JOE  PANTOLIANO, “Elliot”/Producer

Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, JOE PANTOLIANO landed his first professional role in 1972 when he played 'Billy Bibbit' in the national touring company of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."  He worked in regional theater and has appeared in over 40 Off-Broadway productions including "Vision of Kerouac" at the Lion Theater, and "The Death Star" at the Theater of St. Clements.

In 1976, he made his move to Hollywood and appeared in the ABC series' "McNamara's Band," and "Free Country" starring Rob Reiner and was next cast him in the covetted role of 'Maggio' in the NBC miniseries "From Here to Eternity."

He returned to the stage in Los Angeles winning a Dramalogue Award and a Drama Critic's Circle Award for Best Actor in "Orphans." His second Dramalogue Award as Best Actor was received for "Italian American Reconciliation," written by John Patrick Shanley.

Pantoliano was nominated for a CableACE Award for an episode of the horror series, "Tales From the Crypt," directed by Richard Donner.  His other television credits include roles on "NYPD Blue," "L.A. Law" and "Civil Wars."  He also starred in HBO's "El Diablo," as well as the NBC series "The Fanelli Boys," and the critically acclaimed CBS drama series *EZ Streets" for which he was nominated for a Viewers for Quality Television Award.

On the big screen, Pantoliano has appeared in over 40 films including " "Risky Business," "Running Scared," "La Bamba," Stephen Speilberg's "Empire of the Sun," "Midnight Run," "The Fugitive," "Bad Boys,* "Bound" opposite Academy Award nominee Jennifer Tilly and Warner Bros. "U.S. Marshalls" with Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes.

Joe also starred in the Avi Nesher-directed drama, *Taxman,* co-starring Elizabeth Berkley, which Joe also associate produced.  The suspenseful drama received highly-acclaimed critical notice.

Pantoliano re-teamed with the Wachowski brothers to co-star opposite Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne in Warner Brothers' smash hit, "The Matrix" which has earned over one billion dollars world wide.

Joe starred in HBO's hit drama, "The Sopranos."  He portrayed gangster Ralph Cifaretto, who was "whacked" by mob boss Tony Soprano in the fourth season.  Joe won an Emmy in 2003 for this role.  Joe also starred opposite Carrie-Anne Moss and Guy Pearce in the critically acclaimed independent hit "Memento" for director Christopher Nolan. Also, Joe published his first book through Dutton Publishing in October "Who's  Sorry Now: The True Story of a Stand-up Guy," which is about growing up in Hoboken. Joe was last seen in Twentieth Century Fox's "Dare Devil" and reprised his role from the first movie in "Bad Boys 2".  Joey also made in Broadway debut in "Frankie and Johnny" opposite Rosie Perez last winter. 

Pantoliano resides in Connecticut with his wife, Nancy Sheppard and their four children.
 

JENNIFER TILLY, “Carole, with an ‘E’”

Jennifer Tilly won the International Fantasy Film Award as Best Actress for her work in “Bound,” and was nominated for an Academy Award® (Best Supporting) for “Bullets Over Broadway,” for a Saturn Award (Best Actress) for “Bride of Chucky,” for a Blockbuster Entertainment Award (Supporting Actress) for “Liar, Liar,” and for an MTV Award (Best Kiss for “Bound”) shared with Gina Gershon.  Other films include “The Getaway,” “Dancing at the Blue Iguana,” “Let it Ride,” “The Cat’s Meow,” and the voice of Celia Mae in Disney/Pixar’s animated hit, “Monsters, Inc.”  Soon she will be heard in Disney’s upcoming animated feature “Home on the Range,” as well as seen in the feature films “Jericho Mansions,” with James Cann and “Nowhere to Go But Up,” with Audrey Tautou and Justin Theroux.
 

BOYD GAINES, “Richard Sherman”

Boyd Gaines has won three Tony Awards for his work in The Heidi Chronicles, She Loves Me and Contact.  In addition he has appeared in such movies as Porky’s, I’m Not Rappaport and The Confession, and he starred opposite Valerie Bertinelli on the TV show One Day at a Time  He plays Richard in "Second Best."
 

BARBARA BARRIE, “Dorothea”

Barbara Barrie has been involved with dozens and dozens of television shows and films.  She has appeared on screen in The Bell Jar, Breaking Away, Private Benjamin and most recently 30 Days. Her television work includes Barney Miller and Suddenly Susan.  She plays Dorothea in "Second Best."
 

POLLY DRAPER, “Paula”

Polly Draper is best known for her role as Ellyn Warren on the hit TV show thirtysomething.  Her film work includes Seven Minutes in Heaven, Making Mr. Right and The Pick-Up Artist.  She wrote and produced The Tic Code, which she also starred in.  She plays Paula in "Second Best."
 

BRONSON PINCHOT, “Doc Klingenstein”

Bronson Pinchot has played a number of memorable roles on both television and screen.  He played Balki Bartokomous on TV’s Perfect Strangers and Serge in Beverly Hills Cop I and III.  In addition he has appeared in Risky Business, The Flamingo Kid, She’s Having A Baby and True Romance.  He plays Doc Klingenstein in "Second Best."
 

ERIC WEBER, Writer/Director

Eric began his career as a copywriter in advertising and has created dozens of America's best-known ad campaigns, including “Be A Pepper” for Dr. Pepper and “It’s An Up Thing” for 7-Up.  He has served as Executive Creative Director at Young & Rubicam in New York City and Foote, Cone & Belding in Chicago.

In addition to his advertising writing, Eric has written and packaged over 30 books, two of which have been made into movies:  "Separate Vacations" and "How to Pick Up Girls."

Eric wrote and directed the comedy Suits, starring Robert Klein.  Duane Byrge of The Hollywood Reporter raves, Suits is “Often deliriously funny, more than a little bawdy, a consistently entertaining work.”  Lael Loewenstein of Variety writes, “Inspired commentary on our capitalist culture.”

"Suits" was selected as an official entry in the Palm Springs International Film Festival.  It won a Silver Medal at Atlantic City, and was a finalist for Best Picture at Worldfest/Flagstaff and South Beach.

"Suits" was acquired for distribution by Taurus Entertainment in the summer of 1999 and opened in New York City that fall.  It has just completed a long run on HBO and Showtime.

"Second Best" is Eric’s second feature film.  His next project, which is currently in pre-production, is entitled "Between Friends."
 

CALLUM M. GREENE, Producer

After spending five years as a producer and stage manger of theatre in Europe, including work nominated for Guardian Prizes for Best New Work at The Edinburgh Fringe two years in a row, and productions that toured Britain, France and Germany, Callum Greene moved to New York in 1995 to concentrate on film production.

In 1996 whilst getting his MFA at Columbia University, he was awarded the Arthur Krim fellowship for Producers by James Schamus, and worked for Good Machine as an Assistant Director on projects including THE STICKY FINGERS OF TIME and LOVE GOD, and also for The Shooting Gallery on LAYIN LOW. With Bob Colesberry (producer of THE DEVIL'S OWN, MISISSIPPI BURNING, KING OF COMEDY) he Co-Produced the feature LONG TIME SINCE (Berlin Film Festival 1998; First Look Screenings 1998; Toronto 1998), starring Paulina Porizkova and Julian Sands. He also Co-Produced THE FARMHOUSE with Fred Berner (VANYA ON 42ND STREET, POLLACK) and Elaine Frontain-Bryant (SXSW Festival 1998; GenArt 1998) starring Leo Bermeister and Blythe Danner. In 1999, he Co-Produced IN THE WEEDS with Peter Glatzer, starring Eric Bogosian, Molly Ringwald and Bridget Monyahan and also line produced the New York portion of Denys Arcand's film STARDOM starring Dan Ackroyd and Frank Langella. He is currently Producer on the newest project with M.Night Shyamalan in Philadelphia, for release in the summer of 2004, and is Executive Producer on Ang Lee’s new feature BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, shooting in the summer of 2004 for Focus Features.

His line producer and UPM credits include projects for Focus Features, Miramax, Dimension, Columbia Tri-Star, This is That, Bullseye Entertainment, Foxboro Entertainment, Palm Pictures, The Shooting Gallery, Fred Berner Films, Goldheart Pictures and Alliance Atlantis, including films such as HAMLET, JANE DOE, PAID IN FULL, ANTIGONE IN NEW YORK, PIPE DREAM, BETTER LIVING, 15MOMENTS AND LOVE WALKED IN. Most recently he was the line producer on Sofia Coppola's new film, LOST IN TRANSLATION and Mike Mill’s feature debut, THUMBSUCKER, with Vincent D’Onofrio, Tilda Swinton, Vince Vaughn and Keanu Reeves.

With his business partner Anthony Katagas, their production company Keep Your Head Productions has also produced numerous music videos and commercials in The New York area for Sony Music, Toyota, Peugeot, Pepsi, Ellen Tracy, Company, Playtex, and Kaplan Education. They have also worked closely with a number of European and Canadian production companies, handling the New York portions on a variety of features and movies of the week such as NEAREST TO HEAVEN (Catherine Deneuve, William Hurt) for Tabo Tabo Films and Flach/Pyramide, THE FAVOURITE GAME for Rene Chenier and most recently RUDY (James Woods) for USA Television.

Keep Your Head Productions also premiered 3AM (starring Danny Glover, Michelle Rodriguez and Pam Grier) at Sundance 2001, a co-production with 40 Acres and A Mule and Showtime. It was Showtime's first feature to ever shoot completely in New York. Currently scheduled for release in April 2004 are both Michael Almereyda's (HAMLET, NADJA) new film HAPPY HERE AND NOW (starring David Arquette, Ally Sheedy, Gloria Ruben and Clarence Williams III) and a loose form documentary for Sam Shepard based on his latest play, THIS SO-CALLED DISASTER, starring Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and Nick Nolte.

Keep Your Head has also just completed SECOND BEST, produced with Joey Pantoliano (starring Joey Pantoliano, Jennifer Tilly, Bronson Pinchot) written and directed by Eric Weber, which premieres at Sundance 2004 (American Spectrum selection) and HOMEWORK (starring Isaach de Bankole and Paz de la Huerta), written and directed by Kevin Asher Green (Slamdance 2004).

Upcoming projects include director Ethan Hawke’s second film, THE HOTTEST STATE, which Keep Your Head is co-producing with Jason Blum. Principal photography begins in March 2004.

Callum Greene was nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit award in 2004.  THE PRODUCERS AWARD honors filmmakers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent film.
 

ANTHONY KATAGAS, Producer

In 1997, after working on a variety of independent New York-based films, Katagas began an association with Double A Films which led him to work as Assistant Director on Michael Almereyda's “The Eternal” (1998, Trimark Films, Allison Elliot and Christopher Walken) and as Production Manager on Almereyda's  “Hamlet” (1999, Miramax, with Ethan Hawke, Sam Shepard, Bill Murray).  

Late in 1999, Katagas joined partner Callum Greene to form Keep Your Head Productions, a company committed to the development, financing and production of independent films in New York City. 

Katagas’ credits over the past three years include “In The Weeds” (2000, Miramax, with Molly Ringwald, Ellen Pompeo), 3 A.M. (2000, Showtime, with Danny Glover, Pam Grier, Michelle Rodriguez) which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001 and “Next Big Thing” (Castle Hill / Curb Entertainment 2002, with Chris Eigman). 

Teaming again with Michael Almereyda, Katagas and Greene produced “Happy Here And Now” (IFC Productions, 2003, with David Arquette, Ally Sheedy, Clarence Williams III) which screened in the Toronto International Film Festival, Rotterdam International Festival, Lincoln Center's Film Comment Selects series, and in the SXSW Festival, where it was awarded a Special Jury Prize. Also for the IFC, Katagas and Greene produced THIS SO-CALLED DISASTER, a documentary (featuring Sam Shepard, Sean Penn, Nick Nolte, Woody Harrelson) which screened in the Tribeca Film Festival as well as festivals in Rotterdam and Turin. Both pictures will be distributed in 2004 by IFC Films. 

Katagas was Production Supervisor for Sofia Coppola's “Lost in Translation” (2003, Focus Features, with Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson) and has recently co-Produced “Chrystal” L (Billy Bob Thornton), debuting at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. He is Co-Producer on “Winter Passing” (2004, Focus Features, with Ed Harris, Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel). With Keep Your Head, Katagas produced “Second Best” (Joey Pantoliano and Jennifer Tilly) which will also premiere at Sundance 2004, As Well as HOMEWORK (Isaach DeBankole, Paz Del a Hurta , Slamdance 2004). Keep Your Head will produce Ethan Hawke's “The Hottest State” for IFC Productions in early 2004. 

Anthony Katagas was nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit award in 2004. THE PRODUCERS AWARD honors filmmakers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent film. 
 

KEEP YOUR HEAD PRODUCTIONS

Keep Your Head Productions was established by New York producers Callum Greene and Anthony Katagas in 1999 as an entity committed to the development, financing and completion of Independent film.

Keep Your Head has successfully completed projects with companies such as IFC Productions, Miramax, Dimension, USA Films, Focus Features, Alliance Atlantis, Flach/Pyramide, Fox Television, Regency Television, 40 Acres and A Mule Filmworks, USA Cable Network, Pressman Films, and Showtime.

Keep Your Head has also worked closely with a number of European and Canadian production companies, handling the New York portions on a variety of features and movies of the week such as NEAREST TO HEAVEN (Catherine Deneuve, William Hurt) for Tabo Tabo Films and Flach/Pyramide, THE FAVOURITE GAME for Rene Chenier and most recently RUDY (James Woods) for USA Cable Network.

Keep Your Head premiered 3AM (starring Danny Glover, Michelle Rodriguez and Pam Grier) at Sundance 2001, a co-production with 40 Acres and A Mule and Showtime. It was Showtime's first feature to ever shoot completely in New York. Currently scheduled for release in April 2004 are both Michael Almereyda's (HAMLET, NADJA) new film HAPPY HERE AND NOW (starring David Arquette, Ally Sheedy, Gloria Ruben and Clarence Williams III) and a loose form documentary for Sam Shepard based on his latest play, THIS SO-CALLED DISASTER, starring Sean Penn, Woody Harrelson, Cheech Marin and Nick Nolte.

Keep Your Head has also just completed SECOND BEST, with Joey Pantoliano (starring Joey Pantoliano, Jennifer Tilly, Bronson Pinchot) written and directed by Eric Weber, which premieres at Sundance 2004 (American Spectrum selection) and HOMEWORK (starring Isaach de Bankole and Paz de la Huerta), written and directed by Kevin Asher Green (Slamdance 2004).

Upcoming projects include director Ethan Hawke’s second film, THE HOTTEST STATE, which Keep Your Head is co-producing with Jason Blum. Principal photography begins in March 2004.

Partners Callum Greene and Anthony Katagas were nominated for an IFP Independent Spirit award in 2004.  THE PRODUCERS AWARD honors filmmakers who, despite highly limited resources, demonstrate the creativity, tenacity, and vision required to produce quality independent film.