Rex Sikes' Movie Beat

Helen McCready, casting director, C.S.A., began working as an actor in 1985 in British Columbia. as an extra on 21 Jump Street. She assisted in extra casting at Denise Love Talent Agency. In 1999, Helen launched Helen Wheels Productions, LLC in Arizona. Now in Burbank  Helen’s success as a casting director has continued with projects such as Director Sam Mendes’s Away We Go, Nancy Meyer’s - Meryl Streep’s and Alec Balwdwin’s It’s Complicated. McCready is casting director for a number of films Margarine Wars with Doris Roberts, Robert Loggia, Terri Moore, Dee Wallace, Zombie Drugs and Suspicion. She is currently casting two SAG web series The Resolve and “Writers Block”. She is casting Just Like Me, starring Chris Kattan and location casting for Sleeping Around  along with eight other feature films in 2011. She is VP of casting for two inde production companies, Bengal Pictures and DB Rich Productions. Helen will executive produce  and cast her screenpla Racetrack in 2012. Helen uncovers everything an actor needs to know from the audition to booking the role in her book for actors, “Audition & Book It!” Stay tuned to Rex Sikes' Movie Beat for other great interviews, cast and crew listings, events, premieres and more at rexsikes.com

Carlo Petrick ,PT 2, film PR marketer, has more than 30 years experience in film exhibition and marketing. He's developed local and regional campaigns for films, as the official spokesperson for Marcus Cinema, and works closely with the exhibitor relations departments of all major studios. His efforts include media planning and buying; launching new theatres in markets throughout the Midwest; developing and directing direct mail campaigns; coordinating art direction for photo and video shoots; and extensive market research. He's worked with local filmmakers to help bring their films to the big screen. By connecting filmmaker with exhibition venues with his company’s film department several films have had regional runs. Petrick continues to work on new projects for his company, including production of 35mm institutional trailers, TV spots and video presentations. He also is a producer for the International UFO Congress, one of the largest UFO conventions in the world. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes' Movie Beat for other great interviews, cast and crew listings, events, premieres and more at rexsikes.com

Casey Ryan is the creator and host of the Cutting Room Floor talk-radio podcast. For the past 3 years, the show has sought to highlight the works of independent entertainers of all types including filmmakers, actors, authors, and musicians. The half hour segments air live on Sundays at 12 PM EST with recorded copies posted shortly afterward. A self proclaimed pop-culture addict, Casey is always trying to read up on the latest entertainment news stories. His film education consists of a lifetime of watching and studying movies. He is also an avid reader and enjoys learning more about the lives of his favorite actors, actresses, and filmmakers by reading their memoirs or critical essays about their work. Such favorites include (but, are not limited to): Michael Caine, Rachel McAdams, and Norman Jewison. He holds a BA in Industrial Relations and Economics as well as a diploma in Sciences. For the past 10 years he has enjoyed a prolific career in corporate sales – often using his skills to help his guests market their work on air. Proud of his Irish heritage, Casey sits on the Board of Directors of the Montreal Chapter of the Ireland-Canada Chamber of Commerce – a volunteer group seeking to create greater business ties between the 2 countries. He is also a member of the Montreal Press Club. Casey was born and raised in Montreal, Canada where he currently lives with his wife of 7 years. 

Anthony Timpone, VP of Fangoria Entertainment, manages the Video on Demand, DVD and digital divisions. He is Editor Emeritus of Fangoria Magazine and Editor of the brand’s award-winning website Fangoria. As a Producer/Co-host, Timpone worked on Fangoria Radio for Sirius XM Satellite Radio and is the Producer/Interviewer for Fangoria TV’s Screamography series. In the 1990s he helped guide the first three Fangoria feature films: Mindwarp (starring Bruce Campbell and Angus Scrimm), Children of the Night (with Karen Black, Peter DeLuise and Amy Dolenz) and Severed Ties (with Oliver Reed, Garrett Morris and Elke Sommer), all released by Columbia TriStar Home Video. In 2004 he served as an Associate Producer to Bravo’s widely successful 100 Scariest Movie Moments, 5-hour documentary miniseries. He served as a VP of Acquisitions for Fangoria’s three separate home video labels, and co-created Fangoria’ Blood Drive short film DVD collection, hosted by Rob Zombie. The Horror Channel engaged him as a Creative Advisor. For TV, Timpone was a Co-Producer of the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and a Consulting Producer to the syndicated Horror Hall of Fame special and served on the award show’s Board of Directors. Timpone has also worked as a horror and development consultant to Universal New Media, Vestron Pictures, Miramax/Dimension Films and Media Home Entertainment. Since 1993, he has programmed international horror/fantasy festivals in Milan, Italy (Dylan Dog) and Montreal, Canada (both Fantasia and Just for Laughs). He is author or editor of Men, Makeup and Monsters, Fangoria’s 100 Best Horror Movies You’ve Never Seen, Fangoria Vampires, Fangoria Masters of the Dark: Stephen King & Clive Barker Fangoria’s Best Horror Films. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes' Movie Beat for other great interviews, cast and crew listings, events, premieres and more at rexsikes.com

Rex Piano, director, PT 2 graduated NYU School of the Arts in 1981. At school he worked on several films and commercials,  “Ms. 45” for director Abel Ferrara, “Mother’s Day”, “When Nature Calls” for director Charles Kaufman. Upon graduating, he worked as a 1st A.D. on dozens of commercials and films until he took a full time position at a NY Commercial Production Company. In 1985 Rex as Head of Production for O’Quinn Productions. he produced numerous videos for Fangoria Magazine. In 1987 Rex became Head of Production for Associated Television International.  Rex wrote, produced and/or directed several TV specials and numerous travel videos. Rex also co-wrote and line produced the feature film “Chill Factor,” starring Paul Williams, Patrick Macnee and Andrew Prine. Rex line produced “Severed Ties” in 1991 for Fangoria Films. In 1995 he produced the syndicated TV show “High Tide,” starring Rick Springfield. Rex became one of the series’ rotating directors. Some of the episodic shows Rex has directed  “Mike Hammer, Private Eye”, “Silk Stalkings”, “Born Free”, “Air America” and “Nightman.” In 2000 Rex produced and directed the multi-award winning romantic comedy  feature film “The Month Of August.” Rex followed that film with the highly viewed and critically acclaimed TV movie “Hope Ranch” for The Animal Planet channel. Rex then began directing TV movies that aired on PAX and Lifetime Television. Rex has directed or produced 21 movies. In 2007 Rex was the primary director on “ROME – The Rise and Fall of an Empire,” for the History Channel. Stay tuned to Rex Sikes' Movie Beat for other great interviews, cast & crew listings, events, premieres & more at rexsikes.com