Born in South Africa and living in Vancouver since his teens, Tony Dean Smith is a Director & Writer – known for his visual and elegant camerawork, grounded performances and sharp sense of story. His feature-film directorial debut, VOLITION, is an elevated sci-fi thriller that has swept up awards across the world, receiving rave reviews – and has been flatteringly compared to MEMENTO, LOOPER, and BLACK MIRROR. He was the youngest director on the acclaimed television series ROBSON ARMS (3 episodes), helmed the series pilot for HEALTH NUTZ and has written and directed multiple long form movies, including “Love Under The Rainbow” for Hallmark, the stylish Lifetime thriller “The Killer Downstairs” along with the upcoming “Guesthouse Affairs” and “The College Killer.” A life-long camera nerd and storyboard artist, his ability to see the edit before the shoot allows him to save hours of production time, doubly aided by his background as an award-winning picture editor. As an actor of stage (yes, jazz hands) and screen (X-FILES, POLTERGEIST), Tony’s sense of character, precision and playfulness are always present, giving him unparalleled comfort on set – allowing truly authentic and courageous collaboration between his fellow producers, actors and crew.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Ryan is a writer for film and television, living between Los Angeles and Vancouver. Recent credits include: Adapting a confidential political drama feature for Anonymous Content; writing on the animated feature, “Next Gen,” starring John Krasinski and Constance Wu (Netflix Original); Co-writing and Producing the feature sci-fi thriller, “Volition” (Smith Brothers/Paly Productions) with his brother, Tony Dean Smith, the film’s Director; writing and serving as Senior Story Editor/Writer for “ReBoot: The Guardian Code” (Netflix Original); serving as Supervising-Producer/Writer on “Some Assembly Required” (Netflix Original); and as Senior Executive Story Editor/Writer on “Mr. Young” (Disney). Between the above series, Ryan has written on over 150 episode of television, and received two Leo Awards. He is also the winner of the ScreenCraft Fellowship and an Austin Film Festival Semifinalist for his historical thrillers, “Jacaranda” and “Black Messiah.” Ryan and his brother Tony are also winners of the Superchannel Super Catalyst Award for their screenplay, “The Sensational.”
(The Revenant, CW’S Arrow, CW’s Supernatural, Woody Woodpecker)
Adrian Glynn McMorran is a Canadian actor and musician. Recent film credits include The Revenant and Woody Woodpecker and recent TV credits include Arrow, Charmed and Supernatural. Adrian has released three solo records of his music (as Adrian Glynn) and another three with his modern folk band, The Fugitives. He has toured to more than twelve countries and been nominated for multiple songwriting and theatrical awards, most recently as Songwriter of the Year for the Canadian Folk Music Awards. He lives in Vancouver, BC.
(Netflix’s You, Caprica, Kyle XY, Continuum, Green Inferno, Butterfly Effect)
Fresh off of shooting VOLITION, Magda has just been cast as a series lead in Season II of the Netflix hit, YOU. Magda is best known for her roles as Andy Jensen on the series KYLE XY, as Lacy Rand on Syfy’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA spin-off CAPRICA, and as Emily on the futuristic science-fiction series CONTINUUM. She has also played lead roles in Eli Roth’s Green Inferno and the cult classic, The Butterfly Effect.
(Seven, Alive, Continuum, Get Carter)
As a member of the legendary Actor’s Studio, John Cassini’s first Hollywood role was in the survival epic, ALIVE. This multiple Gemini Nominee (honouring the best in Canadian television) has had the distinction of playing regular series leads on both of Canada’s number one television shows: the award-winning Intelligence, and the critically praised comedy Robson Arms. John’s small screen credits include recurring roles on CBS’s The Handler, Fox’s Brimstone, and Stephen King’s Kingdom Hospital. John has over 50 Guest Star appearances that include multiple episodes on NYPD Blue, ER, The Practice, and the new Jerry Bruckheimer CBS drama Eleventh Hour. His roles in mini-series’ include NBC’s 10.5 and 10.5 the Apocalypse, Traffic, and Final Days of Planet Earth. John also has an impressive list of big screen credits as well. John co-wrote, produced and starred in the award winning independent film Break A Leg starring Molly Parker, Jennifer Beals, Sandra Oh, Kevin Corrigan and Eric Roberts. John’s other feature film credits include: The Game, Seven, Alive, Paycheck,and Get Carter, among others.
(Good Fellas, Watchmen, Moonstruck, Blackstone)
Frank has been a working actor for over 30 years in Film, TV, and Theatre, accumulating an extensive resume while living in New York, Los Angeles and currently Vancouver. Selected credits include – VOLITION, WATCHMEN, LITTLE BROTHER OF WAR (Leo Award nominee), BREAK A LEG, JAMES DEAN, FOR A FEW LOUSY DOLLARS (Leo Award nominee), and has had the privilege of working with Martin Scorsese in GOODFELLAS and Norman Jewison in MOONSTRUCK. Frank is the recipient of the 2012 Leo Award for Best Supporting Actor in the Canadian Dramatic Series BLACKSTONE. Some of his other TV appearances include recurring and guest starring roles in CULT, ROGUE, SUPERNATURAL, CONTINUUM, THE KILLING, and THE BRIDGE (a regular for a season.), INTELLIGENCE, STARGATE SG-1 – dating all the way back to X- FILES, AND MIAMI VICE. He is a member of The Actor’s Studio in both NY and LA, since 1997.
(Planet of the Apes, Snow Piercer, Cold Pursuit, Van Helsing, Dirk Gently)
The Winnipeg-born Paunovic was a Canadian championship boxer before landing lead roles in series ranging from iZombie, Continuum, and Dirk Gently, to the role of Julius, the vampire leader-turned-human in Van Helsing. Paunovic recently played alongside Liam Neeson in Cold Pursuit, and across from Keanu Reeves in Siberia. He is also well known for his role as Winter in the Planet of the Apes franchise.
(Chappie, Strange Empire, Stargate SG-1, Godzilla)
Bill Marchant is a Vancouver-based writer, actor and director. As an actor, Bill is best known his work on Strange Empire, Stargate SG-1, Chappie and Davinci’s Inquest. As a writer/director, his debut film, Everyone, was the winner of the Zenith D’Or at the Montreal World Film Festival and the Amex Award for Best Film at Vancouver International Film Festival. His latest play, Blaze Orange, was chosen to be workshopped at the Citadel Writer’s Forum in Edmonton.
We are thrilled to announce that Giant Pictures has acquired the U.S. rights to VOLITION! The film will premiere on Apple Movies, Amazon Prime Video, and other Digital Outlets in the U.S. and across the globe on JULY 10th. Read more in the coverage from Variety.