Bill Bettencourt plays Arlen, a thirty five year old gold miner in 1855 somewhere in Northern California.

Bill started acting in his 20's at Sacramento City College and Manikin Manor Modeling School.  He received an AA Degree in Theater Arts From Sacramento City College.  He was in a few local plays and commercials back then and decided he liked being on camera more than the stage.

Bill moved to Los Angeles for a short stint and did ok.  He appeared in commercials and once on General Hospital.  After moving back to Sacramento, life took over his dream and was away from acting for 20 years — his mid-life crisis was to start acting again, so he tool some classes at CRC and then It Factor Studios — as recommended by a good friend from high school.

Bill has a national commercial running now and has worked on many other commercials and industrial videos in Sacramento and San Francisco.  Bill works with Radiance Creative Communications both in front of and behind the camera helping them make sermon illustrations that sell world wide on www.sermonspice.com.

Bill is very lucky to be able to work with his youngest son and his mom on these projects.

Bill is very excited to be a part of A Place Called Sacramento via The Golden Tree and he looks forward to making new friends in the acting community and having a great time shooting this film.

Life is short and time fly's by.  Follow your dreams I know I am again and it feels great. - Bill Bettencourt
Bill's Facebook page

Rob Tillitz plays Henry, a forty year old gold miner in 1855 somewhere in Northern California.  Rob plays Ernie in the film ‘Butterscotch ’ — written and directed by Judith Plank — also part of A Place Called Sacramento (PCS) Film Festival 2010.

Rob plays David and is the producer of an Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest which was photographed in his bar.

Rob resurrects his role as Ernie in another story by Judith Plank called Buddies with Aria Pictures as the production company and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport for the 2011 PCS contest.

Rob Tillitz is an ex commercial salmon fisherman turned writer, innkeeper, and actor.

It Factor Studios moviemaker and screenwriter Ryan McKinney works now adapting Rob’s memoir, ‘Bootlegger’s Cove.’  This film is in early development.  Rob, meanwhile, trains at It Factor Studios and has appeared in a handful of local films.

Rob owns the Cedar Room bar in Carmichael, and hosts actors and filmmakers there for beverages — the Cedar Room is also available for movie makers to shoot barroom scenes.

http://www.RobTillitz.com • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36jEydrMzBk • Rob's Facebook page

Jason Michael Shannon plays Richard “Rattlesnake Dick” Barter, a REAL outlaw back in 1855 that robbed miners — and eventually stagecoaches — from Nevada to Placer Counties in Northern California.

Jason plays the Bartender in another Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest.

Jason Michael Shannon has been acting in Sacramento and the Bay area since 2008.  He discovered his passion for acting after college when he began taking his Halloween costumes and characters more seriously.  Jason has had an array of small parts in t.v., multiple independent films, movies and theater.

Jason's goal is to prove himself as a versatile actor capable of portraying any part that he's required — no matter how unglamorous or off-beat.  He plans on moving to L.A. in mid 2011 to join the Screen Actors Guild and to continue pursuing a career in film.
Jason's Facebook page

Joseph Baldridge plays George Skinner, a REAL outlaw back in 1855 that was part of Rattlesnake Dick's gang.

Noble Engle plays Romero, a REAL outlaw back in 1855 that was part of Rattlesnake Dick's gang.

Carey White Jr. plays Rafael Escobar, a REAL outlaw back in 1855 he may — or may not have been — part of Rattlesnake Dick's gang, but in this story he is.

Carey's Facebook page

Alex Harris plays Cyrus Skinner, a REAL outlaw back in 1855 that was part of Rattlesnake Dick's gang and one of the rambunctious ones in the gang.

>Alex is 20 years old 6 feet tall — a very handsome young man — and has loved acting at a very young age; however, sports was the leading factor in his long break from acting.

In the past year, Alex has taken private acting lessons under Ed Claudio, who is a professional actor/director working currently in Sacramento but has done theater for over 40 years including some time in New York.

This summer Alex will be in two of his plays, ‘Cinnabar’ and ‘The Museum,’ along with at least two "PCS" films, acting in a music video, auditioning for a few more short films, and taking a film studies class — his dream job is to be able to direct, edit, act, and produce movies.

In the fall and winter months Alex will be applying to a few private film schools in L.A. hoping that they will give him a great path to success.

“I am excited for what my future brings and of course, and looking forward to my roll as Cyrus Skinner in The Golden Tree.” - Alex Harris
Alex's Facebook page

Gary Udell plays Dad, the resilient, energetic, and loving father to Sierra and Brooke; his wife has left him because he lost his job which made them lose their home; now he has top pack up his grandmother's house cause she passed away and they cannot afford to pay the taxes in 2010 but finds a treasure of information about his family history.

Gary Udell is thrilled to be part of the ‘The Golden Tree’ cast and working once again with Gerald Davenport.

A Sacramento native, Gary began acting in local theater before moving to the Bay Area where he developed his acting in film, television, and commercials.

Notable roles for Gary have included work in ‘Investigation Discovery’ for the Discovery Channel, ‘Crucifixion’ for the History Channel, and in the HBO series ‘Big Love.’  Gary played the featured role of Dr. Samuels in the independent film ‘KEYS’ as well as a lead role in the Chevron Texaco industrial film.

Gary has appeared in commercials for Herbal Essence Shampoo and locally for Paramount Equity Mortgage.

Recently, Gary played the lead role of ‘Detective A’ in the production for the Tenth Annual ‘Place Called Sacramento Film Festival.’  Gary also enjoyed performing in the production of the theatrical films ‘MILK,’ ‘FOUR CHRISTMASES,’ and ‘FUNNY PEOPLE.’

Gary helped out with the auditions and is another co-producer in another Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest.
Gary's Facebook page

Kyriè Sierra Davenport plays Sierra, an indifferent slightly resentful teenager in 2010 who gets caught up in a journal written by her Great, Great, Great, Great Uncle William Riley Wimmer and follows the clues to THE GOLdEN TREE.

Kyriè is an 18 year old sophomore at Longwood University who has a passion for acting and understanding human actions. She graduated with the first class of Ghidotti Early College High School in Grass Valley, CA and also received her Associate's degree in Liberal Arts.  She is currently at school working on her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.

Kyriè has been in a seven school productions since 5th grade, her dad's first independent film (PAINT) in seventh grade, and has worked on audition techniques with two casting companies in Sacramento.

Her goal is to act on Broadway then become a movie star.  But she has a back up plan - psychologist with the FBI or NCIS. Kyriè's Facebook page

Karly Avva plays Brooke, the younger, quiet, yet happy sister — to Sierra — who is too young to understand these dark times in 2010.

Toni Corbett plays Great Great Grandma Cecilia Wimmer, a photograph on the bookcase in 2010, and who's house is being packed up because she passed away.

Toni helped out with the auditions for Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest *mdash; we will eventually get her on screen in a role with dialog some day.

Toni's Facebook page

Nolan Bourassa plays George Wimmer, a REAL person back in 1848 who lived at Sutter's Mill with his family during the gold rush.

Steven Sommer plays Peter Wimmer, a REAL person who brought his family out to California a few weeks prior to the Donner Party.

Steven R. Sommer has been featured in Access Sacramento films, Channel 3 News for 2010 Haitian Help and other TV series, Broadway Theatre, Opera, Improv, and has toured Europe and Germany — with 10 years training for the German Opera.

Steven also has Charlie Holiday on camera scene study skills, such as, Uta Hagen Scene, Ear & Teleprompter, Cold Reading, and Auditioning for Commercials Technique, as well as, Musical Theatre Acting Technique Voice and Movement (Writing, choreographing and performing songs, monologs, and collogues) — Steven also participates many athletic sports.

Adrien Bourassa plays William Riley Wimmer at age 8 back in 1848, a REAL person who wrote a journal about his days at Sutter's Mill during the gold rush.

Dan L. Walters has long been interested in California history, and is excited at the opportunity to play the part of James Marshall in “The Golden Tree.”

Dan currently has roles in other Independent films, and is looking forward to future projects very soon.

Dan has been an extra in a major motion picture, “No Way Out,” has appeared in made for television movies, and a local commercial.

Dan works with Radiance Creative Communications, both in front and behind the camera.  He also continues to train at It Factor Studios.

Dan is a native of Northern California, and works as an elementary school teacher.

Mark Hoffman plays John Augustus Sutter, a REAL famous person who started the city of Sacramento with a Fort back in the 1840's and called it New Helvetia.

Despite showing prodigious aptitude for performing arts in music and drama at an early age, making a profession of it was discouraged by parents who advised, ‘You can’t make a living doing that; be a doctor.’  So, Mark made his living primarily as a clinical psychologist.

When Mark’s son showed similar prodigious aptitudes, coaching and fostering his son's growth as a performer led Mark back into theatrical endeavors as a family activity.  Mark’s son has now done international tours with both the Dancers’ Company and the Young Ambassadors from BYU, and is well on his way to Broadway, while Mark turns more of his efforts to screen acting and directing.

Mark wrote, produced, and directed the PCS film ‘Stardust on the Path to Music Circus,’ was Director of Photography for the PCS film ‘Keeper of the Clay,’ co-starred in the Sacramento Film Festival 48-hour films ‘Inside Scoop’ and ‘Terror Detectives,’ and DP’d ‘Cocked.

Mark will appear as the lead character, William, in the opening scenes of the soon-to-be release feature film ‘Bloodline,’ as a Palomar astronomer in ‘Saving the Earth,’ and in various roles in a handful of other feature films and shorts currently in production or post-production.

Mark's most recent stage credits were as Sagot the sophisticated art dealer in ‘Picasso at the Lapin Agile’ and as the diabolical prosecuting attorney, Alonzo Foxx, in ‘The Case to Abolish Christianity

Mark has gone behind the camera as a Cinematographer in another Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest.  He was one of the leads in a 48 hour film festival 7 minute story entitled “An Ignoble Caper” directed by Vince D. Miles for the Sacramento International Film Festival.

Mark Hoffman can be found on IMDB • Mark's Facebook page     top

Meghan Malia Bird plays Anna Dubelt Sutter, John Sutter's wife, a REAL person back in 1848 during the gold rush

Meghan began her acting training her freshman year at Sierra College — a fellow actor in a college production introduced her to the world of film acting and she has never looked back; though she continued training as well as appeared in a few small roles, she waited until she graduated with her business degree from CSUS — her back-up plan as her mom called it — until she fully committed herself to acting full-time.

Meghan is currently training with Ryan McKinney at ItFactor Studios in Rancho Cordova, as well as, working on a few other local films.

Meghan plays Taesah in another Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest.
Meghan's Facebook page

Amber DeAnn plays Jennie Wimmer, the REAL person I found — while doing research for this project — and wanted to write a historic — yet entertaining — movie about her and the Wimmer family — yes, Jennie Wimmer is the catalyst for this project and while researching the story began to write itself — almost as if it were retelling itself.

Amber started taking acting classes at American River College in 1994. She landed the role of a singing reindeer in Reindeer Revolution at Chatauqua Playhouse in 1995 — she was an extra for the movie, Wallace, shot in Sacramento.

Amber DeAnn's acting training with Charlie Holliday and Sally Forcier paid off when she started doing videos to promote her business and her self help books on her blog — www.MindEmotionHarmony.com

Amber DeAnn is a certified transformational hypnotherapist, and author of self help books on transforming anger, fear, and depression. Her business, Mind Emotion Harmony, is devoted to helping others eliminate stress, anger, fear and depression, PTSD, and heal child abuse

Amber is also a massage therapist, and Reiki practitioner.  She loves speaking to women groups and sharing her tips for melting stress and improving all relationships.

Amber is enjoying writing screenplays. She can’t wait to finish her spiritual comedy.

Amber looks forward to working on Place Called Sacramento movies and starting improv classes.  She loves making new acting friends and growing into an actor.

Follow your passion and enjoy life. – Amber DeAnn
Amber's Facebook page

Courtney Leonard-Maye plays Beatrice, the Wimmer family helper back in 1848 — although she maybe labeled as a servant, the Wimmer's treat to as she is one of the family.

Courtney Leonard-Maye is 19 years old and has recently graduated from Western Career College as a Medical Assistant and is going on her second year at American River College where she is majoring in Acting.

Courtney has been acting since she was in 5th grade — when she first found her love for acting — her elementary school was putting on a play about Rosa Parks, so some of her fellow classmates nominated her to play the role of Rosa Parks — a little shy; she decided to take on the roll.  c;The night of the performance she went up on stage in front of her fellow students, faculty, and parents, and she wasn’t even nervous nor did she have stage fright.  She got a really good response from the audience, so from then on she knew that she wanted to be an actress — she loved being up on stage and has a great passion for acting.

Since that momentous performance, Courtney has been in several plays, such as, ‘A Day with the Emperor’ as the Nightingale, ‘Marigold and the Gardener,’ ‘Arscenic and Old Lace’ as Martha, and a few independent short movies ‘The Forgotten Memory’ as Cortney, ‘The Neighbor’ as Sam, as well as, a Western Career College commercial which is being broadcast on a daily basis.

You can check Courtney out in The Forgotten Memory, by Logan Williams, at http://www.vimeo.com/11539998

“I love acting and can’t wait to film this production.  I’m so thankful to be a part of The Golden Tree.  Thank you Gerald Davenport for this opportunity because it all starts with the writers — without anyone to write the scripts there are no characters to bring to life and act out.” - Courtney Leonard-Maye   Courtney's Facebook page

Grace Rose plays Sarah Wimmer at age 12, a REAL person back in 1848 who lived at Sutter's Mill with her family during the gold rush.

Grace is 11 years and has been dancing since she was 3.  At age 8 she started singing and acting and has been doing lots of Musical Theatre since then with her favorite roles being Annie in Annie and the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz.

She has recently decided to venture out into film  The Golden Tree will be her first short film and she is really looking forward to it.  Grace's ultimate goal is to be on Broadway.
Grace's Facebook page

Aria Leven Davenport plays William Wimmer at age 19 in 1859, a REAL person who wrote a journal about his days at Sutter's Mill back in the gold rush.

At 6'3" and 20 years of age, Aria is seen as ideal for sports; however, his interests and hobbies take him on a far different path exercising the mind; though... he does play sports occasionally.

Spending his time with creative activities has involved him with things such as, music, aviation, art, games, reading, writing, and a fair bit of dramatics. Aria is an accomplished pilot, a skilled guitarist, and an avid gamer.

To Aria, drama was only another hobby — he did play the lead character in PAINT, something he picked up rather quickly and enjoyed. He has taken a middle school drama class with performances, and a movie before some college drama instruction.
Aria's Facebook page

Steve Dakota plays Samuel Brannan, credited as the first millionaire of California back in the mid 1800s; he was a successful business man, as well as, a womanizer.

In addition to Samuel Brannan in ‘The Golden Tree,’ Steve portrays Max in the film ‘Butterscotch ’ — written and directed by Judith Plank — also part of A Place Called Sacramento (PCS) Film Festival 2010 — his past PCS film appearances include the next door neighbor in ‘POV-K9’ and the reality TV show host in ‘Lost: Sacramento.’

Steve resurrects his role as Max in another story by Judith Plank called Buddies with Aria Pictures as the production company and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport for the 2011 PCS contest.

Steve studied acting with Janis Stevens as well as improv & theater games with Pam Downs at American River College, and improv with Charlie Holliday at the Mosaic Acting Studio.
Steve's Facebook page

Yinique Myo-Flores plays Mee Lien, Samuel Brennan's strong willed and outspoken attaché to China back in 1859.

Yinique plays the Weeping Woman in another Aria Pictures production written, directed, and edited by Gerald Martin Davenport and produced by Rob Tillitz called the WATERING hole done for the 2011 PCS contest.

Yinique's Facebook page

Haley Hicks plays Victoria Marie, a 16 year old girl and William's love interest in 1859 — actually the relationship is the other way around.

Haley Hicks has been singing, acting, and making people laugh since she was old enough to talk.  Born in Sacramento in 1994, Haley is a real California girl;  she has played many roles in the musical theater from small church choir parts to the lead as Peter Pan.

Haley is also known for her often requested acapella rendition of the National Anthem for sporting events.  Haley broke into the world of stand-up comedy in November of 2009 at an Open Mic night at Tommy T’s — a local comedy club — and quickly found her place among the other comedians and has enjoyed developing her comedic timing and perfecting her material and also can be seen on the t.v. show — Kids Corporation — as a regular player and reporter.

Haley has worked on a few t.v. pilots as well — though they have yet to make it to the big screen; until then, she continues to purse work in t.v., film, and perform in local theater looking for that part that catapults her to the next level in her career.

Haley, aka, Lotta Crabtree — a famous gold rush era entertainer — will be joined by many other Red Barn Players each weekend in the summer of 2010 on the streets in Old Sacramento performing an historical reenactment of the gold rush era;  Lotta performs daily in The Golden Melodian at the historic Eagle Theater.

In her spare time Haley loves to read, listen to music, hang out with friends, and develop character voices for her comedy routines.

Haley’s thrilled to be part of the cast of The Golden Tree and looks forward to her role of Victoria Marie.

Now Casting Page • YouTube Page •Haley's Facebook page

Aramis Liam plays Benjamin Franklin Wimmer, a REAL person back in 1859 who lived at Sutter's Mill wih his family during the gold rush.   William is his half brother and Sarah is is half sister; Martha Jane is his full younger sister.

Aramis Liam is a energetic multi-faceted actor whose passion for acting started at a very young age. He was only three years old when he turned to his mother and told her he was going to be on tv someday.

Aramis has to date been in several plays, a public service announcement, a movie trailer, and is currently involved in several indie films.

He is currently taking acting classes, dance, singing, and many others in the pursuit of his dream.
Aramis' Facebook page

Claire Elizabeth plays Martha Jane Wimmer — the youngest Wimmer in the movie, a REAL person back in 1859 who lived at Sutter's Mill with her family during the gold rush.   William is her half brother and Sarah is her half sister; Benjamin is her full brother.

Claire Elizabeth was 8 years old at the filming of Golden Tree.

Claire loves to entertain in a variety of the performing arts; her first time on stage at the age of 4 — in front of an audience of about 200 people — she delivered jokes and had the audience in stitches.

Claire started doing musical theatre at age 5 and has been in 15 plays to date and is currently in rehearsal for Annie Jr. in which she landed the lead roll of Annie.

Since the age of 7 Claire has been pursuing a career in film and t.v.; she is a regular player and reporter on the tv show Kid's Corporation — as a reporter she has had the opportunity to interview interesting people such as David Cook, Ahmed Ahmed, and Sandra Lee.

Claire is also a singer and song writer and her song Tick Tock will be recorded soon.

Claire also enjoys being with her friends, climbing trees, skating, cooking and playing with her new puppy Zelda.
Claire's Facebook page

Susan Slaven plays Sarah Wimmer at age 22 in 1859 who has moved out and away from the family at Sutter's Fort to New Helvetia — which has become Sacramento, California.

In 1981, Susan Slaven graduated from Woodland High School and attended the college of Academy of Business for several years and American River College.  After receiving a degree in Computer Science, she began working in the Information Technology (IT) field and is currently working in the IT field — enjoying the technology experience and changes.

For the last five years, Susan has been working at SureWest Company as an Information Technology 1st Level Support Manager; during the time she has been with SureWest she received a "Great Idea" award for reducing the cost of technology training within the company.  Before working at SureWest She worked at Health Net for 6 years as the IT Help Desk Manager where she managed 28+ staff members — both in the Help Desk and Access Administration departments.

In Susan's spare time, she enjoys reading financial books and working out at the gym.  She is raising two wonderful children and enjoys spending time with them and watching them grow and learn.

Susan has worked on several small films and has done modeling in the past and present.
Susan's Facebook page

Rob Hayes plays Zeke, Victoria Marie's older, dim-witted, big brother with a caring heart for his family — he protects is family from harm — or so that is his intention.

In late 2006, Rob and his wife Michelle were discussing ways to participate in a shared experience when they were presented with the opportunity to audition for the musical “Scrooge” in Rocklin. — Rob was given the role of Jacob Marley.   Well, that was it — Rob got “the bug” and since then, Rob has played Horace Vandergelder in “Hello Dolly,” The Wizard in “The Wizard of Oz,” Sid Sorokin in “Pajama Game,” Ted Farley in “Smile (Elly),” Henry Ford in “Ragtime,” The King in “Big River,” Merlin in “Camelot,” Roy Hubley in “Plaza Suite,” Bill Sykes in “Oliver,” Harold Hill in “The Music Man,” and Roy Cohn in “Angels in America.”

Rob has been featured in a couple of community service commercials for Fox 40 News but otherwise, The Golden Tree is Rob’s first opportunity in film.

Rob and his wife Michelle, live and work in Rocklin, CA with their two daughters.
Rob's Facebook page