The Official Concept

Alvaro Orlando is a multifaceted filmmaker, actor, and dating coach whose work bridges entertainment and personal development. He wrote, directed, produced, and stars in the comedy feature film The Pickup Artist, a project directly inspired by his extensive real-world experience coaching individuals on dating, confidence-building, communication skills, and fostering genuine emotional connections. The film follows a hopeless romantic who, after a painful breakup, enrolls in a pick-up artist bootcamp—only to discover that such tactics may hinder authentic love. Through sharp humor, rapid pacing, and emotional candor, it critiques rigid modern dating “rules” while advocating for vulnerability, self-awareness, and authentic self-presentation.

Orlando’s authenticity in portraying dating dynamics stems from his background as a practicing dating and relationship coach. He has spent years guiding clients—both men and women—through challenges in attraction, interpersonal skills, and forming healthier relationships, often emphasizing practical strategies over superficial techniques. His coaching perspective informs the film’s satirical take on pickup culture versus meaningful connection, positioning him as an insightful commentator on contemporary romance.

As an actor, Orlando has built a credible career with roles in notable projects, including the Sundance-selected I Am Not a Hipster, the Lionsgate release Counterpunch (for which he received a Best Actor award at the 2013 Downtown L.A. Film Festival), and various television appearances. Earlier in his career, he gained public recognition by winning VH1’s reality series The Pickup Artist (under the nickname “Kosmo”), an experience that highlighted his charismatic on-screen presence and quirky energy while engaging with dating-themed content.

Currently, The Pickup Artist is scheduled for screenings at two festivals: the Golden State Film Festival (February 26 – March 6, 2026, at TCL Chinese Theatres 6) and the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival (March 4 – 14, 2026, at L.A. Live Regal Cinemas). Orlando’s dual expertise makes him an engaging guest for segments exploring effective dating advice, the pitfalls of pickup artistry, modern masculinity and emotional honesty, red flags in early dating, and transforming personal experiences into comedic insight.

Natalie Kovarik and Tara Vander Dussen are the founders and creators of Discover Ag, a female-led multimedia company, top-ranked podcast, and television series committed to making agriculture relevant and compelling once more. Through their platform, the two creative entrepreneurs seamlessly integrate themes of food, farming, western culture, and pop culture to highlight the remarkable diversity of modern agriculture, featuring stories from oyster farmers and vanilla growers to cattle ranchers, dairy families, and beyond.

With a combined decade of experience in online agricultural advocacy, Natalie and Tara launched the acclaimed podcast Discover Ag: Agriculture Meets Pop Culture, which has achieved more than 1.8 million downloads. They have since extended the brand with the video series Discover Ag On The Road, a groundbreaking cinematic adventure hosted by a quick-witted, millennial cattle rancher and dairy farmer. The series transports viewers directly into agricultural settings, exploring the origins of everyday food, introducing the dedicated people who produce it, and revealing the intricate processes behind familiar products.

Natalie and Tara serve as co-hosts and have cultivated a dedicated community of over 360,000 followers across digital platforms. Their expertise has also taken them to speaking stages throughout the United States and internationally. Focused on cultural relevance, authentic human narratives, and curiosity-driven inquiry rather than conventional agricultural reporting, their work fosters greater trust in the food system and inspires the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Raymond E. Foster is a retired Los Angeles Police Department lieutenant, U.S. Coast Guard veteran, author, educator, and international consultant. During his 24-year LAPD career, he earned the Police Medal for Heroism and over 200 commendations. He holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice and an M.P.A. from California State University, Fullerton.

A Past Master of his Masonic Lodge, Past President of the Rotary Club of San Dimas, and Chair of the local Chamber of Commerce, Foster has received notable Masonic recognitions, including the Grand Master’s Mason of the Year Award (2020), the Hiram Award (2023), and the DeMolay Legion of Honor (2024).

His publications cover policing technology, leadership, memoir, and Masonic philosophy. His latest work, The Temple Within: Masonic Lessons on Integrity, Patience, and Spiritual Growth (2025), uses symbolic Masonic tools the Square, Compasses, and Twenty-Four Inch Gauge to guide character development and the construction of an inner moral temple.

In 2026, Foster remains active in Masonic education and civic life. An article on the book’s themes appeared in the Q1 issue of The Square Magazine. He featured on the At Refreshment Masonic Video Podcast (Episode 88, February 2026), discussing lodge attendance, personal transformation, and Masonic principles in modern contexts. In San Dimas, he supports preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary of independence in 2026, aligning with his community leadership roles.

Foster resides in San Dimas, California, where he continues to promote ethical leadership, self-mastery, and reflective scholarship through writing, speaking, and service.

Dan Payne has sustained a prolific career in the entertainment industry, undertaking diverse roles in television series and films from 2023 to 2026. His contributions during this timeframe illustrate versatility across genres including romance, drama, fantasy, and thriller.

In 2023, Payne appeared in several Hallmark-style television movies, such as Fourth Down and Love as Jimmy Hanson, Christmas at the Chalet as Charles, and How to Fall in Love by Christmas as Jack Paxton. He also debuted in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians as Marrow Sucker, a recurring mythological character with appearances continuing into later seasons.

In 2024, Payne portrayed Pete Walker in the thriller A Family Nightmare: Secrets on Maple Street. He further joined the cast of The Chicken Sisters as Gruster, contributing to eight episodes that extended into 2025.

In 2025, his roles included a supporting appearance as an ND Pedestrian in the film Locked. His involvement in Percy Jackson and the Olympians continued with additional episodes.

By 2026, Payne completed work on Remarkably Bright Creatures as Adam Wright and appeared in the short film Hollywood North Blues as Owen, which was in post-production.

These endeavors underscore Payne’s adaptability to various formats and narratives, reinforcing his position as a dependable performer in both mainstream and specialized productions.

Matt Chessco is a contemporary pop artist celebrated for his vibrant, expressionist paintings of celebrities and cultural figures. Originally from Montreal, Canada, with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he left his engineering career after four days to pursue art full-time in early 2020. Largely self-taught, he has attracted millions of followers over 2.6 million on TikTok and 2.8 million on YouTube through engaging, music-synchronized painting videos, reaching a combined audience exceeding 5.8 million. He founded the Pop Cats project, integrating art with digital collectibles.

In 2025–2026, he completed significant works including the large-scale “Pop the Script” (symbolizing his career transition) and a commissioned U.S. Bank Tower painting. He progressed his “10,000 Paintings” initiative by producing physical versions of select digital pieces, explored themes of originality amid AI trends, and marked Pop Cats’ fourth anniversary in January 2026 with a community cipher challenge.

Original paintings, prints, and collections are available at mattchessco.com. Based between Los Angeles and Montreal, Chessco continues to inspire by prioritizing passion over convention.

Veronika Sarma is a distinguished abstract artist, international model, pageant director, and philanthropist based in France. With more than two decades of experience in the modeling industry, she has walked runways at elite events including Paris Fashion Week and New York VIP Fashion Week, emphasizing authenticity and natural beauty amid pressures for artificial enhancements. Sarma has competed in 16 major international pageants, securing notable achievements such as a Top 15 placement at Mrs. World and Top Model honors at Mrs. Universe. In her roles as a pageant director, mentor, and regional director for Mrs. Universe, she focuses on coaching candidates in essential skills like catwalk technique, stage presence, and holistic preparation for global competitions.

As an artist since 2008, Sarma has produced over 110 abstract works, drawing profound inspiration from pioneers such as Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Wassily Kandinsky. She integrates modern and contemporary elements into her intuitive, non-analytical process, resulting in pieces that have been featured in approximately 38 exhibitions across 11 countries, including placements in museum collections and sales at charity auctions. Her most recent bodies of work explore evolving themes, with exhibitions in cultural hubs like Paris, London, Rome, Milan, and Madrid receiving positive engagement from audiences and collectors through acquisitions and critical acclaim.

Educated with degrees in Social Anthropology, International Relations (specializing in Diplomacy), and Psychology, Sarma applies these fields to enrich her endeavors in modeling, art, and mentorship. psychological background informs her facilitation of art therapy sessions for children particularly those in orphanages and elderly participants, structured around guiding concepts of emotional expression and healing. Sessions typically begin with relaxation exercises, followed by intuitive creation using simple materials, and conclude with reflective discussions to foster self-awareness and resilience.

Sarma’s extensive travels to over 40 countries have refined her views on beauty standards, cultural diversity, and personal development, reinforcing her commitment to an eco-friendly, vegan lifestyle and support for charities focused on animal welfare, environmental protection, and humanitarian aid. Her personal motto, “One day a believer becomes an achiever,” underscores the value of kindness in achieving fulfillment, as exemplified in instances where compassionate choices have led to unexpected professional opportunities. In her latest high-profile runway appearance in Paris, she demonstrated technical precision and commanding presence, reflecting her ongoing evolution as a model while advancing her advocacy for natural beauty through collaborations at prestigious events.

Jasper Cole remains a commanding presence in modern film and television, seamlessly bridging legacy and relevance. His recent appearance in Amazon Prime Video’s Fallout reinforces his status as a trusted character actor capable of grounding even the most expansive worlds with nuance and authority. As the acclaimed series continues to captivate global audiences, Cole’s contribution stands as another marker of his enduring impact on prestige storytelling.

With over four decades in the industry and more than 120 credits to his name, Cole shows no signs of slowing down. Recent highlights include his role in the breakout survival thriller Fall, ongoing work in The Family Business, and his turn as producer and star of the Christmas horror thriller Final Recovery. Beyond the screen, he hosts One on One with Jasper Cole, a podcast that offers unfiltered conversations with creatives navigating Hollywood today. Together, these projects reflect an artist in constant motion grounded in experience, yet fully engaged with the present moment.

Evan Nikolas Fields is a talented American actor recognized for his versatile performances across film and television. He currently stars as one of the leads in The Wayfinders, an original fantasy adventure action series produced by Angel Studios. In the series, he portrays Flynn Griffin, a high school student and hardcore gamer who, along with two classmates, is mysteriously transported from ordinary life into a fractured, magical realm filled with mythology, civil war, and high-stakes challenges. Flynn is characterized as adventurous and deeply loyal, yet he grapples with internal conflict between moral righteousness and personal instincts. He serves as the group’s emotional anchor, providing grounding and stability amid chaos, and undergoes a meaningful arc from uncertainty about his identity to emerging confidence in himself and his companions. The pilot episode is currently available on the Angel Studios platform, with new episodes scheduled to premiere on December 8th.

Fields has built a solid career with appearances in numerous high-profile projects. He featured in the popular Netflix romantic comedy film He’s All That (2021), starring alongside Addison Rae and Tanner Buchanan, where he played Prom DJ Jamal (credited in some sources as Evan Fields). His television credits include guest roles on acclaimed and popular series such as Station 19, Modern Family, Hacks, George and Mandy’s First Marriage, American Vandal, Henry Danger, and Game Shakers. These roles demonstrate his range in both comedic and dramatic contexts.

For additional details on his professional background and complete filmography, his IMDb profile is available here. Fields’ work reflects a growing presence in the industry, particularly with his transition to a prominent leading role in The Wayfinders.

Marissa Chanel Hampton is an accomplished American actress, audiobook narrator, model, and entertainer renowned for her versatility across film, television, and audio media. Born and raised in the United States, with roots in Southern California and influences from the Midwest, she cultivated an early passion for the performing arts through formal training, including studies at the University of California, Irvine’s theater program and The Second City Conservatory.

Her on-screen credits span prominent series and films, including roles in Watchmen (HBO), Outer Banks (Netflix), Scandal, Captain America: Brave New World (Marvel), The Game (Paramount+), Found (NBC), Creepshow, and NCIS: New Orleans, among others. She has demonstrated range in dramatic, comedic, and recurring guest performances, often portraying journalists, officials, and supporting characters with precision and depth. Complementing her acting career, Hampton excels as an audiobook narrator, with over 20 titles to her credit, particularly in the romance genre, where she brings emotional intimacy and empowerment to stories through meticulous character development and vocal artistry. She also maintains Ink & Paper Soul, a platform dedicated to her love of literature, narration work, and book curation. Residing between Los Angeles and Atlanta, Hampton emphasizes balance, self-care, and artistic authenticity in her professional life. She is a SAG-AFTRA member represented by agencies including Atlanta Models & Talent, Bankston Talent Agency, and DPN VO/Animation.

Jason Faunt is an accomplished American actor, born on November 20, 1974, in the Chicago suburb of McHenry, Illinois. Initially pursuing a career in professional baseball due to his athletic background, he transitioned to acting after relocating to Los Angeles. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Faunt is most widely recognized for his portrayal of Wesley Collins, the Red Time Force Ranger, as well as the character’s descendant Alex, in the television series Power Rangers Time Force (2001). This role established him as a prominent figure in the science fiction and action genres, cultivating a dedicated and enduring fan base.

He has demonstrated versatility across various film, television, and voice acting projects throughout his career. A recent highlight is his performance in the acclaimed short film An Old Friend (2024), directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Nuk Suwanchote and produced by Kris Flink and Rishi Raj. Faunt portrays Calvin, an imaginary friend who returns to fulfill his purpose of bringing happiness to his childhood companion, only to find the individual played by veteran actor Tom Skerritt now a 90-year-old man confronting the end of life. The film thoughtfully explores themes of nostalgia, companionship, and the inexorable passage of time through a fantastical narrative, combining emotional depth with compelling performances. It has received substantial recognition, including over 50 festival selections and awards, and has qualified for consideration in the Live Action Short Film category for the 2025 Academy Awards, with availability in the Academy Screening Room as of December 8, 2025. This achievement underscores its significant impact within independent cinema.