"CHARACTER IS DESTINY"

A quirky, dark drama about a fear-driven man caught in a downward spiral of his own creation, who now has a chance to turn it around.

WRITER/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR

Sylvia Binsfeld was drawn to show business and story telling since she can remember. She did some acting, which she enjoyed immensely, but after being asked to write and co-produce an instructional video, "You're Child Can be in TV Commercials: A Step by Step Guide", she found her calling behind the camera and developing a project from ground level up. The video received rave reviews in both Billboard Magazine and the Video Librarian, and got national distribution.

After that, she went on to write, produce and direct several low-budget TV commercials, receiving the first place Telly Award for her regional commercial "Fall'n Angels:, a comic spoof for the auto body industry.

Film is her greatest love and this year she makes her directorial debut with her short film, "Character is Destiny" which she has written, produced, directed and acts in.

What are Binsfeld's comments on her first film producing/directing experience? "I hocked or put a lean on everything I own, including my house. I did whatever I could myself and convinced some great talent to come on board with me wherever I needed it most. Between being a single mom and working on the film, I survived on 4 hours sleep a night for a year. I don't think anything will ever be as hard again as making your first film and all I can say is, I loved it and I'll be doing it again!"

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Randall Love made his first short film at the age of fifteen, and he has been actively pursuing his love of the cinema ever since. Randall takes a particular interest in lighting and camera movement, and he has studied film theory and film history extensively.

He has worked on several films with George Lucas, and learned much about the craft of lighting from working with Caleb Deschanel, Director of Photography (The Natural, The Right Stuff). At the age of 23, Randall was the youngest First Camera Assistant in the history of the International Photographers Guild.

In the feature film realm, Randall shot Little City a romantic comedy feature for Miramax starring Annabella Sciorra, Penelope Anne Miller, Josh Charles, Jon Bon Jovi, Joanna Going and JoBeth Williams. He also shot 2nd unit on Woman on Top starring Penelope Cruz and provided additional cinematography for Playing Mona Lisa.

Nelson Stoll, C.A.S., A.E.S., has been a Production Sound Mixer for over 30 years, recording the sound for dozens of films, including "Dune", "Total Recall", "Basic Instinct", "Mrs. Doubtfire", "The Rainmaker" and "Patch Adams". He received Academy Award nominations for his sound recording for "Dune" and "Total Recall" and was awarded an Emmy for his mixing on the TV mini-series "Son of the Morning Star".

Both of his parents were professional still photographers and exposed him to the media arts at an early age. Already fascinated with sound, he worked professionally on low budget films while still in high school.

After graduation, he found satisfactory formal education unavailable for film recordists and apprenticed himself to masters in the field, learning recording techniques, acoustics, listening skills, distortion analysis and the limitations of existing audio equipment. At the age of 19 he began recording sound for the television networks and independent producers, mixing dozens of documentaries during the next decade. In his late twenties he began mixing dramatic films.

EDITOR

Michael LaHood runs an editing and production studio based in San Francisco. He earned a BA in Human Biology and an MA in Media Studies from Stanford University.

THE MAIN CAST

Marc Siciliani: Bernie
Marc lives in L.A. and has been working professionally for over 25 years in theater, film, and national TV commercials most recently, Pepsi. Marc was seen in the lead role in the film, "Jacobs Gift". On TV in "Arrest and Trial". In the Theater Marc played Phil in the LA Premiere of "Those the River Keeps" by David Rabe and was "pick of the week" by the LA WEEKLY. Other Roles include; Johnny-A Hatful of Rain, NYC. Brody-The Real Thing, New Mexico Rep. Jerry-The Zoo Story, Santa Fe Actors Theater. Bernardo-West Side Story, European Tour.

Sylvia Binsfeld: Andrea
Sylvia's very first audition landed her the lead in Neil Simon's "Fools", directed by Ann Fajilan. Living just north of San Francisco, she enjoyed a variety of roles in the theater. Then moved to L.A., where she worked in music videos, national commercials, including Goodyear and Southwest Airlines and experimental and independent films, such as "Night Tree", "Problems", and "Double Exposure".

She moved back to the Bay Area after landing the role of one of the hosts on an experimental T.V. show, which was a cross between "Entertainment Tonight" and "Saturday Night Live", called "LiveWire".

Phil Sheridan: Guru
Phil Sheridan has performed a cocky S.O.B. and an amiable old geezer on Nash Bridges, the Fool in King Lear, a demented psychiatrist in Van Hazelaar's film Mortified, Joseph
Stalin in Capek's Tango and Walter Mitty in J. Brebner's Thurber Carnival.

Aaron Brace: Psychologist, Chris
Aaron is a Bay Area actor who has worked on stage, screen and as voice talent. He has made numerous industrial videos and several independent films, including "Minute Matrimony" and "Watson, Sherlock and Me" (as Dr. Watson). Aaron recently made his network television debut, albeit in Japan, in a reenactment of the murder spree of Andrew Cunanan. Bay Area audiences have seen him at the New Conservatory Theatre, San Jose Rep, The Willows, and other stages.

Richard Bolster: Bernie's Friend
Has been worked in a variety of independent films and countless plays and was director of the San Francisco Fringe Festival.

Terese Marie: Janet
Although Terese's roots are in theater, taking her to Edinburgh, Scotland recently for the famous "Edinburgh Fringe Festival", she's equally excited for her independent film debut in "Character Is Destiny".