ART OF MORE S1Press Kit

OVERVIEW

With its first one-hour scripted drama, “The Art of More,” Crackle offers another first: a series set in the glamorous, surprisingly cutthroat world of premium auction houses. Filled with hustlers, smugglers, power mongers and collectors of the beautiful and the esoteric, the 10 episode thriller explores the dark underbelly of a multi-million dollar business where the lingua franca is desire.

At the center of “The Art of More” is Graham Connor (Christian Cooke), a scrappy Brooklynite whose blue collar upbringing included cherished museum outings as well as teenage run-ins with the law. Graham’s skill set served him well as an Army soldier stationed in Iraq, where he became involved in artifacts smuggling. Back home, Graham leveraged that experience to access the elite New York art circles that would otherwise be closed to someone like him. Mentored by the aristocratic antiquities collector Arthur Davenport (Cary Elwes), Graham has acquired a coat of professional polish and is busy reinventing himself as a savvy junior account executive at leading Park Avenue auction house Parke-Mason.

While Graham may have sanded off some his rough social edges, he has not lost the cunning and tenacity that have gotten him this far in life. He steps on his colleagues’ toes as he aggressively pursues new accounts, but finds a formidable competitor in Roxana Whitman (Kate Bosworth), a top account executive at the rival auction house, DeGraaf. The daughter of the firm’s CEO, the coolly poised Roxanna was born into the business and thrives in it. Like Graham, she is willing to cut ethical corners, driven by a profound need to prove her worth to her aloof father and the family that has dismissed her at every turn. And both are determined to land what will be the auction of the decade: the world-class art collection of charismatic real estate tycoon and self-made billionaire Sam Brukner (Dennis Quaid). But Brukner is a wild card; with his outsize ego and ambitions that go beyond real estate, every decision and every relationship is subject to his quest for power.

Whether buyer, seller or something in between, everyone in “The Art of More” is chasing something they badly want. The more they want it, the more they risk taking the wrong turn.

“The Art of More” was created by Chuck Rose. Writers and Executive Producers: Gardner Stern (“NYPD Blue,” “Law and Order”) and Chuck Rose. Executive Producers: Dennis Quaid (“Vegas,” ANY GIVEN SUNDAY), Laurence Mark (JERRY MAGUIRE, DREAMGIRLS), Gary Fleder (RUNAWAY JURY, “The Shield”) and Tamara Chestna. Starring Dennis Quaid, Christian Cooke (“Magic City”), Kate Bosworth (STILL ALICE) and Cary Elwes (THE PRINCESS BRIDE, SAW).

CAST BIOS

CHRISTIAN COOKE (Graham Connor)Christian Cooke is emerging as one of Hollywood’s most engaging and sought after talents. In June, he starred opposite Peter Mullan in the highly anticipated BBC miniseries “Stonemouth,” adapted from the acclaimed novel by Iain Banks.

In 2015, Cooke starred opposite Agyness Deyn in ELECTRICITY, which premiered at London Film Festival. He could also be seen in LOVE, ROSIE opposite Sam Claflin and Lily Collins. Other credits include ROMEO AND JULIET opposite Hailee Steinfeld; HELLO CARTER, written and directed by Anthony Wilcox and produced by Michael Winterbottom; and the comedy DRUNK WEDDING.

Perhaps best known as one of the leads on the acclaimed Starz series MAGIC CITY, which was created by Mitch Glazer, Cooke made his film debut in 2010 playing the lead role in CEMETERY JUNCTION, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The following year he starred in the critically acclaimed, BAFTA-nominated miniseries “The Promise.” Additional television credits include “Witches of East End”; “Trinity”; “Dr. Who”; “Demons” and “The Chase.”

DENNIS QUAID (Samuel Brukner)Dennis Quaid is renowned for his distinct portrayals in both comedic and dramatic roles over the past forty years. He began to gain attention in the late 1970s for roles in such films as BREAKING AWAY, before gaining public and critical acclaim for his role in the 1983 release THE RIGHT STUFF. Other notable credits include THE ROOKIE, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW, TRAFFIC, VANTAGE POINT, FREQUENCY, THE PARENT TRAP and SOUL SURFER. For his role in Todd Haynes’ FAR FROM HEAVEN he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. In 2010 he was nominated for numerous awards including a SAG Award®, an Emmy©, and a Golden Globe© for his portrayal of Bill Clinton in the TV Movie A SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.

KATE BOSWORTH (Roxanna Whitman)Kate Bosworth has made the seamless transition from a young Hollywood starlet to one of today’s leading ladies. She was recently seen opposite Academy Award winner Julianne Moore in STILL ALICE. Bosworth has starred in several dramas for director Michael Polish, including the recent releases 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN and AMNESIAC, as well as 2013’s BIG SUR. Her upcoming films include BEFORE I WAKE; the suspense thriller BUS 657, opposite Robert De Niro; and the action drama LIFE ON THE LINE with John Travolta.

Other recent feature credits include the action thriller HOMEFRONT, the omnibus feature MOVIE 43, the thriller BLACK ROCK, the romantic drama WHILE WE WERE HERE and the drama ANOTHER HAPPY DAY. Previously, she had leading roles in Bryan Singer’s critical and popular 2006 hit SUPERMAN RETURNS; the crime drama 21; the drama THE GIRL IN THE PARK, the multi-genre mash-up THE WARRIORS WAY; and opposite Kevin Spacy in his directorial debut, BEYOND THE SEA. An accomplished equestrian, Bosworth made her feature film debut in Robert Redford’s THE HORSE WHISPERER (1988) and had her breakthrough role starring in the sleeper hit BLUE CRUSH.

CARY ELWES (Arthur Davenport)

Cary Elwes’ career has encompassed a range of critical and popular successes for both the large and small screens alike. Elwes stars in the upcoming Rob Reiner directed feature film BEING CHARLIE which recently bowed at the Toronto International Film Festival to rave reviews. He most recently completed filming feature films SUGAR MOUNTAIN opposite Jason Momoa and WE DON’T BELONG HERE opposite Catherine Keener, both slated for a 2016 theatrical release. Elwes is perhaps best known for his roles in Academy Award® winning films GLORY, DAYS OF THUNDER and BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA, box-office hits HOT SHOTS!, TWISTER, LIAR LIAR and SAW, and the cult classics ROBIN HOOD: MEN IN TIGHTS and THE PRINCESS BRIDE. He has also played popular recurring roles in Golden Globe© and Emmy Award© winning television series “The X-Files,” and the highly rated comedy series “Psych.” Other TV credits include “Seinfeld” and the critically acclaimed miniseries “From the Earth to the Moon,” “Uprising,” “The Riverman,” and “Pope John Paul II.” Last year, Elwes released his first memoir, AS YOU WISH: INCONCEIVABLE TALES FROM THE MAKING OF THE PRINCESS BRIDE, which became a New York Times Bestseller.

PATRICK SABONGUI (Hassan Al Afshar)

Born in Montreal, Patrick Sabongui, the son of a psychologist and a French teacher and librarian. Patrick has three older brothers and a younger sister and grew up in a trilingual household, speaking French, English and Arabic. On television, you’ve seen him regularly as Captain David Singh on CW’s “The Flash” (2014-2015), in film you’d recognize him as Master Sargeant Marcus Waltz in “Godzilla” (2014) and The Persian General from “300” (2006) and, on regional stages he is known for the Canadian premiere of Ayad Akhtar’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Disgraced” (2015) and for originating the role of Foster Bryant in the World Premiere of “Inside the Seed” (2013). His background as a competitive athlete, martial-artist, and mountaineer has added a dimension of action to many of his roles. His most recent project is series regular, Hassan Al Afshar, on Sony/ Crackle’s first original drama, “The Art of More” (Nov. 19, 2015) starring Dennis Quaid, Kate Bosworth, Cary Elwes and Christian Cooke. Patrick has earned a BFA in Drama for Human Development from Concordia University,Montreal (2000); a collegiate degree in Drama from Vanier College (1997), Montreal; a Certificate from the National Theatre Conservatory, Colorado (2002); and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of California (2005). Throughout his formal training,

he continued to work professionally on stage and on screen starting off by playing the title role in Hamlet (1993) in an award-winning production at Vanier College, and accumulating roles in films and on TV shows until appearing in a landmark episode of “The E-Ring” (2006) opposite Benjamin Bratt. Later that year, he landed a milestone role on “300” (2006) then guest-starred on “24” (2006) opposite Keifer Sutherland. Since then, he has worked with some of the world’s most influential directors including Steven Spielberg, Zack Snyder (3 times), Gareth Edwards, Tarsem Singh, David Nutter, John Cassar, Yves Simoneau, Richard Donner, Joss Whedon, Drew Goddard, Roland Emmerich, Gary Fleder and the various directors who have cycled through seasons of “Stargate: Atlantis” (2006-2008) and “The Flash” (2014-2015). Patrick is also writer/producer and director of several award- winning short films and live plays and continues to develop new works as a filmmaker and theatre artist.

CREW BIOS

LAURENCE MARK (Executive Producer)Laurence Mark has produced some of the most widely recognizable films of the last twenty years, including Nora Ephron’s JULIE & JULIA; Bill Condon’s DREAMGIRLS, winner of two Academy Awards® and two Golden Globe Awards®, including Best Picture; and Cameron Crowe’s JERRY MAGUIRE, for which Mark received an Academy Award® nomination for Best Picture. Mark executive‐produced James L. Brooks’ AS GOOD AS IT GETS and Mike Nichols’ WORKING GIRL, both Academy Award nominees for Best Picture. Select further credits include LAST VEGAS; I ROBOT; LAST HOLIDAY; THE LOOKOUT, winner of the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Picture; FINDING FORESTER; ROMY AND MICHELE’S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION; SISTER ACT 2; SIMON BIRCH; and THE BLACK WIDOW.

Mark recently executive produced the television miniseries “Political Animals,” garnering an Emmy Award nomination for Best Miniseries or Movie. Mark previously earned an Emmy nomination as producer (with Bill Condon) of the Hugh Jackman-hosted 81st Annual Academy Awards. The show itself received ten Emmy nominations, a record for this annual telecast, and won four of them.

Before producing, Mark held several key publicity and marketing posts at Paramount Pictures. From there Mark became vice president of production at Paramount and later executive vice president of production at Twentieth Century Fox overseeing films TERMS OF ENDEARMENT, TRADING PLACES, FALLING IN LOVE, THE FLY and BROADCAST NEWS. Laurence Mark Productions is headquartered at Sony Pictures Entertainment, where the company has a long-term production arrangement with Columbia Pictures.

GARY FLEDER (Executive Producer/Director EP. 1/2)Director Gary Fleder brings a steady hand and photographer’s eye to his work in television and feature films. His feature credits include the recent action drama HOMEFRONT; the sports

drama THE EXPRESS, winner of the 2009 ESPY Award for Best Sports Movie; and the hit thriller RUNAWAY JURY, adapted from the John Grisham novel. He made his feature directorial debut with 1995 ensemble thriller THINGS TO DO IN DENVER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD (1995), a black comedy that has earned cult status in both the U.S. and Europe. He subsequently directed the suspense thrillers KISS THE GIRLS and DON’T SAY A WORD, as well as the sci-fi thriller IMPOSTER, based on a Philip K. Dick story.

Fleder cut his directorial teeth in television and remains much in-demand as a director and executive producer. Most recently, he directed episodes of the acclaimed AMC series “TURN: Washington’s Spies,” the DirectTV original series “Kingdom,” the CBS hit “Scorpion,” and the pilot “Evil Men.” He has directed pilots and key episodes of several dramas, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “Vegas,” “The River,” “Life Unexpected,” “Happy Town,” “Happy Town,” “Life on Mars,” “October Road,” “The Shield,” and “Blind Justice.” Fleder also served as executive producer for “Beauty and the Beast,” the critically acclaimed “Life Unexpected,” “October Road” and “Happy Town.” He collaborated with producer Tom Hanks on an episode of the Emmy® Award winning mini-series “From The Earth To The Moon,” and directed Vincent D’Onofrio in a Peabody Award-winning performance in “The Subway,” a 1996 episode of “Homicide: Life on the Streets.” He first directed for television in 1933, with an award-winning episode of “Tales from the Crypt.”

GARDNER STERN (Writer/Executive Producer)Gardner Stern has been a television writer and producer for over twenty years. He has produced and written such shows as “NYPD Blue”, “Law & Order”, “The Practice” and “Las Vegas.” and created the critically acclaimed series “Breaking News.” He has received two Emmy awards, two Peabody awards, two Humanitas awards, a Producers Guild award and a Golden Globe. Stern was raised in Chicago and received degrees from Yale University and the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

CHUCK ROSE (Creator/Writer/Executive Producer)An award-winning writer/director and best-selling author, Chuck Rose’s recent feature writing projects include his script ALMOST DANGEROUS, at Mandalay Pictures, STEPS and CRASHERS, both at Yari Film Group, and NERVOUS REX, a remake of the classic Danny Kaye film UP IN ARMS, for the Samuel Goldwyn Company.

Rose wrote and directed the film SIDE EFFECTS, starring Arye Gross, for Strike TV. In addition to the acclaim it has garnered on Strike TV, it was also a huge hit on the festival circuit. Other directing credits include the award-winning short film THE ELEVATOR and the feature COME AS YOU ARE starring James Russo. He is currently attached to direct the feature film JOE’S MOUNTAIN with Toronto based Breakthrough Entertainment.

A prolific playwright, he is the author of the critically acclaimed plays “Safe,” “Bedfellows” and “Weekend In Goshen,” and has had over a dozen plays produced both in New York and Los Angeles. His plays, “Eye to Eye” and “The Letter” both recently premiered off-Broadway. His novel, “Head Games” was recently the #2 thriller in the U.S. It is currently available on Amazon.

TAMARA CHESTNA (Executive Producer)Tamara Chestna is the Vice President of Film & TV at Sony-based production company Laurence Mark Productions. Currently, Ms. Chestna is executive producing Crackle’s first one-hour drama THE ART OF MORE and OTHER PEOPLE’S LOVE LETTERS, a romantic comedy for CBS Films.

A graduate of Brown University, Ms. Chestna began her career working at Sony-based production company Ricochet Entertainment, for producer Ricky Strauss and executive Lisa Ullmann. Ms. Chestna then served as an executive assistant for Laurence Mark, working on the films I, ROBOT, LAST HOLIDAY and THE LOOK-OUT. Subsequently, Ms. Chestna moved to Imagine Entertainment, working with Senior Vice-President David Bernardi, and collaborated on films CURIOUS GEORGE and FROST/NIXON.

STEVEN ADELSON (Director)Steven Adelson has directed extensively for television, with recent credits including new hit CBS series “Limitless” as well as NBC’s top-rated “The Blacklist.” He also directed several episodes of Syfy’s original series HELIX, and served as an Executive Producer for the recently concluded second season. Other credits include Syfy’s “12 Monkeys,” “Haven” and “Sanctuary.” He has been nominated for a Gemini Award and five Leo Awards for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series. Prior to directing, Adelson was a successful A-Camera/Steadicam operator and was mentored by such notable filmmakers as Christopher Nolan, Danny Cannon and Gary Fleder, while working on projects including BATMAN BEGINS, “Nikita” and “Life Unexpected.”

ÉRIK CANUEL (Director)Érik Canuel is an award-winning director and writer whose work encompasses a range of genres in both film and television. After completing film school, he co-founded the production company Kino Films and directed over 50 music videos and over 200 commercials before the company was sold in 2001.

Canuel began directing for television in 1997, when he helmed episodes of “The Hunger,” produced by Ridley and Tony Scott. He earned a 2000 Gemini Award nomination for his work on the popular French series “Fortier.” Among his most recent television credits are “19-2,” “Les Jeunes Loupes,” “Copper,” and the Disney Channel comedy BAD HAIR DAY. He directed and co-executed produced the 2012 IFC miniseries “Bullet in the Face.” Other television directing credits include “Being Human,” “Flashpoint,” “The Dead Zone,” “Charlie Jade,” “Being Erica,” and “Big Wolf on Campus.”

Canuel’s first film was the award-winning 1999 docu-drama short “Hemingway: A Portrait.” He made his feature debut in 2001 with the acclaimed dark comedy LA LOI DU COCHON. It was followed by the romantic comedy NEZ ROUGE, the psychological thriller THE LAST TUNNEL and the period drama OUTLANDER. His 2006 action comedy BON COP BAD COP was a surprise hit that became one of the Canada’s highest-grossing films ever and garnered him Genie and Jutra nominations for Best Director. In 2011, he wrote and directed the television of adaptation of

the play “Barrymore,” starring Christopher Plummer. His most recent film LAC MYSTERE was released in 2013. He is currently filming OPERATION INSANITY with James Caan.

SHAWN PILLER (Director)Shawn Piller is a director, writer and producer who has crafted over 300 hours of film and television during his 20-year career. Born into a show business family, Piller was raised on TV sets in Los Angeles and now splits his time between Los Angeles and Canada.

A graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Piller teamed with his father to create the television series “The Dead Zone,” adapted from the Stephen King novel. In 2004, he made his directorial debut with the well-received episode “Shadows,” and was a co-executive producer, supervising producer and executive producer at various times during the series’ 2002-2007 run. Additional television directing credits include ABC Family’s “Greek” and “Wildfire,” and Syfy’s “Haven.” He made his feature directorial debut in 2013 with SEXY EVIL GENIUS, starring Katee Sackoff, Seth Green, Billy Baldwin, Michelle Trachtenberg and Harold Perrineau.

JEFF RENFROE (Director)Jeff Renfroe earned a BAA in Film Studies from Torontoʼs Ryerson University before going on to direct a number of award-winning music videos, commercials and short films. His debut feature film, ONE POINT O, premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival, won five awards at other international festivals, and earned him notice as one of Variety's “Ten Directors to Watch.” His second film CIVIC DUTY premiered at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. In 2012 he directed and co-wrote THE COLONY, a sci-fi action pic starring Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton that the Grand Prize at the 2013 Sitges International Film Festival.

Renfroe also teamed up with director Sacha Gervasi to edit the award-winning hit documentary ANVIL! THE STORY OF ANVIL. Renfroe has also worked widely in television, directing episodes of Syfy’s “Helix,” “Being Human,” “Dominion” and “Haven”; the CW’s “Beauty and the Beast” and “Reign”; and DirectTV’s “Rogue.”

EXTRAS

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

As a recent college graduate newly arrived in New York City in the 1990s, Chuck Rose had a limited budget and, consequently, a limited menu of available entertainment options. So he was thrilled to discover that the Metropolitan Museum of Art doesn’t charge a fixed admission fee, leaving it up to patrons to pay what they can afford. “I was flat broke and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. I would go to the Met every weekend and just wander the galleries,” recalls Rose. “Every picture inspired me in one way or another. I imagined what it

would be like to be part of the art world, which got me thinking about writing my first story. Those trips to the museum changed my life.”

Rose would ultimately abandon a career in finance to pursue a career in theater and film in Los Angeles. He wrote several plays that were produced in Los Angeles theaters, and wrote and directed several acclaimed short films. Art continued to be a passion and inspiration; in 2012, after the production of his play “Bedfellows,” Rose began thinking about writing a series set in the art world. He found his dramatic entry point in a conversation he’d once had with a friend. “She had recently gotten a job at an auction house, which I assumed would be a wonderful place to work,” he recalls. “And she said, ‘Oh it’s just a nightmare! They’re the most ruthless people.’ That stuck in the back of my mind. And I thought, yes, it is a fascinating world. And I had also been reading a lot in the papers about the smuggling of antiquities and the black market. It seemed like the time was right.”

The auction universe proved to be rich storytelling terrain, full of conflicts and contradictions that belied that common stereotype of auction houses as bastions of staid propriety. Rose did extensive research on the history and changing practices of auction houses. Among other things, he learned that the premium auction business underwent a major shift in the mid-20 th

Century, as what were once private, highly exclusive affairs gave way to smartly marketed, glamorous, international public events. “Auction houses became show business, and some firms were appalled,” comments Rose. The schism inspired the two warring auction houses in the series, DeGraaf and Parke-Mason. “DeGraaf would be the stuffy old-world place and Parke-Mason would be the first one to have red carpets and klieg lights outside for auctions, and would want the paparazzi there to create buzz.”

Rose conceived “The Art of More” as a thriller, one that would look at the darker implications of the auction trade, particularly smuggling. With the 2003 invasion of Iraq, an already robust black market for looted artifacts grew even larger. Later in the decade, artifacts smuggling would fund militias and insurgent groups including Al Qaeda as they battled for control of Iraq. Those events would become part of the backstory for the series’ central character, Graham Cooke, a newly minted employee of Parke-Mason who previously served as a soldier in Iraq. “The intention was always to show the crime and the danger behind the glamour of the auction world, and make the connection between an object looted in Iraqi war zone and sold on the Upper East Side,” Rose explains. “Graham embodies the journey that these artifacts go on, because he starts in one place and ends up in the other.”

He pitched his idea to various production companies, and found enthusiastic partners in Laurence Mark and Tamara Chestna of Laurence Mark Productions. “The Art of More” immediately stood out as something different, Chestna notes. “We’ve never seen the auction world on screen before; we don’t understand what goes on behind scenes at these places that sell multi-million dollar paintings, cars, collectibles. And there is definitely an underbelly to the business, and fascinating secrets”

In late 2013, Mark and Chestna took Rose’s pilot script to Crackle, the free digital streaming network under Sony Pictures Television. The company was looking to produce its first one-hour scripted drama, and more specifically wanted to offer audiences something unique. “The Art of More” fit the bill, and officially became a Crackle series in early June 2014.

Veteran television writer/producer Gardner Stern (“Hill Street Blues,” “NYPD Blue”) joined the create team as showrunner and as an executive producer. Stern was delighted by the elements of surprise that drive the series. “I love to tell stories that pull back the curtain on a world we think we know, but really don’t,” he remarks. “I was amazed by the extent to which illicit activities are present in the auction business, which we equate with refined English gentlemen who say ‘Do I have $200,000?’ and then hit the gavel and say ‘SOLD!’ At the same time, we have really compelling characters, whose stories evolve as the series goes along.”

The audience comes to know landscape of “The Art of More” through Graham, the art-smuggling ex-soldier who schemes his way into his dream job at Parke-Mason. Rose deliberately invoked his own experience in scenes of Graham at the Met, where he became enchanted by art during childhood visits with his father. “For me, the Met was a place where I could escape and dream and envision all the things that I could be. That’s how it began for Graham, too. When he went to the museum as a kid, he had no agenda, no desire; it was pure enjoyment, pure love,” says Rose. “He starts his life in art from a very pure place, but unfortunately that love takes him down a dark path.”

Graham is the quintessential outsider, Stern notes. “Graham had a tumultuous childhood and some run-ins with the law. He never went to college, and his only experience away from Brooklyn has been in the army in Iraq. And here he is in this rarified environment of auctions and art, and wealthy, educated people. A lot of the fun of the show is seeing him trying to maneuver his way through that world. He’s got a lot of skeletons in his closet, and he has to constantly juggle past and present as he tries to make it in a profession that wouldn’t usually be open to someone like him.”

Graham proves himself to be an agile operator in a business that rewards manipulation. Says Chestna, “His working-class background gives him an edge at Parke-Mason, because he understands people and he understands desiring things, and that’s what this world is all about. He’s a bit of a shark. He circles someone and finds out what they need and why -- and then he finds a way to deliver it to them. And then he pits buyers against each other, so he makes more money for his firm.”

As the series unfolds, it becomes clear that ruthlessness is a trait that cuts across lines of class and access. Graham’s fiercest professional opponent is DeGraaf account executive Roxanna Whitman, who grew up in the auction business and whose education, wealth and pedigree mark her as a true insider. Roxanna plays her cards close to the vest, but, like Graham, she is engaged in a delicate balancing act between past and present. “From the outside, Roxanna appears to have it all. Yet she’s suffered her share of trauma and loss, things that affect you regardless of your tax bracket or family name,” Rose observes. “She’s very much trying to prove

herself in the same way that Graham is. And they’re both fighters, they’re both hustlers, and they both will do whatever it takes.”

There also are insiders and outsiders within the circle of New York collectors. In the first category is Arthur Davenport, a cultured scion of the English aristocracy who becomes Graham’s mentor in spite of himself. In the second category is Sam Brukner, an Indiana-born real estate mogul whose shamelessly trumpets his wealth and power. Comments Rose, “ Even though Brukner is a billionaire now, he didn’t grow up that way. Arthur Davenport has family, he has tradition. In some ways, the Davenports of the world will never consider Brukner an equal even though he has gobs more money than they do.”

Of course, “The Art of More” is also about the sale of extraordinary, covetable things. Each episode focuses on a specific auction, tracing the history of a given item. Two episodes are based on actual sales, one involving the recovered spoils of a Philadelphia robbery; and the other related to an early 20th Century expedition to the South Pole. “Part of what makes the auction world compelling is it touches upon so many different areas of interest. Of course you have fine art, but you also have rock, sports and movie memorabilia, personal effects of historical figures, fossils … the list is endless. And every object has a story behind it.”

The remaining nine scripts for “The Art of More” were written over the fall and holidays of 2014. In early 2015, acclaimed director Gary Fleder signed on to helm the series. Fleder also played a key role in assembling the cast, as his enthusiasm for the project ensured speedy attention from actors he knew and in some cases had worked with.

Dennis Quaid was the first to join the series, portraying Sam Brukner, a self-made man who unabashedly revels in his success. “Sam has worked his way up from nothing to become one of the most powerful men in New York. He has tremendous energy and a lust for life,” comments Quaid. “What’s driving him is the desire for power; he likes to dominate anything he does. He’d like to dominate the upper crust of New York society, and he uses art as a means of access, to gain him prestige, respect, recognition.”

Christian Cooke’s impressive auditions won him the role of Graham Conner. He was intrigued by the contradictions within his character. Graham wants to reinvent himself as a legitimate professional, and his efforts are complicated not only by circumstances but by his own impulses. “On one hand Graham wants to shed his old life and become this other person. But the sins of his past are catching up with him. And there’s a part of him that likes the danger of criminal enterprise. He thrives on this pressure. He’s his worst enemy in that regard.”

Kate Bosworth, who plays Roxanna Whitman, responded immediately to the pilot script in terms of both character and milieu. “I didn’t know much about the auction business before, and I was incredibly intrigued. I became fascinated with the history that we explore with this show and how items accumulate or lose value over time. For example, a handwritten note that started as something deeply personal and all of a sudden it’s worth a couple of million dollars.”

She also found layers to explore in her troubled character. “Roxanna is an interesting, smart, complex woman. She’s had quite a lot of pain in her life. In order for her to prove herself in a very male-dominated environment, she has to put on a pretty tough exterior. Roxanna wears that mask in her daily life, but underneath there is a lot of emotion,” she remarks. “Roxanna is driven to prove her worth to her father, to her colleagues, to herself. She’s operating from a desperate place, so she might make choices that are a little suspect in terms of conscience.”

Conscience is a fluid concept for all the characters in the series, including Arthur Davenport, the collector played by Cary Elwes. Davenport is initially outraged by Graham’s threat to expose him as an owner of stolen goods, but ultimately takes Graham under his wing. “Morally Arthur is in denial,” Elwes observes. “He’s something of a throwback, and lives as though the aristocracy still exists. He likes beautiful things and he likes to surround himself with beautiful things. He’s s going through a difficult financial time when he meets Graham, and he sees in Graham someone he can nurture and educate. He also needs Graham to help sell his art.”

Cary Elwes already had a strong working knowledge of the auction business when he joined the cast of “The Art of More.” His father was a painter and his mother an interior designer; as a child he had often accompanied his mother on trips to auction houses. “I had no idea growing up that there was any kind of funny stuff going on at auction houses. You don’t really hear much in the news about this world except for when something extraordinary happens where one of the auction houses gets their knuckles rapped for price fixing or something like that.” After he was approached about “The Art of More,” he contacted a friend who works in the business. “I said, ‘Is this true, does this stuff really happen?’ And she said to me, ‘Cary, it’s that and a whole lot more that you wouldn’t even believe.’”

Throughout the first half of 2015, the rise of ISIS had sharped the topical nature of “The Art of More.” When Crackle greenlighted “The Art of More” in 2014, ISIS was not yet on the world’s radar, and most of the scripts had been written before the group became the major threat in the Middle East, funding its operations in part through smuggling. The decision was made to update the scripts to reflect the current reality in Iraq and Syria. Says Rose, “The world of terrorism and smuggling completely changed between June of 2014 and June of 2015. It wasn’t insurgents, it wasn’t Al Qaeda looting and profiting from smuggled antiquities, it was ISIS. They took over everything like a cancer, ate away at everything that had been there before. We couldn’t shy away from the fact that a lot of the money from antiquities sales is going to fund terrorism.”

Production on “The Art of More” began in Montreal in May 2015. “The style and mood of the show had to be very specific,” explains executive producer Laurence Mark. “That dictated how we approached everything, from the putting together the production team to assembling an eclectic cast.”

For Quaid, acting in “The Art of More” was a chance to be part of a unique moment in the evolution of entertainment. “It’s exciting being in this medium where you don’t necessarily have to watch the show on television,” he says. “It’s a brave new world for everyone. It reminds

me of the movie business during the '70s, when it was like the inmates had taken over the asylum. There was this freedom to take on issues and stories that had not been done before, and I think that’s happening again now. ”

MARIO SEVIGNYComposer

Mario Sevigny is a passionate musician, multi-instrument-vocalist and composer for television, film & trailers, who has amassing over 20 years of diverse credits. For The Art of More, Mario imbues the perfect mix of electronic and classical music to highlight the double-life of the show’s main character, played by Christian Cooke, who steals art and lives in the respectable art gallery world. The contrast between Mario’s intense percussion and bass with his use of elegant strings intensifies the action scenes and engrosses audiences in this unique drama. Mario is presently working on a teen drama Jérémie that after only five episodes has became the number one show on VRAK.TV in Canada.Mario discovered film music at the age of 20 as a musical director and assistant to Jerry De Villiers Jr. on Louis Saïa’s films The Boys 2 and 3, Cause of Death, Believe, Hidden Agendaand Emma a soap opera. Seeking to challenge and expand his talents, Mario began composing independently at an early age. He secured his first TV series at age 26, the Canadian animated series called Edward which premiered on Teletoon. He then scored Frederik D’amours’ short film, Ice Cold, which won the award for ‘Best Short Film’ at Screamfest in Los Angeles.

“Ice Cold” was the first of many collaborations between Mario and editor Arthur Tarnowski. Their prolific partnership output over a hundred movie trailers from all over the world for Christal Films, Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm, TVA Films, Seville, eOne Entertainment and Equinoxe Films. At age 28, after a competitive pitch process, the producers of Film Roman (The Simpsons, King of the Hill), NBC Universal and Cinégroupe selected Mario to score their acclaimed series, Tripping the Rift. This series was an animated, sci-fi, comedy and an American/Canadian co-production that was broadcast in 58 countries. In 2007 Frederik D’Amours and Mario worked together again on the movie called À vos marques… Party – yet another successful production arising from this partnership. They then worked on À vos marques … Party 2, Noémie: Le secret, Lance et Compte Le Film, Miss Météo, Bienvenue aux Dames and the 8th season of Lance et compte: La déchirure.

Mario has composed several songs for movies including Pinocchio 3000, Human Trafficking and Cirrus Communications’ short film You Are So Undead. He also worked on the arrangements for Annie Brocoli’s album, Dance with Annie. In 2010, he composed songs for the albums of both Christian Marc and singer/guitarist Paule Magnan. Mario’s polished background in producing standout hip hop and dance tracks for films sets him apart from most composers. He crafted unique tracks for many films including, Sur le Rythme and Dérapage and audiences can enjoy his music in many Canadian television shows including Dream Big!, Pop Quiz, Mohawk Girls and Lance et compte, which is the legendary first ever one hour drama series to premiere in Quebec 30 years ago. Showcasing his versatility, Mario also has composed for Canada’s top

radio shows, including the opening theme of the morning show on Rhythme FM, and the opening theme for Paul Arcand’s #1 morning show in Montreal, Puisqu’il faut se lever.Mario is always seeking unique mediums and opportunities in music to challenge his comfort zone. As a result, he has landed opportunities to compose and produce music in nearly every genre - rock, reggae, salsa, dance, hip hop, orchestral symphonies, piano and guitar atmospheres. Self-taught and intuitive, Mario endeavors to immerse audiences in story worlds and elevate filmmakers’ visions with his music

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

GRAHAM CONNOR (Christian Cooke)Graham Connor grew up in a blue collar Bensonhurst family and his life has been defined by two opposing traits: a deep love of art, instilled in by his father; and an opportunistic, by-any-means necessary ethos, honed on the meaner streets of Brooklyn after his father’s death. After surviving multiple tours of duty in Iraq, Graham is finally where he wants to be in life, working with extraordinary art collections as an executive at Parke-Mason. But Graham has leveraged his experience has a smuggler to gain access to this luxurious world and lives in constant fear of being exposed. Graham's daily struggle is trying to figure out whether he has a chance at creating a new future or if he will be dragged down by a past that refuses to stay buried.

SAM BRUKNER (Dennis Quaid) A self-made billionaire originally from Indiana, Sam Brukner has moved swiftly and ruthlessly up the food chain in the real estate world. Now he’s a tycoon, with access to everything he wants – and he wants everyone to know it. Whatever the event, count on Brukner to be the loudest voice in the room as he merrily regales a knot of listeners with colourful anecdotes of his adventures and acquisitions. He has become a prominent collector of art, which served to gain him access to the upper rungs of Manhattan society and which has now become part of his strategy to launch a political career. Beneath the braggadocio, however, is a man who still feels like an outsider and can indeed be hurt – and woe be to the person who causes him pain.

ROXANNA WHITMAN (Kate Bosworth)Roxanna Whitman is a resourceful, impeccably poised account executive who seeks out some of the finest art and memorabilia collections in the world. The daughter of the CEO of the old-guard auction house DeGraaf, Roxanna was born into the business and would seem well-positioned to succeed her father at the helm. However, the loss of the Arthur Davenport account to upstart Graham Conner has weakened her hand with her aloof, dismissive father. Driven by demons of her own, Roxanna will do whatever it takes to best Graham and secure her rightful place at the top her field.

ARTHUR DAVENPORT (Cary Elwes)Arthur Davenport is a prominent art collector who comes from a long line of British aristocracy, but has long made his home in Manhattan. Highly educated and urbane, Davenport never

committed himself to a profession and spent much of his time cultivating his art collection and relationships in New York society. Davenport was Roxanna Whitman’s client at DeGraaf for many years, until Graham Conner made him the proverbial offer he couldn’t refuse. Impressed by Graham’s passion for art, Davenport became a mentor to the young man and is the closest thing to an ally that Graham has. However, given the risks Graham takes, that alliance may not last.

STORYLINES

Episode 101: Heavy Lies the HeadWritten by Chuck RoseDirected by Gary FlederAuction house Parke-Mason sells the Davenport (Cary Elwes) collection, launching the career of new account executive Graham Connor (Christian Cooke). Real estate mogul Sam Brukner's (Dennis Quaid) collection sparks fierce competition between Parke-Mason and rival auction house DeGraaf’s. Hassan (Patrick Sabongui), a smuggler from Graham’s days in Iraq, makes trouble. Episode 102: WhodunnitWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Gary FlederA rock memorabilia auction is jeopardized when a Pete Townshend artifact is stolen. Two more smugglers from Graham’s past arrive in New York, luring him back into the smuggling business. Roxanna Whitman (Kate Bosworth), Graham’s rival, signs a priceless art collection, only to find out it is not what it seems. Episode 103: Mint ConditionWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Steven A. AdelsonA couple discovers millions in gold coins buried in their yard, and the auction house execs pull out all the stops to win their account. Graham joins Brukner on a weekend getaway in his effort to land his account. Uzay (Hamza Haq) and Demir (Saad Siddiqui) arrange for a Russian mob boss to buy one of the

antiquities, setting up Graham in the process. Episode 104: Just Say FauxWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Steven A. AdelsonAn auction of Napoleon memorabilia brings an assortment of bidders. To increase the Swift collection's value, Roxanna enlists the aid of a forger. Graham steps up his game in order to finally land the Brukner account. Graham, Uzay and Demir meet up with the Russian mob boss to sell the mask. Episode 105: One Ton DepotWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Érik CanuelAn auction from Antarctic explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition becomes a contest between personal inspiration and public education. Graham and the smuggling gang regroup in the aftermath of the Russian disaster. Graham brings girlfriend Elizabeth (Savannah Basley) home on the anniversary of his father’s death. Roxanna finds herself the target of blackmail. Episode 106: Ride AlongWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Érik CanuelA new auction includes astronaut Sally Ride's suit. The FBI identify Hassan, forcing Graham to scramble on an antiquities shipment. Roxanna has a P.I. investigate Richard Swift (Noam Jenkins). In a new venture, Belinda (Cristina Rosato) unwittingly finds herself working with Uzay. Davenport discovers Graham’s full involvement with Hassan. Episode 107: The QuatrefoilWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Shawn PillerDavenport hosts a fundraiser for MoMA, causing tensions to rise as friends and enemies are thrown together. The FBI arrive to question Graham, while

Graham discovers a darksecret about Roxanna. Brukner’s feelings for Roxanna continue to grow, as do his efforts to launch his political career. Episode 108: The Name of the GameWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Shawn PillerParke-Mason tries to land the account of a once great NFL player whose life ended in disgrace. Hassan risks his freedom in order to contact his family. Graham and Roxanna’s relationship gets more intense. Prescott (Joe Cobden) sets a trap for Graham which threatens his job at Parke-Mason. Episode 109: The InterviewWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Jeff RenfroeBrukner’s past catches up with him when evidence of recent misdeeds are exposed on the eve of his auction. Roxanna finds damning evidence against Graham and must decide how to use it. Brukner learns Graham has betrayed him and plans revenge. Uzay and Demir convince Hassan that Graham must be eliminated. Episode 110: The Card PlayersWritten by Chuck Rose and Gardner SternDirected by Jeff RenfroeBrukner takes action against Graham. Roxanna confronts Graham and together they try to resolve their situations. Uzay’s sale to Belinda’s client goes wrong. Each side of the smuggling gang plans to take out the other, with Hassan caught in the middle. A final confrontation leads to devastating results.