CHRIS BRESKY (PHIL)- Chris has been acting for several years in plays on stage. This included school plays as well as a pro-abstinence play about teen relationships for Northwest Family Services. Off screen Chris was Senior Class President, and involves himself in everything from soccer to scuba diving. Currently Chris is attending San Deigo State. Playing the lead in Going The Distance was a big responsibility, yet Chris showed that his natural acting ability could get him through his part every time. Read his intervew.

JACOB ATTILIO (JASON)- Jacob had been acting with Chris Bresky on stage at Clackamas High School for several years. Chris suggested him for the part of Jason for which he brought an intensity to the role that was really needed. His constant pursuit of excellence kept Jason believable and real. It just added fuel to the fire for Jacob who plans to pursue a career in the film business. He has already written a few scripts and plans on shooting his own feature length project sometime in the near future acting as director, producer, actor, etc. Read his interview.

SHELBI WESCOTT (NICOLE)- Out of the four key actors Shelbi has the most stage experience. She played the leads in several plays in high school and has acted professionally since she was 11. This includes work for Northwest Children's Theater and Oregon Children's Theater. Taking on the role of Nicole was a lot of fun. For the most part she had to be this constant down to earth, confident, and yet alluring girl. Shelbi made the Nicole very believable and natural. Read her interview.

STEPHANIE KAY SMITH (KATE)- Whether its singing, dancing or acting, Stephanie has been performing since the age of two. She has extensive stage experience, starring in school and church plays. She has been an extra in several films and television shows, but this is her first big break into movies. Her hopes are to pursue her talents in acting and singing. She already has her start by singing "Learning Now" on the soundtrack. She thanks God for giving her the family, friends and opportunities in her life and credits her parents for doing whatever it took to help her pursue her dreams.

MICHAEL OLSON (SHAWN)- The role of Sean was a lot of fun for Michael to play. Off screen he is one of the nicest guys you'd ever want to meet. On screen he plays the hypersensitive Sean. He get's to yell, insult, and generally stomp around. The only time Sean is happy is when he's on stage playing. Michael played all of these parts spot on when called for. Being good friends with Chris and Jacob helped keep a bond going on screen. He also has extensive experience on stage and his senior year ran the Multi-media club at Clackamas. He also has aspirations to be in the film business.

TOMMY ODUM (LUKE)- Tommy has been around the stage most of his life and has acted in several church productions. Playing the role of Luke took some doing since Tommy is naturally a low key guy. The role of Luke has him constantly giving his friends a bad time, looking for opportunities to offend, and generally acts as salt in the wound. Tommy pulled off the role and credits the positive role models in his life that have helped him out the most.

TYSON MARTY (ERIC)- Tyson is a multi-talented actor. He can sing, dance, and act. He has been performing for many years and is a key fixture in the drama program at one of Portland's largest churches, New Hope Community Church. Tyson also has a knack for writing. His play "What They Really Think..." won Best Production, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Set at the 1999 David Douglas Senior Showcase One Act Festival. Tyson didn't disappoint when he stepped into the role of quirky Eric. He had fun with the character and made the most of every opportunity to milk it.

TONY OLIVA (JACK)- Formerly with the Baltimore Oriels, Tony is our most famous actor. After an accident that paralyzed him Tony is a walking miracle. He moved from sports into being an evangelist and has dabbled in acting from time to time. Up for parts in several independent films Tony was also offered the role of Jack. His reason for deciding on the role? Because he could relate to Jack and he understood Phil's struggles. He brings a lot of macho sense to the role, yet displays a kind of sensitivity and understanding that all fathers should try to emulate.

JUDY STRAALSUND (LAURA)- Judy is no stranger to the stage. Being the Artistic Director of Tapestry Theatre Company she knows what it takes to pull off a good performance. Judy's experience is broad. She's an actress who's also been a computer consultant, a writer who's been a waitress, a producer who's been a mountaineering guide. She tries to balance long nights in the theatre with time in the garden, and shamelessly entices people to meetings and tech days with goodies and Starbucks coffee. Her role as Phil's mom Laura was a natural fit, except for the fact that she doesn't really drink coffee.

TAILYR DYRDAHL (BECKY)- Going The Distance is Tailyr's debut into movies. She has a natural sense of the camera and pulls off the role of Phil's younger "gleeful moronic little cherub" sister to a tee. In fact, she steals the scene.

RICK LORD (FRANK)- Rick grew up with a lot of family members in the industry. Naturally he started into acting, getting parts in several Movie of the Week's, commercials, television shows such as Unsolved Mysteries, Emergency 911 and various other shows. In 1978 he moved to Portland to make a new start. He got work doing corporate videos and commercials, but eventually started Cinestar Grip Support Services. Another person was cast for the role of Frank, but when they couldn't make it Rick stepped in, delivering an extremely convincing performance as the intimidating father.

JENNY McKEE (SUSAN)- The role of Susan had to be played with extreme intensity. Jenny was picked for this part because of her size and energy. Frank had to be big in every way. For the scene to work the drama of a small woman standing up for her daughter against the overbearing father had to be convincing. Jenny handled the role well and it is one of the most emotional scenes in the entire movie. Her only experience in acting has been with the Vineyard Christian Fellowship drama group, but her natural ability came shining through.

DAN HALLBERG (MR. SEAVERS)- Dan came to the set, sat down, and got into the role of Mr. Seavers with out hesitation. Dan has an extensive acting background. He is the only actor in the group with an actual acting degree. He has done several commercials, including those for the Oregon Lottery. Currently he is the head of audio visual at Rolling Hills Church in Lake Oswego, Oregon.

MERIAH CHURCHILL (MR. SEAVERS SECRETARY)- Born in Hawaii Meriah has always been the family ham. Her energy level keeps her moving as she acts, models, and generally keeps busy. Mr. Seavers secretary had to have the confidence for Mr. Seavers brashness not to phase her. Meriah showed that the Secretary could carry her own weight, and then some. The first time on a full movie set she was amazed at how much work it took to set up a scene and what was involved when the camera wasn't running.

BON McBEE (MR. SEAVERS NEPHEW)- The role of the nephew was limited to one line, but the expressions required for most of the scene were the important part. Bon, who is also an excellent drummer, made the character believable.

J. ORAZIO (YOUNG PHIL)- A first time actor this young man pulls off the role of the young Phil with great expression. The bully scene helped to fill in the history of Phil and Jason so it was important for the Young Phil to show how impressed he was with Jason. With little acting experience he did a fine job.

S. ORAZIO (YOUNG JASON)- Being a twin brother to the young man who plays Phil, this first time actor had a lot of fun playing the part of Jason. Not only did he get to be the stud, but he became the hero that saved the day. His resemblance to the teenage Jason was quite convincing.

CHRIS KUCHINKA (DEXTER CARTER aka BULLY)- Chris was ready and willing to play the part of Dexter. Being a relatively mild mannered kid who loves to laugh it was fun for Chris to play a bully, although it was hard for him to keep from giggling during certain takes.

MELISSA WILENT (VANESSA)- Melissa has been acting since the age of four. Her father, Steve (Co-Writer of the movie), got her involved in many of his plays over the years. She make the role of the snooty Vanessa come alive. Melissa is currently attending George Fox University with a marketing major and film production minor.

DAVID PATTILIO (NICOLE'S FATHER)- No lines for Nicole's Father, yet the expressions he conveys are heartfelt. It's too bad David didn't have a speaking part because he has an excellent voice. In fact he has voiced many radio spots, acted in commercials and corporate videos, as well as being a regular actor on the nationally broadcast late night show Nightlight. David is continuing to broaden his expertise into writing and producing.

STEVE WILENT (MR. JENNINGS)- Steve has been acting for years and years it seems. With an acting bug that bit him early Steve grew up in the LA area. He ended up in Portland going to school here. He moved back to LA to try it again with his wife and two kids. After being there working on and off he decided he'd had enough and moved back to Portland. For several years now he has served as Drama Director for South Hills Community Church. Even though it was a smaller role Steve proved that he can still act, playing the part of a Sex Ed teacher.

SHAWN JUSTICE (CAMPER MOUNTAIN MAN)- Shawn the actor has played roles in several independent plays. He has done one man shows as well as skit type dramas before audiences. His on camera experience includes a Christian music videos show called "Solid Rock Videos" and he has voiced corporate video projects as well as a Paramount Pictures/Rentrack Corp. "Sleepy Hollow" phone card spot.

SHAWN JUSTICE (PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER) - Shawn started his love for the screen when he was five with his twin brother, Kyle, and father, Larry. They used their legos to do animation and then showed the movies to their family and friends. This taste sent them to Jefferson Performing Arts High School as advanced placement students when they were 13. After winning several national awards for their work they graduated at the top of their field. At 19, in 1989, Shawn started Justice Productions doing corporate communications work. Notable work included videos for Columbia Sportswear and Bank of America, as well as being hired as a cameraman once for HardCopy.

The script for Going The Distance was started in 1992 by Shawn as a sort of Afterschool Special. It was his second script/screenplay, and developed from an idea he had back in high school. Principal photography began August 2, 1999, and was a dream come true for Shawn. Several years earlier he made it a personal goal to be working on his first feature film as director by the time he turned 30. His 30th birthday? August 1st. The experience has been a phenomenal test of courage, strength, and complete dependence on God to bring him through.

STEVE WILENT (CO-WRITER) - With a heck of a lot more writing experience than Shawn, Steve was brought in to help overhaul the script. What it became was a feature length script that dealt with the issues and also included a lot of entertainment value. Steve had his stint in Hollywood as an actor, and finally returned to the Pacific Northwest to pickup as Drama Director for South Hills Community Church. The writing team of Steve and Shawn are hard at work on their next feature.

RICK LORD (FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR/GAFFER/KEY GRIP) - During shooting Rick had his hands full. While he was hired as Key Grip and Gaffer, he sort of morphed into a First Assistant Director for Shawn. Whether is was corralling large groups of extras or helping to manage the rest of the crew, Rick went far beyond the call of duty.

DANA GREEN (CAMERA/JIB/STEDICAM OPERATOR) - Dana brought the funnest toys to the mix. While he served as primary cameraman for most major scenes he didn't hesitate to pull out his jib crane or Stedicam. This made all the difference in the world with some shots that telescoped from the highest reaches of the school hallway down to the lowest parts of the floor with the dust. If we needed an extremely smooth running follow, like the one going to the treehouse with Phil and Nicole, he was there, ready and willing to give it a shot (pardon the pun).

STAN GRIFFITH (FIELD AUDIO ENGINEER/GRIP) - Stan has had a small video production company over the years and has always had a vision for going big. As a first time soundman Stan did his job with an enthusiasm and professionalism that helped spur the other crew on to excellence.

BART HAFEMAN (SOUNDTRACK COMPOSER) - With extensive experience in the Christian recording industry Bart branched out on his own to start Barthlomew Productions in 1994. Over those years since he has worked on a variety of projects for artists, advertising agencies and record companies. Bart tackled this soundtrack with his usual contagious enthusiasm and produced a project worthy of a Grammy. This is his first full soundtrack, and won't be his last.

JOHNNY & ERICKA PULTZ (GRIPS) - Brought on partway through the production schedule as extra help by Rick, Johnny went right to work. He was always running around with a smile on his face. Most of the time grips have this certain "I could care less" disposition. Johnny is the exception to the rule. He and Ericka had just started dating a month before principal photography. As Johnny got more involved Ericka did too. They were a great team and you could tell they made a good match. Eight months later they were married. Ericka's disposition is just a friendly as Johnny's. Both of them worked hard and kept an incredibly positive attitude.

DANNY TOMAN (PRODUCTION ASSISTANT) - Well it sounded like fun when Danny was first asked to be a Production Assistant. After all it was summer and he didn't have anything else to do. What did he get out of it? He realized how movies are really made, you see things behind the camera that you really don't think about, the long hours, the time it takes to set up a shot, etc., etc. Danny was a trooper and jumped to his (tired) feet whenever asked. Overall he really had a great time and would love to do it again sometime. As a side-note, the guitar Jason used belonged to Danny.

CHRISTIAN RODAS (PRODUCTION ASSISTANT) - Christian and Danny were tag team members. Together they ran, dragged, and pulled miles of cable, plenty of tables, and the like at our locations. It's a thankless job, but they handled it like pros. Christian is attending a performing arts school majoring in photography, but his real interest is music. When he wasn't working hard you could find him picking up one of the guitars and strumming out a tune.