Father and Daughter Team Produce Texas Film

Oct 10,2019

Ariel Michael, actor, producer, and writer plays Vera, an alien in the new film Never Alone. Directed by her father, Ronnie Michael, the film was shot in the over 100 year old “White Owl” log cabin, in Leander, Texas along Lake Travis.

The story is based on Ariel Michael’s first book, Beyond My World, from her personal journal she wrote and published in 2008 about her UFO sighting and telepathic communication with aliens back on her parent’s rural land in Katy, Texas. Ariel’s psychic awakening and curiosity inspired her to want to learn and share her knowledge with others. Later, her father would write Never Alone about an old man, Carl Hudson, whose wife has passed away years before and who meets a crash-landed alien in his backyard. Ariel Michael added scenes to the story lending her knowledge from her first book about Vera, the alien, and what their species is like and why they were here.

The story was also helped by L.A. actor, writer, director and former Houstonian, Dexter Clay who played in several Hollywood productions such as Pretty Woman and Star Trek: The Next Generation as an officer and stand-in for Michael Dorn as Lt. Worf.

(http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Dexter_Clay).

Dexter Clay is seen here directing and producing TV show Tia Pancha in Houston in 2013 with Ronnie Michael of Altruism Media. The show aired on UHF channel 61, Estrella Leberman Broadcasting.

In Never Alone, Dexter Clay added his own special humor in crafting the character personality to Carl Hudson and suggested various character names. Ariel and Ron went to Big Bear Lake, California in May 2016 to visit with Dexter, and together they wrote the screenplay and shot B-roll footage around the Big Bear Lake area. By January 2017, Cristina Villacis, a promising graphic artist from Katy, Texas, began working on the 3D modeling of Vera for the film.

Alan Brent joined the team as lead actor to play Carl Hudson. A 30 year veteran in British TV and films, Alan’s experience helped everyone on set and made the film a much more collaborative process. Alan currently lives in Dallas, Texas.

Never Alone was produced by Altruism Media Production, LLC which is the company that Ronnie and Ariel Michael own and the film became their first SAG-AFTRA production. This allowed them to put out calls for local Texas talent for both SAG and non-union actors as well as California talent in Late November 2017. The production crew was also from California and Texas. Ronnie Michael, working as DP along with his production company, produced several short films with cast and crew in the Los Angeles area in 2016 and now wanted them to also help him on his new project. Ariel also helped in those productions including Martial Arts Stunt double. With cast and crew ready by January 2018, it was time to begin production for Never Alone. Since Altruism Media owned its own production equipment, the production costs were reduced and the film was shot with an 8K Red Epic-W Cinema camera with top quality Zeiss lenses and a second RED camera.

Joining the cast from left to right is Los Angeles SAG actress, Chelsea Newman and Dallas, Texas based Eleanor Threatt as Nurses Wendy and Abbey. With crew, Chelsea and Eleanor pose for their wrap-up photo.

Writer and SAG actor, Neal Gage, from Houston, Texas plays postman Henry. Neal is a theater teacher in Cypress school district.

Below, Hassan Shaheed from Houston, Texas plays the deliveryman Preston.

Rudi Lee from Austin, Texas also rounds out the cast as Carl Hudson’s wife Lisa.

Principal photography began on January 29, 2018 and finished on February 2, 2018.

Ronnie Michael directed the film and Alex Barclay was Director of Photography.

Kevyn Kimak from Houston, Texas is Assistant Camera One (AC 1) and remotely focuses the camera.

Beginning in February 2018 the film went into post production with finishing touches on computer animation, special effects, and audio. Music production for title credits was done by award-winning jazz duo, Kim Prevost and Bill Solley, from New Orleans now living in Houston, Texas. The film completed on June 12, 2018 with film score composition by award-winning film composer Rafael Fernandez-Viedma, from Seville, Spain.

Never Alone is a wonderful story dealing with issues of aging and an eternal love. The film production happened to be completed on Dexter Clay’s 62nd birthday. However, the film now is in memory of Dexter Clay who passed away August 26, 2017 before the film could be finished. At 47 minutes of run time, the film has won 23 awards and 3 nominations from film festivals from across the USA and abroad and is on the voting ballot for Oscar nomination of the 92nd Academy of Awards of Merit for a feature film.

A Statement from Director Ronnie Michael,

“Films, besides entertaining us, can sometimes inspire us to work toward solving world issues or just to be kind to our neighbors, or to appreciate the short time of having loved ones in our lives. I'm proud to help create Never Alone and with the help of cast and crew to bring it to film to remind us just how important our time together is. It is our hope you enjoy the film as much as we enjoyed making it.”

IMDB Never Alone, IMDB Ronnie Michael, IMDB Ariel Michael, IMDB Alan Brent, IMDB Chelsea Newman, IMDB Eleanor Threatt, IMDB Rudi Lee, IMDB Neal Gage, IMDB Hassan Shaheed, IMDB Rafael Fernandez-Viedma

BIO Ronnie Michael IMDB

Film Director, Never Alone (2018) Owner of Altruism Media Production company. Director of Photography, Scarlet Thorn (2016), Like Challenge (2016), A Small Big Problem(2016), Tia Pancha(2013), Wake Me Up(2014), Texas Talent TV(2011), Beyond My World(2010). Writer, The Forgotten Meek, Never Alone, Wake Me Up. Producer – Short films and TV shows. Cable programming. Produced a Beyond my world TV series for fall 2010 which aired on MSN 52 entouch.net cable in the Houston area. A radio show on KPFT aired in Sept 2010. Produced Texas Talent TV for fall 2011 which aired on cable channels AT&T Uverse 99 and Comcast 17. Tia Pancha TV series aired 2013 on UHF channel 61. Editor – Production for Films, TV, commercials, sports, arts, and talent since 1992. Computer animator since 1994. Portrait holographic photographer since 1999 including traditional glamor photography and underwater photography as scuba diver since 1975. Commercial helicopter pilot – Flying helicopters and airplanes since 1984. Flew helicopters for Warner Bros, A Perfect World, 1993 with Clint Eastwood and Kevin Costner. Flew “police chopper” in music video and piloted for various TV commercials. Flew Helicopter for aerial filming for Preacher's Daughter film.

Ariel Michael PRODUCER, CO-WRITER, VERA (SUPPORTING ACTOR) IMDb PAGE »

Ariel Michael began in theater in High school and went on to play roles in short films and do stunt work for her martial arts skills. In her latest film, Never Alone, she helped as Second Director, supporting actress, and co-writer for the film based on her true story and book, Beyond My World.

Alan Brent CARL HUDSON (LEAD ACTOR)

Born in Yorkshire England UK when Adam was the doctor and Eve was the midwife... Alan came late to Drama School in his 30's and studied at the Scottish Academy. He has worked as a professional character actor for over 30 years but has had previous agents who never updated his credits so is only now getting the recognition he has earned over the years with his American film and TV appearances.