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“Staycation” and now "Staycation 2" began with a prequel film called “Routine” which was a 5-minute film which was initially a camera test of our new 6K pixel resolution camera package, that we happened to get right before the COVID-19 outbreak. Along with longtime filmmaking partner Emile Haris who passed away July 2023, we expanded “Routine” into a feature film called “Staycation” as part of a pandemic horror franchise. Not only did our lead actors reprise their roles from “Routine” (Paige Laree Poucel, Bill Victor Arucan, Alan Courtright), but we also cast newcomers Gilles Stricher, Bailey Sorrel, Catherine LaSalle, Lilly Ivring, as well as name actors Olivia d’Abo (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Wonder Years, Conan the Destroyer), Sean Kenney (Star Trek: The Original Series), Tracee Cocco (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: First Contact), Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Kelli Maroney (Fast Times At Ridgemont High), and Laurene Landon (Maniac Cop 1 and 2). Many of these said actors also come back for "Staycation 2" and Emile Haris, before he died, began writing the sequel. Since his death, I extrapolated on his ideas and created my own into a 93-page sequel. I hope that people who see this film will enjoy the film, as well as the magnitude of the filmmaking process we went through from our initial filming in November 2020 to June 2022, to make this movie a reality. It’s literally been 4 years in the making.

-- Russ Emanuel

Russ Emanuel is an award-winning American director, producer, and independent filmmaker, having directed such actors as John Heard, Robert Picardo, Vincent Pastore, Glynnis O'Connor, Hallie Kate Eisenberg, Jeremy London, Ryan Hurst, William Devane, Marina Sirtis, Sean Kenney, Armin Shimerman, and Gary Graham. He grew up in both Japan and the United States and graduated from U.S.C. to study Cinema-Television. He founded Russem Productions in 2002 to promote his films including GIRL WITH GUN (2005) and documentary RESTORATION OF PARADISE (2014). Presently, STAYCATION (2022) - the sequel to ROUTINE currently in post-production - marks Emanuel's sixth foray into feature filmmaking, after directing P.J. (2007), CHASING THE GREEN (2009), THE LEGENDS OF NETHIAH (2012), OCCUPANTS (2015), and WISPER (2020). And THE ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE II (2023) is Emanuel's first sequel film he has directed.

“Staycation” and now "Staycation 2" began with a prequel film called “Routine” which was a 5-minute film which was initially a camera test of our new 6K pixel resolution camera package, that we happened to get right before the COVID-19 outbreak. Along with longtime filmmaking partner Emile Haris who passed away July 2023, we expanded “Routine” into a feature film called “Staycation” as part of a pandemic horror franchise. Not only did our lead actors reprise their roles from “Routine” (Paige Laree Poucel, Bill Victor Arucan, Alan Courtright), but we also cast newcomers Gilles Stricher, Bailey Sorrel, Catherine LaSalle, Lilly Ivring, as well as name actors Olivia d’Abo (Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, The Wonder Years, Conan the Destroyer), Sean Kenney (Star Trek: The Original Series), Tracee Cocco (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: First Contact), Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Kelli Maroney (Fast Times At Ridgemont High), and Laurene Landon (Maniac Cop 1 and 2). Many of these said actors also come back for "Staycation 2" and Emile Haris, before he died, began writing the sequel. Since his death, I extrapolated on his ideas and created my own into a 93-page sequel. I hope that people who see this film will enjoy the film, as well as the magnitude of the filmmaking process we went through from our initial filming in November 2020 to June 2022, to make this movie a reality. It’s literally been 4 years in the making.

-- Russ Emanuel