick is on the loose and headed for junior high-school choir teacher Sam Blacker. While the crazy Felice eventually convinces Sam that she's his long-lost and thought-to-be-dead sister, she doesn't convince him that the FBI, her ex-employer, is after Sam for past crimes. Under the pressure of her psychological assaults and mind-games, Sam's peaceful afternoon turns into a soul-shattering night. The FBI agents on Felice's trail, Kane Patterson and Arlina Romano, must face their own grief-filled pasts as they dig for clues to Felice's whereabouts. The threads of child abuse and old murders weave a tapestry of mystery that are brought to light in a shocking conclusion.

How exciting! Today is my first day of shooting and I can’t wait to start! I am really excited to be part of such a great group of people! I get to run around with a badge and a gun (relax- it’s plastic) and look for the bad guys. Today, on my first day, we shot my last scene in the movie, where I find a dead body (ewww) and we resolve the whole theme. But I can’t tell you the ending! You’ll have to wait ‘til it comes out!

Ahhh, beautiful Long Beach on a hot day. But we are not at the beach, we are inside a warehouse. Today we do all the FBI and CIA office scenes. FBI, CIA, I get them both confused. Today I learn the difference between the two. FBI in inside the US and CIA is international. Hmmm, who would’ve thought.

Very cool quick scene of me running through a house with a gun in my hand. It was an easy night and we had great food from a Jewish deli. That matzo ball soup was delicious!

Today was a long day. I was on set at 9:30 in the morning. Simi Valley is about an hour away from my house. That means I was awake by 8 AM. Yeah, that’s early for me. We shot our first scene where my partner (played by Larrs Jackson) hacks into the CIA database and I find out I really don’t want to know all that information on the crazy things the government does. I leave at 12Pm for an audition in Hollywood for an animated feature film (I’d love to be a cartoon!) and then I return to Simi Valley after the audition. Tonight we shoot until 11 pm…. The crew has had a long day but they are not slowing down. It is now cold (if you can imagine the direct change in temperature in the valley!). and we are trying not to look like we are cold in front of the camera. We had pizza at midnight.. heh heh… there goes the diet!

Today was extremely hot on the set. And this time, beautiful Saturday morning, all the advertising planes happen to pass over the location. The entire scene will have to be looped in post.

The other scenes are very heavy. The past comes back to haunt my character. Hair raising scene… The director is very happy with it. If Laurel’s happy, I’m happy!

A day at a bar in Simi Valley is not as interesting as you’d think. We shot a few scenes, I played a little pool, and won three out of three games that I played. The prop guy was my first victim, then my co-star, Larrs Jackson (wonderful guy).

Today is my last day of shooting. I’m gonna miss carrying a gun around. That made me feel like a bad-ass! Ok, but the fantasy is over. Back to my life as an actress… back to other adventures in Hollywood. And my way to becoming the next female action hero! Ta-Da!

ANN TYLER ALLEN, star
"Felice Quick"

Felice Quick, the result of an old-CIA mind-control experiment gone bad, is on the loose -- with a twisted mission of her own devising.

Ann has performed in numerous film, television and theatrical productions. She has also created and showcased her own stand-up comedy routines. Ann's film and television credits include Are You Lonesome Tonight, The Day After, Plans, and The Young and the Restless; her stage credits include Funny Girl, The Music Man, Oklahoma and The Sound of Music. Before attending college Ann toured with the musical show Up With People. Delighted to be given such a challenging role, Ann studied for the complicated part of Felice for over a year. Ann lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband Paul and their two children, Andy and Alicia.

JOHN HERZOG, star
"Sam Blacker"

An amiable junior-high school choir teacher, Sam Blacker finds his peaceful afternoon shattered by Felice, who claims to be his long-lost and thought-to-be-dead sister.

John's roles have included such motion picture and television roles as the film Human Highway and the television programs Making a Living, Open All Night, The Powers of Mathew Star as well as the role of Dave Adler on One Life to Live. His main performances as an actor have centered around the theatre. He appeared as Claude, one of the two leads in the rock musical Hair for producer Michael Butler. John's performed in over forty other productions across the country in roles as diverse as Sky Masterson in Guy's and Doll's, Petruchio in Taming of the Shrew, Doc Delaney in Come Back Little Sheba, Macheath in Threepenny Opera, George in Same Time Next Year, Ben Stark in Rocket to the Moon, Laertes in Hamlet and Doc Porter in Crimes of the Heart. John is delighted to have worked with Laurel Moje Wetzork and the whole company in creating this exciting new project, Rogues.

YENI ALVAREZ, co-star
"Arlina Romano"

Arlina Romano, a newbie by-the-book FBI agent, is partnered with crusty old-timer Kane Patterson in the hopes that she'll quit. Bets are she won't last a week. Arlina finds her ice-cold demeanor begins to melt once she delves deeper into the case the she and Kane investigate.

Yeni is an actress with great versatility who has developed a successful career in television, film and stage. She starred in the successful sitcom, Los Beltran, was the sassy hostess of Miami Hoy and played Alina in the independent feature film Libertad. Yeni's passion for the art of acting keeps her drawn to independent features and she continues to expand her career and acting range with exciting and challenging projects. Her latest projects include a guest star role on Resurrection Blvd. for Showtime, roles in the films Prisoner of Fate, and In Hot Pursuit. Yeni was pleased to play Arlina Romano in Rogues. She loved playing a role that went against stereotype. Her website address is: www.yenialvarez.com.

LARRS JACKSON, co-star
"Kane Patterson"

Kane Patterson, a bottom-of-the ladder FBI agent, finds himself saddled with resentful new trainee, Arlina Romano. The two are forced into working together as partners on Kane's first in-the-field investigation in years.

Larrs started his career in the entertainment industry with The Ed Sullivan Show, American Bandstand, That Girl and The Dick Van Dyke Show. He worked with Garry Marshall in several movies such as Beaches with Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey and Nothing in Common with Tom Hanks and Jackie Gleason. He also wrote and co-produced the television show The New Sounds for KCOP in Los Angeles, which booked musical acts like Linda Ronstadt and Alice Cooper. The most recent film he worked on was The Convent with Adrian Barbou and Coolio. "I am really pleased to be a part of Rogues." states Larrs. Larrs feels the subject matter of the film is very timely, and he had a great time working with Laurel in developing the character of Kane even further.

MICHAEL-PATRICK BERNER
"Jerry Thompson"

Jerry Thompson is a junior high school choir student of Sam's. Jerry and his buddy Sarah are excited about their upcoming duet for the choir competition, and are happy to be taking private lessons from Sam.

Michael has had a career in acting from a young age. Since moving to the Los Angeles area in spring of 2002, he has appeared in the feature film The Wright Home, as a guest star on the Drew Carey Show and he co-starred on Nash Bridges." His theatrical experience involves numerous appearances in such stage plays as The T-Files at the Ivar Theatre in Hollywood, Oliver, Tommy, and A Midsummer Night's Dream and more. Michael has also done commercials, industrial films, and voice-over work. Michael's special skills and hobbies outside of acting include computer, swimming and tennis. He was really glad to have the part of Jerry in Rogues, and was also really glad to have become buddies with Courtney and her family. His website is: www.celebritykidz.com/MichaelBerner/resume.html

COURTNEY HALVERSON
"Sarah Moore"

Sarah Moore, Jerry's overly protective friend and choir duet partner, is glad to be in the duet competition.

Courtney lives in Orange County with her parents, her sister Chelsea, Scruffy the dog and Puck the parakeet. She has been entertaining anyone who would glance her way since the day she was born. She's performed in theater productions such as Annie, Guys And Dolls, Peter Pan and The Sound Of Music. So far, her most rewarding challenge on the stage has been portraying blind student Beatrice in The Miracle Worker. Sarah Moore is Courtney's first role in a feature film and she is very excited about being given this opportunity. Her website is: www.courtneyhalverson.com

REGGIE DeMORTON
"Shaman"

Shaman, a retired compatriot and old friend of Kane's, runs a nightclub. Shaman has seen and heard it all, and managed to survive.

Reggie is a recognized and respected actor whose work includes film, television, theatre, radio, music videos, and commercials. His acting experience began in a Brooklyn elementary school with ballet, a course of action his mother took to keep him off the streets and away from the gangs. He has acted in both off- and on-Broadway stage plays before moving to Hollywood in the late 70s to pursue a movie career. His acting experience includes the feature films Niche, The Ice Cream Man, and Charmed Life; the television shows Family Law, the Andy Dick Show and Downtown; and the stage plays Look Back in Anger, Tragedy of Othello, and Short Eyes. Reggie enjoyed working on Rogues. His website address is: www.ReggieDeMorton.com

SCOTT CRAWFORD
"Grant Williams"

Grant Williams is Kane Patterson's boss. Grant knows all about Kane's downward career spiral, and isn't averse to making sure it stays that way.

An actor since age seven, Scott has appeared on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway as well as on stage in Los Angeles. His performances on stage include Caesar & Cleopatra, Hedda Gabler, and Sister Mary Ignacius. He is also the recipient of five Dramalogue awards. Scott has appeared in such notable films as Raging Bull, Chapter Two, and Oddbirds. Television credits include Roseanne, Sisters, Married with Children, and Night Court as well as the soap operas As the World Turns and One Life to Live. Scott is very excited about being a part of this production.

JAMES RICH
"Philip Anderson"

Philip Anderson, partner to Grant Williams, has no time for conspiracy theorists or for those who's attitudes don't match his.

James experience includes television, stage and commercials. Rogues is James' first feature film role. He has performed on the soap opera As the World Turns, will appear in a guest-starring role on Everybody Loves Raymond this fall and has just finished filming a TV pilot. James has performed on Broadway in Saturday Night Fever and in top roles in the National Tours of Rent and Harry Belafonte. Other plays that he has acted in include Abyssimir at the John Houseman Theater and Avenue X at the Playwrights Horizons. In addition to having great acting, singing, and dancing abilities, James also writes.

MARC HART
"Travis Winter"

Travis Winter is a Texan FBI agent who, along with his superior Ray Bennett, is after Felice from the very start.

Marc's acting career encompasses feature films, television, stage and commercials. He has had roles in motion pictures that include Sign Here, Lancelot Guardian of Time and The Visit; appeared on television in NYPD Blue; and performed on stage in A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Rimers of Eldritch, and Super Bowl Sunday. Marc's current interests include playwriting, drawing, and singing. He's also a Speed Racer fanatic.

DAN COOK
"Ray Bennett"

FBI agent Ray Bennett, supposedly older and wiser than Travis, is more interested in job security than seeing cases solved.

Dan has performed in notable movies such as The Newton Boys, The Only Thrill, Tin Cup and The Dark Dancer. He has also appeared in numerous commercials. Some of Dan's other special skills include being a great dad, the imitation of many cartoon voices and doing a wicked impression of The Duke, John Wayne.

ANN BERRY
"Vera Miles"

Vera Miles is a kindly woman who holds a clue for Kane and Arlina.

Ann's acting career encompasses feature films, television and the stage. Her performances include roles in such feature films as Training Day, Score, Hot, and Gutter Rose; television shows including First Monday, The Green Hornet and The Patty Duke Show; and stage plays such as Pippin, Bells Are Ringing, How to Succeed in Business, Chapter Two, Invitation to a March and God's Favorite among many others. Ann is also a current editor and reader for the Los Angeles Radio Reading Service, a reading service for the blind and visually impaired. The director of Rogues was delighted to have Ann as part of the acting ensemble.

SCOTT BARTLETT
"Billie Bob Dixon"

At ease in "Y" Arkansas, Billie Bob's daily walk is interrupted by lost government employees. Billie Bob is happy to send them on their way.

Scott Bartlett was not only shanghaied into working on Rogues as the art department/props person for extremely long hours, he was dragged into acting in it, too. Scott has experience working both behind the scenes on film and stage sets and in front. He's worked at Knott's Berry Farm in the entertainment department as a stage combatant, train robber, staging minor falls and gun battles. Scott has performed in productions of The Diary of Anne Frank, Suddenly Last Summer, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol. His most recent work before Rogues, includes Production Assistant, Korean Language Translator and Coach on the AFI short, I Love You to Death. Rogues is the first feature film Scott has worked on as a crewmember.

The Rogues Crew

ROGUES FILMS, LLC

LAUREL MOJE WETZORK
Producer/Director/Screenwriter

Laurel graduated cum laude from USC's Cinema Film Department production track in December 1992 where she learned that lack of sleep was a prerequisite for film production majors. Her experience includes producing, directing, and writing in film and theater with minor stints as production designer, casting associate, editor, sound design and production, animation, set painter, and coffee maker. Of the three stage plays Laurel has written, one was a finalist in a national competition, another produced in Los Angeles for a non-profit theater group and the third, Sisterly Love, was the basis for the production, Rogues. Laurel's earlier training includes acting in theater and film, and also fine art, which occurred when her mother, an oil painter, handed her some brushes, paints, a canvas and said, "Go." She lives in Santa Barbara with her best friend and husband, John. Her website address is: www.mojewetzorkstudios.com or for her fine (along with two of her sisters') art, www.mojestudios.com.

JOHN WETZORK
Co-Producer

John received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Electrical Engineering. John was co-inventor and developed a patented working prototype for a high-temperature (up to 1,000 degrees Celsius) measurement device using a fiber optic cable. John has designed a cellular modem for transferring and downloading data from remote locations, among other projects. John also has a background in photography, and has his own darkroom where he has developed many of the stills for Rogues. John also designed and built the hi-tech listening device props used in Rogues.

Catherine Lane, Associate Producer/Unit Production Manager

Debbie Bolsky, Associate Producer/Publicist

Guy Livneh, Director of Photography

Farnaz Samiinia, 1st Assistant Director

Matthew Schoenfeld, Sound

Mitchell Reiter, Script Supervisor

Scott Bartlett, Art Department/prop master

David Loeb, Key Grip

Saul Herckis, Gaffer

Wael Shukha, Gaffer

Tony Matulic, 1st Assistant Cameraman

Karina Dawn Line, Composer/Lyricist

Kelly Dains, Assistant UPM

David Bear, 2nd Assistant Director

Andy Lee, 2nd Assistant Cameraman

Frank Euyoque, Asstistant Grip/Gaffer

Dan Kanes, Assistant Grip/Gaffer

Marlena Glick, Makeup Artist

Other crew members include:

Mindy Stocking
Brian Christie
Susan Kades
"Keeper"
Michael Lane