cast & crew
CAROLINE DEAN - Director/Writer/Producer/Editor
Caroline Dean is a Brooklyn-based filmmaker who is making her film debut with Hermit Day. After finishing her studies in theatre at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Caroline bartended in the Blue Ridge Mountains and moved to New York in January 2020. Later that year, while the film industry was slowly recovering, Caroline wrote and storyboarded Hermit Day. Eventually, she and her producing partner Lucas Branin built their team, found a location to create the set, and filmed Hermit Day in April of 2021. Caroline is eager to premiere the film and connect with other filmmakers and artists. She hopes to direct her first feature film in the next few years, and continue exploring with surreal story telling and sound design. Caroline also plays the role of FIVE.
LUCAS BRANIN - Producer
Lucas is a producer based in London, UK. After leading a corporate production team for five years he has now transitioned to the world of film and TV. He specializes in story telling by connecting on a more intimate level with people and their ideas. Hermit Day is the first of many projects Caroline and Lucas will create together.
ANH VU - Director of Photography
Anh Vu is a Hanoi-born Brooklyn-based cinematographer. Having lived in two vastly different cultures growing up, he understood the importance and value of differing perspectives. At the University of Pittsburgh, Vu discovered filmmaking and the role of Director of Photography and fell in love with the craft. After graduating, Vu made his move to New York to pursue film in a larger market and honed his skills in camera and lighting. This hustle prepared him for his first indie feature in 2021 with the film Thanks to Her. After principle photography for it was done, Vu headed back to New York to resume other DP and gaffing projects.
RACHEL COMEAU - Cast (One)
Rachel Comeau has been working professionally as an actress for the past six years. She can be seen as Patricia in Disney+'s series The Right Stuff and Mia in indie film Testament streaming on Apple TV. She's currently touring in an original show Josie & Grace where she portrays the infamous starlet turned princess Grace Kelly. When she's not acting she enjoys swimming, getting lost in museums, and cuddling with her cat Poppi.
RUSSELL SALAZAR - Cast (Two)
Russell Lucero Salazar. Know as “Leisure.” Is an American Actor, Singer-Songwriter, God fearing man. Currently holding the role as ‘Mr. Painter’ in the “The Painter” and the lead in “Neady’s Place” playing the role of ‘Nead Wells’. My goal is to be the best version of myself I can be and always better than the day before, a well rounded actor. I strive to have my Songs sung all across the world and help/save many lives with the power of music. I Aspire to work with Actors, Directors, Singers, Songwriters, Churches, Ministries, I’ve looked up too. I find it pretty impressive that I’ve made it to 27years of age in my life considering all that I’ve been thru, I count that as a huge achievement. I’ve work extremely hard to get to where I am, physical, mentally and spiritually, loosing a gross weight of 130lbs and continuing to chase after my “Side Dream” of becoming a fitness model.
DAJOUR NEUFVILLE - Cast (Three)
I write Rockstar songs in my full time & act and model in my part-time I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. I'm awesomesauce! I go skydiving and rock climbing and also went to a circus school to learn Flying Trapeze after seeing "The Greatest Showman" I realized I love the entertainment industry as a whole and love being apart of creative experiences. which is why I also perform rock and pop music to meet and collaborate with new an interesting people. Worked as an recurring extra on some bigger productions like “The Rocks” new superhero film “Black Adam” a lead on a small college commercial. Graduated Film school directing multiple short films. Currently screenwriting and writing my own music is the perfect balance for me. NEVER settle & Never stop creating. Can’t wait for you to see me in Hermit Day!
ANGEL MELVIN - Cast (Four)
Born in Westchester, New York and raised in Spotsylvania, Virginia, Angel Melvin had a dream that is slowly becoming a reality of being a full-time actress. After years of acting in high school, competitions, and showcases, Angel built up the courage to audition to study acting in New York City. After getting accepted to both schools she applied to, she made the decision to enroll into the conservatory program at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2016. While being there, she polished her skills, gained confidence, and developed a deeper love for the arts. There she was given the amazing opportunity to show off her acting abilities in a showcase put on by well-known directors in New York City. After graduating in Spring of 2018, she landed her first voiceover role as the character Phoenix in an online story called “Breathe”. Soon after landing her voice over gig, she debuted in a play called “Challenge Day” in Midtown Manhattan. She is currently living in Tampa, Florida and is ready to show the world what she’s made of.
JESENIA NERO - Cast (Six)
Jesenia Nero is an LGBTQ+ BIPOC actress. She’s attended Next Stop Broadway Summer Camp for many years in her hometown of Coral Springs, Florida. When she moved to Orlando she started out modeling for small businesses in Orlando before returning to acting. Her debut as an adult is as “Six” in Hermit Day by Caroline Dean.
DENNISHA BESECKER - First Assistant Director
Dennisha Besecker is a filmmaker based in Tampa, FL. Originally from South East Asia, Dennisha came to the U.S to pursue her love of filmmaking at the University of Tampa. Soon after graduating she got a job working for a local production company that produces various shows for National Geographic as an Associate Producer. When she's not working on shows she spends her free time working on local films.
KATRINA HENSON - Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Katrina Henson has worked on projects including episodes of PBS’s American Experience, 2022 Tribeca Film Festival Selections; Battleground, and The Year Between. Katrina graduated from NYU Tisch in 2022 and currently works at C.A. Sound Inc. Katrina’s passion and dedication for sound and creative challenges have inspired her to create textures, elements, and meaning to details through the art of sound.
CHAD SMITH - Color Correction & Finishing
Chad Smith is a colorist based in Kingston NY where he runs Massive Clouds LLC a boutique film color correction shop. Over the past 8 years Chad has worked on a variety of projects that have aired on PBS and played on Netflix and other streaming services. Chad enjoys playing the guitar loud on Sunday afternoons and hitting the drums mostly in time with other stimuli.
more crew:
Second Assistant Director
JASMINE JURADO
First Camera Assistant
ROSE CALTRIDER
Second Camera Assistant
JORDAN EDWARDS
Production Assistants
GABY ALMEDIA
NOAH MCNAIR
JASON KAY
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