Sierra Zulu presents: Amber Benson and Michael Ostrowski

Bolsheviks! It is our most cheerful pleasure to inform you about exciting Letters Of Intent we received!
If all goes according to our Two-Year plan — and we will receive the necessary funds to create Sierra Zulu — we envision to work with two terrific performers!

Honor and praise to Amber Benson and Michael Ostrowski — the steadfast warriors for peace in the whole world! Long live the friendship and the unshakable unity of Soviet Unterzoegersdorf!

Amber Benson?

Amber Benson is an American actress, writer, film director, and film producer. She is best known for her role as Tara Maclay on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but has also directed, produced and starred in her own films Chance (2002) and Lovers, Liars & Lunatics (2006). She is also co-director with Adam Busch of Drones.
Benson was 14 when she made her feature-film debut in the Steven Soderbergh-directed movie King of the Hill. While still working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Benson co-wrote the movie The Theory of the Leisure Class with director Gabriel Bologna, released in 2001, and directed, produced, edited, and acted in a digital video feature called Chance (2002) which also featured her Buffy co-star James Marsters. She also collaborated with director James Kerwin in 2003 to produce her play, Albert Hall, in Hollywood.
After her time on Buffy, Benson began production on a series of animation films for the BBC with co-creator Christopher Golden and animation studio Cosgrove Hall. Ghosts of Albion: Legacy (2003) and its sequels are available on the BBC Cult website. In 2006, Benson released her second independent feature film Lovers, Liars & Lunatics through her own production company, Benson Entertainment.
Benson also writes very successful novels and comic books. Her most recent novel is How To Be Death.

Michael Ostrowski?

Michael Ostrowski grew up in Rottenmann, Styria, Austria. In 1991 he began to study English and French in Graz, Oxford and New York. His acting carrer started rather accidentally when he met Ed Hauswirth of the experimental theatre group ‘Theater im Bahnhof’ in Graz. With this group he made his first appearances as an actor in 1993. In 2002 they won the Nestroy theatre prize for best off-production. In 2002, he landed his first movie role in Nogo, in which he played one of the lead characters, Sam. So far, the most successful and popular movie production he worked in is the comedy Nacktschnecken (2004), for which he wrote the screen-play at the end of the 1990s. The movie was directed by Michael Glawogger. Ostrowski is still active in the theater, performing in the Grazer Schauspielhaus and the Wiener Kammerspiele, amongst others. In the early 1990s he began working as an event host, including various large-scale events like the ‘Krone-Fußballgala’ and the Nestroy Award Gala in 2003. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 he hosted the Amadeus Music Awards. He contributed to the screen-play of the feature film Die unabsichtliche Entführung der Frau Elfriede Ott (2010). He also played the main character in the film, a performance which won him the Austrian Movie Award.

Sierra Zulu: Let’s have a look at the UN Camp

A ragtag UN peacekeeping force operates a small camp guarding the no-man’s-land between Austria and the tiny agrarian microstate Soviet Unterzoegersdorf, the last existing bastion of the defunct Soviet Union.

Let’s have a look at the camp.

(Sketch by Andreas Rausch; hi-res version of sketch on our Sierra Zulu Flickr stream)

Sierra Zulu goes Amstetten

There will be a German language presentation about Sierra Zulu in Amstetten.

Sierra Zulu. Oder: Wie ein belangloses Kuhkaff die Gegenwart retten kann

Eine UN-Friedenstruppe leistet in einem kleinen Lager Dienst im Niemandsland zwischen Europa und dem winzigen Kleinstaat Sowjet-Unterzögersdorf. Ihr Dienst ist langweilig und eintönig, doch als es zu einer Explosion in Sowjet-Unterzögersdorf kommt, wird das Team in eine bizarre Verschwörung aus Industriespionage und politischer Intrige verwickelt, die die Zukunft der Informationsgesellschaft nachhaltig verändern könnte. “Sierra Zulu” – eine politische Groteske.
Johannes Grenzfurthner erzählt über die Entwicklung des Spielfilms “Sierra Zulu”.

May 3, 2012 – 7 PM at Cafe Kuckuck in Amstetten, Lower Austria (as part of Kulturhof Amstetten).

Sierra Zulu presents: Max Grodenchik and Dirk Stermann

More updates about Sierra Zulu’s actors!
Today we are delighted being able to brag about new Absichtserklärungen by Max Grodénchik and Dirk Stermann!

Max will play an American. And Dirk a German. No surprises. And no, we won’t give away more information.

Max Grodénchik?

Max Grodénchik’s TV credits include CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, E.R., Crossing Jordan, Tales from the Crypt, Six Feet Under, The Drew Carey Show, Sliders, and the BBC series Hustle.  He played in two episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, which led to his seven seasons as the recurring character Rom on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Film credits include King of California, Bruce Almighty, Apollo 13, Sister Act, Barton Fink and The Rocketeer.  He played the title role in the Dino De Laurentiis-produced horror film Rumpelstiltskin, written and directed by Mark Jones (who launched the Leprechaun franchise).
On the stage he has worked off-Broadway with Glenn Close, and at the Guthrie Theater, Yale Repertory and Center Stage, Baltimore. He also toured with Center Stage’s Young People’s Theatre, bringing live performances to school children across the entire state of Maryland.
He began his acting career appearing in plays at the Magic Theatre, San Francisco, in the days when Sam Shepard was that theatre’s playwright-in-residence.

Dirk Stermann?

Dirk Stermann began to study History and Theatre Arts at the Heinrich-Heine University in Düsseldorf/Germany and continued his studies in Vienna/Austria from 1987 onwards, but didn’t bother graduating. He is working at the Austrian Broadcasting Company (ORF) since 1988; since 1990 he is the German half of the comedy duo Stermann & Grissemann. The duo hosted the radio satire shows Salon Helga (ORF), Radio Blume (ORF) and Show Royale (Radio Eins, Berlin) and published several books.
Since 2004 Dirk has hosted the “Protestsongcontest” at the Rabenhof Theater in Vienna. In 2007 he started hosting the popular TV talkshow “Willkommen Österreich”.
Dirk Stermann is married to journalist Christine Schatz and they have a daughter.
Movies: Silentium (Austria 2004, Director: Wolfgang Murnberger), Import Export (Austria 2007, Director: Ulrich Seidl), Immer nie am Meer (Austria 2007, Director: Antonin Svoboda)

Sierra Zulu: The Graphic Novelette?

It’s our socialistic pleasure to work with James Brothwell on a wonderful side project of Sierra Zulu — a graphic novelette! We don’t know yet how and when and in what format we want to publish it, but it’s an exciting piece of propaganda in the making.

James already created a faux cover, but he will probably adapt it as soon as we know more about the physical appearance of the actual actors.

So, who is James Brothwell?

James is an illustrator, comic book artist, and tattoo designer currently living and working in the Pacific Northwest. Between fits of existential angst over pixels being out of place, he finds time to work in digital pen-and-ink as well as cell-shading styles. He is mainly self-taught with a few University classes thrown in. He is fond of old Disney movies, thoughtful graphic novels, his cat, and tea.

Sierra Zulu presents: the Brothers Lampl

More updates about Sierra Zulu’s actors! Roland Gratzer and Johannes Grenzfurthner met the Lampls for an early beer in Graz… and deal!

(from left to right: Harry, Director, Jimi)

Harry Lampl

Harry Lampl, born 1987, majored in Technical Physics at the University Graz. Has appeared in numerous film and TV productions as well as in theatre plays. Awards: Prize of the Jury in the category ‘actor’ at the 12th International Film Festival of the Film Academy Vienna 2007 for playing Marco in Sigmund Steiners “Harz”.
Selected projects: “Gehen am Strand” (Caspar Pfaundler, 2011), “One Way Trip” (Markus Welter, 2010), “Blutsfreundschaften” (Peter Kern, 2009), “Freischwimmer” (Bernhard Riener, 2009), “Mono” (Barbara Grascher, 2007). TV: “Verfolgt – Der kleine Zeuge” (Andreas Senn, 2012), “Soko Kitzbühl: Jungbrunnen” (Mike Zens, 2012).

Jimi Lend (alias Johann Wolfgang Lampl)

Jimi Lend, born 1980, lives and works as a freelance actor, director, author, poetry slammer and event organizer in Vienna. Trained as an actor at the University for Music and Performing Arts in Graz (graduated in 2003). Winner of the Max Reinhard Award and the audience award at the Annual Meeting of German Speaking Acting Schools in Essen 2002. Engagements at the Schauspielhaus Graz, Theater im Keller Graz, Forum Stadtpark Graz, Ensembletheater Wien, Theater m.b.H. at the Kabelwerk Wien, Forum Theater Wien, ortszeit and Theater im Bahnhof Graz. Co-founder of the “little drama boyz”, the “Vitamins of Society” (directing, organisation, acting) and the “LickeDeela”(Funk, http://jimilend.wordpress.com).
Filmography: “Dutschke” (Stephan Krohmer, 2008), “Der Knochenmann” (Wolfgang Murnberger, 2008), “Mutig in die neuen Zeiten” (Harald Sicheritz, 2006), “Anschlagsordnung” (Camillo Meinhart, 2006), and “Harz” (Grasch/Steiner/Glehr, 2005).

Meet and Greet Tour: Sierra Zulu goes London

Johannes Grenzfurthner wants to invite you to informal formalities!
Want to be part of Sierra Zulu or just learn more about what’s going on?
Are you located somewhere in or near London? Join the movement for a coffee!

London: Sunday, April 22, 12 noon thru 3 PM @ Department of Coffee and Social Affairs / 14-16 Leather Lane, London EC1N 7SU, United Kingdom / Facebook event

Sierra Zulu: Interview on Futurezone

Futurezone’s Dan Taylor interviewed director Johannes Grenzfurthner on the production process and philosophy of Sierra Zulu.

Whether the residents of Soviet Unterzoegersdorf realize it or not, their small village is under scrutiny. With an explosion happening inside Soviet territory, the small group of UN peacekeeping soldiers stationed at its borders are about to be thrown into a conspiracy of industrial espionage, a media frenzy, and political intrigue.

Link (to full article)

Sierra Zulu’s Propaganda Artists: Boitos, Ellingson, Cross and Blankenship

Soviet Unterzoegersdorf needs propaganda art. And that’s why we work with a bunch of class war-loving artists to design posters and paintings.

Here is the team! Onward!

Nicole Boitos?

Nicole M Boitos is a painter, illustrator and tattoo artist currently living and creating in Vienna, Austria. Classically trained in Philadelphia and New York, her primary mediums include large format oil on canvas, copper etching and engraving, mixed mediums on paper, watercolor and large painted public murals. She has collaborated with many notable artists and musicians: album covers (Michael Gira/The Body Lovers/Swans, Bee & Flower, James Blackshaw, Human Greed/Fragile Pitches, Korperschwache, Jarboe, Neurosis, A Storm of Light and Red Sparowes), hand-drawn animated sequences and promotional materials. Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe.


Josh Ellingson?
Josh Ellingson

Josh Ellingson lives and works as an illustrator in San Francisco, California. In 1999, Ellingson graduated art school and headed west. Since then, Josh has contributed artwork to popular publications and websites worldwide and worked with clients ranging from toy makers to tequila companies.
Partial client list: Wired Magazine, Popular Science, PC Magazine, Hasbro, Adobe Systems, Robogames.
Exhibitions (Solo shows):
2010 All The Best, Mission: Comics & Art, San Francisco, CA;
2009 Bots, Bugs, and Beasts, The Art of Joshua Ellingson, The Museum of Robots, Second Life;
2009 South Carolina State University, Fine Arts Building, SC;
2006 Super7 Gallery, San Francisco, CA;
2003 KidRobot, San Francisco, CA

Spencer Cross?

Spencer Cross is a Los Angeles-based artist and graphic designer. Formerly a designer and team leader at both House of Blues Entertainment and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, he founded the boutique creative services practice Tokyo Farm in 2005. Spencer is an evangelist for the Los Angeles design community and is the creator and organizer of KERNSPIRACY, a unique effort to foster community and camaraderie among LA-area creative professionals via a combination of social and educational events and discussion forums. He also co-founded and continues to coordinate Design Week / Los Angeles and has previously served on committee for AIGA LA.

Caleigh Blankenship?

Caleigh Blankenship is a multicellular, self-taught, artistic organism who somehow managed to survive into adulthood. Graphic designer by day and comic artist by night, she spends her days thinking and conceptualizing anything and everything. Her comics and various creations are inspired by themes of social and political justice, metaphysics, mythology, science fiction, and everything else that catches her eye.
When she isn’t illustrating, painting, doing concept artwork or layouts, she is bouncing around social media sites, sprinkling sarcasm and humor across the internet.

Sierra Zulu presents: The Yes Men and Gerald Votava

More updates about Sierra Zulu’s actors!
Today we are delighted being able to introduce you to: The Yes Men and Gerald Votava!

Our corpo-pranking friends will play two small, but very fitting roles — and Gerald Votava will be a real douchebag.

The Yes Men?

The Yes Men are two culture jamming activists: Jacques Servin and Igor Vamos. Through actions of tactical media, The Yes Men primarily aim to raise awareness about what they consider problematic social issues.
Igor Vamos (alias Mike Bonanno) is an internationally known multimedia artist. He is an associate professor of media arts at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a co-founder of RTMark and the recipient of a 2003 Guggenheim Fellowship.
Jacques Servin (alias Andy Bichlbaum) started RTMark in 1993, a bulletin board for pranking actions, but whose goal was to get attention for under-reported issues. He is an author and teaches as an Assistant Professor of Communication, Design, and Technology in the School of Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.

Gerald Votava?

Gerald Votava (*1970) is an Austrian actor, musician and radio host.
He is well-known for his appearances in the TV shows Montevideo (1998-1999), Dorfers Donnerstalk (2006-) and Die Schlawiner (2010).
Movie roles in Tempo (Stefan Ruzowitzky, 1998), Hinterholz 8 (Harald Sicheritz, 1999) or Ternitz, Tennessee (Mirjam Unger, 1998).
He won a Romy Award 1998 and Salzburger Stier Award 2001 – both as member of radio comedy show Projekt X.