Salmon Elbow

TOGETHER:
Those who know Meghan and Stephen often think of them in the same breath. They met and became friends and collaborators in New York City at Circle In The Square Theatre School. In each other they found a shared aesthetic, perspective & sense of humor that has been the cornerstone of their creative partnership.

Meghan and Stephen co-wrote the feature-length comedy Birth Control and were commissioned to write an episodic concept for HBO / Pretty Matches Productions. That creative process yielded an early draft of Salmon Elbow that the duo continued to work on and submit to the Sundance Episodic Lab (where it made its way to the final round of projects being considered).

Since then, Meghan & Stephen have created three more episodic concepts: Writing Wrong, Working Title and The Joint. They are now in the early stages of developing a story called Archipelago about a sprawling family cooped up on a houseboat.

Meghan and Stephen’s first short film, Stand Sentry, was made on what could generously be described as a shoestring. Stand Sentry screened in London at The Portobello Film Festival and at The Strasbourg International Film Festival where it was nominated for several awards including Best Short, Best Script and Best Actress. The pair jumped on the chance to ride bicycles through vineyards in Alsace.

The duo’s next collaboration was another short film called The Bone, made from funds saved up from bartending. Meghan and Stephen had the pleasure of premiering this film in their adopted home of New York City at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema as part of NY Shorts Fest and it was included in the Brussels Film Market.

On-stage in New York, they have appeared (and fell in love!) in As You Like It, directed by Eve Best. They also appeared together as a married couple (with issues!) in Chekhov’s Three Sisters.

ON OUR OWN:
Meghan Hemingway is a writer & actress. Career highlights include playing Desdemona opposite Anna Deveare Smith’s Othello, directed by Eve Best, and originating the role of Babe in Welcome To Paradise at The Actor’s Studio (NYC). Other credits include Maven Pics’ Alternate Side Parking and the Vimeo original Heirloom. Meghan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Austin Comedy Film Festival for her work in United Guys Network. Recent stage credits include Ophelia in Hamlet, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest & Twelve Angry Jurors. Meghan can solve a Rubik’s Cube in about a minute & do back handsprings.

Stephen Sheffer is a writer & actor. He appeared opposite Bryan Cranston in the thriller Cold Comes The Night and at the Sundance / Cannes Film Festivals in Etienne Kallos’ Doorman. On-stage, Stephen was in the Drama Desk Award-nominated The Threepenny Opera and Rattlestick’s New Country at the Cherry Lane Theatre (NYC). Stephen most recently appeared as the reckless Rooster in Annie and performs improv in New York’s East Village. He recently backpacked in the Great Smoky Mountains in North Carolina. Future trek plans include paddling a kayak from Alaska to Vancouver.