CAST
Kyla Hee - Mary/Abigail
Kyla Hee, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai’i, is a talented, multi-ethnic actor and model. She has made notable appearances in numerous local commercials, print campaigns and short films. Kyla is dedicated to her craft and actively trains at Z/A Studio under the guidance of renowned instructors Robert Zimmerman and Peter Allas.
Hee looks forward to Psychosis’ '24 festival circuit, as the short marks her debut in a lead role.
Jeff Juett - John
Jeff Juett, a well-trained actor, has brought life to numerous characters on shows, features, and stages in Honolulu, Hawai’i. He is known for his roles in Hawaii Five-0, The Wrong Missy, and his stand-in work on Aloha.
Outside of the performing arts, Jeff runs an arboriculture business, where he tends to trees throughout the greater Honolulu area.
Joan Powers - Director
Joan Powers began her acting career as a background actor on several shows and features in Hawai’i. She is now known for her co-star role in NCIS Hawaii, principal role in the Hallmark TV movie Hidden Gems, co-star role in Magnum P.I., and co-star role in Ala Moana Boys short film.
She currently studies at Z/A Studio under the instruction of Robert Zimmerman and Peter Allas.
Valen Ahlo - 1st AD
Valen Ahlo, a native Hawaiian filmmaker and actor, has etched an impressive journey in the world of entertainment. His passion for the performing arts ignited during his high school years, where he showcased his acting prowess in award-winning short films.
He made waves in the entertainment industry when he secured a co-starring role on the hit TV show Hawaii Five-0. His career reached new heights when he took on leading roles in two Hallmark movies, You Had Me at Aloha, and Aloha Heart.
His talents extend beyond acting and into the realm of filmmaking. He directed the award-winning music video “Morning Time” for Hawaiian artist Fia. His directorial skills have also been sought after by a diverse range of artists, from local talents like Common Kings and Kimie Miner to international sensations like Snoop Dogg, Cardi B, Neyo, and Usher.
Valen's unique ability to seamlessly transitionbetween acting and directing sets him apart in the Hawaiian film industry. Hispassion for storytelling and commitment to showcasing the beauty of Hawai’ithrough his work makes him a true cultural ambassador.
Samantha Benson - 2nd 2nd AD
Samantha started her acting career in Austin Texas and has since moved on to work in different markets such as Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, New Mexico, Guam and currently Hawaii. She has booked multiple projects in Honolulu which include commercials, short films, and a feature film.
“Being an actor is not only a career that I have but also a joy that I can share with others. Telling stories that touch people's hearts and lives is a talent that I thank God for every day.”
Jacob White - Set PA
Jacob Patrick White began acting when he moved to Hawai’i seven years ago. Since, he has appeared in features, shows, and commercials. Namely, he has worked on Magnum P.I., Press Play, and NCIS: Hawaii.
Jacob currently trains under well-known acting teachers Robert Zimmerman and Peter Allas at Z/A Studio.
Dezmond Gilla - Follower #1
Dezmond Gilla is an actor, writer, and producer from Hawai’i .As an actor, he has appeared in numerous plays, commercials, films, and TV shows. He is known as a writer and producer for his first feature film, How to Spell Revenge, which he also starred in. Currently, you can watch him on Here TV as he stars in the new series Turning Teddy.
CREW
Nicholas Meenan - Writer/Director/Producer
Psychosis showcases Nicholas Meenan’s directorial debut.
He began his journey in filmmaking at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he earned a bachelor's degree in cinema studies. He went on to the University of Hawai'i to earn master's degree in Finance. Using the skills obtained from both degrees, he started his career in film within the accounting department. Since then, Nicholas has worked in many facets of the industry. Much of his production experience can be attributed to his most recent work as a producer's assistant on Magnum P.I.
Turning his focus to writing and directing for the screen, he founded Meenan Productions with his brother TJ Meenan. They have high hopes for Psychosis' success and would ultimately like to tell the larger story, as co-writers, in a feature film.
Spencer Turley - Producer/Editor
Spencer Turley is a Hawai’i based filmmaker known for his work as Production Supervisor, Production Manager, and Line Producer. His career features a range of notable positions across various acclaimed productions. Turley has held roles as Production Supervisor for the TV series Magnum P.I., Line Producer for Groundswell, Unit Production Manager for several TV movies including Aloha Heart, Two Tickets To Paradise, and Hidden Gems, and as an Assistant Accountant for the TV series Euphoria, Silicon Valley, and Ballers, all under HBO.
Turley's commitment and diverse skillset have made him a valuable asset in the industry, contributing to the success of various high-profile productions. He has high hopes for Psychosis as it enters the '24 Festival Circuit.
Scott Lee Mason - Director of Photography
Scott has always believed in the importance of storytelling and how it makes or breaks a film.
Scott graduated from Punahou High School in Honolulu Hawai’i with a passion for writing, acting, storytelling and filming. He attended Florida State University and graduated with a degree in creative writing. Through a career with many major networks in Florida and Los Angeles, Scott came back home to Hawai’i and honed his skills as a filmmaker. He worked on several projects including his own, which was featured at the Hawai’i International Film Festival.
Scott has created digital stories, music videos, TV commercials and specials. His talents have covered the entire gamut of the film industry. He has been an Actor, a Scriptwriter, Film Editor, Digital Imaging Technician, Camera Operator, and over the past few years, he has worked as a Director & Director of Photography.
Most recently, he was a Camera Operator and 2nd unit Director of Photography for the hit TV show Magnum P.I. He recently won Best Cinematography for The Wind and The Reckoning at the Boston Film Festival.
Michael Wigle - Production Designer
Michael Wigle is a passionate production designer and art director with over a decade of experience in feature films, television, commercials, and live events. With a strong emphasis on narrative storytelling, he is known for his work on CBS Television’s series Magnum P.I., the 2022 Academy Award nominated feature film, Marcel in the Shell with Shoes On, and Amazon Studio’s upcoming Red One.
Michael holds a BS in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati, the top ranked school of design, art, architecture, and planning. After moving to Los Angeles, he combined a childhood love of theater with his experience in design. Professionally he belongs to the Art Directors Guild and advocates for responsible filmmaking in relation to environmental conservation.
Grounded in technical reality while playing in fantasy has also led to the creation of projects outside of his career in film and television. Additional design work includes a permanent holographic exhibit at the Reagan Presidential Library &Museum and a full-scale prototype of the stratospheric World View Explorer spacecraft. He frequently collaborates with Red Hen Industries, a design and fabrication shop specializing in live event and art installations with an emphasis on space tourism. You can get a taste of his interior design work in the craft cocktail lounge The Boardroom in Kailua, Hawai’i.
Aiala Rickard - Costume Designer
Aiala Rickard, born and raised on Oahu, is a sustainable fashion designer and costume designer. After receiving her degree in Apparel Design from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2017, she refined her craft while working for Telfar in New York City. She went on to co-found conceptual fashion brand Toqa, based out of the Philippines on the island of Luzon.
Her creative journeyincludes co-designing a runway show for the 2018 Manila Biennale andco-designing a fashion collection, film, and video installation where she canbe found swimming with Tiger Sharks in the 2022 Honolulu Triennial.
Logan Stahley - Composer
Logan is a film composer based in Los Angeles, California. He composed the music for wildlife documentary Kangaroo Valley, which was nominated for a HMMA award for Best Documentary Score, and We Burn Like This, a feature film shot in his hometown of Billings, Montana. Logan’s music was featured in the trailers for Avatar: The Way of Water, The Batman, Nope, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, MEN, and Cocaine Bear.
He holds a BA in Music Technology from Montana State University Bozeman, where he received an Alumni Achievement Award, and an MFA in Music Composition for the Screen from Columbia College Chicago.
Kaycee Kaleo Phillips - Set Decorator
Kaycee Kaleo Phillips, born and raised on Oahu, finds art to be an outlet and a form of communication. She fostered this passion for art in college, where she received a BFA in film with a minor in painting. Kaycee is now known for her work as a Set Decoration Coordinator on Magnum P.I. and Red One, as well as a Set Decorator on Decade of the Dead and Fluxx.
As a set decorator, she now sees each set as an immersive installation, creating a physical world as a translation of the writer's vision, through the performer's experience and the viewer's emotional response. With her background in painting, she sees the set as a three-dimensional composition, focusing on color, texture, and perspective to enhance the opportunities for camera angels, lighting and physical character interaction.
Aaron McMullen - Gaffer
Aaron McMullen is a Hawai’i based filmmaker known for his work as an Electrician, Dimmer Board Operator, LightingTechnician, and Gaffer. Recently in his career, Aaron has worked as a LightingTechnician for Press Play, Magnum P.I., Sonic the Hedgehog 2, I Know What You Did Last Summer, and Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Aaron’s extensive understanding of lighting, perceptive nature, and ability to adapt on set makes him an invaluable asset to any production.