New York`s Own First-Time Filmmaker, Heather Robertson Showcases Comedy/Mockumentary "Casting Adrift" at Westchester Film Festival March 11th, 2004

For Native New Yorker, first-time filmmaker Director/Writer, Heather Robertson, having her film open a film festival in New York is one thing, having this happen in Westchester -- a literal HOP away from her home of NYC is even better. On Thursday, March 11th, 2004 at 2 p.m., Robertson`s first film debuts on Opening Day at the Fifth Annual Westchester Film Festival slated for March 11th -13th at the National Amusements` City Center 15: Cinema de Lux in White Plains (Mamaroneck Avenue between Main Street and Martine Avenue). With eyes and EARS on "Casting Adrift" in a 2004 film festival tour all over the U.S., Robertson is taking her multi-hyphenate role as Director/Writer/Producer and even cameo acting appearance in her comedy seriously as she fulfills the festival circuit where her film last screened at the West Coast lap of the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival just the day before.
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"Casting Adrift" is a creative Comedy/Mockumentary about Popstar, Carlin Wilder`s feature film directorial debut. The overly ambitious Wilder casts her favorite actors from the cancelled "Lovers and Losers" soap opera to co-star in her project, not knowing their former cast mates (who`ve all had dwindling acting careers in the 3 years since cancellation,) have also signed on. Arriving in Carlin`s East Hampton mansion for 2 weeks of rehearsals under strict instructions to not bring cell phones, companions or shoes, Wilder`s `wild idea` to document rehearsals with a video crew onsite takes their own reality beyond imagination, including her request to "Kiss The Bunny." The comedy stars Jamie Day, Dane Whitlock, Holly Perkins, Peter Cavanagh, Katy Barker and Erick Kastel.

Robertson is a graduate of St. Paul`s School and Georgetown University, where she received a B.A. in English Literature. She went to work in television production where she happily struggled through the "talk" genre through 1996. From enrollment in the New School`s MFA program in Creative Writing, to making her way to New York Film Academy`s Intensive Digital Filmmaking Course, Robertson`s filmmaking thirst would be quenched when she met Dublin-native, John McKone. Collaborating on writing "Casting Adrift" launched Robertson into Producer mode, where she simultaneously put on her Director hat and took the project into production in East Hampton, NY in February 2003, wrapping production in just 5 weeks. Robertson is the daughter of accomplished actors Cliff Robertson and Dina Merrill.

After the Westchester Film Festival "Casting Adrift" screening, Robertson will debut the film at The Palm Beach International Film Festival April 2-10 and hit Tampa`s TamBay Film & Video Festival April 23-25th.