Maggie RoyalAaron Royal

RobertDr. Claire Holden

KathleenDanaTrishGerryLauraNed

Dr. CampbellDr. Harrington

Birthing InstructorChristopher

Dr. Campbell's NurseSocial Worker

Dr. Harrington's NursePastor Jill

Dr. Holden's NurseSalesclerk

Society WomanAnnie

Girl in CostumeDelivery Nurse

Orderly

MINNIE DRIVERPAUL ADELSTEINALFRED MOLINACONNIE NIELSENKATHY BAKERSARAH JONESANDREA ANDERSPETER JASONAUDREY WASILEWSKIJOHN ANISTONROB BROWNSTEINJOSEPH MARCELLMARISOL RAMIREZDAN DONAHUEAPRIL PARKER-JONESMARY CAROL LESTERJADE SEALYCOLETTE FREEDMANBRESHA WEBJULLY LEEROBYN PETERSONSYLVA KELEGIANROXIE HANISHSAUNDRA MCCLAINDAVID PALADINO

CAST

Directed byWritten by

Produced byExecutive Producer

Director of PhotographyEdited by

ComposerProduction Designer

Costumes byCasting by

Medical Advisor

SEAN HANISHSEAN HANISHSEAN HANISH & PAUL JACONI-BIERYKELLY KAHLHARRIS CHARAMBOLOUSANITA BRANDT-BURGOYNEJAMES SALEED RUBINPATRIK MILANISHARON HOWARD FIELD and RONNIE YESKELKARLA IACAMPO, MD

CREW

RETURN TO ZERODrama

106 minutesColor

Language: EnglishShot on Arri Alexa

Festival screening format: HDCAM-SRSound: 5.1 Digital

Shot on location in Los Angeles & Rancho Palos Verdes, California

RETURN TO ZERO SOCIAL MEDIA

Website: www.returntozerothemovie.comTwitter: @return2zerofilm

www.facebook.com/returntozerofilmIstagram: instagram.com/returntozero

PRESS CONTACT

Paul Jaconi-Biery26 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 4

Pasadena, CA 91105Phone: 323-633-1440

Email: pjbiery@gmail.com

PRODUCTION COMPANY

Cannonball Productions26 East Colorado Blvd., Suite 4

Pasadena, CA 91105info@seanhanish.comwww.seanhanish.com

SYNOPSIS

RETURN TO ZERO is based on the true story of a successful couple, Maggie (MINNIE DRIVER)and Aaron (PAUL ADELSTEIN) who are preparing for the arrival of their first child. Just weeksbefore their due date they are devastated to discover that their baby son has died in the womband will be stillborn.��

Maggie and Aaron attempt to go on with their lives but cannot escape their postpartumgrief. Their lives and relationship have been forever altered by this loss. And no one seems tounderstand the hell they are going through. Aaron’s dad, Robert (ALFRED MOLINA), encourageshis son to bury himself in work, while Maggie’s Mom, Kathleen (KATHY BAKER), always saysthe wrong thing. ��

Maggie and Aaron try to cope in a myriad of ways — through denial, escape, and alcohol — butwhen Maggie ultimately discovers that Aaron is having an affair with Dana (SARAH JONES), aco-worker, she decides to end the marriage.��

Just when Maggie believes she has started a new life, she discovers that she is pregnant by Aaron(from a last ditch ‘save the marriage’ getaway to Vegas.) With the help of Claire (CONNIENIELSEN), an empathetic doctor who experienced a similar loss years ago, Maggie finallygrieves for the loss of her son. Then she and Aaron must reunite to face a turbulent andterrifying pregnancy.

Maggie & Aaron remember the son they lost.

“You’re never told about the relationship thatbegins after they die.”

“I haven’t seen you since you were pregnant.How's the baby?”

“I don’t want to go through this alone.” “You’ve been cooped up too long. You need this."

“It’s a boy!” “What do you want to talk about? How my uterusis a lethal weapon?"

Kathleen & Robert at an awkward Thanksgivingdinner with their children.

“What about joy… when does that come?"

CAST

MINNIE DRIVERAcademy Award nominee, Minnie Driver, plays the lead role of “Maggie Royal”in RETURN TO ZERO.

Minnie is best known for her Oscar-nominated performance as Skylar in “GoodWill Hunting” and was also nominated for an Emmy and Golden Globe for herwork as Dahlia Malloy/Cherien Rich in the critically-acclaimed television series

“The Riches”. Minnie can currently be seen in NBC’s new comedy “About a Boy”.

Minnie’s career in film includes nearly three dozen films over the past two decades. Now as amother and successful recording artist, she is very choosy about what roles she decides to play.

Minnie’s artistry, celebrity, and dedication to important charity work such as St. Jude’s Hospitaland OXFAM will bring a level of awareness and interest to this film and subject matter that fewother actresses or actors could.

PAUL ADELSTEINPaul Adelstein stars as “Aaron Royal” in RETURN TO ZERO along side MinnieDriver who plays his wife Maggie.

Paul is best known for his roles as Dr. Cooper (“Coop”) Freedman in ABC’s“Private Practice” and as Paul Kellerman in FOX’s “Prison Break”. Paul has alsoplayed significant supporting roles in the Coen Brothers’ “Intolerable Cruelty”

and Rob Marshall’s “Memoirs of a Geisha”. Paul can currently be seen in ABC’s “Scandal”.

Born and raised in Chicago, Paul began his career in theater with John Cusack’s New CrimeProductions and later with the world-renowned Steppenwolf Theater Company.

Paul is also an accomplished musician. He’s the lead singer of his band Doris, which just releasedit’s second album “All the Details”.

We are incredibly honored to be joined by a breakout actor who brings a passion and love forthe material which resonates deeply with him.

ALFRED MOLINAAlfred Molina stars in RETURN TO ZERO as Aaron’s (Paul Adelstein)career-obsessed father Robert Royal.

Alfred has been nominated over thirty times for his memorable performanceson both stage and screen. There are so many films and brilliant performancesthat there is simply not enough room here to list them. You may remember

him best as “Doc Oc” in “Spider Man 2″, as Diego Rivera starring with Salma Hayek in “Frida”,as the priest who has a confectionary orgasm in “Chocolat”, or as the wired drug dealer who

CAST

kereokes to “Sister Christian” in front of a terrified Mark Wahlberg in “Boogie Nights”.

His Broadway accolades and range are equally as impressive. From the comedy “Art”, toportraying Mark Rothko in the drama “Red” and the classic role of Tevya in the famousmusical “Fiddler on the Roof”, Alfred has received Tony Award-nominations for all three roles.

CONNIE NEILSENAward winning Danish actress, Connie Nielsen, takes on the role of DoctorClaire Holden opposite Minnie Driver and Paul Adelstein. Doctor Claire guidesMaggie (Minnie Driver) through her grief to find a much needed newperspective on her loss.

Connie is well-known for her role opposite Russell Crowe in Ridley Scott’sAcademy Award winning film, Gladiator. Nielsen embraces her roles with an astounding amountof depth, filling the screen with a performance that resonates. Connie has worked with some ofthe most elite Hollywood players including roles opposite Robin Williams, John Travolta, BenicioDel Toro, James Franco, and Ben Stiller, just to name a few.

Nielsen was born and raised in Denmark, at the age of 18 she moved to Paris to pursue actingand continued her career in the world’s most vibrant cities, Rome, Milan, Johannesburg and NewYork. With her illustrious career taking her all over the world, she developed a tongue for English,German, Danish, Swedish, French and Italian. Her talents continue to surface as she most recentlywon Best Actress in the Danish Academy Awards.

KATHY BAKERThree-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner, Kathy Baker plays therole of “Kathleen” in RETURN TO ZERO. Kathleen is Maggie’s (Minnie Driver)well-meaning but mother who plays the devil’s advocate to her daughter inmost situations.

Kathy was born in Texas and raised in New Mexico. Later on, she studiedacting at the California Institute of the Arts in the early 1970’s. She earned a Bachelor degree inFrench from UC Berkeley.

She began her career at San Francisco’s Magic Theater performing in several of Sam Shepard’splays before getting a break in an off-Broadway production “Fool for Love”. Since then she hasappeared in numerous films including “Edward Scissorhands”, “The Right Stuff”, “Street Smart”,“Jacknife”, “13 going on 30”, and “Cold Mountain”.

Her talent became well known when she embraced the role of a small town doctor in “PicketFences”, earning an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

CAST

ANDREA ANDERSAndrea Anders plays Maggie’s hyperactive best friend “Trish” in RETURNTO ZERO.

Andrea is best known for her roles as Alex Garrett on the NBC sitcom “Joey”,Linda Zwordling on the ABC sitcom “Better Off Ted” and Nicole Allen on theCBS sitcom “The Class”.

Born in Wisconsin, Andrea graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor’s Degreein fine arts. She began her career in theater and later had her first television experience in aDannon commercial in 1990. She continued her television experiences by making guestappearances on shows such as “One Life to Live”, “Law & Order”, “The Guiding Light”,“Numb3rs”, and “True Calling”.

SARAH JONESSarah Jones plays Aaron’s (Paul Adelstein) smart-mouthed and sassy co-worker,“Dana.”

Jones has appeared in numerous primetime television shows, including “UglyBetty”, “House” and “Justified”. Her recurring role in “Sons of Anarchy” caughtthe attention of Hollywood producer, J.J. Abrams who handpicked Sarah Jones

as the lead, Rebecca Madsen, in his Fox series “Alcatraz”. It is widely known that J.J. Abrams hasa history of casting young, rising actresses which end up having lasting successful careers andSarah Jones is no exception.

Jones works with Minnie Driver for the second time in RETURN TO ZERO; their first workingrelationship was on FX’s “The Riches”. Sarah starred in the CBS mobster period drama, “Vegas”,last year.

“It is my business because it is my business."

CREATIVE TEAM

Sean Hanish (Writer/Director/Producer) is a multi-award-winning filmand commercial director and has been a member of the Director’s Guildof America (DGA) since 2005. After studying under master film theoristDavid Bordwell at the University of Wisconsin, he completed hisMaster of Arts at the University of Southern California, School ofCinema/Television.

His short films which he wrote and directed, “Sales Tribe Grachecki” and “Real Men”, havegarnered dozens of awards both domestically and internationally and his ensemble play “Acts ofContrition” had sold-out runs in both New York and Los Angeles.

While his passion is film, Sean has had a career as a writer, director and producer in a variety ofmediums. He created and executive produced two highly-rated Prime-Time network televisionsports specials for CBS. He also began creating, directing and producing commercials for awide variety of international clients such as CBS, NFL, DISNEY, NCAA, HALLMARK,LIZ CLAIBORNE and OSCAR DE LA RENTA. This experience culminated in his creating andexecuting multi-million dollar campaigns for the launch of the fastest-growing brand in thehome-furnishings industry, CINDY CRAWFORD HOME, and the largest independent furnitureretailer, ROOMS TO GO.

Paul Jaconi-Biery has joined Sean Hanish as his producing partner on RETURNTO ZERO. Paul brings the experience he has gained running physicalproduction on more than a dozen independent films including “Seeking a Friendfor the End of the World” (starring Steve Carrell and Kiera Knightley). Inaddition, Paul is a talented screenwriter and his excellent command of storyand character makes him a creative producer in the truest sense of the term.

Aaron tries to comfort Maggie in the hospital.

MISSION STATEMENT

While RETURN TO ZERO is intended for audiences regardless of their life experience, this filmfills a particular niche for a market that has gone unserved — those who have or know someonewho has experienced the devastating loss of stillbirth, miscarriage, or neonatal death.

The statistics on stillbirth, which differs from country to country but is known in the U.S. as theloss of a child after the 20th week of pregnancy, are remarkable. In America alone there areapproximately 26,000 stillbirths a year.

When one includes neonatal death, which is the death of an infant within the first 28 days of life,that statistics jumps to 45,000 per year or 1 out of every 60 pregnancies. If one choses to includethe all-too-common miscarriage, one out of every four couples have been directly affected bythis type of loss.

Yet somehow, until now, this topic has never been the central theme of a feature film.

The impact that one stillbirth has on the mother, the father, their family, and friends isdevastating — a shock-wave of pain, guilt, and then, too often, silence. The majority of thoseaffected, especially the mothers, suffer in this silence often believing that their grief and traumais theirs to bear alone.

While planning to entertain and enlighten all audiences with a dramatic tale of the strengthand resilience of the human spirit, RETURN TO ZERO intends to break through the silenceand become a beacon of cinematic light to the millions in search of answers, understandingand healing.

A memorial service for their son.

TOUCHPOINTS

THE BOOK: “THREE MINUS ONE”

She Writes Press and RETURN TO ZERO have teamed up to breakthe silence in a very special anthology entitled “Three Minus One:Parents’ Stories of Love and Loss” that is comprised entirely of stories,poetry, photography, and artwork from the RETURN TO ZEROcommunity.

Every time one of our stories is told it helps to break the silence thatmuch more. With an anthology of stories along with the power of amotion picture, we hope will shatter the silence once and for all.

“Three Minus One” will be in the bookstores and sold on-line inApril 2014. It is currently available for pre-order on Amazon andBarnesandnoble.com

THE DIGITAL STORY ARCHIVE

Storytelling and narrative are so very important in the healing journey which is why RETURNTO ZERO and Reconceiving Loss (www.reconceivingloss.com) are creating a digital archive tocommemorate pregnancy loss and neonatal death.

We already have dozens of entries in our digital story archive and invite everyone to share theirown story, essay, poem, music or artwork. Submissions are open to everyone who has a storyto tell or a journey to share. It is our intention to continue to break the silence with this resourceand keep it open to everyone and available to anyone who needs it.

THE COMMUNITY: LOCAL LEADERS

Over 2,500 people from 50 countries have become Local Leaders in their communities forRETURN TO ZERO. A Local Leader is just like you–someone who has stepped forward to telltheir family, friends and social network about this important film. Local Leaders will also becoordinating screenings and discussions in their communities when the film is released in theaters,and receive a special RTZ Local Leader newsletter so that they know what is going on everystep of the way with the film and within the loss community.

PRODUCTION NOTES

Have there been other films that have dealtwith the subject matter of stillbirth or isRETURN TO ZERO the first?

SH: RETURN TO ZERO is the first feature length filmto tackle the taboo topic of stillbirth head-on. A fewfilms and television shows have brought up the topicin a subplot or as part of a character’s backstory, but

this is the first film that deals with the death of a child in utero and the earthshattering affect ithas on the parents, family, and friends.

What made you decide to tell this ‘taboo’ story?

SH: I had a gnawing feeling inside ever since we lost our son in 2005 that I wanted to do somethingto make sense out of our loss. As a filmmaker, I knew that I was in a unique position, and that ifI shared our story in a film perhaps people would understand a bit more about what it is like forall of us who go through this very specific type of loss.

I honestly thought while I was writing this script, that I was writing a film that no one would everwant to see, and there were nights when I thought I was a crazy person for trading in steadywork for the opportunity to tell this incredibly difficult story.

But then something amazing started to happen when people read it: they liked it. It is absolutelytrue what people say about the most personal being the most universal.

What made this project come together and be successful?

SH: Everyone who worked on this film did it for the right reasons. Nobody works on anindependent film at this level for the money. But when you’re lucky, and the right people surrounda project as they did here, magic happens. When you have heart, passion, and energy you canmove mountains, and we did.

Please elaborate a bit on your approach to making the film.

SH: My approach to the film was simple—I wanted to try to bring the audience as close to thesetwo characters and their life-changing journey as possible. I thought that by stripping the film ofas much artifice as we could, that we would invite the audience into an emotional journey thatthey would never forget.

To that end, it was critical that everything—performances, relationships, dialogue, props, and lo-cations—literally everything have verisimilitude—a realness that would make these characterscome alive for them on screen. I want the screen to melt away so that you can feel what thesecharacters feel. Anything contrived, fake, melodramatic, and not motivated by the truth of thesecharacters in this time and place was thrown out.

RETURN TO ZERO is inspired by your true life. How much of this is reflected inthe final product?

SH: RETURN TO ZERO is based on the experience that my wife and I went through when welost our first son, Norbert, at the end of our first pregnancy in 2005. We were shocked when ithappened—we had no earthly idea that this was even a possibility in this day and age.

The medical scenes, when my wife was told by the doctor that our baby had no heartbeat, beingasked if we wanted a cremation or burial for our son when he was still in the womb, the actualstillbirth itself—those scenes are 100% accurate often down to the dialog. In fact, we use theactual diagnosis of our son in the film as well as some of the beautiful words that were said at hismemorial service.

I did change and dramatize some events, add a character (or two) who didn’t exist, combine twopeople into one—I used the tools of the dramatic arts which help get the audience closer to theemotional truth of what my wife and I really went through. That was a priority for me in makingthis film—to get as close as possible to the emotional journey of what we went through. So, inthe end the film is a mix of fact and fiction but it’s all based on fact and emotional truth.

A writer friend who read the script before production put it like this: “I think the movie sits inthat beautiful convergence of biography and fiction, that’s more real than either could be on itsown.” I sincerely hope this is the case.

What was the most challenging part of making RETURN TO ZERO?

SH: The most difficult part of making this film by far was reliving the loss of our son. From findingout that he had died in utero, to meeting with the doctor and then delivering him—most of thedialog and situations, those really happened to us—and have happened to so many people—butthey have never been put on film before.

Even in the editing bay, and my editor, Anita, will confirm this, I was curled up into the fetalposition for 8 hours while we worked on the stillbirth delivery scene. It was so emotional andheart-breaking, and Minnie and Paul’s performances are so pure and raw and real—it’s one ofthe most beautiful and crushing scenes I have ever witnessed on film. I am happy that part isover.

What was your most memorable experience about shooting RETURN TO ZERO?

SH: No question it was the scene where Maggie (Minnie Driver) delivers her stillborn son. Thisis the scene that we were all terrified of. It was a daunting and some might say sadistic task totry to relive the worst day of one’s life with a film crew in tow.

The day after we shot the scene Minnie asked me how it went. I told her that she nailed it—shereminded me of my wife the day she gave birth to our stillborn son—and I didn’t think any actresscould ever pull that off. She went to a different place, channeled something and someone else toplay that scene, and I can’t wait for people to see the result.

How did this particular cast come together? Could you discuss the casting process?

SH: The first actor to read the script was Alfred Molina. He’s an old friend and responded to thescript right away. His interest in being in the film was a huge first step.

Our casting directors did a remarkable job pulling together the rest of the cast. Casting is artmeets frustration. You’re waiting all the time for the big domino to fall.

They floated Minnie Driver’s name by me one day and I thought that was an inspired choice.Fortunately, Minnie loved the script and we connected. The first meeting really set the tone. Shesaid “If we’re going to do this, let’s really go for it.” So we went for it. I can’t imagine this filmwithout her. Her performance is going to remind people that she is one of the finest actressesin the world.

I didn’t know Paul Adelstein’s work very well, but he came highly recommended. After watchinghis tape and meeting him in person, I knew he could pull this off. He’s an incredibly talented actorand is so real on screen and off. Plus, his on screen chemistry with Minnie is off the charts.

Then we filled out the key roles with the incredible Kathy Baker, hysterical Andrea Anders andSarah Jones, who is a rising star. The last role left to cast was the important role of the high-riskOB, Dr. Claire Holden. My producer and I fought for someone who we thought would be perfect,Connie Nielsen. She’s soulful and brilliant in the role. I’m really happy we held out for her. It’s apowerhouse cast.

Why is NOW the time to share this story?

SH: I think the world is ready for it. There are very few “taboo” subjects left in our culture, butthis is definitely one of them. The passion that this community of parents who have lost childrenduring pregnancy or just afterward—their commitment for breaking the silence and finallychanging how the world views this type of loss—well, it’s like sitting on a powder keg.

When people see this film, I truly feel that they are going to be blown away. And I am not justtalking about the performances which are phenomenal and the storytelling which I am incrediblyproud of, but people are going to be blown away by the number of people that come out of thewoodwork to tell their story.

Please address the music in the film. How did these choices come about?

SH: My composer, James Sale, and I have been friends for 20 years. He is one of the mostdedicated and talented composers in the industry having ghost-written dozens of scores thatyou are all familiar with. So, I knew we were in good hands and would be going with an orchestralscore throughout.

What surprised me most about James’ score was his preternatural subtlety. He’s probably theonly composer ever to be in a mix and ask the mixer to turn down his music—he was that intune to not having the music step on the actor’s brilliant performances. His music takes the filmto a completely different level.

Minnie Driver and Paul Adelstein wrote a song for the film. How did thatcome about?

SH: After Minnie and Paul saw the first cut of the film, they were so happy with it that theyoffered to write a song for the soundtrack. They had mentioned it during production, but I didn’tknow if the idea had lost steam with them.

A few weeks later, Paul sends me a song entitled “Forget the Fall” which they co-wrote. Paulplays piano and Minnie sings on the piece—and it is perfect. They hit a melancholy, hopeful butbittersweet tone in the piece that is so wonderful we decided to put it in a very important scenein the film.

It was such a gift to receive this from Minnie and Paul. They’re just such great people and teamplayers—their hearts were in this film every step of the way.

How do you think RETURN TO ZERO fits into your personal growth as a filmmaker?How will it affect your future projects?

SH: This film changes everything for me as a filmmaker. I set the bar really high on this one withsuch a dark, challenging subject matter. There was a good chance I could have crashed and burnedand just gone back to commercials licking my wounds. Given people’s response, I think I justmight get to make another one. So, right there it changes my life.

I feel like I’m just getting started here, and that I can continue to make important films that areaccessible to a wider audience.

What are some of your favorite films?

SH: Elia Kazan’s “A Face In the Crowd”, Billy Wilder’s “Ace in the Hole”, Francis Ford Coppola’s“Apocalypse Now (Redux)”, Oliver Stone’s “JFK”, Alan J. Pakula’s “All the President’s Men”, andAtom Egoyan’s “The Sweet Hereafter”.

What future projects do you have in the pipeline?

SH: I’ve just finished writing a limited-edition television series entitled RICOCHET—a drama/po-litical thriller that tells the story of four very different people whose lives are dramatically alteredby a political assassination that goes horribly wrong and results in a school shooting that takesthe lives of two dozen elementary school children.

I envision this as a limited series—only 10 episodes—which examines America’s obsessive andoften dysfunctional relationship with guns.

Much like RETURN TO ZERO, I hope RICOCHET does what all good art can do, which is tohold up a mirror to our current society and say, “Look. Do you see what’s happening? We canchange this.”