MEET THE SAINT VEGAS TEAM

SAMANTHA HERRERA (she/her) I Director, Writer, Actress

Born & raised in New York City, Samantha began studying drama as an actor at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. Her parents immigrated from the Philippines both as accountants and settled in Queens, New York. While attending the City University of Hunter College, she worked as a Production Stage Manager along with performing in countless productions including: Antigone, God's Ear, The 5th Graders Present an Unnamed Love-Suicide, She Has a Name and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also helped spearhead the MFA playwriting festival with playwrights-in-residence, Annie Baker and Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. Her theater training continued at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre ('16) and London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (Summer Shakespeare Course, '18). A week after graduating conservatory, she booked her first tv appearance on Marvel's Iron Fist. Samantha has directed for both theater and film. Tales of a Shadowboxer marks her directorial debut in collaboration with producer/writer Sharif McFadden which won Best TV Pilot and Best Woman Short at Independent Shorts Award (Los Angeles). In 2023, she co-directed Heights along with writer/creator, Lucy Sarasin. She hosted the first recorded backstage Q&A with Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival 2019 and has been on the panel of judges for LADFF. A mental health advocate, she was a speaker at the MINDS Foundation's first public-gathering in Los Angeles to honor World Mental Health Day. Aside from acting and directing, she is yoga certified and has taught classes all over New York City and Los Angeles.

IMDB I @hellosam27

HELEN ROMEU COOMBES (she/her) I Producer

Helen Romeu Coombes is a bilingual Spanish-British actor, creative, and teaching artist born and raised in Madrid, Spain, now based in New York. She is a proud graduate of the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, and the University of Exeter where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Drama. She has worked professionally on stage and on screen in Spain, the UK, and the US; she was most recently seen as Kate Mundy in DANCING AT LUGHNASA at Lenfest Center for the Arts, directed by Miguel Bregante (co-founder of La Mona Ilustre), and as Isabella in GENTS CAN’T MEASURE, an original Shakespeare adaptation that she also co-adapted and co-directed, presented as an industry reading at The Tank (NYC). She has also started involving herself in film production; she served as assistant director on the short film HEIGHTS (2023; LA Independent Women Film Awards, New York Short Film Festival) and is now production managing Samantha Herrera’s upcoming short film SAINT VEGAS (2024). When not in a rehearsal room or on a set, Helen can be found on a running track, sipping tea with her head in a book or hanging with pals in any green space she can find.

IMDB I @helenromeu

NANCY KATHERYN GOMEZ (she/her) I Marketing + PR Manager, Head of Fundraising

Nancy Katheryn Gomez is a Colombian-American Actress/Arts Educator based in Queens, New York. She aims to create art for systemic change and seeks to generate narratives to represent marginalized groups through storytelling. She has appeared in staged productions including Significant Other, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Dreams/Nightmares. Her film credits include More Than A Woman and Where Do You Draw The Line. Nancy has co-directed the show titled Women/Mujer celebrating stories by Black and Latinx women. She has trained in theater at Talent Unlimited High School, Baruch College, and is currently studying the Meisner Technique under the instruction of James Brill. Nancy is a Unit 52 member of INTAR Theatre. She is an Arts Educator at The Park Avenue Armory, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, CUNY Creative Arts Team, and the Theatre Development Fund.

@nancykatherynn

CHYNA TENÉ (she/her) I Production Assistant

Chyna Tené born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Graduated high school and went right into modeling school in 2013! Leading into runway, editorial, print opportunities soon after graduating. Now residing in New York City, I am now posing for art institutes, and artists privately in NYC. Chyna has walked in NYFW for 4 seasons. Walking for Kevin Black, Calvin Klein, Grace Ling followed by many up and coming fashion designers. Publication’s nationally and internationally (Vogue, Harper Bazaar UK, Columbus Alive and a favorite Interview Magazine). As her career continues She’s had opportunities of being the model coordinator for fashion shows, utilizing the ability to prioritize and manage workload. Furthermore, the ability to work independently and as part of a team. 2022 there had to be a change and that change was The neighborhood place school of Drama, May 2022. Entering a whole new world, Theater. Becoming an actor, who is now interested in production and exploring more of what happens behind the camera! Always looking to explore and learn new things through all art forms.

@chynatene

AMANDA SONNENSCHEIN (she/her) I Consulting Producer

Amanda, a native New Yorker, is a multifaceted director, writer, producer and artist who has worked with HBO, Amazon Studios and independently. She began her entertainment journey at 11, training as an actor at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and ACTeen, eventually becoming a YoungArts scholar. While studying as a drama major at “Fame” LaGuardia High School, she starred in numerous student films and appeared in The Onion News Network series. After attending Wesleyan University's esteemed film studies program, Amanda cut her teeth on docu features and series for such networks as CNN, NatGeo and the Discovery Channel. She then moved to LA where she produced three indie features. Directing highlights of the past few years: a narrative music video (VH1 premiere); the pilot for horror anthology series LEGENDS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW (Amazon Prime); PIZZATO, in which she utilized a revolutionary approach to stop-motion, 3D scanning puppets and animating them virtually; the comedy WILL YOU BE MY QUARAN-TINE? released with LA Weekly Asia and Gelson's Supermarket. Currently, Amanda is developing fantasy comedy series THE GAME. She serves as director, writer and EP on the show.

IMDB I @amanda_sonnenschein

MELISSA OLGUIN (she/her) I Production Designer

Melissa Olguin is a creative artist born and raised in Los Angeles, CA currently residing in New York City, NY. interior design, and acting. Melissa’s diverse skill set encompasses professional photography, prop/interior/set  styling, interior design, production design, and acting. Performing was her first love. Taking acting classes in High School, starring in plays such as “Romeo and Juliet” and “Blithe Spirit”. She has been thankful to be given opportunities throughout her life to show her other areas of the arts that she has passion for. She began assisting an interior designer and fell in love with creating spaces for people. She began helping on the projects, as well as tackle a few projects on her own in New York City, New York. She also helped to produce and style a tv show segment called “Styled by Anya” for two years in Los Angeles, CA. Her interest in interior and prop styling started with when she would capture photos of the finished homes, but then grew when she started styling the set for the tv shows. She realized she can create small temporary spaces and loved doing it just as much. When she moved to the east coast she began to be given her own projects. Creating sets for photoshoots, doing production design for a short film in 2023, and starting to do a house in Vermont. With a lifelong passion for art and a heart for acting, Melissa strives to evoke feelings in every project she undertakes.

IMDB I @melissacolguin

TRISH MANANSALA (she/her) I Costume Designer

Trish Manansala was born in the Philippines and raised in Tampa, Florida. She considers herself to be a Jill of all Trades and Master of None. She's spent almost a decade in healthcare and recently has been exploring a creative path. Her inspiration takes root from her personal travels, minimalist fashion, pop culture, food and music.

@_trpm

DEEBA MONTAZERI (she/her) I Composer

Deeba Montazeri is a New York city based, Persian composer, originally from Toronto Canada. Having a huge passion for film and classical music, she came to New York to complete her film studies and with a background in music, it led her to exploring the world of film and theater scoring. She has had her pieces played on the BBC as well as other notable stations in Europe. Her most recent works include scoring a play called Television (2023) where she received notable praise from the New York Times. She also worked on an acclaimed museum exhibition at the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, where she worked with a Ukrainian all make choir. The exhibition is running until June 2024. In the near future, Deeba is working to score a production called She/Her (2024), starring Nicole Ansari and produced by Brian Cox. Deeba also works as a string arranger with renowned producer Robert L Smith, to collaborate on the albums of singer/songwriters. Upcoming films Deeba is working on are Ways To Go, directed by Sean Fox and A Raven’s Call, directed by Corbin Rowell. She is so excited to be joining the Saint Vegas team and getting the chance to explore new and unique themes for this production.

IMDB I @dmontazeri019

MEGAN CAMPISI (she/her) I Acting Coach

Megan Campisi is a playwright, novelist, and teacher. Her plays have performed in China, France, and the United States. She has been a forest ranger, sous-chef in Paris, and a physical theater specialist around the world. She attended Yale University and the École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq. In 2019 she received a Fulbright Specialist award to travel to Turkey and give master classes at Tatbikat Theatre. Her first novel, Sin Eater, received the Debut Crown award from the Historical Writers’ Association in 2021. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Megan lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family.

megancampisi.com I @megancampisiauthor

ALESSIA FALVO (she/her) I Casting Coordinator

Alessia Falvo is an Italian Actress, Director and Producer. She started her journey in the Theater as an Assistant Director for several years. Meanwhile, she was studying in Rome to become a Professional Actress at the International Academy of Musical Theater, where she graduated in 2021. After getting her degree she spent four months with the International College of Musical Theater of London. Drawn by the curiosity of getting deeper into the acting world she decided to move to New York and study the Meisner Technique at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where she graduated in 2023. She is now a working actress and some of her latest work are Aly, Up strung Down, Martirio, the House of Bernarda Alba also Directed and Produced it by herself. Autumn in the upcoming Short Film of Sydney Shear. Her upcoming Project is Spring Awakening as Ensemble and Wendla. She is really excited to collaborate with Saint Vegas as a Casting Coordinator. Samantha and Alessia already collaborated for another Short Film called the Heights, in which Alessia was the Production Designer. 

@alessia.falvo

MEET THE SAINT VEGAS CAST

MARIELE ATIENZA I Actress

ANSI A. RODRIGUEZ (he/him) I Actor

This Bronx Native Dominicano graduated from the City College of New York with a B.A in Theatre and has signed onto Core Talent Agency. Ansi has performed in productions such as The 25th Spelling bee (Mitch Mahoney), The Black That I am, In the Heights (Sonny), Urinetown (Hot Blades Harry), Significant Other (Jordan), Los Nutcrackers: el Christmas Carajo (The Guide) and Vámonos (Junior), his off broadway Debut at Intar Theater! Since graduating, Ansi has dabbled in the world of film and can be seen in Cemented Roses (Alfonzo), Caribbean Queen (Q), Intemperance (Jeremy), and soon.. Saint Vegas! He found a home in developmental theater, trailblazing his way through the game alongside some major heavy hitters on the rise in the Latinx theatre and filmmaking community. He is humbly grateful for the experiences, people and spaces he’s been honored in meeting throughout his journey that have and continue to contribute to his love for the craft.

@ans_spiration

PAOLA ROSSI (she/her) I Actress

@paolarossird

LUISA MARÍA FUENTES (she/her) I Actress

MEET THE SAINT VEGAS CREW

ELLIN ALDANA I Cinematographer

Being Guatemalan-American is a big part of my story. I grew up literally in the jungle and very much secluded until I came to the states. My personal interest in film stems from a place of observation, color theory, and emotionality. I started off as a photographer and archivist but I completely changed my career and became a cinematographer after discovering filmmaking. I love narrative work that lends itself to building worlds and distinct looks based on the characters and their story. My accolades include receiving my MFA in cinematography at The American Film Institute. In 2023, I was an Altitude Award Winner and won the Emerging Filmmaker Award for my cinematography. I am also a member of the S.O.C. and an ASC Master Class participant.

ellinaldana.com I @tort_ellin_i

AITUAR NUGMETULLIN I First Assistant Camera

I’m a filmmaker and cinematographer, who is passionate about creating visually stunning videos. I’ve been fascinated by the art of cinema ever since I’ve watched my first motion picture movie 1998’s “Ronin” on a VHS. I’ve spent countless hours studying the work of my favorite filmmakers and cinematographers. I’ve honed my skills through years of practice and experimentation of shooting and editing my own projects through out the years and finding my style as well as working full time on commercial, TV and movie sets. I’m excited to collaborate with others to bring your visions to life.

aituarnugmetullin.com I @aituarllin

JAKE GORR I GAFFER

MEICEN MENG I KEY GRIP

AUSTIN BEAULIER I VFX Artist

I am a Los Angeles-based 3D artist, Developer and VFX artist focusing on photo-realistic 3D assets and machine learning (AI) with 8 years experience working on-set to create industry leading photorealistic 3D models for film, TV, augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence and video games. Extensive experience prototyping new experiences for various AR/VR/AI platforms and shipping high quality Augmented reality advertising experience for major brands such as Nike, Apple, Disney, Snap, and Amazon. 3D is my passion and the center of my creative work.

austinbeaulier.com I @austinbeaulier

JAMES D. TRAN (he/him) I Graphic Designer

James Tran is a Vietnamese-American graphic designer from California. He holds a degree in sociology from the University of California San Diego and graduated from Shillington School of Graphic Design. He enjoys baking, rollerskating, an occasional bowl of instant ramen, and the movie Beetlejuice.

jamesdtran.com

FOLLOW US @SAINTVEGASFILM