JIM COLE (writer/director, co-producer) Jim holds a degree in Art from the University of Southern Maine, where he began studies at age 14. He is a two-time Grand Prize winner of the Maine Student Film and Video Festival, winner of the 2004 Maine Screenwriting award, and winner of the New Visions/Emerging Maverick Director's Award at the Cinequest Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize for a Narrative Feature at the Independent Film Festival of Boston.
In addition to directing six feature length films, he has served five times as a judge of the Maine Student Film and Video Festival, has presented a screening and lecture on his movies at Colby College, and has been a guest lecturer on cinematography at the Maine School for Science and Mathematics in Limestone. Also, he has been a selling painter, a professional musician, and a professional videographer/editor. Acclaimed Filmmaker Huey Coleman ("Katahdin: Wilderness and Spirit") called him "A talented emerging filmmaker. His films have an honesty of style, vibrant characters, and well-told stories that challenge and enlighten." Portland Press Herald film critic Marty Meltz said "Maine's Jim Cole rises to premier Maine film director status, placing himself within the caliber of established independent directors nationally."
Jim currently resides in Portland, Maine where he is working on scripts for Gum Spirits' next two features.
EILEEN DILLON-OBERHOLTZER (co-producer, casting director) Eileen graduated from San Diego State University in 1987 with a BA in Theatre Arts. She began her professional career at Primavera Video Productions, a multi-service production facility in Solana Beach, CA. Primavera provided the perfect environment to learn all aspects of production from concept to completion. At Primavera she was a production coordinator, script supervisor, assistant to the director, and line produced weekly television and radio spots.
Eileen moved into the world of public relations and marketing and became the assistant to the vice president of corporate public relations at Bender, Goldman & Helper in Los Angeles. Her client list included Universal Studios Hollywood, Landmark Entertainment Group and Mark Goodson Productions. While working at BG&H Eileen was involved in coordinating a celebrity special event for the opening of the ET's Adventure ride for the cast of the film, director Steven Spielberg and many celebrity friends.
Casting director Jaki Brown-Karman (Waiting to Exhale, Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown, Billy Madison, Boyz n the Hood) then took Eileen under her wing as her assistant/associate for several years. Feature films cast include Jason's Lyric, Sister Act II (preliminary casting), Who's The Man, and Cool Runnings. Television highlights include Oprah Winfrey's movie of the week There Are No Children Here, The Jacksons: An American Dream, Strapped (HBO), Rock The Vote: Mocumentary, several pilots and commercials for Coca Cola and Sprite.
Eileen then served as assistant to the Senior Vice President of features casting at Paramount Motion Pictures. During that time, this office oversaw the casting of the Paramount feature films Congo, Braveheart, The Brady Bunch Movie, Andre, Drop Zone, Sabrina, I.Q., The Saint, and Losing Isaiah.
Born and raised in New England, Eileen currently resides in Portland, Maine with her husband, professor and professional jazz musician Dr. Chris Oberholtzer, and their three children. She continues to enjoy working as a freelance producer and casting director.
AARON DUFFEY (co-producer, actor) Aaron has been involved in New England theater for over 10 years, playing a wide range of roles.
Aaron’s move to film production came when he produced, shot, and directed After the Storm which subsequently was a winner at the Maine Student Film Festival. Soon after, Aaron joined the Gum Spirits team for the production of Day of the Scorpion which he co-produced and played the lead role. Aaron is a recent graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, with a double-major in political science and communications. Recently, he co-produced and co-starred in Sundowning, and will appear in a leading role in Three Priests.
JAY TOWLE (co-producer) Born in Portland, Maine, Jay is a 1998 graduate of Moorhead State University with a major in Advertising/Public Relations. He became active in film while studying with archivist/film professor Ted Larson. Jay has worked extensively with Minneapolis-based filmmaker Gregg Holtgrewe as well as Portland-based filmmaker James Cole. Jay's credits include:
Sh**eater (1994) Producer/Actor
Snowblind (1994) Producer/Actor
2 for Dinner (1994) Producer
Hitchhiker (1995) Producer/Actor
Sympathy for the Devil (1996) Executive Producer/Actor
Shy Guy (1997) Producer/Asst. Director
Party Gnome (1998) Producer/Asst. Director
Monsters From Outer Space (2001) Producer/Asst. Director/Writer
Waiting All Day For The Green Face of the Hummingbird (2002) Executive Producer
Day Of The Scorpion (2003) Asst. Producer/Asst. Director
Sundowning (2004) Producer