Photo Content from Cory Wexler Grant
CORY WEXLER GRANT is an actor, writer, director and producer. He spent his formative years in San Francisco and Chicago, but moved to New York permanently after being accepted into NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Cory graduated with a BFA in acting, and has worked for the last 20 years as an actor. Cory started a theater production company in 2001, and began writing, directing, and producing original theatrical works: 3 plays, and 2 musicals. Cory wrote and directed his first feature film, PAINTER, completed in 2019. Cory lives in Greenwich Village with his husband, his son, and a brand new daughter. He has several other screenplays in development.
JEANBOOKNERD PODCAST 2020: SEASON 2 EPISODE 33
GUEST: CORY WEXLER GRANT
For my first feature film as a writer / director, it was most important to tell a provocative, original story, and tell it beautifully. I wanted this film to be an exercise in classic movie making and storytelling. It was more important for me, with only 16 days to shoot, and a small production budget, to execute precisely the vision I had in my head as I wrote PAINTER. I believe we succeeded. I think our movie is bold and beautiful with a distinct point of view.
I wanted to write a script that actors would want to perform, with characters that were complicated, psychologically fraught, and nuanced - particularly one with a strong, complex, female character. I was so thrilled to amass a cast of consummate professionals that were excited about creating this dark world with me, and a crew that was willing to do the same. I can’t thank them all enough.
Photo Content from Cory Wexler Grant
ON HIS BROADWAY BACKGROUND
I grew up performing in plays and musicals since I was six years old, and was lucky enough to study at The Piven Theater Workshop in Evanston, Illinois with the late, brilliant Byrne Piven - John and Joan Cusack were trained there along with Jeremy Piven, Lilli Taylor, and many other Chicago luminaries. I also went to New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, which had an unrivaled arts program, New Trier not only allowed me not only to be an actor but also a director. That experience was entirely formative to my understanding of writing, acting, and craft. By the time I was accepted to NYU Tisch School of the Arts, I had been in more than 50 plays and musicals.
Once I graduated from NYU, I started a theater production company with a great friend which produced several plays and musicals - The Lightning Field by David Ozanich (which won a GLAAD AWARD, generous reviews from the New York Times, and a subsequent production in London), CUTMAN (a boxing musical, which received a full production at Goodspeed Musicals), and DERMA (a musical currently in development to become a feature film). As an actor, I spent several years post-college touring in theater productions and acting in regional theater. And at 28, I was lucky enough to join the cast of JERSEY BOYS on Broadway playing the lead role of Frankie Valli for three years - a phenomenal experience and a dream come true for me. Simultaneously, alongside my acting career, and quite secretly, I started writing screenplays I hoped to direct one day. After leaving the cast of JERSEY BOYS, my brother, Jordan Grant, and I quietly started a film production company, but it wasn't until I met my producer and friend Alex Wenger that we actually started work on our first film, PAINTER.
Joanne Marco, a wealthy art collector and benefactor, has been searching for an artistic genius. When she discovers a young, unknown painter named Aldis Browne, she becomes obsessed and determined to force his success. Joanne invites Aldis to move into her mansion where she can foster his talent. When Aldis' first solo show is deemed a critical failure, Aldis flees the city. But Joanne lures him back with a frightening gift from his past.
Betsy Randle is an American television actress most well known for her role as Amy Matthews on the long running show, “Boy Meets World”. As well, she made numerous guest starring appearances on the hit TV shows, “Home Improvement” and “Charmed.” She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the suburb of Glenview. She graduated from New Trier High School and the University of Kansas. Betsy is the mother of two children, Jessica and Aaron.
ERIC LADIN | “ALDIS BROWNE”
Eric Ladin was born and raised in Houston, Texas before moving to Los Angeles to study theatre at The University of Southern California. His love for acting started in high school but was solidified at USC where he earned a BA in Theatre. His film and television career took off shortly thereafter with a breakout role in HBO's hard hitting, topical miniseries "Generation Kill" and continued with recurring roles on "Mad Men" and "Big Love". He has continued to work on cable television in some of the most critically acclaimed shows such as "The Killing", "Boardwalk Empire" & "The Brink", and most recently “For All Man Kind”, “Bosch”, and “The Right Stuff”. Eric resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and children.
CASEY DEIDRICK | “RYAN WEST”
Casey Deidrick can currently (2019) be seen starring on The CW's hit new series In The Dark. Casey co-starred in the popular MTV series Teen Wolf. He also starred in the psychological thriller pilot/movie A Midsummer Nightmare, a modern-day take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which aired on the Lifetime Channel. Casey's other recent roles include starring opposite Victoria Justice in MTV's drama-thriller series Eye Candy. Casey played the role of Chad DiMera on NBC's top-rated daytime drama, Days of Our Lives for four years.
Joanne Marco, a wealthy art collector and benefactor, has been searching for an artistic genius. When she discovers a young, unknown painter named Aldis Browne, she becomes obsessed and determined to force his success. Joanne invites Aldis to move into her mansion where she can foster his talent. When Aldis' first solo show is deemed a critical failure, Aldis flees the city. But Joanne lures him back with a frightening gift from his past.
ABOUT THE CASTS
BETSY RANDLE | “JOANNE” Betsy Randle is an American television actress most well known for her role as Amy Matthews on the long running show, “Boy Meets World”. As well, she made numerous guest starring appearances on the hit TV shows, “Home Improvement” and “Charmed.” She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in the suburb of Glenview. She graduated from New Trier High School and the University of Kansas. Betsy is the mother of two children, Jessica and Aaron.
ERIC LADIN | “ALDIS BROWNE”
Eric Ladin was born and raised in Houston, Texas before moving to Los Angeles to study theatre at The University of Southern California. His love for acting started in high school but was solidified at USC where he earned a BA in Theatre. His film and television career took off shortly thereafter with a breakout role in HBO's hard hitting, topical miniseries "Generation Kill" and continued with recurring roles on "Mad Men" and "Big Love". He has continued to work on cable television in some of the most critically acclaimed shows such as "The Killing", "Boardwalk Empire" & "The Brink", and most recently “For All Man Kind”, “Bosch”, and “The Right Stuff”. Eric resides in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and children.
CASEY DEIDRICK | “RYAN WEST”
Casey Deidrick can currently (2019) be seen starring on The CW's hit new series In The Dark. Casey co-starred in the popular MTV series Teen Wolf. He also starred in the psychological thriller pilot/movie A Midsummer Nightmare, a modern-day take on Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" which aired on the Lifetime Channel. Casey's other recent roles include starring opposite Victoria Justice in MTV's drama-thriller series Eye Candy. Casey played the role of Chad DiMera on NBC's top-rated daytime drama, Days of Our Lives for four years.
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