FILMS
Pittsburgh Connection
Basic Psych is a taut psychological thriller pitting a psychiatrist trying to protect his family against a paranoid murderer. Shot locally, the film is deftly helmed by Melissa Martin (The Bread, My Sweet) and stars two of Pittsburgh’s favorite actors, David Conrad (Ghost Whisperer) and two-time Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris (The Gilded Age). The actors are at the top of their game in this sophisticated murder mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat. (Adult content: violence)
Post-Film Q&A
A filmmaker Q&A will follow the screenings at the Harris Theater and the Lindsay Theater.
Melissa Martin
Filmmaker — Basic Psych
Melissa Martin is the producer, writer, and director of The Bread, My Sweet, a critically acclaimed, award-winning, commercially successful independent film. Martin is co-writer of Dear Zoe, a feature film adaptation of Phillip Beard’s novel by the same name starring Sadie Sink. She has written and directed multiple short films and web series. Martin’s most recent directing project is Basic Psych, an indie feature with Michael Cerveris, David Conrad, and Cotter Smith. Sumerlings, a coming-of-age drama, is Martin’s next feature project. Martin lives in Pittsburgh and teaches Graduate Screenwriting and Graduate Directing for Film at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.
David Conrad
Actor — Basic Psych
David Conrad lives between London and his hometown of Pittsburgh. He starred in The Ghost Whisperer on CBS from 2004-2010, and was a regular on Relativity, Miss Match, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.S, Boston Public, and Roswell. His film credits include Desperate Hours, Men of Honor, Wedding Crashers, and many more. He may work and live abroad but he always comes back to the ‘Burgh and to live theater. He sits on the boards of local charities and has performed locally at barebones productions and Quantum Theatre along with major regional theatres.
Cotter Smith
Actor — Basic Psych
Cotter Smith has spent the majority of his professional life in New York and Los Angeles, and has now happily settled in Pittsburgh. He has appeared in many plays on and off Broadway, and his television and film work ranges from his debut in 1982 as Robert Kennedy in the mini-series Blood Feud to the President in X2: X-Men United. Over the years his television series work has spanned from the early days of Hill Street Blues to his more recent roles on Mindhunter, The Americans and Madam Secretary. He also portrayed the lead Senate prosecutor in last year’s Three Rivers Film Festival premiere of the Titanic trial film Unsinkable. He has been teaching acting for over 20 years and served as Department Head of the MFA Acting Program at the New School for Drama in NY.
Jim Tucker
Writer — Basic Psych
In addition to practicing pediatrics in Pittsburgh for over 40 years, Jim Tucker published four medical murder mysteries with Penguin-Putnam: Abra Cadaver, Hocus Corpus, Tragic Wand, and Silent Samaritan. He also blows glass and plays golf. Basic Psych is his first screenplay.