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Stu
Christina
Monika
Matt
Jennifer
Nick
Rebekah
Chris
Peter
Terry

THE BEST INDIE CREW ON THE PLANET!
Meet just a few of the wonderful collection of artisans, technicians, and just plain hard-workers who helped make the production of KEEP YOUR DISTANCE run so smoothly.

STU POLLARD, Writer/Director/Producer		Bio	Credits
CHRISTINA VAROTSIS, Producer		Bio	Credits
MONIKA MIKKELSEN, Casting Director		Bio	Credits
MATTHEW IRVING, Director of Photography		Bio	Credits
JENNIFER SIMS, Co-Producer		Bio	Credits
NICK RIERA, Production Designer		Bio	Credits
REBEKA WIEST, Costume Designer		Bio	Credits
CHRIS ANDERSON, Composer		Bio	Credits
PETER BROWN, Sound Designer		Bio	Credits
TERRY KELLEY, Editor		Bio	Credits

	STU POLLARD, Writer/Director/Producer Stu made his feature film debut in 2000, with NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE. A romantic comedy about the dating scene in Louisville, the independent production has been broadcast in over a dozen countries worldwide and recently completed an 18-month run on HBO. Available nationwide on DVD, the film has enjoyed tremendous popularity at Hollywood Video and Netflix.com, garnering press coverage from USA Today, Time, and Variety. The film is presently airing on WE this fall and will be televised in the U.S. through 2016. A native of Louisville, KY, Stu attended Kentucky Country Day and Georgetown University. He spent three years working for New York's McCann-Erickson advertising before moving to Los Angeles to attend USC Film School. He splits time between Louisville and Santa Monica.
	CHRISTINA VAROTSIS, Producer Based in Chicago, IL, Christina has produced a variety of independent projects, music videos, and commercials since redirecting her career from marketing to filmmaking over 6 years ago. Her recent film credits as Line Producer/Production Manager include, BROTHER 2, by award-winning Russian filmmaker Alexei Balabanov, KWIK STOP, official selesction at the Los Angeles and Chicago international film festivals, and BALL IN THE HOUSE, produced by Redeemable Features and starring Jonathan Tucker, David Strathairn, and Jennifer Tilly. Last year, she completed Project Greenlight's STOLEN SUMMER, produced by Live Planet and Miramax, and most recently wrapped UNCLE NINO, featuring Joe Montegna, Anne Archer, and Travor Morgan. Her first digital effort, SLAVE, is currently in post-production. Christina has been on the board of the Independent Feature Project/Chicago since 1997. Back to Top.
	MONIKA MIKKELSEN, Casting Director A California native, Monika graduated from UCLA and has been involved in casting for over ten years. Her list of credits include high profile features such as SERVING SARA with Elizabeth Hurley and Matthew Perry, DRIVEN starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds, THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL, starring Mel Gibson and Jimmy Smits, and NURSE BETTY, for which Renee Zelwegger won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy. Monika has also cast a number of critically acclaimed independent films, including LOVE LIZA starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Oscar winner Kathy Bates. LOVE LIZA played at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and enjoyed a theatrical release. Back to Top.
	MATTHEW IRVING, Director of Photography Matt has shot numerous award-winning short films and features. He lensed Lumiere Films' THE MAGIC OF MARCIANO, starring Nastassja Kinski and Robert Forster, which won the New American Cinema Award at the 2000 Seattle International Film Festival, and received unanimous critical acclaim at the 2000 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival. GROOVE--a smash indie hit--was one of the first acquisitions at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. These critically acclaimed films have become calling cards for Matt, highlighting his style of precise framing and camera movement, and acute attention to color, lighting, and texture. FILMMAKER MAGAZINE named Matthew as one of the twenty-five new faces in independent film. Matthew grew up in Mountain Lakes, New Jersey, before migrating to California to attend Stanford University. He earned his MFA in the film production program at USC's School of Cinema & Television. Back to Top.
	JENNIFER SIMS, Co-Producer KEEP YOUR DISTANCE is Jennifer Sims' second independent feature working alongside Stu Pollard. She joined the crew of NICE GUYS SLEEP ALONE as the assistant production coordinator. Her credits include SIMPATICO, starring Nick Nolte and Sharon Stone, and THE CHRISTOPHER LOWELL SHOW for the Discovery Channel. A graduate of SMU's Meadows School of the Arts, Jennifer was born and raised in Kentucky, and currently resides in Los Angeles. Back to Top.
	NICK RIERA, Production Designer A native of New Zealand, Nick joins us following immense success as prop buyer for Peter Jackson's epic adaptation of Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy. Shot concurrently, the three films are recognized all over the world as masterpieces of cinema and storytelling, due in large part to the loving attention to detail in regards to props and sets. Nick has worked extensively throughout New Zealand and the world. Other credits include Meet the Feebles and The Legend of William Tell. Back to Top.
	REBEKAH WIEST, Costume Designer Chicago based costume designer Rebekah Wiest has a large and varied body of work, which spans wardrobe and art departments. Recent credits include MILWAUKEE MINNESOTA for Alan Mendel, BAREFOOT TO JERUSALEM for Nietzka Keene, and BALL IN THE HOUSE for Tanya Wexler. She has also designed national ad campaigns for Starbucks, Nokia, McDonald's, and many, many more. Back to Top.
	CHRIS ANDERSON, Composer A veteran film composer with over 40 feature films to his credit, Chris holds degrees in musical composition from Hampshire College and USC. His credits include the critically acclaimed Wake, Sundance selection Treasure Island, and the indie cult hit F-Stops. In addition to his cinematic work, Chris is a critically acclaimed musician, and has been a featured guest artist for Grammy winner Dave Alvins, Rosie Florez, and Big Sandy & his Fly-Rite Boys. Back to Top.
	PETER BROWN, Sound Designer A native of Westchester, NY and a graduate of USC Film School, Peter has been working professionally as a sound designer and editor for over a decade. His credits include studio blockbusters such as AMERICAN WEDDING, TERMINATOR 3, and SPIDERMAN, as well as high-profile independents like SPELLBOUND and THE CONTENDER. He is presently working on FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, which stars Dennis Quaid, Giovanni Ribisi, and Miranda Otto. Back to Top.
	TERRY KELLEY, Editor A film veteran, Terry has been working in film and television since 1983. Keep Your Distance is the Terry’s second collaboration with director Stu Pollard, having cut Nice Guys Sleep Alone in 1999. His other feature credits include Shut Up and Kiss Me, Sweethearts, Beavis and Butthead Do America, and television’s Seven Days. Back to Top.