‘Dead’: Meet Hayden J Weal, Thomas Sainsbury and rest of the cast of comedy-horror feature film coming on VoD
1091 Media’s upcoming feature film ‘Dead’, revolves around two friends Tagg and Marble, with the former having turned a ghost following his murder and the latter being a stoner, who has obtained the power to see ghosts after using his father’s neurological medicines induced with marijuana. If the plot sounds interesting, meet the cast of ‘Dead’ here as it arrives on Video-on-Demand on September 25.
Hayden J Weal
Hayden J. Weal is a writer, director, producer, and actor from New Zealand based in Auckland. He essays the role of Tagg in his upcoming film ‘Dead’. Besides starring in it, he has also served as the producer and director. ‘Dead’ is Weal’s second feature film after the success of his previous indie movie ‘Chronesthesia’ from 2016, which was debuted at the New Zealand International Film Festival.
Thomas Sainsbury
Thomas Sainsbury is one of the most popular playwrights in New Zealand. Over the years he has gained a reputation for producing several comedies in New Zealand, USA, Australia, and London. Born in Matamata, he moved to Auckland to pursue his Bachelors degree in Arts. After choosing English Literature and Theatre as his major in college, he became actively involved in writing, directing, and performing for university productions and the underground theatre scene. Sainsbury owns a theatre company called Fingerprints and Teeth Productions. He has written and directed over 40 plays with his production company including, Sunday Roast, LUV, The Mall, Loser, The Christmas Monologues, The Somnambulist, and Crims. He has been nominated thrice for Playmarket's New Zealand Young Playwrights Competition. Sainsbury‘s TV show ‘Super City’ received three nominations at the Aotearoa TV & Film Awards, including Best Series and Best Writing.
Michael Hurst
Michael Hurst essays Ross in ‘Dead’. He is an actor and director born in Lancashire, England. His family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand when he was 7. He attended the University of Canterbury for a year. Hurst is best known for movies such as ‘Hercules: The Legendary Journeys’, ‘Bitch Slap’ and ‘Spartacus’. He is married to actress Jennifer Ward-Lealand, who has also featured in ‘Dead’. He is the recipient of the 2003 Laureate Award from the Arts Foundation of New Zealand and was named ‘Best New Zealand Actor’ in the 2005 metro magazine reader’s poll.