Tales of Everyday Magic is a new take on the anthology concept that was masterfully executed in the 1950s in shows such as Tales of The Darkside and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and later dramatically echoed in Kieslowski’s Decalogue.
Each hour long film was directed by Michael Goorjian and produced with Noah Veneklasen and Marco Sanchez. The entire series was conceived and funded in collaboration with Reid Tracy and the feel-good luminaries at Hay House Films. The idea behind the project was to create a dramatic series that did not cater to the gun, drug and violence culture prevalent in popular television, but rather tell stories for an intelligent and forward-thinking audience. As Goorjian put it, he wanted to create films that “speak to the head as well as the heart.”
What emerges is a collection of honest and endearing dramatic tales… “The ‘magic’ the title refers to” Goorjian explains, “is not the magic of illusion, but the real magic of the everyday, those moments that transform everyday life from a mundane series of events into a story, a fable, a myth.”
The filmmakers employed different visual styles to express each story, which results in films that have their own distinctive tone. The “magic” within each film, moves from coincidence to scientific intrigue, from sagacious youth to fantastical naïveté.
“We didn’t want to be locked into one mode of expression,” Goorjian continues, “but instead, to create separate fables, each with it’s own unique heart, each exploring the human condition from a different angle.”
What unites these films is their humility and openness. Whether dealing with issues of forgiveness, human interconnectedness, or the power of belief, the message of each film is not presented in an obvious way but instead buried within the story, revealing itself as quiet question. Humble to their core, these films are about us-humans.
To date four films have been completed, and the series is an on going venture. “As long as people keep watching them, we’ll keep making them” adds Goorjian “There are four more scripts on my desk, two of which are ready to go.”
Credits
Directed by Michael Goorjian
“Painting the Future” written by Ron Marasco/Brian Shuff
“Entanglement” written by Ellen Lewis/Michael Goorjian/Xander Berkeley
“My Greatest Teacher” written by Kristen Lazarian/Michael Goorjian
“Magic Hand of Chance” written by Ethan Lipton
Executive Producer Reid Tracy
Produced by Noah Veneklasen/Marco Sanchez/Michael Goorjian
Associate Producer Sharlene Duale
Cinematography by Robert Humphreys
Edited by Rick LeCompte
Music composed by Christopher Ferreira
Production Designer Kris Boxell
Costume Designer Aggie Guerard Rodgers
San Francisco Casting Nina Henninger & Sara Kliban
Los Angeles Casting Lauren Bass & Jordan Bass
Cast
Episode 1 – “Painting the Future”
Jonathan Page – Ron Marasco
Lupe Saldana – Tanya Romero
Juana Saldana – Angelina Llongueras Altimas
Raul Saldana – Trinidad Herrera
Mrs. Ramirez – Estaire Godinez
Delivery Guy – Chioke Clayton
Mr. Antonucci – Johnny “Roast Beef” Williams
Bree – Chloe Alexander
Episode 2 – “Entanglement”
Peter Keller – Xander Berkeley
Jack Franklin – Randy Blair
Ernesto – Richard Saenz
Dori – Karina Andrews
Security Officer – Michael Goorjian
Slice – John Paul Goorjian
Tappler – Duncan Phillips
Alma – Caitlyn Corson
Eddie – Leo Faiola
Colin – Martin Carmody
Kat – Sierra Kicks
Jane – Jamie Sharp
John – Daniel Ewert
Monica – Kendra Ransom
Janice – Rosa Maria Bargas
Episode 3 – “Magic Hands of Chance”
The World’s Greatest Magician – Yevgeniy Voronin
The Magician’s Son – Maxim Voronin
Svetlana the Puppet – Svetlana Perekhodova
Maxim’s big sister – Anastasia Voronina
Oleg the Clown – Sergej Maslennikov
Demitri the Clown – Onofrio Colucci
The Minister of Culture – Magic Khristian
Konstantin – Roman Frankl
Vladimir – Alexander Kucher
Matvei the M.C. – Matthias Krahnert
Sergey the Juggler – Sergey Krutikov
Peter the Clown – Peter Pitofsky
Lev the Handstand Artist – Oleg Izossimov
Irena, Lev’s assistant – Olga Ciontea
Mariska the smokin’ singer – Melanie Stace
Rustam the Aerial Artist – Rustam Tsokikov
The Ovanka Sisters – Alla Basuik, Aleksandra Gorkovenko, Sofiya Mezentseva
The Trapeze Artists – Xavier Pinard, Zoe Pinard
Valentine – Brandon Rabe
The Circus Band – Krzysztof Zurad, Michal Kowalczyk, Lesniewski Janusz, Agnieska Pietrzak, Marek Kubisiak
The Tent Manager – Oliver Jauk
Delivery Man – Michael Graf
Euro-Chic Hotel Conciereges – Edouard Dedessus Le Moutier
Cooking Show Host – Michael Deluise
Episode 4 – “My Greatest Teacher”
Ryan Kilgore – Patrick Fabian
Maggie – Dale Dickey
Dorothy – Karen Grassle
Bob Kilgore – Richard Gross
Andre – Marco Sanchez
Amber – Seema Lazar
Sophie Kilgore – Wendy Bohan
Logan Kilgore – Louis Kehoe
Kitty – Debra Noah Buetow
Bartender – David Ojakian
Chinese Woman – Julie Yip
Tony – Ron Garcia
Concierge – Michael Goorjian
Male Bartender – Dan Bush
Female Bartender – Alicia McKusik
Hippy Biker – Angel Villareal
Hippy Biker 2 – Fletcher Fledujon
Young Ryan – Kyler Kasarda
Jim – Joseph Schirle
Jim’s Friend – Tony Sinclair
Jenny – Devon Taaffe
Sheriff – Kris Boxell
Dr. Wayne W. Dyer – Himself
Security Agent 1 – Noah Veneklasen
Security Agent 2 – Antonio Grana
Minister – Bruce Kelly
Crew
Production Manager – Sharlene Duale
First Assistant Director – Antonio Grana
Second Assistant Director – Jerremy Stewart
Second Second Assistant Director – Chelsea Wehner
Set Decorator – Mark Warren
Property Master – John Paul Goorjian
Art Department PA – Angel Villarreal
Art Department PA – Brian Chandler
Construction Coordinator – Samuel Cutler
First Assistant Camera – Jeremy Wong
Second Assistant Camera – Devon Taaffe
“B” Camera Operator – Cary Symmons
Production Sound Mixer – Brian Copenhagen
Boom Operator – Michael Primmer
Production Accountant – Saundra Ardito
Production Coordinator – Stacey Matteoli
Assistant Production Coordinator – Katie Nixon
Production Office Assistant – Mary Frances Reidy
Production Consultant – Rory Enke
Script Supervisor – Jolie Martin
Set Production Assistants – Kristina Hontalas, James Kreuzer, Rick Perada
Gaffer – Cary Symmons
Best Boy Electric – Chris Galdez, Paciano Triunfo
Swing – Dan Junneman, Chris Galdez
Key Grip – Noah Peter
Best Boy Grip – Austin Taylor
Key Make-up & Hair – Lisa Zomer
Make-up & Hair Artist – Jihyun Kim
Location Manager – Robert Hoge
Location PA – Scott Bohm
First Assistant Editor – Bruce Marchant
Second Assistant Editor – Owen Derby
Colorist – Ayumi Ashley
Visual Effects Designer – Damien Ivan
Sound Re-recording Mixer – Scott Lewis
Additional re-recording Mixer – Pete Horner
Sound Effects Editor – Robert Kellough, Scott Lewis, John Nutt
Dialogue Editors – Jim McKee, Scott Lewis, James Spencer
Music Mixers – Charlie Beutter, Brian Sheil, Gabe Shephard
Additional Music – César Cancino
Casting Background – Michele Endrina, Trina Oliver
Studio Teacher – Elise Ganz
Craft Service – Zehra Berkman
Transportation Coordinator – Bill Gollihur
Transportation PA – Sam Lim
Additional Vienna Crew
Art Director – Michael DeLuise
Art Department Assistant – Brandon Rabe
Construction Coordinator – Peter Suchy
Second Assistant Camera – Christoph Fashing
Boom Operator – Gaile Miksyte
Casting Vienna – Melanie Stace
Production Assistants – Katharina, Zobler, Marlies Faulend, Katherina Parizek, Nickolaus Muller, Michaela Rosenberger
Best Boy Electric – Alex Haspel
Electric – Alex Punnger
Costumers – Frau Renate Klos-Luttenberger, Zizi Bohrer-Lehner, Ursha, Karin Traxler
Music Director – César Cancino