Jay Craven’s Martin Eden to Screen Aug 22-23 at Peacham Library

Jay Craven’s new independent narrative feature film, “Jack London’s Martin Eden,” will play two
special screenings, 7pm, Sunday and Monday, August 22 nd and 23 rd at The Peacham Library. The
film received its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival in June and is slated for upcoming
screenings at the Boston Film Festival and others.
“Jack London’s Martin Eden” is based on the celebrated writer’s autobiographical novel. Set in
1909, it tells the story of a poor and unschooled sailor who unexpectedly meets Ruth Morse, a
magnetic young woman of means and education. Their unconventional attraction upends both
lives and propels timely themes of impossible love, dogged individualism in pursuit of the
American Dream, and the quest for a comfortable place in an inconstant world.

Jack London was America’s most popular writer at the turn of the 20 th century, having written
stories including “Call of the Wild” and “White Fang.” His novel, “Martin Eden,” inspired Ernest
Hemingway, Susan Sontag and Upton Sinclair, among others. Italian filmmaker Pietro Marcello
recently made another adaptation of the story that has been well received. “We were surprised
to see an Italian version being made simultaneously,” Craven noted. “Although I like Marcello’s
stylistic approach and it gives audiences a chance to compare notes on both films and dig deeper
into the story and its cultural context.”
“Martin Eden’s” cast includes Andrew Richardson in the title role and Hayley Griffith and Annet
Mahendru as Ruth Morse and Lizzie Connolly, respectively. Richardson trained at Carnegie
Mellon and London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and Royal Academy of Dance. His credits
include eight film and television productions along with theatrical stagings of “Taming of the
Shrew” and “Othello.”
Annet Mahendru is best known for her co-starring role as Nina Krilova, the U.S. Russian embassy
operative who has a love affair with FBI agent, Stan Beeman, in the long-running Emmy-winning
series, “The Americans.” She also co-starred as Elena Evanovich in the Amazon series, “The
Romanoffs.”
Hayley Griffth’s credits include “Law and Order” and “Bull.” Other supporting actors Missy Yager
(“Mad Men,” “Manchester by the Sea”), Grainger Hines (”Lincoln,” “The Ballad of Buster
Scruggs”), Phil McGlaston (Broadway’s “Little Foxes,” Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold and the
Boys,” August Wilson’s “Fences”), Michael Benz (“Downton Abbey,” “Joker”), Jo Armeniox
(“Boardwalk Empire”), Ken Wulf Clark (“House of Cards”) and Rebecca Faulkenberry (co-star of
“Spiderman” on Broadway).
Tickets ($12) for the August 22-23 screenings will be available at the door or, in advance, online at
802-748-2600 or http://www.catamountarts.org/film/

**In consideration of the fluctuating status of the COVID virus Delta variant and in deference to the film’s host venue, local town and other audience members, film attendees are expected to be vaccinated against COVID and the KCP productions will be asking attendees to show proof of vaccination, either as vaccination card, xerox of the card or cell phone photograph of the card. Masks are required. Anyone with questions can contact Jay Craven at jcraven1590@gmail.com**

Local college students, August Benjamin and Austin Pellegrino, worked on “Martin Eden” as part
of director Craven’s ongoing film intensive program where 27 professionals mentor and
collaborate with 35 students from multiple college – to make an ambitious fully professional film
for national release. For more information about “Jack London’s Martin Eden” – and plans for a
new “Lost Nation” Semester Cinema film intensive project for students for winter/spring 2022,
contact Jay Craven (jcraven1590@gmail.com)