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Ellen GersteinEllen GersteinActor. Director. Writer.
“My mission is to connect people so they do not feel isolated; so they
feel part of society. I do this through film, television, and theater by using diversity and a sense of humanity. I love story telling and was raised in a family that had the incredible gift of humor! That is what got us through . . . So with all my passion . . . I walk, trudge, skip, and jump telling heartfelt stories about
every day heroes with an accent of humor.”
Known to many as a familiar face and accomplished actress, Ellen Gerstein is a multi-faceted artist working across the platforms of acting, producing, writing, and directing, who won the Robert Proski Character Actor Award 2016. She has received numerous international awards for her filmmaking. Gerstein is well respected in the entertainment industry, a member of the prestigious organizations: Women in Film, Alliance of Women Directors, LA Film Team, The Actors Studio, and SAG-AFTRA. She is an ongoing judge for The Actors Studio Audition Committee, the Roy W. Dean Film Makers Grant, as well as many film festivals and programs including The Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase, and the Film Consortium San Diego & SD Film Awards.
Gerstein uses her humor, dedication and passion to hone her craft of acting, in theatre, film, and television. She has worked with prestigious directors such as Martin Scorsese, Mark Rydell, Mimi Leder, and Rob Marshall to name a few. Some of the actors she has worked with are Robert DeNiro, AI Pacino, Ted Dansen, John Hurt, James Franco, Kathy Bates, Danny Divito, Alfred Molina, Lainie Kazan, and many more. With acting credits a mile-long, Ellen’s talent can be seen in such projects as, Interior Night, America is Still the Place, Swelter, Treasure Of The Black Jaguar, James Dean Story, Murder of Crows, and Annie. Gerstein recurs as Aunt Rande on Showtime’s hit series, Shameless, and recurred as Tina on ABC’s, The Whole Truth and appears as Lillian on Fresh Off The Boat.
As a producer, writer, and director, credits include her international award winning short film, Waiting For Ronald, an inspiring story of a mentally challenged man creating a new independent life. Her passion for diversity led her to create an award winning blended cast. Her international award winning short film, Come Away With Me, which she adapted, produced, directed, and starred in, is about an interracial couple torn apart by war and social pressure who try to rekindle their romance years later. This film sheds light on the trials that war heroes and loved ones face when confronted
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Sylvia’s Just Sayin’Twitter: @SylviaJustSayin
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by Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease. Ellen was so inspired by Anne and Michael's love story she wrote the original song, Come Away With Me Tonight, as their 60's love song and produced and directed the music video. Her passion for diversity inspired her to make a documentary, The Making of Come Away With Me, discussing disabilities and highlighting her all women production team. The film continues to have tremendous success at film festivals around the world. Her feature script, Just South of Normal, achieved critical acclaim winning the Roy W. Dean Screenwriting Grant. She co-wrote and starred in the short film, Silent Laughter, out of the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women. She brought her experience as a licensed psychotherapist and stand-up comic to the stage as well, writing and starring in her one-woman show, My Psychotherapy Comeback Tour, which was a semi-finalist in the Samuel French Short Play Contest. She also co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed and starred in the award winning interactive play, Club Disco, which ran for eight months at the Lillian Theatre. And if all of this isn’t enough, Gerstein currently stars in her self-created comedy web series, Sylvia’s Just Sayin’, available across her social media platforms.
Her latest project is a half-hour dramedy series, The Adventures of Ronald and Edgar, in which two high functioning men with developmental disabilities show people how to take a risk in life. Adapted from her international award winning short film, Waiting for Ronald. Gerstein wrote the pilot, bible and created a sizzle reel for this very special show that represents diversity with a capital D.
Gerstein’s charisma, strength and perseverance blossomed at an early age. Growing up Ellen was lucky enough to be raised in a family with an incredible sense of humanity and humor.
I was born in The Bronx… I thought everyone was. When I was two years old I was kidnapped by my parents and taken from New York to Miami. I spent most of my childhood horseback riding and won the Florida State Championship 5 Gate Division for three consecutive years when I was 11, 12, and 13 years old. I was, and still am, the youngest person to ever hold that record in that division. I also was the Florida State Reserve Champion, in the Western Pleasure Division. At 16 I had my own business teaching horse back riding and hauling horses with my two-horse trailer (faded blue) and my old bomb Ford (faded red and white) with holes in the floor boards which I thought of as air conditioning, BETSY! I loved that car. Wish I still had her.
I went to school at The University of Georgia, where I not only majored in sociology but was the "salad girl" at Sizzler. I started a tutorial program for underprivileged kids and founded Georgia Students for Human Rights. After graduation… HELLO NEW YORK!!! I became a social worker for the NYC Department of Welfare. After six years of working and a few years of therapy, (back in the day everyone was in therapy), I decided to go for it… Do what I really wanted to do, BE AN ACTRESS!!! I auditioned for Lee Strasberg and studied with him for five years in New York and LA. I loved it! It was a tremendous acting and life experience. I have always wanted to be the best that I can be, so I also studied script analysis for many years with Stella Adler. It fueled my passion for writing.
Given the gift of humor I thought it would be fun to do stand-up…so that’s what I did. I met an unbelievable amount of people that needed a laugh and had a lot of fun! Being a multi-tasker, somewhere along the way I went to Antioch University at night and received my graduate degree in psychology. Now I could save a lot of money on therapy and just talk to myself!
I feel lucky and fortunate to live my life doing what I love; acting, writing, directing and filmmaking. I love telling stories that touch people’s hearts.
Ellen’s Story
Contact
323-791-6064
Written and Created by Ellen Gerstein
~In a Complex World Simplicity Triumphs~
The Adventures of Ronald and Edgar is a half-hour dramedy series in the vein of The Odd Couple, just a little odder. It’s about two high functioning men with developmental disabilities, who together take on the world!
AAdapted from the international award winning short lm, Waiting For Ronald, written, produced and directed by Ellen Gerstein. This is an entertaining and important show that celebrates friendship, courage and new beginnings. It will appeal to a wide audience because everyone wants to belong, just like Ronald and Edgar. The time is now for this show with a blended cast of actors with disabilities and without. It is a true example of Diversity with a capital “D”.
RRONALD WALKER (34), very tall, has never lived outside of the Belmont Canyon Center for Developmental Disabilities (BCCDD). He is a perfectionist and complete optimist. His glass is always full. Really full. The fullest! His unique way of sharing his simple wisdom makes him the, go to person for advice. Ronald has the moxie to march into a situation and solve the problem when you least expect it. He has such a charming way he could even sell you a set of World Book Encyclopedias. Ronald’s love of animals leads him to his dream job, at Paula’s Pet Store at the mall. His ambition is to be an entrepreneur and the best roommate in the whole wide world.
EDGAR GAEDGAR GARCIA (33), not tall at all, has been living on his own for 6 months since leaving BCCDD. He is highly competitive and a complete pessimist. He doesn’t know if the glass is full or not, because he is afraid to hold it, no less look inside. Needless to say, he is NOT a risk taker. Edgar organizes, re-organizes and again re-organizes his belongings, as well as Ronald’s. Edgar has a tremendous work ethic and always spouts affirmations to give him courage and keep him going. His affirmations can be found on yellow sticky papers all over the apartment. Being a foodie leads him to his dream job at Big Al’s Tasty Sandwich ShoSandwich Shop, also in the mall. The buddies meet for lunch whenever they can. His ultimate desire is to fall in love, get married and have a dog name Lassie.
Together they set out to approach life from their unique perspectives. They are coping with being roommates, work, romance, and getting through the day, like everyone else. Surrounding these two gems is a colorful cast of characters.
Writer, director, producer of the international award winning short lm Waiting For Ronald.
Writer, director, producer and starred in the international award winning short lm Come Away With Me.
The recipient of the Roy W. Dean Screenwriting Grant for Just South of Normal.
The Semi-Finalist at the Samuel French short play contest for her one-women show My Psych-Therapy Comeback Tour.
....
Come Away With MeA F i l m B y E l l e n G e r s t e i n
The international award winning short film Come
Away With Me, tells the story of an interracial couple, sweethearts in the sixties, that were torn apart by war and social pressures. After many years, Ann has the courage to go to her high school reunion in hopes of rekindling the romance with Michael—a war hero who suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Alzheimer's, but is still the love of her life.
Charlie RobinsonMac, Night CourtSergeant Jeffries, Hart of DixieBud Harper, Home ImprovementAbe Johnson, Love & War and many more.
Ellen GersteinAunt Rande, ShamelessCrazy Carol, SouthlandTina, The Whole TruthMrs. Shaneberg, Fresh Off The Boatand many more.
Hollie CavanaghTop 4, American IdolPerforms the original song, “Come Away With Me Tonight” for the film.
ContactWebsite: www.ComeAwayWithMeTheMovie.com
Twitter: @_ComeAwayWithMeFacebook: Facebook.com/ComeAwayWithMeTheMovie
The music video for the original song "Come Away With Me Tonight"
http://comeawaywithmethemovie.com/music/
The Making of Come Away With Me documentary:http://comeawaywithmethemovie.com/documentary-2/
2016Carmel International Film Festival
Gasparilla International Film Festival Sonoma International Film Festival
Athens International Film and Video Festival Hollyshorts Film Festival Cape May Film Festival
Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival Cinema New York City Film FestivalInternational Women’s Film Festival
The California Independent Film Festival Lady Filmmakers Film Festival
The Oregon Independent Film Festival Connect Film Festival
Hollyshorts May Monthly Screening
2015Diversity in Cannes Short Film Showcase
Newport Beach Film Festival Woods Hole Film Festival
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards Rhode Island International Film
Atlanta Shortsfest Toronto Independent Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival Wine Country Film Festival Hollyshorts Film Festival
Indiana Short Film Festival New York Independent Film Festival
Ojai Film Festival Red Rock Film Festival
San Jose International Short Film Festival Spotlight Short Film Awards
The Legacy Film Festival on Aging Houston WorldFest Film Festival
festivals
Come Away With MeA F i l m B y E l l e n G e r s t e i n
Awards
Waiting For RonaldA F i l m B y E l l e n G e r s t e i n
Waiting for Ronald, an international award
winning short film, is the story of a thirty-four-year-old man with developmental disabilities, who leaves the institution where he has spent most of his years, takes his suitcase, fears, and humor to meet his best friend and start a new life.
Jody ClarkRonald Walker, Waiting for Ronald
Michael LuckermanEdgar Garcia, Waiting for RonaldBen, Beverly Hills, 90210Sleazy Lawyer, The Twilight ZoneToad, Dharma & Greg
Blair Williamson Super Scotty, Waiting for RonaldCraig, ScrubsTommy Bolton, Nip/TuckRandy Traschel, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Patrick CooperAndy Miller, Waiting for RonaldJohn, 7th Heaven
Bruno Kirby Joe Russo, Waiting for RonaldYoung Clemenza, The Godfather: Part IIJess, When Harry Met Sally...Ed Furillo, City SlickersPhil Rubenstein, Entourage
And
Awards
Waiting For RonaldA F i l m B y E l l e n G e r s t e i n
www.WaitingForRonald.com
Method Fest FestivalsBeverly Hills Film Festival
Pacific Palisades Film FestivalYardFest Film Festival
Hollywood Shorts Women’s Film Festival
Perspective International Film FestivalBMW Shorts Programs
Wine Country Film FestivalBoston Film Festival
Temecula International Film FestivalPalm Springs Int. Short Film Festival
Fort Lauderdale Int Film Festival
Foyle Film Festival IrelandDirector’s View Film FestivalGarden State Film Festival
Ashland Independent Film FestivalDurango Film Festival
Newport Beach Film FestivalFilmstock International Film
Festival (UK)RiverRun International Film Festival
Abilities Festival (Canada)Thunderbird Film FestivalPicture This Film Festival
Lake Arrowhead Film Festival
Hollywood Spiritual Film FestivalPerspektiva Film Festival
Blue November Film FestivalDeberecen Filmstock Festival
Int’l Fest of Cinema and TechnologyDisability Film Festival
Woods Hole Film FestivalBrooklyn Disability Festival
IFCT ModifiedInternational Women’s Film Festival
(Italy)Film Festival Flix
Cape May Film Festival
Festivals
BroadcastWaiting for Ronald is now being broadcast on bitpixtv.com
