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About the Cast

KATHERINE HEIGL (Abby / Executive Producer) has quickly emerged as one of Hollywood’s brightest talents on both the silver screen and on television. Heigl was recently seen in the romantic comedy 27 Dresses, co-starring with James Marsden and Malin Akerman as a woman who has served as a bridesmaid 27 times. She previously starred in the box office smash hit Knocked Up, directed by Judd Apatow and co-staring Paul Rudd and Seth Rogan, playing a young woman who finds out that she is pregnant after a one night stand. She will next re-team with The Ugly Truth director Robert Luketic for Five Killers.

Heigl is also well known for her role on ABC’s popular, critically acclaimed drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” on which she portrays Dr. Isobel “Izzie” Stevens. Heigl earned an Emmy Award in 2007 as well as a Golden Globe nomination in 2007 for her performance.

Heigl’s previous film credits include the comedy The Ringer, the horror film Valentine, Steven Soderbergh’s critically acclaimed depression-era drama King of the Hill, Under Siege 2: Dark Territory opposite Steven Segal, Stand-Ins and That Night. Her first leading role was in Touchstone Pictures’ My Father the Hero starring opposite Gerard Depardieu.

On television, Heigl has starred on the WB’s sci-fi drama series, “Roswell.” Additional television credits include the Hallmark Channel’s “Love Comes Softly,” TBS’ “Evil Never Dies,” and “Love’s Enduring Promise.”

GERARD BUTLER (Mike Chadway) made his mark in Hollywood in 2007 starring as Leonidas, the Spartan King, in Zack Snyder’s blockbuster 300. The film broke box office records in its opening weekend, earning more than $450 million worldwide. The project solidified Butler as a leading man. He will next be seen in the futuristic thriller Gamer and is currently filming Bounty for Columbia Pictures.

Butler was most recently seen in the Guy Ritchie feature RocknRolla, which placed him in the middle of a criminal underworld alongside Thandie Newton. He also starred in the children’s adventure film Nim’s Island opposite Jodie Foster and Abigail Breslin. In December 2007, Butler starred in the romantic drama P.S. I Love You with Hilary Swank.

In 2004, Butler won the coveted title role in the film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. He earned critical acclaim for his work opposite Emily Mortimer in the independent feature Dear Frankie, which screened at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival. He has also been seen in Beowulf & Grendel, The Game of Their Lives, Timeline, Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life and Reign of Fire.

In 1997, Butler made his feature film debut in John Madden’s award-winning drama Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown, starring Judi Dench. His early film work includes roles in Fast Food, One More Kiss, Harrison’s Flowers and the 1999 screen adaptation of Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard.

Born in Scotland, Butler made his stage debut at the age of twelve in the musical “Oliver,” at Glasgow’s famous Kings Theatre. As a young man, his dreams of acting were temporarily deterred and he went on to study law for seven years before returning to the stage in London. In 1996, he landed the lead role in the acclaimed stage production of “Trainspotting.” He later starred on the London Stage in such plays as “Snatch” and the Donmar Warehouse production of Tennessee Williams’ “Suddenly Last Summer,” opposite Rachel Weisz.

Consistently delivering memorable performances, ERIC WINTER (Colin) is quickly becoming one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents.

Prior to The Ugly Truth, he was seen on the big screen in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the hit sequel to Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

On television, Winter has done arcs on the critically acclaimed “Brothers and Sisters” and the cult vampire drama “Moonlight.” Early on he became a fan favorite in his television debut role on the popular daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives.

His additional television credits include “Viva Laughlin,” “Just Legal,”CSI,” “Pepper Dennis,” “Wildfire” and “Love Inc“.

Winter is a graduate of UCLA and lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Rosalyn Sanchez.

JOHN MICHAEL HIGGINS (Larry) is known for his diverse characters, from his turn as David Letterman in the highly acclaimed HBO telefilm The Late Shift to his performance as the flamboyant Shih Tzu handler in Christopher Guest’s comedy feature Best in Show. A regular member of Guest’s improv repertory, Higgins also acted in For Your Consideration and A Mighty Wind. His recent films include Yes Man, starring with Jim Carrey, as well as Jeff Balis’ Still Waiting and Will Gluck’s directorial debut, Fired Up.

Higgins’ other film credits include writer/director Jake Kasdan’s Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story from writer/producer Judd Apatow; Tom Shadyac’s Evan Almighty starring Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman; Fred Claus directed by David Dobkin and starring Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti; Peyton Reed’s The Break-Up, with Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston; Dean Parisot’s Fun with Dick and Jane starring Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni; David S. Goyer’s Blade: Trinity with Wesley Snipes; Chris Columbus’ Bicentennial Man starring Robin Williams; and Barry Levinson’s critically acclaimed Wag the Dog, with Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman.

In addition to his film work, Higgins is a familiar face on television, recently co-starring with Molly Shannon and Selma Blair in the sitcom “Kath & Kim.” On the heels of his recurring role on the critically acclaimed series “Arrested Development,” show creator Mitch Hurwitz co-wrote the Christopher Guest-directed TV movie “The Thick of It,” based on the BBC series, with Higgins in mind as the lead. His other numerous television appearances include a recurring role on David E. Kelley’s “Ally McBeal,” and as the voice of Mentok the Mindtaker on the Adult Swim animated comedy series “Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.”

NICK SEARCY (Stuart), a consistent presence in television and film for nearly 20 years, has starred in independent films as well as studio blockbusters, including The Dead Girl, An American Crime, Runaway Jury, Cast Away, Head of State, and Fries Green Tomatoes, among others. On television, he was most recently seen on “Easy Money” and has been a series regular on “7 Days,” “American Gothic,” “From The Earth To The Moon” and “Rodney.” He has also guest-starred on many shows including “The Riches,” “The West Wing,” “Boston Legal,” “CSI, “CSI Miami” and “NCIS” among many others. He also shocked horror fans in the features Deadly End, Timber Falls and Cold Storage. He will also be seen in the forthcoming independent drama Blood Done Sign My Name and starring opposite Timothy Olyphant in the Elmore Leonard FX pilot “Fire In The Hole.”Dead Man Walking, for director Tim Robbins; Unstrung Heroes; Ben Stiller’s feature film directorial debut Reality Bites; and Closet Land.

KEVIN CONNOLLY (Jim) is currently best known for his starring role in the award-winning HBO comedy series “Entourage.” He recently earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination, for Best Actor in a Comedy Series, for his work in the role of Eric, the best friend and manager of a hot, young actor in Hollywood. In addition, Connolly has received three Screen Actors Guild Award® nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. The hit show is currently in its sixth season.

Behind the camera, Connolly recently directed the indie release “Garden of Eden,” a dark comedy about alienated youth in suburban New Jersey, starring Lukas Haas and Erika Christensen. Produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Simpson and Allen Bain, the film premiered at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. Additionally, he has directed two new music videos: “Camera Phone” for The Game and Ne Yo; and Blackcowboy’s “Come On,” starring Giselle Bundchen. Connolly had earlier made his film directorial debut with the short “Whatever We Do,” which starred Robert Downey Jr., Amanda Peet and Zooey Deschanel and premiered at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.

Connolly was most recently seen on the big-screen in the hit romantic-comedy He’s Just Not That Into You opposite Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Ben Affleck. His previous film acting credits include two films directed by Nick Cassavetes: the romantic drama The Notebook, with Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams; and the drama John Q, starring Denzel Washington. Connolly also appeared in the acclaimed biopic Antwone Fisher, which was directed by and starred Washington. His additional film work includes roles in the hit comedy “The Beverly Hillbillies,” the indie Alan & Naomi, and John G. Avildsen’s Rocky V, starring Sylvester Stallone.

Connolly first came to fame on the comedy series “Unhappily Ever After,” playing the part of Ryan, a member of the always struggling Malloy family. His television credits include several telefilms, including “Up, Up and Away” and “Kids Killing Kids.” He has also had guest and recurring parts on a number of series.

CHERYL HINES (Georgia) is a two-time Emmy nominee for her role as Cheryl David on HBO’s Golden Globe Award-winning series “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” the brainchild of Larry David, co-creator of “Seinfeld.” The show, which has been nominated for numerous Emmy Awards including Best Supporting Actress for Cheryl, Best Actor for Larry and Best Comedy Series, recently aired its sixth and final season on HBO. The show will soon be returning for its seventh season, premiering September 20.

Hines was recently seen in the 2008 Sundance hit Henry Poole Is Here for director Mark Pellington and starred opposite William H. Macy in the independent feature Bart Got a Room. She will next be seen in the comedy Labor Pains with Lindsday Lohan. On television, she starred with Megan Mullaly and Jessica St. Clair on the ABC sitcom “In the Motherhood.”

In 2009, Hines made her feature film directorial debut with the indie Serious Moonlight from a screenplay written by the late Adrienne Shelly. The film is a dark comedy centered on the troubled marriage of a high-powered female attorney (played by Meg Ryan) who learns that her husband (Timothy Hutton) is about to leave her for another woman. Serious Moonlight premiered to critical acclaim at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and the Nantucket Film Festival. The film is slated for release later this year.

Hines’ other film roles include starring opposite Keri Russell in the romantic comedy Waitress, which was written, directed and co-starred Shelly; and the indie feature The Grand, starring opposite Woody Harrelson, David Cross, Dennis Farina and Ray Romano. Her addition film credits include RV, starring Robin Williams and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and the comedy.

Hines has broadened her experience in television to include producing and directing. She was the executive producer on the critically acclaimed improvised and award-winning comedy series “Campus Ladies” for the Oxygen Channel and the Starz Networks first original comedy series “Hollywood Residential,” in addition she also directed several episodes.

Hines resides in Los Angeles with her husband Paul and their daughter Catherine Rose.

 

About the Filmmakers

ROBERT LUKETIC (Director) made his feature film debut directing the smash hit comedy Legally Blonde. The film, which grossed close to $100 million, was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards. More recently, Luketic directed the critical and commercial hit Columbia Pictures film 21 inspired by the true story of the very brightest young minds in the country – and how they took Vegas for millions. The film starred Kevin Spacey, Jim Sturges and Kate Bosworth.

Prior to that Luketic directed the box office success, Monster-in-Law, starring Jennifer Lopez and Jane Fonda, which was Fonda’s first acting role in fifteen years. Luketic also directed the romantic comedy Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, which starred Kate Bosworth, Nathan Lane, Josh Duhamel and Topher Grace.

Born in Sydney, Australia, Luketic won his first award at the age of 15, when he was honored for Best Film at the ATOM Film Festival. Luketic went on to study at the Victorian College of Arts – School of Film and Television (VCA), one of Australia’s most prestigious film schools. His award-winning short film, Titsiana Booberini, screened at many film festivals, including Sundance, Telluride, Aspen and Santa Barbara and brought him to the attention of Hollywood.

He is currently at work on the film, Five Killers, starring Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl.

NICOLE EASTMAN (Screenplay by / Story by) an up-and-coming talent, is quickly becoming a favorite in the industry for fresh, funny and realistic romantic comedies. Eastman is making her mark with individualistic and irreverent humor, and strong roles for both male and female actors.

Eastman makes her feature film debut with The Ugly Truth. Other projects include The Gilded Lily, a remake of the 1935 Claudette Colbert classic from Universal; the ABC pilot The Girl Next Door; the Reese Witherspoon vehicle The Proposal; and the adaptation of I’m Fine for Paramount, with director Ken Kwapis. Eastman is currently adapting the bestseller Time of My Life for The Weinstein Company.

Eastman resides in Woodstock, New York.

KAREN MCCULLAH LUTZ & KIRSTEN SMITH (Screenplay by / Executive Producers) are one of the most prolific and successful female writing teams in Hollywood. They most recently teamed on the comedy House Bunny starring Anna Faris with Adam Sandler producing. Karen’s independent drama, Long Time Gone, starring Christina Ricci, will go before cameras this summer, and she is readying the feature film adaptation of The Bachlorette Party. Kirsten’s first film as an executive producer, Whip It!, starring Ellen Page and directed by Drew Barrymore will be released this fall. She also served as an executive producer on Virgin on Bourbon Street, directed by Clare Kilner and starring Rob Schneider and Jenna Dewan, due for release this year.

Karen and Kirsten got their start as screenwriters in 1997 by selling 10 Things I Hate About You as a spec screenplay. In 1998, the movie was green-lit by Disney, starring then-unknowns Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles. They went on to write the hit comedy Legally Blonde, which was nominated for two Golden Globes and won multiple MTV Movie Awards. Their other credits include the fantasy comedy Ella Enchanted, starring Anne Hathaway and She’s the Man, an update of “Twelfth Night” starring Amanda Bynes.

In addition to their work as a writing team, they are both novelists. Karen’s novel, The Bachlorette Party, was published by St. Martin’s Press in 2005, and Kirsten’s, The Geography of Girlhood, a novel-in-verse for young adults, came out through Little Brown in 2006.

At present, TOM ROSENBERG (Producer) is the chairman and CEO of Lakeshore Entertainment, which he founded in 1994. He produced Million Dollar Baby, and won the Academy Award® for Best Picture at the 2005 Academy Awards®. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood and co-starring Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, the film won Oscars® for Eastwood (Director) Swank (Lead Actress) and Freeman (Supporting Actor.) Rosenberg is currently producing a reinvention of the 1980 classic, Fame, and Gamer, starring Gerard Butler and Michael C. Hall. He recently produced Crank: High Voltage, starring Jason Statham, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, starring Michael Sheen and Bill Nighy, and Elegy, starring Penelope Cruz and Sir Ben Kingsley.

Among the other recent feature film projects produced by Lakeshore are Henry Poole is Here, starring Luke Wilson, directed by Mark Pellington; Midnight Meat Train, starring Bradley Cooper, and Pathology, starring Milo Ventimiglia; Untraceable, starring Diane Lane directed by Greg Hoblit; Feast of Love, starring Morgan Freeman and Greg Kinnear and directed by Robert Benton; The Dead Girl, which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature, directed by Karen Moncrieff with an ensemble cast including Marcia Gay Harden, Brittany Murphy and Mary Beth Hurt; The Last Kiss, starring Zach Braff and Jacinda Barret, direction by Tony Goldwyn; Underworld: Evolution, starring Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman, direction by Len Wiseman; The Exorcism of Emily Rose, starring Laura Linney and Tom Wilkinson; and Cave, starring Cole Hauser, Eddie Cibrian, and Piper Perabo, direction by Bruce Hunt; Wicker Park, starring Josh Hartnett; Underworld, starring Kate Beckinsale, directed by Len Wiseman; The Human Stain, starring Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman, directed by Robert Benton; The Gift, starring Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves, directed by Sam Raimi; Autumn in New York, starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder, directed by Joan Chen; Passion of Mind, starring Demi Moore, Stellan Skarsgard and William Fichtner; The Mothman Prophecies, starring Richard Gere; Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, directed by Garry Marshall; Arlington Road, with Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack; and 200 Cigarettes, starring Ben Affleck, Courtney Love and Christina Ricci.

Rosenberg’s other feature films for Lakeshore include Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy, ‘Til There Was You, Box of Moonlight, The Real Blonde and Going All The Way.

Rosenberg began his film career as co-founder of Beacon Communications under whose banner he was the executive producer of such films as The Commitments, Sugar Hill, A Midnight Clear, Princess Caraboo, The Hurricane, and The Road to Wellville.

GARY LUCCHESI (Producer) serves as Producer/ President of Lakeshore Entertainment, an independent film company based in Los Angeles. Lucchesi executive produced Million Dollar Baby, which won the Oscar® for Best Picture of 2004. Directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman, the film won Oscars® for Eastwood (Director), Swank (Actress) and Freeman (Supporting Actor). Lucchesi also produced the recently released films: Crank 2: High Voltage, starring Jason Statham; Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, which is the third installment of the Underworld franchise; Elegy, directed by Isabel Coixet and starring Penelope Cruz and Sir Ben Kingsley; and Untraceable, directed by Gregory Hoblit and starring Diane Lane. He produced the following soon to be released films: Gamer, starring Gerard Butler directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor; The Ugly Truth, directed by Robert Luketic and starring Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl; and Fame, an updated version of the 1980 musical. Fame stars Charles Dutton, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Kelsey Grammer, and Debbie Allen as teachers of a New York performing arts high school.

Lucchesi produced The Dead Girl, which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Feature. The film was directed by Karen Moncrieff with an ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Toni Collette and James Franco.

Other producing credits include The Last Kiss, starring Zach Braff and Jacinda Barrett, directed by Tony Goldwyn; Crank, starring Jason Statham and Amy Smart; box office smash The Exorcism of Emily Rose; and the first two installments of the Underworld series, both starring Kate Beckinsale. In 2004, Lucchesi produced Wicker Park, directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Josh Hartnett. Prior to that, he produced The Human Stain, based on the Philip Roth novel, directed by Academy Award® winner Robert Benton and starring Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman.

Lucchesi’s credits with Lakeshore Entertainment include The Mothman Prophesies, starring Richard Gere and Laura Linney; Autumn in New York, starring Gere and Winona Ryder; and Sam Raimi’s The Gift, which starred Cate Blanchett. Lucchesi was the executive producer on the box office hit Runaway Bride, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall.

Lucchesi previously served as president of Gary Lucchesi Productions, an independent production company where he produced Primal Fear, for which Edward Norton was nominated for an Oscar. He also produced the Emmy-nominated “Gotti” and “Breast Men” for HBO. In addition, Lucchesi produced the Emmy-winning Showtime movie, “Wild Iris.”

While president of Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s The Really Useful Film Co., Lucchesi executive produced the film version of the musical “Cats” as well as original feature films and direct-to-video releases of other theatre hits.

Prior to becoming an independent producer, Lucchesi was President of Production at Paramount and oversaw such films as Ghost, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Fatal Attraction, The Hunt for Red October, Coming to America, The Naked Gun, The Godfather: Part III, Star Trek, Black Rain and The Untouchables.

Prior to his tenure at Paramount, Lucchesi worked at TriStar Pictures for four years as both Vice President and Senior Vice President of Production. Lucchesi began his career in Los Angeles as an agent for the William Morris Agency, where he represented such stars as Kevin Costner, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon and John Malkovich.

STEVEN REUTHER (Producer) has been one of Hollywood’s more prolific producers, with a slate of over three dozen diverse motion picture credits (as producer or executive producer) that include such popular hits as Dirty Dancing, The Mambo Kings, Andy Davis’ Under Siege (with Tommy Lee Jones), Joel Schumacher’s The Client, John Woo’s Face/Off, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rainmaker, and Garry Marshall’s Pretty Woman, and Pay It Forward.

Reuther began his career at the William Morris Agency and left to pursue a career in film development in 1982. He then collaborated with director Adrian Lyne on his erotic 1985 hit 9 1/2 Weeks, earning his first screen credit as associate producer. He segued to RKO Pictures, where he oversaw a slate of films. He then moved on to Vestron Pictures (1986-89), where Reuther executive produced the box-office smash Dirty Dancing and thirteen other films.

Reuther next partnered with Arnon Milchan in New Regency Films (1989-94), where his first production was Pretty Woman. Among the 22 films he developed and produced or executive produced during his association with the company are War of the Roses, Guilty by Suspicion, Q&A, The Mambo Kings, Boys on the Side, Sommersby, JFK, and Falling Down.

Along with the Oscar®-winning actor-producer, Reuther established Douglas/Reuther Productions (serving as the company’s President and CEO from 1994-97). Together, they executive produced such films as Face/Off starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage and The Ghost and the Darkness pairing actor Michael Douglas with Val Kilmer. He produced The Rainmaker, based on John Grisham’s bestseller. He also shepherded Sabrina, starring Harrison Ford.

In 1998, Reuther set up Bel Air Entertainment, a co-venture with Warner Bros. Studios and European media giant Canal Plus. Over the past five years, Reuther has produced such films as Andy Davis’ actioner Collateral Damage, Pat O’Connor’s romantic drama Sweet November, Chain of Fools and Pay It Forward. He also executive produced The Replacements, Taylor Hackford’s Proof of Life, and Rock Star, on which he first worked with director Stephen Herek.

Since leaving Bel Air Entertainment, Reuther has produced two documentaries, The Dalai Lama and Heart of America, which raised money for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He also produced the Tommy Lee Jones picture Man of the House. He currently has projects in development at Warner Bros. and Paramount.

DEBORAH JELIN NEWMYER (Producer) currently owns and runs Outlaw Productions, a company she inherited from her late husband and original founder Bobby Newmyer. Outlaw Productions, founded in 1987, has a first look deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment, and has produced 27 feature films, including sex, lies, and videotape (winner of the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival), Don Juan DeMarco, The Santa Clause and its sequels, Breach, Training Day, and 27 Dresses. Among other projects in development, Deborah and Outlaw are currently Executive Producing the NBC Series “The Sing-Off” and developing an adaptation of Dave Egger’s best-selling novel What is the What about the Lost Boys of Sudan – a cause that the Newmyers have been devoted to since 2001.

Deborah formerly was Senior Vice-President at Amblin Entertainment, where she worked for twelve years overseeing films from The Color Purple through Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List, and television series including “Amazing Stories” and “E.R.” She also produced How to Make An American Quilt and The Little Rascals, as well as the animated features An American Tale and The Land Before Time.

ANDRE LAMAL (Executive Producer) has worked with producer Tom Rosenberg in various production capacities since Beacon Communication’s A Midnight Clear in 1992, and with Lakeshore on selected productions since Going All the Way in 1997. Most recently, Lamal served as executive producer on the critically acclaimed Elegy. Prior to that his work at Lakeshore includes The Covenant, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, and The Human Stain, and as a producer on Wicker Park and The Last Kiss. Previously, Lamal was co-producer on the Lakeshore films Autumn in New York, Passion of Mind, and 200 Cigarettes. He was also a production executive on Box of Moonlight.

Lamal’s other credits include Phoenix (co-producer), Homegrown (co-producer) and 364 Girls a Year (line producer).

NANCY HEIGL (Executive Producer) got her start in the entertainment industry, managing daughter Katherine Heigl’s acting career and in that role helped to establish Katherine as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand leading ladies.

In 2007, Heigl added producing to her resume and partnered with Katherine to form Abishag Productions. Under that banner, Nancy strives to seek out, develop and executive produce exciting and dynamic projects for their company.

Heigl’s first project as an Executive Producer was the hit romantic comedy 27 Dresses which went on to earn over $160 million dollars worldwide and solidified Katherine Heigl’s status as a major box office draw.

Next up, Heigl will serve as an Executive Producer on Life As We Know It for Warner Bros.. The romantic drama stars Katherine Heigl and follows two single adults when they are appointed guardians of the orphaned daughter of their best friends. Production is scheduled to begin in September 2009.

Nancy’s additional producing credits include the upcoming feature films Girl Most Wanted from Fox 2000 and Bicoastal Babe from Lakeshore Entertainment. Through Abishag Productions, Nancy and Katherine are also developing numerous other projects and have optioned the bestselling dramatic novel “Lost and Found” about a widow who lives alone on a remote island in Maine with her dog.

Among her charitable endeavors, Nancy, along with Katherine, co-founded the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation, dedicated to helping prevent animal cruelty. Through the foundation, the Heigls are donating their time and countless resources to animal-friendly causes including shutting down puppy mills and dog fighting operations and providing safe havens for animals that have been abused and neglected.

RYAN KAVANAUGH (Executive Producer) is a principal of Relativity Media, LLC, a financing, consulting and production company that structures slate financing for both major studios and independent production entities.

Kavanaugh, along with his Relativity partner, Lynwood Spinks, creates business and financial structures for a number of studios, production companies and producers, and has introduced more than $3.2 billion of capital to such structures. Clients and deals include Marvel, Atmosphere Entertainment MM and French distributor/sales agent Exception Wild Bunch, among others.

Kavanaugh recently created a unique financing package, Gun Hill Road, LLC, which provides discrete and separate funds for both Sony Pictures Entertainment and Universal Pictures, marking the first time two studios have received funds from the same funding source and providing production funding for a total of 22 films in various stages of production and release. He facilitated a $528-million multipicture co-financing arrangement for Warner Bros. Pictures, as well as a $525-million financing deal for Marvel Enterprises, and structured and raised a 120-million euro acquisition, production and distribution fund for Exception Wild Bunch S.A., the French distribution and sales company founded by former StudioCanal management.

Through its partnership with Virtual Studios, Relativity finances two to three pictures per month. Kavanaugh recently arranged the financing for and will be executive producer of Conquistador, to be directed by Cannes and Sundance award winner Andrucha Waddington and star Emmy-and three-time-Golden Globe-nominated actor Antonio Banderas; Morgan’s Summit, written and to be directed by Academy Award® winner Tom Schulman; and The Great Pretender, starring Emmy-and Golden Globe-nominated actor Ewan McGregor. In addition, Kavanaugh arranged the financing to bring Top Cow Productions’ Witchblade to the big screen, with production beginning last year on two feature films to be shot back-to-back. The films are based on the best-selling action-fantasy comic book, which also earned a loyal following as a TNT television series.

Kavanaugh also arranged the financing for and was executive producer of two films for Mark Canton’s Atmosphere Entertainment MM: Full of It and George A. Romero’s Land of the Dead. Recently, he has executive produced films including The International, The Tale of Despereaux, Death Race, 21, The Bank Job, Charlie Wilson’s War, 3:10 to Yuma, Gridiron Gang, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, and The Kingdom.

Prior to his work with Relativity, Kavanaugh started a venture capital company at the age of 22, and during that time raised and invested more than $400 million in equity for a number of venture and private-equity transactions.

RUSSELL CARPENTER (Director of Photography) won an Academy Award® for Best Cinematography for his beautiful imagery on Titanic, the enormously successful romantic drama directed by James Cameron. He also collaborated with the director on T2 – 3D: Battle Across Time and True Lies. Carpenter previously worked with director Robert Luketic on Monster-In-Law and 21. He is currently filming the anthology thriller Locker 13.

Carpenter recently worked for director Joby Harold on Awake, starring Jessica Alba, Hayden Christensen, Terrence Howard, and Lena Olin. He also shot the action-packed Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Charlie’s Angels starring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu for director McG; the comedy Shallow Hal for Bobby and Peter Farrelly, featuring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black; as well as the dramatic thriller The Negotiator with Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey for director F. Gary Gray.

Carpenter’s other credits include Money Talks, Indian in the Cupboard, Hard Target, Attack of the 50-Foot Woman, Pet Semetary II, Lawnmower Man, Perfect Weapon, Death Warrant, Solar Crisis, Critters II and Lady in White.

He also shoots commercial campaigns for several Fortune 500 companies in between his feature work.

A graduate of Bennington College with a degree in Fine Arts and Literature, MISSY STEWART (Production Designer) followed an arts career until the late eighties when her interests began to shift from the world of fine art to cinema. She found the collaborative and narrative aspects of film very appealing and the visual side stimulating and not so dissimilar to painting.

Moving to Portland, Oregon, Stewart began to work with a group of independent filmmakers, one of whom was Gus Van Sant. She went on to collaborate with him on Drugstore Cowboy and My Own Private Idaho. She became his production designer on To Die For and the Academy Award®-winning Good Will Hunting.

The Ugly Truth marks the fifth time Stewart teams with Director Robert Luketic. They previously worked together on Legally Blonde, Win A Date With Tad Hamilton, Monster-In-Law and 21. Other credits for the talented designer include Playing By Heart, Moonlight Mile, and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde, and, most recently, Feast of Love. Her work will next be seen in Columbia’s I Know What Boys Like, due in theaters this summer.

LISA ZENO CHURGIN, A.C.E. (Editor) earned an Academy Award® nomination for her work on Lasse Hallström’s The Cider House Rules. Her other film credits include Gavin O’Connor’s Pride and Glory, Mark Pellington’s Henry Poole Is Here, Tony Goldwyn’s The Last Kiss and Tenderness. In addition, she has edited such diverse films as Curtis Hanson’s In Her Shoes; House of Sand and Fog; The Wedding Planner; Brad Silberling’s Moonlight Mile; Waking Up in Reno; 200 Cigarettes; Gattaca; Bob Roberts and

As an assistant editor, Churgin earned her stripes on such highly acclaimed films as Lawrence Kasdan’s The Accidental Tourist, Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask, Milos Forman’s Ragtime, Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull, and Walter Hill’s The Long Riders and The Warriors.

BETSY HEIMANN (Costume Designer) has worked on some of the most acclaimed films of the past decade, including Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs and Cameron Crowe’s Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous and Vanilla Sky. The Chicago native is also a favorite of Brett Ratner, having collaborated with him on Red Dragon and The Family Man.

Heimann also designed the wardrobes for Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight, which starred George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez, as well as the television series “Karen Sisco,” which was produced by Danny DeVito and starred Carla Gugino. Most recently, Heimann designed the wardrobe for Terry Zwigoff’s Art School Confidential, which starred John Malkovich, and Uma Thurman’s costumes in Be Cool. Her work will next be seen in Judd Apatow’s Funny People.

A rising star in film music, AARON ZIGMAN (Music by) is rapidly establishing a glowing reputation for his exquisite, lyrical and highly evocative scores.

A classically trained pianist since childhood, Zigman had an early foundation for writing melody and an ear for what makes a good tune. With a command of rhythm and different styles, he began his musical career as a producer and arranger to popular music stars. Soon his resume boasted names like Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Oleta Adams, Phil Collins, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Chicago, Nona Gaye, Carly Simon, the Pointer Sisters, Huey Lewis, Christina Aguilera and Seal.

His passion for orchestration also led him to become an accomplished composer of concert works, having written numerous symphonic pieces. Among his works is a 35 minute-long tone poem divided into 5 movements, written as a tribute for Itzhak Rabin, which was performed by the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. The USC Symphony orchestra recently performed Zigman’s “Impressions,” a suite for a wind ensemble.

Expanding his career further, Zigman began to arrange and orchestrate for feature films such as Mulan, What’s Love Got To Do With It, The Birdcage, Licensed to Kill and Pocahontas.

Zigman got his shot at feature film composing in 2002 when director Nick Cassavetes, a friend who knew of his pop background and his orchestral works, offered him a shot at John Q, starring Denzel Washington. He wrote an extravagant six-minute opening montage, recorded it with a 55-piece orchestra, and submitted it as a demo. The director, editor and studio were impressed, and he got the job. Not too long after, the two collaborated again on The Notebook, starring Gena Rowlands and James Garner, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel. The two are teaming up again for Cassavetes’ upcoming drama, My Sister’s Keeper, also for New Line Cinema.

Zigman worked on The Wendell Baker Story, the directorial debut of Andrew Wilson and Luke Wilson, starring their brother Owen Wilson, Eva Mendes and Eddie Griffin, Raise Your Voice, a vehicle for pop superstar Hilary Duff, and In the Mix with R&B superstar Usher. ATL and Take the Lead, two of Zigman’s more recent releases have experienced box office success appearing in the top 10 since their release date, and his Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack is available at Starbucks Coffee.

No stranger to the urban music scene, Zigman scored the 2006 Touchstone Pictures dance film Step Up, the follow up Step Up 2: The Streets in 2008, and Alpha Dog, his latest collaboration with Nick Cassavetes. Other recent films include: Flicka, a drama starring Allison Lohman and Tim McGraw, Bridge To Terabithia, 10th & Wolf with Giovanni Ribisi, James Marsden and Dennis Hopper, Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married and Meet The Browns, and Good Luck Chuck starring Jessica Alba and Dane Cook. His most recent credits include the breakthrough hit Sex and the City and The Proposal.

 

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