Joel Courtney (Super 8, The Kissing Booth series) has been cast to star in and produce the psychological thriller Echo, which marks the feature directorial debut of popular TikTok creator Zack Strassenor.
Strassener, who has 1.3 million followers on the short-form video platform, also wrote the script for the independent film, which the synopsis describes as “a character-driven thriller that delves deep into the complexities of military veterans.” Echo marks Courtney’s first producing credit and continues the creative collaboration between Courtney and Strasener, who already co-hosts the film podcast The Long Cut.
Echo marks the debut of Strassener’s production banner, Carousel Films, in collaboration with producer and casting director Brianna Frappert (Cut Your Teeth, Somnium). Executive producers include Chris Frederick, Alex Moller, Joshua Azlan, Lorenzo Abbatiello, OneBridge Data Solutions, and Sumax Properties.
Strasener’s short film “Forever Sleep” was shortlisted for the Young Director Award at the 2023 Cannes Lions Festival and was included in TikTok’s inaugural Showbiz List in 2022, which showcases creators making waves in the entertainment industry. His TikTok account, which focuses on mental health awareness with a cinematic touch, has garnered millions of views online and has also collaborated with brands such as Jockey, Microsoft, Liquid Death, Nascar, and The North Face.
“We’re thrilled to launch Carousel Films with Zach’s compelling script and to have Joel on board both in front of and behind the camera,” said Jake Shull, co-founder and producer of Carousel Films. “It’s a testament to the team we’ve assembled to independently advance such a powerful story, and we look forward to sharing more when the time is right.”
Casting is currently underway and principal photography is expected to begin later this year.
Courtney is repped by Authentic and Gersh. “Echo” is legally represented by Ashley Reddy of AR Entertainment Law.
