Amanda Fire

Amanda began modeling at the age of 11 by participating in a local back to school fashion show. After that experience she decided that modeling was something she really wanted to do. She then participated in pageants and enrolled in modeling classes, which gave her the extra boost of confidence needed to continue on. At the age of 18 she went to Los Angeles to work with a music producer and perform on live webcasts. Upon her return to Ohio , she began doing promotional modeling, which eventually led her to meet author/producer Carl Merritt. At that point in time she began going to movie conventions, which led her to make connections with various independent film producers. Upon making these connections she got a huge jumpstart into her acting career. She can be seen in movies such as Shadows in the Woods, The Horror Convention Massacre, Bigfoot, Ghostbuster's Fan Film Spook University, True Nature, and of course Abe's Tomb. She can also be seen as an extra in Jon McLaughlin's music video "For You, From Me". In addition to modeling, acting, singing, and dancing she has done wrestling commentary for an indie wrestling company, which then transitioned into a ring girl position. Amanda's vibrant and outgoing personality makes her great to work with. She is also as quoted from a certain producer "One of the most reliable people on the planet."

Ray Basham

Ray Basham was born in Springfield , Ohio and was raised near a small town named Jersey , Ohio . Ray would get in trouble in school for “Drawing instead of paying attention to the teacher.” He (of course) chose this course of study throughout High School and College. Ray has had some very unrelated jobs in the past, sales clerk at a paint store, ran blueprints and copies, worked for Kinko’s, then worked as a Graphic Artist until 7 years ago when Ray went solo. Some of Ray’s accomplishments are, but not limited to:

ART CREDITS
• Was published dozens of times in small press magazines in the 1980’s.
• Worked freelance for Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine for 7 years.
• Won Best art contest for “Cover” i.e.; “Mechanical Frog”.
• Won “Vampire Sanchez” book cover contest sponsored by writer JoeKnetter.com.
• Won bid to do the CD (Album) cover for “Cult’s and Weirdoes” CD by the band “Nightmare at Hanging Rock”.
• Did B/w art for “CASTLEROCK” the Stephen King Fan Magazine (now defunct).
• IndieGathering.com convention Award for SPFX ‘07

FILM CREDITS
• Lead Male role in “Abe’s Tomb”-The Movie 2007

• Directed and wrote the short film “Killer” which had the 2nd most votes in Chiller Chennel's “Dare to Direct” Contest. 2007

• Gruesome Role in “League of Extraordinary Alcoholics vs the Undead Zombie Hoard” 2007

• Lead Role in “Reffitt Road Swamp Monster” on Tarr and Fether’s “Legacy of Blood” DVD 2006

• One of 2,000 extras in Manhattan for “I Am Legend” -Warner Brothers, 2007

• A fun role in “A Wicked Business” -2006

• A “One Liner” in “Ichabod” - 2007

• "Mountain Mafia" - court room extra - 2008  

Sherri Foxx

After graduating from Barbizon Modeling and Talent, Ms. Foxx was chosen to be the first spokesmodel for Gym One Fashions in Clarksburg , West Virginia .  Shortly thereafter, she worked for WBOY-TV12 as a field reporter and writer.  After doing promotional modeling jobs for numerous companies including: Venus Swimwear, Flirt Clothing, Hawaiian Tropic, and Hot Stuff Clothing, Sherri ventured into an acting career.

In her first role, she played Chrissy Snow, the ditsy but loveable blonde from Three’s Company, in a “Best of Off Broadway” version of that TV show, which had a 6 week run in Chicago .  Most recently, Ms. Foxx has appeared in several movies including Bigfoot (May 2006), produced by Eerie Frequency Entertainment, and Abe’s Tomb (July 2006), produced by Carl Merritt Productions.

Jeffrey Ebright

Jeffrey Ebright (Paramedic Marc Lamas) is a lifelong resident of Ohio . Jeff has been involved with Community Theater since the age of 5 when he landed the character lead of “Thumper” in Bambi: The Musical. Jeff primarily considers himself an author as he has written five books with 3 published: Garage Sale, Twisted Point(s) Of View and Eclection: 12 Stories of Horror & Happenstance. In addition to his novel-writing career, Jeff has written, directed and edited his own independent film, The League of Extraordinary Alcoholics versus the Horde of Really Creepy Undead Zombie Flesh Eaters. Known throughout the Internet as The LXA, the movie has received support from fans in Canada, Russia, Japan & Germany, and is scheduled for release in 2008. When he’s not hosting his own internet-based radio show, “Independently Speakin," Jeff is busy working on the revision of his latest book (and the first of a book trilogy), Masque Of Malice. With the assistance of his soon-to-be wife and critically lauded erotica writer Kerri and her son, Dakota, he expects to complete a number of projects in the coming year including two non-fiction novellas: 30% Off Is Not Enough: A Beginner’s Guide To Clearance Shopping and A Layman’s Guide To Peaceful Hallucinagencia .

Nightmare At Hanging Rock

Nightmare At Hanging Rock is based out of Cleveland , Ohio and was formed by
life long friends Darren Kaplan and Mike Markowski.  Their debut CD "Serial Killers" appeared in 2006 to positive reviews. "Serial Killers comes highly recommended by that little man inside your head." -Rue Morgue- See the full review in Rue Morgue Magazine, issue #64, page #72

In 2007, two songs from Nightmare At Hanging Rock were featured in the movie
"Abe's Tomb", including the catchy title track.  Their highly anticipated 2nd CD "Cults And Weirdo's" is due out in 2008.  The band maintains a website as well as a myspace page to reach out to their dedicated and loyal fan base.

Marisa Karoutsos

Marisa Karoutsos is a young artist, currently a sophomore at a high school in Dublin , OH .   Marisa’s passionate interest in acting and modeling began when she was a young child.  Her talent continues to grow as witnessed by her performance in a variety of modeling, acting, and singing roles.

Marisa began to model professionally in 2002 at the age of 10.   She was the recipient of The US World Show Case Award for Runway modeling at the age of 13.  Her success continued and Marisa was invited to perform in both commercials and promotional videos.  She has modeled for local and national agencies, promoting several products, and she appears in two health and wellness videos.

Her acting experience included community and school production.  She was thrilled to be included in the movie in Abe’s Tomb as Lisa Harmon, a young teenage run away.

Marisa plans to integrate her zest for acting and dancing together.  She currently studies theater and dance.   Marisa is making her mark on a local level with involvement in several local dance and acting productions.

Always ready for her next challenge, she continues to consider various acting roles.  Marisa’s talent and drive make her a promising young performer.

Nikky Irene

Since the age of 16, Nikky Irene has been heavily involved in the entertainment and modeling industries.  She has been in seven beauty pageants, numerous fashion shows and countless hair shows.  Nikky has performed in live commercials for Swiffer, Dryell, Camel, Parliament, GPC, Olay, Revlon, Pantene, Physique and many more large brands.  She has acted in New Hampshire with a small theater group in a play entitled, The Hollow.  In addition to performing in numerous teasers and tributes all over the East Coast, Nikky has landed leading roles and has acted as characters in independent films such as Birth of a Bitch Goddess, The Cutting Room, Swimming Upstream, Feeding the Masses, Phantom Obsession, Abe’s Tomb in addition to many other independent films.

Lisa Adore

Lisa Adore was born and raised in a small town in eastern Colorado . There, she was actively involved in volleyball, track and cheerleading. Lisa made her first film début in Abe’s Tomb playing the role of the bounty hunter, Saber.  She was has also been involved in many school plays including, “Once Upon a Mattress”, “ Oklahoma !”, “The Wizard of Oz”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat”, and “Beauty and the Beast.”

James Merz

James Merz is currently obtaining a Bachelor degree in Theater and Cinema at Denison University.  He hopes to continue to be involved in the entertainment industry and start his own production company some day.

Danielle Webster

Danielle “Dani” Webster is thrilled for her film debut as the secretary-turned-vampire and original musical artist in Abe’s Tomb the movie and is very grateful to Carl Merritt Productions for all of their support in her blossoming career. Other than film, Dani has been performing on stage since she learned to walk and talk. She has played numerous theatrical roles and has most recently performed in La Boheme, Suessical, Rumors, and Company in Ohio. Dani has been a professional live singer since the age of sixteen and has performed for several events and throughout the Midwestern United States including First Night Columbus, The Mason New Year’s Festival, The Golden Gloves Regional Competitions, The American Legion, The OCC Choral Festival, The Invention Convention, and The Westerville Fall Fest. Dani has also attracted interest from several nationwide talent agencies and has been requested to audition for this coming pilot season for many television networks in California.

Dani has also been cast in Abe’s Tomb Part II, which she anticipates filming in 2008, and has also recently been cast as Janet in the famed Rocky Horror Picture Show, which will be touring across the United States beginning in 2008. Aside from her career, Dani is a full-time college student earning her bachelor’s degree, maintaining a 3.5 GPA, and studying opera at Otterbein College in Westerville, Ohio.

Bradley Webster

The little vampire in Abe's Tomb the movie was played by 12 year old Bradley Webster from Columbus , Ohio . Bradley was thrilled to be cast by Carl of Carl Merritt Productions for his movie debut in Abe's Tomb. This talented young actor caught the acting bug a few years ago and was invited to IMTA in Hollywood , California.  Bradley has also recently been asked to go to Hollywood for pilot season. Bradley has interest from several major talent agencies across the United States. Bradley is a very professional actor looking forward to a promising career in television and movies. He has attended classes for acting, TV commercials, and modeling. Bradley is especially looking forward to his upcoming roles in Abe's Tomb 2 and Abe's Tomb 3!

Bradley is not only an aspiring actor but also a boy scout, an inventor, and a very artistic student. He even designed his elementary school's flag!  When this honor roll student isn't acting in movies you can find him camping, playing soccer, eating pizza and playing video games.  His favorite game is Halo 3!  Bradley has recently been asked to sign with Wings Model Management in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Daniel Schumacher

Daniel Schumacher was born in Whitman , MA and loves acting. He never had the opportunity to be involved in theatrical productions or film until the end of his high school career, but upon doing so, he realized it was something that would evolve into a life-long passion. Daniel was recently given the wonderful opportunity to play an extra in Abe’s Tomb, the film made by Carl Merritt Productions. Daniel will always remember it as an excellent production that he is glad to have been a part of. Daniel has also been cast in Abe’s Tomb II in the role of supporting actor which he greatly anticipates filming in 2008. As of now, Daniel has much more experience acting on stage as opposed to screen, but greatly anticipates this next chapter to his career in the acting world. Daniel is an individual of strong work ethic and will always try his hardest to achieve his best performance. In the future, he hopes to be involved in many more productions, and intends to earn his way into a main role eventually.

Stacey Sparks

A brief list of some of Stacey's film credits: Vamps: Deadly Dream Girls, Vamps II: Blood Sisters, Evil Ambitions, Blood Lust II, Milk Money, Moving Target, Reason to Believe, Lights, Camera . . . Death!, Airborne and, of course, Abe's Tomb.  Theatre credits include Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof and Our Town.  Stacey has been featured in such magazines as Draculina, Scream Queen, Femme Fatale and Independent Film Magazine.  Stacey has also won the prestigious "Joe Bob Briggs Award for Best Supporting Actress" for her role in Vamps: Deadly Dream Girls.

PitchBlak

Matthew Baugh, basically a one-man band going by the name of PITCHBLAK, was born and raised in Georgia , and is said to be one of the most original artists known to mankind.  Thirty years old, Matt has been playing for fifteen years and has just recently started recording his own music.  Matt’s music has been described by people as heavy metal mixed with a twist of horror.  To contact Matt for further information on his music, you can reach him through Carl Merritt Productions.  

Theresa Axt

(Bio Coming Soon)

Sophia Clark

Mark Cray

Award-Winning actor, Mark Cray, is a working actor born and raised in Minnesota. Throughout his childhood Mark performed in many theatrical plays including Brigadoon and The Sting. He went to the state national championships as a Competitive Speech contestant before joining the military after high school. After four years of outstanding service to our country Mark traveled down from the land of ice and snow to expand upon his craft at Toledo University. Here he got his first real taste in film with the independent short film "Weeding the Garden". His first full length independent film, "The Grindhouse Massacre", was a hit. He has since then continued his career with such films as "Reunion" and "The Horror Convention Massacre", recipient of the "Golden Coconut" for best horror film at the Miami Underground Film Festival in March of 2007 and "Killer" a short film by Carl Merritt Productions for ChillerTV.  A few of his other credits include "Voodoo Rising" from Fright Teck Pictures, as well as Divine Intervention, a short film from Legacyverse Productions and skit work for Space For Rent TV. He is currently working on the movies "HellKittens" by Rottweiler Production, a slasher movie by Nightmare Films, a part in the Movie Abe's Tomb II: Feral Vengeance by Carl Merritt Productions. Mark is also in the works of producing his own movie called "Scavenger's Hunt"  Mark is also the current leader of Carl Merritt's "Promo Team North" and  may be seen at numerous conventions and events throughout the year.

Janet Roach

Janet Roach was born and raised in the Cleveland Ohio area. She has designed numerous costumes for conventions and social events such as Ohayocon and Cleveland Colossal Convention. Janet owes her sewing skills to her mother who taught her how to make doll clothes when she was a child.
In High school Janet majored in Art and French.After class she worked with the puppet group "Kids on the Block", performing skits at various local schools. She took Art and Japanese language courses at Cuyahoga Community College and was even accepted to Cleveland Institute of Art.
Currently Janet works in the retail business as a department manager.She's available to do promotional modeling,acting, and can offer assistance with costumes.She was recently a vampire in the filming of Abe's Tomb 2.

Heather Love

Heather Love was born in Akron OH. She had always had a love for the theatre and the arts. Her lifetime dream has always been to become and actress/model. Throughout her schooling she was involved in choir as well as many plays.

When she was 12 she attended the Barbizon Modeling Academy to help her in achieving her dream. Heather had the opportunity to attend the ever so popular IMTA convention in both LA and New York. Although she didn't attend it was still an honor to have been considered.

In 2006 Heather was signed to MovieWork Now in Phoenix AZ. For whom she did promotional work for Nascar.

In 2007 she wasn't expecting her dream to become her reality. With great thanks to Mark Cray for introducing her to Legacy Verse productions as well as to Fright Tek Pictures. For whom was casted in two roles for short films in the Cleveland Metropolitan area. Divine Intervention (Legacy Verse 2007) and Voodoo Rising (Fright Tek 2007). Shortly after she participated in these roles, she was discovered by Carl Merritt, for whom she has acted in ABE'S TOMB II as well as an actress in his short film, KILLER.  Heather has also been featured in Girls and Corpses Magazine as their amature corpse of the month for December.

David Michael

David Michael grew up in northeast Ohio's Cleveland area and, from the time he could hold his own bottle, he always had a tool in his hands.  After building and racing racecars, in his high school years, he focused his attention on motorcycles and the construction trades. When he had
enough of the cold winters, he took his talents on the road, performing stunts, at thrill shows, all over the country. Always a fan of cinema, he now had a taste of the glory that is 'show biz'.
He eventually settled in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he found year round riding, endless stimuli, and the acting bug! Always one to help, and never one to sit on the sidelines, he can't keep his hands off of all the equipment that is on a set. So, with a natural understanding, a creative mind, an artistic eye, and a careful hand, if he isn't in front of the camera, he is getting his 'grips' onto whatever will add to the production; Watching, asking, listening, and executing the things he learns (or brings) at a pace that even his savviest seniors have to admire.  David is also a gifted writer (whom, ironically, never passed freshman English and consequently was unable to graduate from high school, where he excelled in the arts). His talents, skill sets, and his willingness to do whatever it takes to make the magic are why David is such a great asset to any production.

Carl R. Merritt

Born and raised in Dayton , Ohio , Carl R. Merritt is the principal author and owner of the highly acclaimed webzine, Abe's Tomb, which is rated as one of the top horror sites in the world.  Although at the time, Carl has only written for various web sites, horror magazines, and his hometown newspaper, his first attempt at a full-length science fiction novel, Fleet of Angels, took first place in the First Novel Writing Competition hosted by Gardenia Press in the Fall of 2000.

This started a landslide of opportunities for Carl.  Shortly after winning this award, Carl’s novel, Fleet of Angels, found its way into a publisher’s hands, and it then went on to achieve a five-star rating across the globe. During this period, Fleet of Angels could be found in libraries and bookstores across the nation.  To help promote his novel at conventions, book signings and seminars, Carl hired a team of beautiful models and actresses, which he called his “Promo Team.”  One thing led to another and before long, Carl and his team of talented people were producing humorous videos which they sold at conventions and other events.  It was during this period when Carl and the team made the decision to reach for the stars – they decided to film a feature-length horror movie entitled, Abe’s Tomb, which would be based upon the very popular short stories on Carl’s web site.  Produced and directed by Carl himself, Abe’s Tomb went on not only to become a much talked about and award-winning movie, but to become a hit at film screenings as well.  After that, it didn’t take long for Abe’s Tomb to be picked up for worldwide distributorship. 

Carl, a factory worker at General Motors for over twenty-seven years, surprised his fellow employees with these achievements.  Everyone was shocked that a "mere" blue collar worker could produce a work of fiction and a feature-length movie that were so well made, they could win such awards.  Carl told them, "Just because you work in a factory doesn't mean you can't improve yourself.  Everyone has the capability to accomplish their goals in life.  Simply decide what you wish to achieve, reason out the best way to proceed, and don't stop until your dreams have been fulfilled.  In short, your dreams are only non-attainable when you’ve quit trying to reach them."

With the publication of Fleet of Angels and the worldwide distribution of his first movie, Abe’s Tomb, Carl is living proof that one's goals in life are limited solely by the boundaries of one's imagination, dedication and perseverance.