Thorns - Bios

◄ Eldon Thompson, Writer – With a degree in English Literature and a graduate of the UCLA Professional Program in Screenwriting, Eldon is the author of The Legend of Asahiel, a series of epic fantasy novels published by HarperCollins. His creative work gained industry notice in 2007 when his screen adaptation of the bestselling The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks spearheaded the sale of the Shannara series to Warner Bros.

► C. Eric Powell, Editor – A 2001 graduate of the USC School of Cinema and Television, Eric cut his teeth on short-length narratives from his alma mater and the UCLA graduate program before editing trailers and TV spots at two of the industry’s most prestigious movie-marketing firms. A member of the Editor’s Guild, he has worked with, and been lauded by, the likes of Lawrence Bender (producer, Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill), Les Moonves (head of CBS), Michael King (founder of Kingworld Productions, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune), Vin di Bona (America’s Funniest Home Videos), and New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

◄ Jay Thames, Producer – A man of myriad talents, Jay debuted on the Los Angeles scene working triple-duty as writer, producer, and director of the highly praised stage production, Thames High. Soon after, he added performer to his resume in the award-winning independent feature Automatic, which he also penned and produced. His current projects include the documentary Carpet Racers and narrative features Heat Wave and Treatment with director Manu Boyer (I Trust You to Kill Me) and producer Allison Calleri (Fantastic Four 2) respectively.

► D.J. Cashmere (Pagus) – A graduate of the USC School of Theatre and recipient of the 2004 Cappie Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play, D.J.'s training has taken him as far as the British American Drama Academy under tutelage as widespread as professionals Jason Robert Brown, Barry Edelstein, Mark Wing-Davey, Joseph Hacker, Twyla Tharp, and Fiona Shaw. He has performed in London, Los Angeles, and the prestigious Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., with prominent roles in Sunday in the Park with George and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. In 2005, he co-founded the Walking Shadow Theatre Company.

◄ Richard Leighton (Cornelius) – Richard's distinguished career began at age 3 with a stint as the baby in Madame Butterfly, and, with the exception of a 4-year hiatus as a paramedic in the Vietnam-era Air Force, has continued unabated since. His stage credits include both on- and off-Broadway shows in New York, as well as a re-staging of Amadeus and two world premieres at the prestigious Hollywood Bowl. His film credits are equally numerous, with leading roles in Brown, Red Ace Cola Project, Two Nights, and Boychik. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Lisa, and children, Fran, Lilli, Whimsy, and Tabitha.

► August Fredrik (Fabius) – Born in Siegen, Germany, and an attendant of boarding school in Sweden, August brought his international talents to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, from which he graduated in 2007. Led by the unwavering and tireless support of his manager, Daniel Wojack, he has landed prominent roles in short films such as Torendion and The Last Drop, as well as a speaking role in the upcoming Ron Howard sequel Angels and Demons.

◄ Alexander DiPersia (Lucretius) – A relatively recent arrival to the Los Angeles area, Alexander has garnered a plethora of world experience since his acting debut at the age of 12. Raised in Connecticut and a graduate of Boston College, his former residences have included countries as disparate as France, Spain, and Costa Rica, as well as U.S. cities from Manhattan to Salt Lake City. From early world tours as a choir singer to dramatic film stints of today, his works include theatrical projects St. Elmo's Fire and Jeffrey Hatcher's Stage Beauty, as well as roles in studio feature films I Am Legend and David Zucker's An American Carol.

► Richard Sabine (Sallust Severus) – Born, raised, and trained in New York City, Richard sacrificed his successful business career to relocate to Los Angeles in pursuit of his acting dream. His eclectic array of performances range from Shakespeare to improvisation on the stage, from independent film to daytime soaps on media.

◄ Mario DeGasperi (Guard 1) – Born to immigrant parents in the small town of Wheeling, West Virginia, Mario put his strong work ethic to good use when he began stage acting in 1997. Since then, he has appeared in numerous short- and feature-length films to rave reviews, and continues to be a long-time member of the Repertory Theater Company, Playhouse West (a West Coast division of Sanford Meisner's “Neighborhood Playhouse”).

► Cole Schaefer (Guard 2) – Not one to tiptoe into any endeavor, Cole blasted onto the Hollywood scene with a starring role in country star Darryl Worley's #1 video “Awful Beautiful Life” in 2005, which he immediately followed up with a role in the feature film Nightmares from the Mind of Poe in 2006. Since then, he has appeared in Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh, NBC's Passions, as well as nationally-televised commercials for Verizon, ESPN, Belk's, the U.S. Army, Planter's Peanuts, and a Diet Pepsi commercial aired during the 2008 Superbowl. And, in case acting becomes too monotonous, he moonlights as a stunt performer and precision driver.