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CAST & CREW
From Hollywood to HollyWoodstock Acres
The Cast
MICHAEL BEARDSLEY
as Alan Thomas
A native of Santa Cruz, California, Michael has more than 150 acting credits, including the character Humphries in TV’s Freaks and Geeks, major film roles in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Lizzie Borden’s Revenge, and a supporting role in Dude, Where’s My Car?
ALLYSON SEREBOFF
as Liz Thomas
An actor, producer, assistant director and volunteer firefighter, Allyson is known for roles in The Mean One, Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead, and A Place Among the Dead. She won two festival Best Actress awards for her portrayal of Liz Thomas.
JOHN BIGHAM
as Seth Charon
Classically trained with a Master's of Fine Arts in Acting from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, John has been a working Hollywood actor since 1983. He turned in a stellar performance as Doc Zeus in the recently released horror-comedy The Mean One.
LaVERNE ONIKE CHESSON
as Jane Charon
LaVerne, who previously performed in touring musical theater productions, turned in an impressive performance in her feature-film debut. She resides with her family in Maurertown, a sleepy hamlet just 13 miles from the set.
SAMMY J. MERRILL
as Hannah
Sammy was born near Santa Fe, New Mexico, raised in Salt Lake City and began her acting career in a local Utah commercial at age 13. A certified Reiki Master and intuitive counselor, she was a natural choice for the role of Hannah in The Hitchhiker Effect.
ROSEMARY CLOWER
as Doris
Rosemary, a Woodstock, Virginia resident, grew up a fan of Western movie stars like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry. She played various roles in life including teacher, administrator, author and caregiver before making her screen debut in The Hitchhiker Effect at age 81.
DALE BAUSERMAN
as Alex Thomas
Dale, a resident of New Market, Virginia, is a Vietnam War veteran, Purple Heart recipient, classic car collector and former tour bus driver for singer Neil Diamond. A bluegrass musician, he plays a variety of instruments but his specialty is playing the Dobro.
THE CABIN
as Itself
The Cabin at HollyWoodstock Acres was built in the 1800s and moved from downtown Woodstock, Virginia, to the banks of the Shenandoah River in 1968. It has a history of spirit-orb sightings and poltergeist activity, including during the film’s production.
The Crew
ZACK VAN EYCK
Writer / Director
Zack began his writing career at age 14 as a sportswriter for The Anchorage Times. He earned his first feature credit for Jupiter Landing in 2005 and co-directed the documentary Daytona Dream in 2010. The Hitchhiker Effect is his narrative feature directorial debut.
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SARA BRAVO
Director of Photography
Post-production Supervisor
Sara is a talented cinematographer, photographer and storyteller based in Mesa, Arizona. Her artistic flair shines in films and online content, including the Amazon Prime series Sweet Caroline, her first collaboration with The Hitchhiker Effect director Zack Van Eyck.
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ADRIAN DENNIS
Film Editor
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Adrian is a multifaceted creative specializing in film editing, cinematography, motion and graphic design. Blending technical skill with playful creativity, his work on The Hitchhiker Effect earned two Best Editing awards at film festivals.
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DERRICK DYMALSKI
Composer
Derrick has toured internationally, performed at Carnegie Hall and worked with musicians like Dave Grohl and George Thorogood. Prior to scoring The Hitchhiker Effect, he composed music for the award-winning short Flikker and the Hollywood Fringe theater show The Other Side of the Razor Ribbon.
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KAT VIVALDI
First Assistant Director
Script Supervisor
Kat, a 2019 Virginia Tech graduate, is a Richmond, Virginia-based creative technologist and artist. She has worked as a producer, assistant director and cinematographer for BET+, Lifetime, PBS and HBO Max, and handled multiple jobs on the set of The Hitchhiker Effect.
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BEN WEINGARTNER
Sound Designer
Boom Operator
Ben is a Richmond, Virginia-based sound recordist, audio engineer and composer. Across shorts, features and other projects, he thrives on creative collaboration. An invaluable asset on set and in post, as sound designer he perfected every aspect of The Hitchhiker Effect's audio.
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FOREST VEERHOFF
Sound Mixer
Forest began creating YouTube videos in junior high and launched his filmmaking career at 17. With experience across most aspects of production, he also holds credits as an actor, writer, director, editor and cinematographer. His technical skill was vital to The Hitchhiker Effect.
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KYLE FIGHTMASTER
Gaffer / Second Assistant Camera
Kyle earned a BA in Cinema from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2022, has filled various production roles on film projects, and has four editing and two acting credits. On The Hitchhiker Effect set, he was known for his clever and entertaining method of slating.
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NIKKI McINTYRE
Special Effects
Makeup Artist
A Pittsburgh native, Nikki is a graduate of Tom Savini’s Special Make-Up Effects Program. She honed her SPFX skills on numerous films before joining The Hitchhiker Effect. Nikki holds a BFA and a Master's in Art Therapy, using creativity to support mental health.
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SAMMY J. MERRILL
First Assistant Camera
Special Effects Makeup
Reprising her production duties on Sweet Caroline, Sammy provided unwavering support to cinematographer Sara Bravo while also handling makeup and special effects makeup duties. Her original paintings can be seen in the cabin throughout The Hitchhiker Effect.
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ROSEMARY CLOWER
Associate Producer
Locations Manager
Affectionately known as the “set mom,” Rosemary not only fed the entire crew three meals a day but served as locations manager, props master, production assistant and expert troubleshooter, infusing the set with her enthusiasm and endless positive energy.
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DALE BAUSERMAN
Classic Car Wrangler
Production Assistant
A collector of antique cars, motorcycles and tractors, as well as a skilled mechanic, Dale provided his classic 1963 Pontiac Bonneville for use as The Hitchhiker Effect's “picture car.” He also served as a chauffeur, production assistant and bringer of positive vibes.
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