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Susan Kaplan – Director/Producer
Susan Kaplan was born in Miami Beach, Florida, began her film studies as a freshman at CU/Boulder, continued at New York University where she graduated with a BFA in Acting. She is the founder and executive director of DocuClub, widely recognized as the pre-eminent workshop and membership organization for documentary filmmakers in New York City. For more than 10 years, DocuClub has nurtured filmmakers by offering a noncompetitive, safe environment to screen and pitch their projects in production.
Susan Kaplan has made several award-winning documentary shorts. Her first feature documentary, Small Wonders, was nominated for an Academy Award in 1996. She is also one of the producers of the dramatic feature film version of Small Wonders titled Music of the Heart, directed by Wes Craven and starring Meryl Streep.
Susan formed her production company Hibiscus Films, with her husband David Friedson in 1998 with a mission to bring to the screen compelling real life stories that move the viewer to take action personally and for the good of the world.
Three of Hearts marks Kaplan’s directorial debut and is the culmination of eight years of work. She currently has two other films in production with Hibiscus.
David Friedson – Executive Producer
David Friedson is a partner of Hibiscus Films, which he formed with his wife Susan Kaplan. While this is his first film, he is a seasoned theatrical producer. On Broadway, he produced Dame Edna: The Royal Tour and Bill Maher's When You Ride Alone. His off-Broadway producing credits include: The Vagina Monologues, Gross Indecencies: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde; Fully Committed and Dirty Blonde.
David Friedson recently retired as Chairman of the Board of Applica Incorporated a New York Stock Exchange consumer products company.
Mr. Friedson is actively involved in the community and was one of the founding members of S.T.A.R. (Standing for Truth About Radiation) and served as its Co-Chairman from 1996 to 1999. Mr. Friedson also served as a Trustee on the Board of the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center in New York City from 1998 to 2003. He is presently on the Board of Advisors of the University of Miami, School of Business and Radiation & the Public Health Project (RPHP).
Sarie Horowitz – Producer
After working at the Independent Feature Project for two years, Sarie Horowitz joined Hibiscus Films to pursue work in the documentary field. She is the Director/Producer of the award-winning short The Special Music School of America and is the Associate Producer of Orchestra 2001. She is currently producing Three of Hearts with Director/Producer Susan Kaplan. Ms. Horowitz also acts as Program Advisor to DocuClub, a membership organization in New York City that facilitates filmmakers in the making of their documentaries through its various programs.
Cactus Three – Co-Executive Producer
Cactus Three specializes in high-end non-fiction films. Its three founding partners, Julie Goldman, Krysanne Katsoolis and Caroline Stevens are creative executive producers. Cactus Three offers a unique blend of production and co-production expertise and fills that very important role of nurturing projects creatively as well as securing both funding and distribution.
Our current slate features partnerships with such notable, award winning producers and directors as: Peter Gilbert (Hoop Dreams), John Battsek (One Day in September – Academy Award winner for Best Documentary), Christine Le Goff (Murder on a Sunday Morning - Academy Award winner for Best Documentary), Paul Morrissey (Heat), John Landis (Blues Brothers), Steven Cantor (Devil’s Playground, Blood Ties – Academy Award nominee), Susan Kaplan (Small Wonders – Academy Award Nomination for Best Documentary), Morgan Neville (Muddy Waters Can’t Be Satisfied), Don Letts (Emmy for The Clash: Westway to the World) and Kirby Dick (Sick; Derrida).
Recently completed films include Family Bonds, a series for HBO, Honky Tonk Blues: The Life and Death of Hank Williams for PBS and BBC, Slasher for IFC, Cult of Cindy for AMC, The Cutting Edge, for BBC, Encore, NKH and Avro. Currently in production: Lewis Lapham’s American Ruling Class, Southern Exposure: The Life and Work of Sally Mann, Punk: An Attitude, Dimitriy, Hollywood Home Movies, Harlem 69, Russell Simmons: Rock Wars.
Toby Shimin – Editor/Associate Director
Toby Shimin has shown an uncanny ability to take complex, often controversial subjects, and craft them into elegant and emotional films. Her most recent work can be seen in Episode Two of Stephen Ives' Reporting America at War, and in the feature documentary Seabiscuit, for which Shimin received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Editing. Her other films include A Leap of Faith, about the struggle to create a school in Northern Ireland for both Catholic and Protestant children, and Martha and Ethel, a surprising and moving portrait of two ninety-year-old nannies, both of these films premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Sarah Cawley – Cinematography
As director of photography, Cawley’s ability to capture poignant moments are reflected in such films as: Tara Fitzpatrick’s Scratch the Surface; Marc Bennett’s Life Matters; Edda Bauman’s Woodstock ’94; Kermit Cole’s Living Proof; Adam Isadore’s Give a Damn Again; Josh Karan’s Midwife; Douglas Tirolla’s A Reason to Believe; Graham Theakston’s Vig; and Richard Shepard’s Oxygen starring Adrian Brody.
Judy Karp – Sound
Judy Karp has worked on a number of Academy Award winning films such as May Lin: A Strong Clear Vision; Hotel Terminus – The Life of Klaus Barbie; and The Ten Year Lunch. Her other prominent films include The War Room; Paris is Burning; These Girls are Missing and Spirit of Dreams. Ms. Karp is also the sound person for John Sayles’ movies.
Catie Curtis – Original Songs
Catie's powerful yet utterly sweet voice has brought her from local coffee houses to large venues across the country. After touring with Mary Chapin Carpenter and being featured in Lilith Fair, Curtis quickly became a headliner in her own right. Over the course of five studio albums and extensive touring, Catie has developed a rapturous following and an enviable reputation. She was dubbed “a folk-rock goddess” by The New Yorker, and her avid fans agree.
Ross Levinson – Composer
Ross Levinson grew up in Brooklyn, NY. Mr. Levinson’s music was featured in American Place Theater, Town Hall and La Mama. He has recorded and performed with a variety of artists including Tom Waits, Harry Belafonte, Joan Jett and his own band Plan B. Since moving to L.A., Mr. Levinson has scored the hit television series Midnight Caller and Reasonable Doubts and was nominated for an Emmy for the television series Falcone. He has scored numerous commercials and documentaries including the Academy Award nominated Isaac in America and the Pulitzer Prize winning documentary, Black Sky. He has been the featured electric violinist in major films such as Terminator.
Cast & Crew
Featuring |
Sam Cagnina |
Director/Producer |
Susan Kaplan |
Executive Producer |
David Friedson |
Producer |
Sarie Horowitz |
Co-Executive Producers for Cactus Three |
Julie Goldman |
Editor/Associate Director |
Toby Shimin |
Associate Editors |
Beth Poague |
Associate Producer |
Suzanne Schulz |
Camera |
Sarah Cawley |
Sound |
Judy Karp |
Composer |
Ross Levinson |
Featuring Songs By |
Catie Curtis |
Music Supervisor |
Brooke Wentz |
Additional Editing |
Sari Gilman |
Assistant Editor |
Hope Litoff |
Gaffers |
Scott Miller |
Additional Camera |
Samuel Henriques |
Assistant Camera |
Gregg Adler |
Additional Sound |
Gautam Choudhury |
Production Assistants |
Tim Bouldrey |
Production Supervisors |
Donald Klocek |
Post Production Supervisor |
Jason E. Stoff |
Supervising Sound Editor |
Dave Ellinwood |
Re-Recording Mixer |
Tony Volante |
Assistant Sound Editors |
Matt Murphy |
Re-Recordists |
Travis Call |
Post Production Audio |
Soundtrack, NY |
Post Production Editor |
Evan Anthony |
Post Production Facility |
Framerunner |
DI Colorist |
Peter Heady |
DI Managing Director |
Tim Spitzer |
DI Facility |
Goldcrest Post |
Digital Film Imaging |
Marc Brown |
Imaging Producer |
Lisa Cohen |
Color Print Timing |
Bill Scott |
Tape to Film Transfer and Prints by |
AlphaCine Labs Seattle |
Negative Cutter |
Noëlle Penraat |
Film Dailies |
DuArt Film & Video |
Film to Tape |
Mike Maguire |
Home Movie Treatment |
Larry Schmidt |
Animation Stand Photography |
Carlos Sanchez |
Print Campaign Design |
Level Design, NYC |
Still Photographer |
Ned Wittregen |
Website |
Sklar Media – Sharan Sklar, |
Transcripts |
Nancy Vega |
Accounting |
Paul Bodden |
Insurance |
Paul Bodden |
Lawyer |
Victoria S. Cook |
International Sales |
Films Transit |
Distribution Advisory Services |
Josh Braun |
Publicity |
TC:DM & Associates |
Music
“Radical”
Written and performed by Catie Curtis
“Ponies”
Written and performed by cellist Stephen Katz
“That’s Amore”
Written by Harry Warren and Jack Brooks
Arrangement by Ross Levinson
Performed by Patrick Tuzzolino
“Fanfare”
Performed by Dupere Rene
Courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil Musique Inc.
“Eclipse”
Performed by Dupere Rene
Courtesy of Cirque Du Soleil Musique Inc.
“Friends & Foes”
Written and performed by cellist Stephen Katz
“Little Potato”
Written and performed by Malcolm Dalglish
“Seven”
Written and performed by cellist Stephen Katz
“Invocation”
Written and performed by cellist Stephen Katz
“World Don’t Owe Me”
Written and performed by Catie Curtis
