Cast
 | Michael Manion – Dr. Jim Ryan The talented Michael Manion has appeared in numerous plays throughout Vermont. Possibly best know for his performance of “Clarence” the angel in the annual staging of the live radio play version of It’s a Wonderful Life (along with 11 other parts!), he has also been noted for his performances in comedies, dramas, and musicals such as Guys and Dolls (playing Benny Southstreet). He received his BS in education from Southeast Missouri State University, where he majored in theater, and he further pursued acting for film with Jock MacDonald of Carter Thor Studios East. He is now in semi-retirement from his “day job” as a telephone lineman, and lives in Montpelier, Vermont with his wife Bonnie and son Joseph. Michael Manion’s IMDB link |
 | Bruce Jones – Joe Branagan Bruce has been happily married to Johanna Sheehey-Jones for nearly 30 years and they have two children, Annie and Abel, living in Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively. Bruce graduated from Gonzaga University in 1980 with a degree in theatre. He loves golf and his life (in that order), and he is very honored to be a part of this film. Bruce Jones’ IMDB link |
 | Cynthia Braren – Mary-Louise “Weezey” McHugh Being cast as Nurse Weezy was a long-term dream realized for Cynthia Braren. She has had much performing experience: as dancer, stage actor, and most recently, jazz musician, as well as working behind the camera. To act on camera for the first time was challenging, compelling, and so much fun! “On the movie set, making a full-length film, a family emerges between cast and crew. To embrace the rhythm of the day, people’s moods, the dialogue at hand, and decisions to be made, all within the context of a much bigger ‘picture,’ was exciting and fulfilling. I look forward to many more.” Cynthia Braren’s home page Cynthia Braren’s music page at WacBiz |
 | John Trzepacz – Minister Jonathan Whitfield John Trzepacz is a 1974 Speech & Drama graduate of Marymount College. He had his acting debut in 1967 playing the role of Nick, the bartender, in a production of William Saroyan’s “The Time Of Your Life.” Since then John has had 14 stage acting roles and 15 stage technician assignments. After a 1979 graduation from De Vry Institute, John did 28 plus years of “Theatre of the Absurd” at a major computer corporation in Vermont. During this time he performed in several radio commercials and public service announcements. John did voice and on-camera work in a number of marketing and training video productions with IBM, Lake Champlain Productions, and Green Mountain Video Productions. He has continued to practice his art as a Vermont Town Moderator for 20 years. This is his first speaking role in a movie. |
 | Zev York – Kevin McHugh Zev is an avid dancer and actor and has been since he was little. He studies dance all around Vermont, and has studied with world renowned dancers such as Marty Kudelka, Nick Demoura and Kenny Wormald. Zev was selected to be a part of the “Mitsfitz” in the 2012 Urban Reach show in New York City. He has starred in multiple plays, including two by Shakespeare, and a handful of locally produced dance shows. Zev shares his passion for dance by teaching beginner, intermediate, and advanced hip hop classes at selected studios across Vermont. Zev is 17 years old and attends Mount Mansfield Union High School as a Junior. DJ Zevie’s YouTube channel |
 | Tim Kavanagh – Himself Well-known local celebrity Tim Kavanagh is owner of SAMSON Productions, an entertainment company that includes award-winning television shows like “Late Night Saturday,” film, and stage productions. The production company also produces numerous shows including variety shows, comedy improv, murder mysteries and interactive game shows. Tim and SAMSON Productions were instrumental in winning the right to host the world premiere of “The Simpson’s Movie.” He is also co/owner of a team-building company GameshowsVT that provides interactive team building game shows. Tim has worked in entertainment, broadcast and radio industry for a number of years, including for ABC, FOX and CBS affiliates both on the air and behind the scenes in a number of capacities. Tim Kavanagh’s IMDB link |
Movie Stills
Crew
 | Harry Goldhagen – Writer, Producer, Cinematographer, co-Director, Editor Harry Goldhagen began writing at a very young age, with such (unpublished) works as Cats in Space (1968) and The Right Tool (1975). After causing quite a ruckus while managing and editing Fortnight, the ill-named, award-winning monthly magazine at SUNY Stony Brook, he went on to receive a BS in biochemistry (SUNY Stony Brook) and an MS in molecular biology (Albert Einstein College of Medicine). Despite the heavy science education, he never lost his love of the arts. Professionally, Harry has worked as a medical editor for more than 20 years, for esteemed publications and websites such as Scientific American Medicine, Medscape, and Doctor’s Guide. He also edits the humanitarian health care web site Angels in Medicine. In his spare time he films live classical music concerts. Since moving to Vermont, Harry has developed a taste for independent films, working with other local filmmakers as camera operator. Bridges is Harry’s first movie. Harry Goldhagen’s IMDB link |
 | Jayson Argento – co-Director Jayson made his theatrical debut in “The Cherry Orchard” at Champlain College at age 22. In June 2001 Jayson started taking film acting classes with Jock Macdonald at Cameron Thor Studios East. Working with Jock and Cameron for the next two years inspired Jayson to stop waiting for film roles and start creating them, which led first to “Stoneworks Entertainment” and subsequently to “Champlain Motion Pictures.” Jayson believes that film-making should be at least as fun as film-watching. Acting is self-knowledge; film making is the expression of self-knowledge. Jayson Argento’s site Champlain Motion Pictures Jayson Argento’s IMDB link |
 | Cal Hopwood – Lighting, B Camera Cal Hopwood is a freelance cinematographer and editor based in the New England area. He also co-founded and is the creative director of Dilation Films, a small video production company in Burlington VT. He specializes in documentary-style work, but has worked in commercial and narrative settings as well. He currently has a fellowship at the Emergent Media Center at Champlain College where he manages the video team and is working towards an MFA in emergent media. Dilation Films |
 | Jon Mendel – Sound Jon Mendel is a freelance production sound mixer in the New England and NY area. Jon graduated from Champlain College in 2011 with a BS in Digital Filmmaking. He is also a co-founder of Dilation Films, a Burlington, VT-based video production company. His specialties include location production sound mixing & recording, boom operation, and post-production sound mixing. Jon specializes in commercial, corporate, TV, documentary, and short & feature film production work. Dilation Films |
Featuring the Music of:
 | Bill Staines – Bridges, All Gods Critters Got a Place in the Choir For more than forty years, Bill has traveled back and forth across North America, singing his songs and delighting audiences at festivals, folksong societies, colleges, concerts, clubs, and coffeehouses. Bill’s music is a slice of Americana, reflecting with the same ease his feelings about the prairie people of the Midwest or the adventurers of the Yukon, the on-the-road truckers, or the everyday workers that make up this land. Currently, Bill has recorded 26 albums; The Happy Wanderer and One More River were winners of the prestigious Parents’ Choice Award, taking a gold medal and silver medal, respectively. Bill’s latest album is Beneath Some Lucky Star. Bill Staines |
 | Laurel Ann Maurer, flute – Minuet and Danse of the Blessed Spirits, Tambourin, Vocalise, and Reverie Laurel Ann Maurer is a Vermont-based flutist who has recorded over a dozen CDs, two of which were nominated for Grammy awards. She has been lauded by The New York Times as “…a secure technician and an assured, communicative interpreter,” and Fanfare Magazine stated that “…she is technically superb in every way. Her tone is consistently attractive even in the most treacherous passages, and she plays with great rhythmic drive and impeccable phrasing.” Her musical education took her to New York City, where she studied with Julius Baker, Jeanne Baxtresser and Samuel Baron. Laurel is the artistic director of Vermont Virtuosi, a concert series presented throughout Vermont dedicated to bringing compelling chamber music programs to the public. In Bridges,, Laurel plays Sarah Ryan. Laurel Ann Maurer, flutist |
 | Dr. Jazz – I Found a New Baby, St. James Infirmary Dr. Jazz (aka Russell Steele, MD) and the New Orleans Sounds play “smooth jazz,” which incorporates a romantic touch into standard and new songs, but they also play traditional jazz and are well known in New Orleans for their original style. They have played in jazz festivals all over the world and were featured in a Sesame Street production. They perform well over 1,400 numbers and play 80-100 weddings a year. In addition to Dr. Steele (trumpet/trombone/vocal), the band consists of Sal Suer (sax/clarinet), Ernie Kinkaid (piano), Ralph Caplan (drums), and Doug Reneau (trumpet). Dr. Steele plays Dr. Elias Jones in Bridges. Dr. Jazz and the New Orleans Sounds |
 | Paul Orgel – Goldberg Variations Born in New York City, Paul Orgel has concertized throughout the United States, China and Eastern Europe as a recitalist, soloist with orchestra, and chamber musician. Orgel was educated at Oberlin, the New England Conservatory, and Boston University, and he holds a doctorate in piano performance from Temple University. He is the director of the Humanities Program Concert Series at Saint Michael´s College, a member of the music faculty at the University of Vermont, and a reviewer for Fanfare Magazine. Paul Orgel, pianist |
About “Buck Hollow”
Bridges takes place in the mythical town of “Buck Hollow.” The town itself doesn’t exist, but most of the movie was filmed in towns just like it: Fairfield, East Fairfield, Bakersfield, and Fairfax, Vermont. The covered bridge, which plays an important role, is located in East Fairfield, just off Main Street on (no surprise) Bridge Street. The church, cemetery, and “multipurpose room” (the elementary school gym/auditorium/cafeteria) used for the fundraiser are located in “downtown” Bakersfield. Sadly, the Tucker-Dewyea Bed & Breakfast does not exist, although there is the very lovely Inn at Buck Hollow Farm and Tetreault’s Hillside View Farm Bed and Breakfast, both located in Fairfield, for those wishing to visit the region.
A number of scenes were filmed at the wonderful Stone Hollow Farm, family owned and managed by Ken Carter and Melissa Dion, and some scenery was filmed at the Trudell Family Farm. The rest of the “scenery” shots were filmed around Fairfield and Fairfax. The dance school was none other than Urban Dance Complex, directed by Sarah Cover, located in Willison, Vermont. The physical therapy scenes were filmed at Fairfax Family Physical Therapy, owned and managed by Krystal Jenness, PT.
For those technically inclined, this production was filmed using Sony digital cameras, primarily the PMW-F3 with a Red zoom lens. The video was recorded to Convergent Design Nanoflash recorders. Technical support was provided by TV Specialists in Salt Lake City. They have been providing equipment, service and advice for many years, and I recommend them highly!