Synopsis for "Why am I in a Box?"

Ellen Farnsby is a modern-day Scheherazade. And if she doesn't tell the story of a lifetime, someone else will be writing her obituary. She is kidnapped by Paige, a failed novelist with an ax to grind. Jeremy is a grocery boy whose one talent is fooling himself, and others, that he's an artist. He and a pop junkie of a detective named Lydecker are hunting for Ellen. Will Jeremy and Lydecker find Ellen before a vicious maniac edits her out of existence? Will Ellen write a brilliant novel or end up a tragic movie-of-the-week?

CAST

Ellen Farnsby (Rachel Grubb)

Rachel Grubb is an actress and aspiring filmmaker from Minneapolis, MN. She won the Best Breakthrough Screenplay award at the New York International Independent Film And Video Festival for her first feature length script. She loves working in independent film, especially the horror genre. Recent projects include a dual role in Haunted Autumn Productions' "Tales Of The Dead," and Hagra, lead huntress of the evil Liak tribe, in Shadow Creek Studios' "Cave Women On Mars." She will also be appearing in Dav Kaufman's "13 Hours In A Warehouse." And next year, she will be playing one of the title roles in JP Wenner's feature length horror film, "The Spooner Sisters." She wrote the screenplay for, "Why Am I In A Box?" and she will also be directing. To learn more, go to the "About" page to read her complete bio.

Paige (Brooke Lemke)

Brooke Lemke is a Minneapolis (Twin Cities) actor, model and filmmaker. She has acted in several films in the Twin Cities over the past year and a half. On top of acting in "Why am I in a Box?" she is playing the role of producer for the film. To learn more, go to the "About" page to read her complete bio.

Jeremy (Derek Dirlam)

Derek is a local Twin Cities actor who recieved his BFA in Theater Arts Performance from the University of North Dakota. Enjoying acting in all of its forms, he has been seen with local theaters such as NIMBUS, The Duck Soup Players and Applause Community Theater as well as local Indie films such as Harry Putter 2 with Batty Productions, and Health Freaks with Ransom Pictures. And through all of this, has found the time to form FRANKENPUCK Productions with fellow actress, Angie Potratz-Baumgart, having a short film in the works.

Detective Lydecker (Matthew Feeney)

Matthew Feeney made his acting debut at the tender age of seven in a local community theater production of "Peter Pan." Since then, Matthew has been in several hundred stage shows, including appearances with Monty Python's Eric Idle and country music legend Sherwin Linton and his most recent (and favorite) role of Fagin in OLIVER. Matthew has also appeared in many televsion shows and commercials, including the recurring character of DNR Officer Torgerson in the award winning Gale Whitman Show; several episodes of "Out-n-About" with Ralph John Fritz on WCCO and a featured extra on NBC's FRASIER You might have glimpsed him as the crazy fan in the Channel 45 Twins Baseball promos, a golfer on a local Comcast commercial, the partying dad in Edgewater Water Park's latest TV Commercial or in the pilot episode of NBC's failed Reality TV series "The Next Action Star!" Matthew has appeared in hundreds of feature films and shorts, including TREKKIES 2, FACTOTUM (with Matt Dillon); WEDDING PHOTO (with Alan Cumming); ALMELUND, HARROWVILLE and THE HULA KING.

Malea (Heather Amos)

Heather D. Amos is an actress/producer/model (sometimes) living in the Twin Cities. She has a BA in Drama and has acted in theater, student films, local independent shorts and features, and music videos. She is also very very attractive and very very single. To learn more, go to the "About" page to read her complete bio.

Ted (Mike Rylander)

Mike originally hails from Minot, North Dakota and has been working professionally in the Minneapolis area for the last two years. In that time, Mike has worked on numerous theatrical productions, national and regional television commercials, short and feature-length films, countless corporate videos, national print advertisements and regional radio spots. Mike is the In-Arena Game Host / Co-Announcer for the Minnesota Timberwolves; and, in October, he will be featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine as one of the "50 Hottest Bachelors in America." Learn more at www.mikerylander.com

Greg (Jason Schumacher)

Jason Schumacher vividly remembers when his dad got their first camcorder when he was about 6. Making short films with his dad at such a young age sparked his interest for movies and entertainment. Instead of doing his homework, in high school, Jason spent all of his time in plays and making videos. He attended the Peck School of the Arts at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. After 2 years there he left to work professionally as a special effects technician and was offered a job on Niki Caro's "North Country" for Warner Bros. With the money he made working on the film, he was able to fund his first feature film, Stimulus. He is currently in post production for his second feature, "The Telephone Game", which features all 3 of the SBD women in supporting roles. He's very excited to be the director of photography for "Why am I in a Box?" as well as make an appearance as Greg and hopes to DP and act more, as well as continue to write and direct.

Ted's Mom (Janet Fogg)

Janet completed a career as an account executive in commercial printing before diving headlong into acting! She has appeared in five movies and numerous plays in the Minneapolis (Twin Cities) area. She enjoys creating memorable characters that touch and stay with the audience. Janet lives in Hudson, Wisconsin with her husband, Jim.

Waitress (Lisa Pechmiller)

Lisa Pechmiller is an actress living in Minneapolis . She has been in several short films and two feature length films. She also has been in a few music videos and commercials. On top of her acting she does modeling work for photographers. For steady work, she is an on-call catering attendant at a few hotels and the excel energy center.

Kristi (Lorrie Insisiengmay)

Lorrie has over four years of performing, fitness training, dance, pageants, competitions, choreography, television production, and voice experience. Her background spans from modeling, pageants, and competitions with fitness, martial arts, TV host, producer, as well as computer information systems. Performing has always been a passion of hers, whether it’s on stage or in front of the camera. "I LOVE IT!!!"

Hostess (KariAnn Craig)

KariAnn Craig is very excited to be a part of WAIIAB, cause chicks are just way cooler. She currently lives in NE Mpls. and has an adorable daughter named Isis. She has a diverse performance background including but not limited to: pro. figure skating, acting, modeling, dance, and performance art. She recently wrapped two feature length films this past summer, Horror House and The Telephone Game. She plans to move to NYC when the timing is right, her kids are grown, or she wins the lottery. Whichever comes first.

Woman (Kara Mabey)

Kara Mabey is a 37 year old mother of three children. She is a nursing assistant at the VA Medical center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been an actress for 3 years and done some voice over work for "(Yielding to) a Willing Breath" and this is my first appearance in a film.

Celia (Eleanor Cole)

This is Eleanor's first film; she has been in two plays and one major ballet. She was in the musical, Oliver! in which she played the undertaker's daughter, Charlotte. She portrayed a high school cheerleader in High School Musical and in Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy, she has played a toy named Punch, a chambermaid and a Russian baby doll.

Michelle (Jenna Evans)

Old Woman (Carol Vnuk)

Carol Vnuk has appeared on stage. Recently she was in an off Broadway show in New York. Carol has been in a number if Independent Films and she does Stand Up Comedy.

Homeless Man #1 (Joshua LeSuer)

Officer Jim

Police Officer (Landyn Banx)

Landyn Banx is an actor in the Twin Cities. His favorite kind of films to act in are horror films. He appeared in his first movie Tales of the Dead in 2007. He followed that up with parts in Uppercut Cafe, Necessary Lubrication?, Suzy's Party, Health Freaks, The Perfect Victim, The Alphabet of Sex, The Telephone Game, and Why Am I In A Box? Aside from films Landyn has also appeared in a video series for Augsburg Fortress, a music video for Agape, filmed two commercials for the CW Twin Cities, and also an infomercial for Car Shop America. Landyn loves being in the entertainment business and wouldn't have life any other way. He is always looking for new and exciting projects to take on. Learn more by going to www.landynbanx.com.