CAST + CREW
CARRIE BRENNAN
Producer / Writer / Cast
Carrie Brennan is a New York based filmmaker who is passionate about telling LGBTQ+ stories that inspire people to see the best in themselves.
Since college, she has appeared in various independent films Gun (2016), The Comeback (2017), Piano (2018) and theater This is Family, (2017). Carrie finds her passion in the holistic approach of storytelling through her writing, producing and acting. After experiencing her brother's recovery from a Traumatic Brain Injury in 2015 through music, she co-wrote, produced and starred in the short film Piano alongside Brenna Carnuccio - available now on Amazon Prime. She continues this approach as she wrote, acted and produced BLOCK, based on her own journey coming out of the closet. In 2020, Carrie made her first feature film debut, where she stars as Roesia, the female Robinhood.
MONICA O’HARA
Director / Producer
Monica O'Hara is a director and producer. Originally from Philadelphia, Monica moved to New York City and worked as an in-house producer for a production company before pursuing freelance opportunities. She has created and produced content for brands such as Tom Ford, The Estee Lauder Companies, La Mer, Tom Ford Beauty, MTV, MAC, Aveda, Kohl's and more. While her commercial work is predominantly focused in fashion, beauty, luxury sectors, Monica's narrative and documentary work focuses on raw and emotional storytelling. BLOCK will be Monica's directorial debut in the narrative world. She is currently in pre-production for two features, one as a producer and the second as a director.
ALEX KRUMPHOLZ
Production Coordinator/Marketing
As social media aficionado and marketing specialist, Alex uses her skills to foster her passions: promoting mental health awareness and decreasing the stigma surrounding taboo, diverse ideas and experiences. She is working with our team as a Production Coordinator and Social Media Manager!
AMANDA MAZZONE
Production Assistant
Social worker by day and creative any time she can get away, Amanda strives to attract others by the way she lives. Amanda brings an energy to projects that leave people wondering whether or not she is s working or if she is playing. Nothing energizes Amanda than performing, connecting, and inspiring others. She is working with this wonderful team as one of their Production Assistants!
KELLY MURRAY
Assistant Director
Kelly Murray is a writer and filmmaker based in West Chester, PA. She has worked on several independent films in the Philadelphia area and is thrilled to join BLOCK. as Assistant Director. She has written and directed three short films, Your Wreckless Heart, 3:13, and The Astronomer, which was awarded the Curatorial Choice Award at The Delaware Contemporary in 2017. She is passionate about creating female-driven stories and exploring themes of transformation in her work. She is the co-founder of the women-led production company Pink Lemonade Pictures and is currently a Contributing Writer for Accidentally Wes Anderson.
HILLARY HANAK
Director of Photography
Hillary Hanak is an award winning Director of Photography who has been in the film business for over twenty years. Growing up in West Chester Pennsylvania, she moved to Los Angeles in 2001 to pursue filmmaking. Over the course of her thirteen years in Los Angeles she owned her own Grip and Lighting company, while working as a successful DP and Gaffer on everything from low budget to big budget productions.
Hillary is a proud member of the IATSE Local 728 Union in Los Angeles. She worked with the Foo Fighters on their documentary film "Sound City" and TV shows "Sonic Highways."
After moving back to Philadelphia to be closer to family, she has been successful in making a name for herself in the Philadelphia and surrounding areas. She has also become a leader in 360 Virtual Reality in the Philadelphia area, and has even traveled internationally to shoot VR.
The quality of her work and her attention to detail is what sets her apart from the others. Dedicated to making the productions vision come to life in an artistic way is her passion.
VICTORIA RATERMANIS
Cast / Producer
Victoria Ratermanis is an actor, writer, director and theater maker. Born in Baltimore, and brought up overseas, her childhood as a perpetual new kid taught her adaptability and strengthened her imagination, and now she's made a career of the tendency. She is Meisner trained thanks to Playhouse West Brooklyn, and graduated with a BFA in acting from Pace University before that. You can catch her currently on Fosse/Verdon as Karin and see her most recent directing workon IGTV ‘L’Orso o La Testa Mangia’.For more updates check out www.victoriaratermanis.com or follow @tozr on instagram.
ERIN JOHNSON
Production Designer
Erin Johnson (EJ) is a writer, performer and Production Designer from Tennessee. She believes that all things carry a specific energy-right down to a prop tissue. The atmosphere and look of a scene can tell a story just as strongly as dialogue and action. Erin loves working with her hands and using sustainable or recycled products to help tell the story. Over the past 10 years, she has worked on everything from comedic sketches to diamond commercials, and it was a complete joy for her to help create the world of BLOCK.
PUNCHANDICE
(Alba S. Torremocha & Lillie R. McDonough)
Punchandice is a creative music duo formed by composers Alba S. Torremocha and Lillie R. McDonough. Lillie and Alba have been working together since they met at NYU in 2015 while pursuing their master’s degree in Screen Scoring. They have collaborated in multiple projects, from feature films (Radium Girls and Call to Spy, with Lillie as composer and Alba as orchestrator/conductor), to performances (with their indie synth-pop band, ALMA) and even in the academic world, both working together at NYU as professors and program administrators.
Over the years, their collaboration has become seamless, both creatively and professionally. Their different backgrounds and skill sets allow them to create scores with a unique soundscape that blends classical, experimental and indie songwriting influences, carefully crafted to support each narrative.
SOPHIE KIETZMANN
Behind the Scenes Photography
I hope to fill the gap of visual representation of the diversity our society has to offer. I also dream to give individuals and social minorities non-tokenistic material for self-recognition and true equality.
THOMAS EVERETT
Cast
Thomas Everett is an LA based actor, originally from Philadelphia, who has been a student at Playhouse West since 2017. In 2020, Thomas relocated to Los Angeles where he continued to study at Playhouse West and work in short and independent films. His previous experience includes television, film and Philadelphia’s regional theater. Thomas is honored to be a part of the Block family and share in the experience of telling this story to the world.
MATTHEW BRENT
Grip
Matthew Brent is an actor, writer, producer, and artist. He started acting in 2013 and has studied under Tony Savant at Playhouse West Philadelphia. He was nominated for Best Actor in the Rough Cuts Philadelphia Festival in 2016 and has won Best Actor in the Playhouse West Philadelphia 25 Day Film Festival 2018. His current projects include "Hearing Aide" and "Gym." He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.
CARLY MAZZOCHETTI
Cast
Carly is a Philadelphia based actor who has been studying acting at Playhouse West Philadelphia since 2014. She has appeared in several independent short films including Contrition and The Reckoning. She has also co-starred in and co-written two short films Corn Chip Feet, for which she was nominated for a Grand Jury award for best supporting actress at the 2017 Playhouse West Philadelphia Film Festival and Hot Mess Buns for which she won the audience choice award for Best Actress in a comedy at the 2018 Playhouse West Philadelphia Film Festival.
COURTNEY MERTZ
Cast
Courtney Mertz is an actress, known for ABC-Disney Discovers: New York Talent Showcase(2017) and Block (2020).
