Joe Ballman (Jonathan Clark + Co-Writer/Producer)

In addition to being a talented and charismatic actor, Joe frequently works behind the camera with Grammar School Pictures. He has been a co-writer and producer on several GSP shorts including This Song and Icebreaker.  In 2009, he made his directorial debut with the GSP short You Are Standing In Front Of A Cave. Joe's other on-screen credits include This Song, almost everything., and season 2 of Wage Slaves.

 

 

 

Stephen Lisk (Mark Carmel) 

Stephen is pretty much a force of nature.  He's recently been seen on stage in Hot Gun (in the role of Vipor) at Dante's, and in the one-man show (which he also wrote and directed), Don't You Know Who I Think I Am? at the Miracle Theatre. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Alicia Tolman (Elizabeth Drake)

Non-Essential Personnel is Alicia's fourth collaboration with Grammar School Pictures.  She previously lent her considerable acting talents to the short films This Song and YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF A CAVE.  She also worked tirelessly as a producer and acting in a supporting role for the GSP feature almost everything. Alicia also had a featured role in season 2 of Wage Slaves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leif Norby (Craig Allen) 

Leif has been active as an actor in the Portland area since 1992. Some of his favorite roles include Richard Hannay in The 39 Steps, and Tateh in Ragtime for Portland Center Stage; Nicky in The Seafarer for Artist Rep; Chris Keller in All My Sons, and Lenny in The Homecoming for Profile Theater; Kit Gill in No Way to Treat a Lady, and Lawrence Jameson in Dirty Rotton Scoundrels for Broadway Rose; and the title roles in Hamlet, Sweeny Todd, and Will Rogers Follies. Commercial and TV credits include Leverage, and Oregon Lottery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jim Craig (Gary Bowman)

This is Jim's second collaboration with Grammar School Pictures. In 2007, we cast him as the co-lead in our award-winning short film, Icebreaker.  Jim’s other on-screen credits include Bowen, Special, Not Dead Yet, and The Face of Justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melissa Kaiser (Megan Clark)

We recently had the pleasure of working with Melissa on our upcoming short film, A World of Pain.  Melissa is an accomplished actor on and off-screen.  Her on-screen credits include both seasons Wage Slaves and the feature, Uncle Sam's House.  Melissa’s stage credits include Richard II (NWCTC), Private Eyes (2 Boards Productions), Dr. Faustus Lights the Lights (Defunkt Theatre), Faust. Us. 2.0 (Stark Raving Theatre), and The Vespiary (Stark Raving Theatre).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris A. Bolton (Sean Black)

Chris is something of a multimedia conglomerate in and of himself - he is the co-creator of the all-ages web-comic Smash, the creator of the web-series Wage Slaves, and his short story "The Red Room" was published in Portland Noir.  Chris' on-screen credits include both seasons of Wage Slaves, Uncle Sam's House, and The Memorial Counselor.

 

 

 

 

 
 Matt Knapp (Co-Writer/Director/Producer) 

In 2004, Matt co-founded (with Joe Ballman) Grammar School Pictures.  Over the last seven years Matt has produced and directed five shorts, one feature, and lots of video content for various Portland-based musicians (including The Dimes, The Builders and The Butchers, and Laura Gibson).  Matt also worked as the Director of Photography for season two of the acclaimed web-series, Wage Slaves.

 

 

 

Christina Mackin (Producer)

Christina is a freelance artist and illustrator living in Portland, Oregon. She has worked in various capacities on several Portland film productions and wellness videos, including Stripperland, Non-Essential Personnel, and Yoga and Pilates Back Care, and was an extra on Extraordinary Measures, Leverage, and the hit comedy series Wage Slaves. But nothing comes close to her crowning achievement as the Ship's Captain short film, created by Cynthia Lopez of Golden Moon Media.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alicia Navarette (Production Sound)

Alicia is a born traveler, shark wrestler and cat matador. Alicia loves a good joke and good beer. Most days you can find her slumming around with the local creative types. Her favorite past time is making up zany songs with her husband Tim. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jake Powell (Original Score)

Jake Powell is an artist and musician working in Portland, OR.  You can listen to his solo work at jakepowell.bandcamp.com. 

 

 

 

 

The Dimes - "Up For Air"

The opening title music for Non-Essential Personnel is an excerpt from The Dimes' "Up For Air" off their 2007 album, The Silent Generation. Their most recent album, The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry is currently available everywhere on vinyl, CD and digital download.  Check them out at www.thedimes.com.