Cast and Crew Biographies

Writer/Director: Blaine Norris
Blaine Norris has been enthralled with films since he was a child, especially the horror/sci-fi genre. He often looks to directors such as George A. Romero, Sam Raimi, and John Carpenter for inspiration. "These guys really forged a place in horror history. They had very small budgets, but created horror masterpieces that have stood the test of time. Who hasn't seen Halloween, The Evil Dead, or Night of the Living Dead?"

When asked if he feels Through Hike will become a horror classic, Norris responds, "It's too early to call. I feel Through Hike has the ingredients for a truly scary movie. This is a supernatural thriller. Basically, it's a ghost story. People may not believe in ghosts, but they usually don't totally disbelieve in them either. There's always that little uncertainty in the back of the mind. Whenever you can tease someone with the unknown, you can scare them. And that's what horror movies are all about."

Norris is an Eagle Scout with extensive outdoor experience. One of his favorite activities (other than watching horror films) is backpacking. It was on one of his backpacking trips that Norris found the location for the movie. "The location on the Appalachian Trail is amazing. It has stark beauty, but is also very creepy, especially at night. I love the contrast it provides." Norris is very excited to start filming, especially since it will allow him to spend a week in the woods.

Through Hike is Norris's first feature film. He has several other scripts he is currently writing.

"Heather" played by Erin Lampart
Erin Lampart is twenty-one years old and thrilled to be a part of Through Hike. Born in Queens and raised in Long Island, NY, Erin has always had a passion for the performing arts. A 1999 graduate of Penn Manor High School, and a veteran on stage, Through Hike marks Erin's film debut.

Growing up, Erin was always encouraged by teachers, family, and friends to pursue her acting aspirations. "My fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hussar, was the first person who really influenced me to get into acting- he could definitely sense the spark in my eyes when I was put in front of an audience; that's probably why I never really got reprimanded for being kind of the class clown-he knew I just loved to entertain people!"

One of Erin's greatest talents is her ability to let out ear-piercing screams, which is very helpful in a horror movie like Through Hike. "I always wanted to do a role where I could scream in terror. I knew a long time ago I could make my screams sound convincing."

Favorite movies include Harold and Maude ("I think everybody with a sense of humor should see it at least once"), Trainspotting, and Seven. Performers who have influenced Erin include Jack Nicholson, Bette Davis, and Phyllis Diller. "Diller was such a riot in her time!" says Lampart. In her spare time, Erin enjoys hiking and camping, music, going to concerts, watching the Simpsons, and "just enjoying life with my friends and family".

"Doug" played by Jake Samberg
Jake Samberg is a 19 year old rock star from Lancaster, Pa. Jake is a sophomore at Temple University in Philadelphia where he studies theater and film. He is an avid movie watcher and all around insane lunatic. His favorite movie of all time is Close Encounters of the Third Kind. However the films of the Evil Dead series, particularly Evil Dead II and Army of Darkness, run a close second, along with another of his favorites, Man on the Moon. His greatest influences come from film stars such as Jim Carrey, Jack Nickolson, and of recent, Hugh Jackman.

His favorite food is bean burritos, which he could eat for all four meals of the day. He likes apple juice a lot, and fruity morning cereals which explode with vibrant fruitiness and contain large amounts of fiber. Says Samberg, "Fiber keeps you regular." He likes lobsters, as pets not to eat, and does not like mosquitos. He is interested in pursuing a career in acting, or if acting does not pan out, insect and rodent removal.

Samberg is a very physical actor. He is very willing to do his own stunts. He feels that getting a few bumps and bruises is worth getting good looking action shots. "I don't mind getting hurt to make a scene look good," says Samberg. "Besides, chicks dig guys with scars."

Through Hike is Jake's first feature film, and he is ecstatically excited about it. "There is great potential in this film, coming from good directing, good writing, and a cast of good actors who all have a few loose screws," says Samberg.

"Terri" played by Amber Muncy
Amber began acting at age nine in various community theatre productions. She also appeared in a commercial at age 10. After a 10-year break, Amber was in a local historical video and most recently in EPAC's production of "Jekyll & Hyde".

Amber, 25, is a graduate of Millersville University where she earned a degree in Psychology. After several years of being set on becoming a drug and alcohol therapist, she decided that she had to make another attempt at her childhood dream of becoming actress. "My degree definitely isn't a waste," she says, "I think Psychology is very much a part of making a scene and its characters work."

Some of her favorite movies include "The Lost Boys", "American History X", and "The Blair Witch Project". She sites Tom Hanks, Edward Norton and Susan Sarandon as some of her favorite actors.

Amber is incredibly excited to be a part of "Through Hike". This is her first feature film, and she hopes to do many more in the future. "This story is classic but with lots of twists and surprises. And it's great to be able to work with such talented people who also know how to have fun." Amber would like to thank Duane, Jen and her parents for their inspiration and support.

"The Ghost of Samuel Toone" played by Michael Lazorcik
Michael is a Civil Engineer/Actor working on becoming an Actor/Civil Engineer. He is a veteran of stage and screen, having been involved in over 30 productions. He wouldn't be where he is today if a 'stranger' had believed him when he arrived at his first audition. This 'stranger', sensing Michael's apprehension, asked if she could help him. Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of 'making a fool of himself' on stage, he replied that he was lost and asked for directions. Not believing him for one moment, she led him into the theater and had him fill out an audition form. It turns out this 'stranger' was the director and she cast him in his first production, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Since that auspicious moment, Michael has portrayed a variety of different roles, from a Chocolate maker (Milton Hershey, The Play) and a Queen’s Yeoman (PA Renaissance Faire) to a party guest (The Distinguished Gentleman), a lawyer (Schmidt and Ronca, PC commercial) and a convicted murderer (The Blue-Eyed Six-Hurled Into Eternity). Some of his favorite movies have been Neighbors, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Horror films of his particular interest would be Scanners,, Re-Animator and Burnt Offerings.

Michael looks forward to the challenge of creating this character through his actions, as Samuel Toone has very little to say. He enjoys playing characters unlike himself. “I’ve always relished playing characters that are quite different than what I am like. If I am playing someone that is similar to myself, I feel like I am just being myself and reciting lines. But if I’m playing a totally opposite character, I feel I can almost become that character and experience things as a different person! I think I have best experienced this in roles of Dr. Cedric Seward in Passion of Dracula and as Frank Stickler in The Blue-Eyed Six: Hurled Into Eternity.

Michael has a Kevin Bacon Number of 2. He was quick to ask Brian Trimble, the Director of Photography, if he could come up with his number after hearing about Brian’s knowledge of movies. Brian was able to answer the challenge, though not in the quickest route (he came up with 4, which is correct, but not the shortest method). Michael Lazorcik was in Thomas and the Magic Railroad with Alec Baldwin. Alec Baldwin was in She's Having a Baby with Kevin Bacon

"Erick" played by Stephen Supek
Bio coming soon.

"Allan" played by Sean Gaston
Sean Gaston was born in Reading, PA on August 19, 1977. His father took him to see his first film, Return of the Jedi, when he was five years old. “I guess you could say that is when my love for movies began,” says Gaston.

Sean has no previous acting experience, but definitely is not a stranger to the movie business. He has been involved with the Motion Picture Exhibition Industry for almost a decade. Currently he is employed by the Regal Entertainment Group at their Manor 16 location in Lancaster, PA. When questioned about working with his experienced costars on his first acting gig, Sean answers, “I have always been myself with any challenge in life. I think you can never go wrong with just being natural.”

Sean hopes to draw from that natural ability when working on Through Hike. “Blaine has written and excellent script with strong characters. When I read the entire script I was particularly interested in Allan’s character because he seemed to have the closest personality to my own. Some of the things he says I could picture myself saying under the same circumstances.”

Gaston named Tom Hanks, Kevin Spacey, and Ed Norton as three of his favorite actors that he looks to for inspiration. When asked about his favorite movies, he had this to say, "There are so many movies I have seen over the years, but if I had to pick a couple I would say Forrest Gump and The Shawshank Redemption. Those two are probably tops on my list.” His favorite horror films are Halloween and American Gothic.

When we asked Sean about his feelings on his feature film debut, he said, “I am really looking forward to working with some very talented actors and passion-driven film makers. It is going to be a real pleasure to play a part in bringing Blaine’s vision to life.” In closing Sean had this to add, “I was pretty pumped up after meeting Michael Lazorcik to learn that on my first feature film I was going to have a Kevin Bacon Number of 3!”

Sean currently resides in Ephrata, PA with his beautiful wife Jamye, of two years, and chocolate lab. Tucker.

Support Staff/Boom Operator: Zachariah Blott
Zachariah Blott is on the crew because of his strong camping/outdoors experience that includes backpacking trips out west, working at Boy Scout camps for six summers, and having once extinguished an "almost forest fire" with Norris to save their tails and over 1,000 acres of woodland. Blott is an Eagle Scout and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 238 in Maryland.

Blott is also an avid movie buff, enjoying any type of movie that's made well, ranging from classic western The Magnificent Seven to romantic drama Dogfight to dark comedy Dr. Strangelove. He is looking forward to working on the production of Through Hike, his first movie, "even if it's just by being Norris's *expletive deleted* for a *expletive deleted* week out in the *expletive deleted* sticks for pay that's *expletive deleted* while the director is in his cushy office deleting expletives."

Also, Blott does not think 20-year-old boys should drive hearses and fall in love with women old enough to be their great-grandmothers. The results are disastrous.

Besides his outdoor experience, Zachariah brings a unique sense of humor to the project.

Production Assistant: Marcus Rutt
Marcus Rutt eagerly joined the Through Hike project after hearing about it. This is his first foray into the filming business, having been part of the restaurant industry for 16 years. Marcus is no stranger to movies of the horror genre, though. “I remember growing up with Creature Double Feature on TV every weekend, playing all the old great Universal and Hammer horror flicks, and sometimes a good Godzilla movie thrown in as well.” Marcus has followed the genre through the years, and has amassed a collection of over 200 horror films, his favorites including Carnival Of Souls and The Evil Dead. “After all these years of watching horror movies, having a chance to be part of one is like a dream come true.” Looking beyond horror, his favorite movies include American Beauty, Apocalypse Now, and the recent Memento.

While having no experience in the film industry, Rutt has already proven himself to be an excellent production assistant. He has done extensive research on equipment, and has saved the production money with his suggestions. His next task will be in the creative role of prop-making. "I'm pretty excited about getting to make a bunch of headstones. It may be a little morbid, but it will be great to help make the props."

Audio Engineer: Ryan Baker
Ryan is an audio genious. He is able to turn even the harshest sounds into good, recordable audio. When he's on the sound board, the audio is hot. Really hot.

Ryan works as a network administrator, and is also a land lord, which is practically a full time job for him. He has also been in several bands, and done audio work for shows.

Ryan considers himself to be an audiophile. He would be happy to spend several hundred dollars on 3 feet of speaker cable. To him, you can't have audio equipment that is too good.

Support Staff/Boom Operator: Justin Blott
Bio coming soon.

Gimp/Support Staff: Ian Bonner
Bio coming soon.