THE TEAM

JOSEPH CASTELO - DIRECTOR // PRODUCER

Castelo recently directed his third feature, THE PREPPIE CONNECTION, which premiered at the 2015 Hamptons Int’l Film Festival and will be released by IFC Films in the spring of 2016.

Castelo co-wrote and directed THE WAR WITHIN, which premiered at the 2005 Toronto Film Festival. THE WAR WITHIN was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards (Best Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor) and an International Press Academy Satellite Award for Best Picture. It was distributed by Magnolia Pictures.

Previously, Castelo wrote a screenplay for Columbia Pictures called THE PAWN, and another screenplay called IN THE POCKET.

Castelo was an executive producer alongside Mark Burnett on CliffsNotes Films, a series of interactive animated short films based on the CliffsNotes study guides, which are being released by AOL. CliffsNotes was nominated at the IAWTV awards for Best Animated Web Series and Best Interactive Experience.

Castelo has an MFA in Film from Columbia University. While in film school, he wrote and directed AMERICAN SAINT, starring Kevin Corrigan and Vincent Schiavelli. AMERICAN SAINT screened at the San Francisco and Florida International Film Festivals, before winning awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the 2001 Hamptons International Film Festival.

Ashley Rudden - Producer // Head of Development

ASHLEY RUDDEN - SCREENWRITER // HEAD OF DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Rudden recently co-wrote THE PREPPIE CONNECTION with Joseph Castelo, which premiered at the 2015 Hamptons Int’l Film Festival and will be released by IFC Films in the spring of 2016.

Rudden joined Coalition Films in 2010 where she produced CliffsNotes Films, a series of interactive animated short films based on the CliffsNotes study guides.

From 2005 to 2010, Rudden was a freelance script consultant. She was involved in the development of THE WAR WITHIN, co-written and directed by Joseph Castelo, which was nominated for two Independent Spirit Awards in 2006, including Best Screenplay.

From 2003 to 2006, Rudden was Head of Development for Cinemosaic, a production company headed by producer Lydia Dean Pilcher. There she was involved in the development of feature films such as VANITY FAIR, starring Reese Witherspoon, and THE NAMESAKE, directed by Mira Nair.

Prior to that Rudden was a creative executive at This is That Corp, headed by producers Antony Bregman, Anne Carey, and Ted Hope. During that time she was involved in the development and production of THE DOOR IN THE FLOOR, staring Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger. Rudden has an MFA in Film from Columbia University and has taught screenwriting and film history classes at Columbia College, Marymount Manhattan College, and New York Film Academy.

PRODUCING PARTNERS

CHARLIE BUNTING - PRODUCER

Charlie Bunting is a Producer at Coalition Films. Bunting Produced 'The Preppie Connection' which was acquired by IFC Films in 2016. He is currently producing 'Upstate', a feature film by Joe Castelo filming in 2018.

Before joining the team at Coalition, Charlie spent nearly a decade in The Department of Defense and US Senate, including eight years as a DOD Operations Officer deployed across the Middle East in direct support of counterterrorism operations. He represented the United States to the International Community on hostage issues and co-founded the Hostage Working Group in Baghdad. For his service, Charlie was decorated with the Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, The Civilian Support to the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and The Civilian Expeditionary Medal.

Charlie holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Virginia Military Institute where he served as President of the Class of 2001, the first coeducational class in VMI's history. He is an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of Boulder Crest Retreat, a veterans wellness center in Bluemont, Virginia. Charlie is also a Board Member of Heroic Foods, an organic farming apprenticeship for veterans based Hudson, New York. Charlie trains in Mauy Thai and speaks Arabic. He's also a hopeless fan of the Boston Red Sox.