Bios

Jason Apuzzo

Director-Writer-Producer

Jason Apuzzo is the writer-director of KALIFORNISTAN. Previously, Jason co-founded The Liberty Film Festival (LFF), and co-founded, wrote, and edited the LFF's popular blog, Libertas, which was voted the #3 culture blog on the internet in 2007. Jason has appeared on Fox News, CNN and other networks to discuss film, and has written on film for The LA Times, Townhall.com and other publications. He is married to actress Govindini Murty.

Jason has an MFA from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, a Ph.D. in Germanic Literature from Stanford University, and a B.A. in Philosophy from Yale University. At Yale, he co-founded The Yale Free Press, and served as Speaker of the Yale Political Union, Yale’s largest undergraduate organization.

While at the USC Cinema School, Jason was mentored by Tom Holman, inventor of the THX sound system. When Jason’s USC thesis short, “San Pedro,” debuted at iFilm.com in 2002, it became [at the time] the most-watched student film ever.

Govindini Murty is an actress, writer, and independent filmmaker based in Los Angeles. She most recently acted in and executive produced the provocative independent film KALIFORNISTAN. Govindini is married to writer-director Jason Apuzzo, and has worked in film, TV, commercials, and award-winning theater productions in Los Angeles and Vancouver. In 2004, Govindini co-founded the The Liberty Film Festival (LFF) with Jason Apuzzo, and in 2005 co-founded the popular film blog Libertas.

Govindini’s columns on film have been published in the LA Times, New York Daily News, Human Events, Newsmax, and Fugue Magazine. Govindini has also appeared numerous times on TV, including on ABC (as co-host on “At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper”), AMC, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and Bravo, as well as on the BBC, French Canal Plus, Italian RAI, Japanese NHK, South Asia World TV, and Dutch national TV.

Govindini received her B.A. in East Asian Studies from Yale University. She grew up in India, Canada, and Malaysia (Borneo), and in addition to watching classic and foreign films, loves traveling and studying different languages and cultures. Her filmmaking inspirations include actresses Marlene Dietrich and Rita Hayworth, and directors Orson Welles and Michelangelo Antonioni.

After USC, Jason was mentored by Irvin Kershner, director of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, who encouraged Jason to pursue an independent filmmaking path beyond the restrictions of the Hollywood system, and to make every film a personal statement.

Read the full filmmaker interview with Jason HERE.

KALIFORNISTAN

Cast & Crew

Starring

Govindini Murty ... The Girl

Nick Nyon ... The Terrorist

John Barrett ... The Bounty Hunter

and The Voice of Isfahan Jones

with

Nick Rish ... The Boyfriend

Arash Ghaneian ... Cousin Omar

Salah Salea ... The Checkbook Terrorist

Reuven Jerzy ... The Al Qaeda Financier

Lisa Joffrey ... The Blackschnauzer Rep

Scott Schwartz ... Frank

Sagi Degon ... Motel Terrorist #2

Rajeev Chhibber ... Guy in Restaurant #1

Carlos Castillo ... Guy in Restaurant #2

Alex Stone ... Guy Outside Club

and

Morning The Cat ... Herself

CREW:

Written, Produced & Directed by

Jason Apuzzo

Executive Produced by

Govindini Murty

Photographed by

Jason Apuzzo

Music by

Stephen Greaves

Edited by

Frank Bay

Assistant Editor

Florinda Ibañez

Sound Design by

Tak Fujimora & Jason Apuzzo

Art Direction & Costume Design by

Isabella Conti

Line Producer

Kurt Needleman

Digital FX

Bryan Cohen

Additional Rotoscope

Max Nunez

Fight Coordinator

John Barrett

Further crew credits listed on the KALIFORNISTAN DVD.

Special Thanks to:

Dr. Michael Apuzzo

Helene Apuzzo

The Murty and Apuzzo families

Irvin Kershner

Gretchen Brooks

Rebecca Julian

And Thanks to:

Stephen Nelson

Bronwyn Hardy

Kip Hogan

Sam Bologna

John DeFazio

Further thanks and credits listed on KALIFORNISTAN DVD.

THE PERSONS AND EVENTS IN THIS MOTION PICTURE

ARE FICTITIOUS. ANY SIMILARITY TO ACTUAL

PERSONS OR EVENTS IS UNINTENTIONAL.

THE MOTION PICTURE IS PROTECTED UNDER LAWS

OF THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES.

UNAUTHORIZED DUPLICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR

EXHIBITION MAY RESULT IN CIVIL LIABILITY AND

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