CAST
Ruchiki is a film about talent: those who possess it, those who covet it, and the consequences of both situations. Due to the unique nature of the film’s subject matter, Ruchiki casting ventured into the far reaches of the cultural sphere to find performers that could embody, explore and enrich the characters.
Rachel Trachtenburg (Rachel) knows a thing or two about wanting to be a star. At the age of sixteen, Rachel has gained notoriety as a precocious musician, as well as an animal activist, actress and model. Rachel first received acclaim as the third member of The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, the cult-phenomenon band consisting of Rachel and her parents, Jason and Tina. Rachel formed her own all-girl ukelele band, SUPERCUTE! (Check out this Village Voice interview for more details) in 2009, and continued critical praise garnered them a gig touring with English folk singer Kate Nash. As an activist, Rachel made headlines speaking out against Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg at the age of fourteen.
It was this firm independence and relentless creativity that brought Ruchiki to her doorstep. As Rachel Moeltz, she will explore the nature of ambition and its caveats, mining her personal experience as a professional musician—and more importantly, as an adolescent girl—to craft Ruchiki’s lead role.
Reni Mimura (Ayumi) brings to Ruchiki her experience operating in the notoriously insular, and shrouded world of Japanese Pop Stardom. Born and raised in Japan, Reni trained as a dancer and singer from an early age; her break came when she won a national Japanese talent competition, and released her first CD in 2006 to massive critical acclaim. Specializing in the Akihabara style of J-pop, Reni’s performance emphasizes cuteness and innocence, and she has been a fixture on American “Moe Moe” scene since relocating to New York in 2008. Reni released her second album, Sakura, in September 2009. Along with her beauty, grace and talent, Reni brings to the performance of Ayumi something far more important: her first-handknowledge of the pressures and challenges that face young Japanese popstars. As Ayumi, Reni will expose and explore issues that are purposefully concealed from the public eye, both in her performance as well as in the original music that she performs in Ruchiki.
Richard Jordan (Banner) despite his character Banner Tutilo’s penchant for violence and mayhem, film and television actor Richard Jordan brings to Ruchiki a wide smile and copious experience. Richard has appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jackass and The Late Show, and recently worked with director Joel Schumacher. A true polymath, Richard has employed his experience living throughout the world to craft the character of globe-trotting misfit, Banner Tutilo, and his stint on MTV’s Jackass (the inspiration for Banner’s own show, EAT IT!) to whip up the whirlwind of destruction that brings Rachel to Ayumi’s doorstep.
