WRITER: CYNTHIA CURNAN, PH.D

Cynthia Curnan is a published author and accomplished screenwriter. Prior to writing ROAD TO HELL she wrote INVASION aka INFECTION and COOL AIR. Both feature films are in the horror genre.  INVASION, released by Lions Gate, is described as a "riveting experiment in horror" and COOL AIR is an adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's short story of the same title. 

Her screenplay, TALES OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE is scheduled to being principal photography in the fall of 2008. She is also working on a sequel to Albert Pyun’s cult hit, MEAN GUNS.

Cynthia wrote the acclaimed non-fiction work, The Care and Feeding of Perfectionists. Prior to her writing career she was a licensed psychotherapist practicing in Los Angeles until the end of 1999. She received her Ph.D. from Ryokan College.

She has also worked as a mental health professional in city and county jails and within the criminal justice system. She developed a program, Fresh Start, which assists inmates suffering from mental illness and substance addiction to receive the services necessary for successful transition from jail back into their communities.

Cynthia was born and raised in San Francisco. She currently resides near Seattle, Washington with her family. She has recently completed an autobiographical screenplay, LOOKOUT.

Cynthia enjoys applying her knowledge of psychology to craft darkly twisted stories and characters.

DIRECTOR: ALBERT PYUN

Filmmaker Albert Pyun has directed over 45 features, beginning with the 1982 action-adventure film, THE SWORD AND SORCERER, which still ranks as one of the top grossing independent films of all time.  It was re-released by Anchor Bay on DVD in 2001 and continues to enjoy screenings at conventions and festivals around the world. He followed with the highly original RADIOACTIVE DREAMS which won the top prize as Best Picture at the Brussels International Film Festival of Fantasy (BIFFF).

Pyun began making films in Kailua, Hawaii, where he wrote, directed and produced 16mm short films. Several of these were entered into film festivals and he won the Hawaii International Film Festival before moving to Los Angeles to begin his film career in earnest. Following high school, Pyun traveled to Japan where he served an apprenticeship with Master Director Akira Kurasawa and acclaimed cinematographer Takao Saito under the sponsorship of Japanese actor, Toshiro Mifune.

The filmmaker is known for twisted futuristic action films. He says he makes movies for 14 year-olds, his age when he made his first movie. Although pursued by the studios, Pyun has chosen to work primarily in the independent community free from interference. Continually faced with challenges to secure sufficient film financing, Pyun became highly inventive about how to make the very most of disappearing film budgets.

Pyun has directed such internationally acclaimed talent as Steven Seagal, Jean Claude Van Damme, Christopher Lambert, Dennis Hopper, Charlie Sheen, Rob Lowe, Burt Reynolds, Natasha Henstridge (“Species”), Rutger Hauer, Thomas Jane, Andrew Dice Clay, Darren McGavin, Ned Beatty, Tom Sizemore, Gary Lewis (“Gangs of New York, Billy Elliot”), Jackie Earle Haley (“Little Children”), John Lithgow, Cary Tagawa, Brion James, Lance Henriksen, Kris Kristofferson, Robert Patrick, Seth Green, Mario Van Peebles, Peter Boyle, Courtney Cox, Carrie Lowell, Jaime Pressly, and Teri Hatcher. 

 He brings a unique stylistic approach to each film, and is known for his blistering action set pieces as well as successfully combining several genres in his films. Always looking to push the technological and creative edge, Pyun, in the 90’s, directed three all digital urban films with rap superstars, Snoop Dogg, Big Punisher, Nas, Chilli, and Ice T.  He endeavors to do something new that he’s never done before in all of his films.

Pyun’s recent projects include INVASION aka INFECTION, a horror feature filmed in one single shot, released by Lions Gate (2007) , which won Best Movie and Best Director at Spain’s Estepona International Festival of Fantasy (2005) and LEFT FOR DEAD, a horror/spaghetti western, released by Grindstone (2008) that won Best Director in Estepona (2007).

COOL AIR, an adaptation of H.P. Lovecrafts’ short story of the same title and BULLETFACE, a thriller, are both in postproduction.  ROAD TO HELL, starring Michael Pare`, also in post production, is scheduled to be released late 2008.

TALES OF AN ANCIENT EMPIRE and MEAN GUNS 2 are in development and scheduled to begin principal photography fall of 2008.

Filmmakers from around the world claim Albert Pyun’s influence on their work and careers.
He has filmed on every continent in the world.

 DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES CARL HAGOPIAN

As a teenage musician, Jim was blown away by Stanley Kubrick's “2001” screening at the incredible Hollywood Pacific Theatre. That journey into space and beyond inspired him to follow Kubrick’s lead by studying photography.

In a strange twist of fate, many years later, the first film he DP’d, screened at that very same iconic Hollywood Pacific Theatre. It had become the Entertainment Technology Center. The film was Michael Bayouth’s "Trial and Error" shot in 2001, starring Rick Overton, with appearances by Dave Thomas and Tom Wilson.

Jim attended Art Center College of Design with a split major of cinema and photography. He simultaneously worked on a number of USC student films and other independent feature films in various capacities. Including Don Coscarelli's "Jim, The World's Greatest" starring Gregory Harrison.

Jim’s renowned photography career has spanned over 3 decades shooting CD Covers, Ads, Posters, and Billboards of subjects including The Doobie Brothers, Toto, Bob Welch, David Lee Roth, Steve Vai, Rosanna Arquette, Liza Minelli, Robert Duvall, Rachel Ward, John Savage, Quincy Jones, Comic Relief (Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal) and the Blue Man Group.

He's shot assignments for numerous clients including Ludwig drums, Tama drums, Fender guitars, Ibanez guitars, JBL speakers, Roland US, Yamaha Corp US, Kenwood Electronics for D'Arcy-McManus and Mazda for Leo Burnett.

Since then Jim has shot "Man of The Year" starring the late John Ritter, The Bliss Productions documentary "Musical Journey to Freedom”, and Albert Pyun's Lions Gate release “Invasion”. “Cool Air” and “Bulletface”, are both in post production. Jim’s most recent projects include Randal Fontana’s “Venice Boardwalk Series” and “Road to Hell’ which is scheduled to be released late 2008.

COMPOSER: TONY RIPARETTI

An accomplished film composer, Tony began his music career performing in bands as a guitar player, singer and songwriter from 1968 until 1984.  During that time, he had record and publishing deals and toured with his band in the US and Europe, as well as performing as a session player for other artists.

His film score career took off in 1984 when Director Albert Pyun asked Tony to score a few scenes for the feature RADIOACTIVE DREAMS.  Since that time, Tony has collaborated with Albert Pyun on over 30 films, and has over 40 films to his overall credits.  For the film POST MORTEM Tony flew to Bratislava, Slovakia where he recorded a full 70-minute orchestral score with the Radio Slovakia Orchestra.

In addition to being a composer, Tony has expanded his film career by adding music and sound effects editing, sound designer and re-recording mixer to his resume.  All of this is accomplished in his Santa Barbara-based recording studio (Sound Logic Recording Studios).  Besides film scoring, Tony has written music for commercials, documentaries and television network series (NBC’s WIND ON WATER (1998). Tony’s most recent film scores include INVASION, released by Lions Gate, COOL AIR and BULLETFACE, both in post production.

Tony has donated many hours lending his musical/studio expertise to up-and-coming film and music students spanning a diverse cross-section (world music, hip hop, new age and rock). 

He has just completed a new album of his original music, "Not So Silent Movies".

Tony is also known as:

The Low-Budget Sound Doctor

Santa Barbara’s Tony Riparetti Makes Music for Movies You’ve Never Heard Of...more

Sound Logic Recording Studios
130 N Calle Cesar Chavez # 13
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
(805) 564-3441
t@soundlogicsb.com