WHITE BALL PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS
Howard Elson
GRANDPA (AL ANDROWSKI)
Howard, actually DR. Elson, is a semi-retired Pediatric Dentist who’s been performing professionally on stage, screen, TV and radio for over 60 years. He’s had his own sports talk show, award winning sports commentaries on KDKA Radio, performed his dental show, “Ladies and Gentlemen, Dr. Howard Elson,” throughout North America and toured his cabaret show throughout the Northeast for Israel Bonds.
Like “Grandpa,” he’s an Army veteran of the Vietnam War era and still, in his 70’s, pitches in Adult Senior baseball leagues and has 12 National Championship rings to prove it. Howard’s favorite roles include Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” Fagin in “Oliver,” both grandfathers in the acclaimed musical “Caroline, or Change” and Fredrik in “A Little Night Music.” He can be seen as Isador Strauss in the recently released feature film, “Unsinkable”.
Tori Flanders
SHORTY (LIZZY ANDROWSKI)
Tori is an active 12 year old from Ebensburg, PA. She enjoys musical theater and has participated in numerous productions including Trolls, Winnie the Pooh and Friends, Matilda Jr., Matilda, and The Newsies.
Tori is a member of Hellbender Aquatics swim team and enjoys playing volleyball. During her free time, Toris enjoys Broadway musicals, pop music, and hanging out with friends.
Her role as 'Shorty' in White Ball Productions' 'Grandpa and Shorty' has been her favorite role to date and she hopes to continue acting in the future.
Sé Marie Volk
MOM (THERESA ANDROWSKI)
Sé Marie Volk is a Los Angeles–based actor whose work spans independent film, festival cinema, and award-winning digital projects. After earning her degree in film production in 2011, she began her career as a stunt double for Rachel McAdams and Vinessa Shaw before transitioning fully into acting and leading roles.
She quickly emerged as a standout in the indie film space, starring in festival features including Career Opportunities in Organized Crime, which premiered at South by Southwest Film Festival in 2016, and Careful Not to Cry, which screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017. Her screen credits also include the comedy feature Movers Ultimate and the period drama Unsinkable, centered on the aftermath of the Titanic.
In 2020, Volk starred in Water Child, a live Zoom theatre production recognized for its international cast and innovative format, and produced, directed, and starred in the web series A Very Covid Christmas, which won three 2021 Telly Awards. She also leads the award-winning sci-fi short Artificial Existence, which has received more than 20 festival awards worldwide, including a Best Actress nomination from the Bucharest ShortCut Cinefest.
Recent and upcoming work includes a supporting role in the feature film Funnybone and a leading role in the Western thriller short Mexican Hat. In addition to her acting career, Volk is an active producer and mentor, a member of BAFTA Connect and Women in Film, and a member of the Telly Awards Judging Council. She is currently based in Los Angeles.
Curtis Caldwell
DAD (JOSEPH ANDROWSKI)
Curtis Caldwell has been performing on stage and screen for over 20 years with a foundation in Shakespeare and Stanislavsky. He strives to find authenticity in every role, whether it be a dramatic or comedic performance.
You may have seen Curtis in the internationally released feature film Rising Fear (America Has Fallen), Lifetime’s drama The Bad Guardian, or the side-splitting comedy Sprung on FreeVee.
Curtis thrives when collaborating with other passionate, forward-thinking minds to create thought-provoking and entertaining stories.
@curtisclone
Chase Oberhaus
LUKE
Chase Oberhaus lives is northeast Ohio and enjoys acting, singing, dancing and sports. He has participated in many local theater productions at Cleveland Play House, The Beck Center, and Weathervane Playhouse.
This is his second movie and he hopes to be in many more! A great theater enthusiast, Chase is always searching for a great story that he could turn into a stage musical! One day, he hopes to perform on Broadway.
https://www.backstage.com/u/chase-oberhaus/
@chase.oberhaus
Layla Pritt
ZOEY
Layla is from Milton, West Virginia where she lives with her parents and older brother Landon.
This is her second role in a movie and her love for acting continues to grow. She also has a love for the stage. Her talents are diverse and include tennis, volleyball and softball, in addition to her eight years of training in dance.She also enjoys singing and has trained in piano, her training has led to tremendous growth in both over the last several years.
Most of all she enjoys being a kid, playing with her best friends and her dog Rosie.
Mark Henne
JOHNNY
Mark is a student at Shady Side Academy in Pittsburgh, PA.
He has been acting and performing since he was 10 years old and has been awarded Best Supporting Actor: Green Mountain Christian Film Festival 2020 for Song of the Tree Frogs and Best Young Actor: Los Angeles Film Awards 2019 for Lucid Nation.
Mark is represented by Docherty Talent Agency in Pittsburgh and Treasure Coast Talent in California.
Jeff Balmert
DIRECTOR
Jeff has spent 17 years working in the film and television production field as a director and producer.
After graduating from Duquesne University, he began working at KDKA-TV. He then received his master’s degree from
Carnegie Mellon University's Entertainment Technology Center.
Jeff is also a professional voiceover artist, working with some of the biggest and most well-known clients all across the country.
He co-founded White Ball Productions, a film production company, in 2015 with his business partner John Rokosz.
Jeff and his wife live in Pittsburgh, PA.
John Rokosz
WRITER / COMPOSER
John received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from Duquesne University, and has a lifelong passion for the creative process. His writing portfolio ranges from screenplays, to film and video game soundtracks, to concert and sacred music.
He became a co-founder and owner of White Ball Productions after collaborating on several film projects with his college friend, Jeff Balmert.
John lives in Pittsburgh with his wife and two children, and is a choir director and freelance musician when he’s not writing.
You can see John’s full bio, resume, and portfolio at johnrokosz.com, and his film work at whiteballproductions.com.
Dax Parise
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Dax is the President and Executive Producer of Untitled, a multi-disciplinary film company based in Pittsburgh with capabilities worldwide.
Employing strategists and designers with experience in all aspects of visual communication, Untitled helps clients tell their stories powerfully, creatively, and thoughtfully.
Dax most recently served as the President and Executive Producer of Uppercut Studios.
With a career in advertising and video production spanning more than 20 years, his work has been recognized with multiple national and regional advertising awards.
Ember Cleary
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
As a passionate storyteller, Ember uses every shot to tell a story unique to its subject. The use of interpretive lighting and framing in her cinematography conveys the story to the viewer. In collaboration with other artists, Ember turns concepts into aesthetically pleasing, story driven finished projects.
Ember is greatly inspired by Renaissance art, film noir, and modern cinema. These inspirations play an important role in her conceptual photography works, which she uses to discuss important issues facing today’s society. The goal of her photographs is to impact the audience and give them a better understanding of these issues.
Katie Mielo
PRODUCER
Katie is an assistant producer at Untitled.
Working her way up from production assistant, to production coordinator, and finally production secretary for the major motion picture A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Katie has gained knowledge and is prepared for the exciting and challenging role of producing.
Sara Liberto
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Sara received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005. She then received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 2009. She has been a practicing attorney since passing the Pennsylvania Bar in 2010.
Sara was new to the film industry when she joined White Ball Productions in 2015, as the Director of Public Relations. Since then, she has also acted as Prop Master, Set Photographer, and Production Manager.
Sara lives in Pittsburgh, and in her spare time she enjoys reading, writing, and traveling.
Katie Clouser
POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Katie received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame in 2005. For the next ten years she worked in the financial industry as a credentialed actuary at a Fortune 100 insurance company.
She joined White Ball Productions in 2014 as the Chief Financial Officer and Business Manager. Since then, she has also acted as
Post-Production Supervisor managing all music and video licensing as well as distribution.
Katie lives in San Antonio with her husband and homeschools her four children. In her spare time she enjoys playing the piano, knitting, and traveling.
Ana Balmert
MARKETING / OUTREACH
Ana received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she studied Marketing. She also earned her master's degree from the University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business.
Ana brings her theater acting experience and communications background to serve as White Ball Productions' Director of Marketing and Outreach.
