Biography
Heidi, a graduate of Barnard College and the AFI Producers Program, has cast notable films such as JFK (1991), Nixon (1995), Natural Born Killers (1994), Nurse Betty (2000), The Rock (1996), The Joy Luck Club (1993), Smoke (1995), and Benny & Joon (1993).
She has worked closely with director Neil LaBute for over a decade on both film and theatre projects, including casting Lakeview Terrace (2008). Recently, Heidi cast Saint John of Las Vegas (2009), starring Steve Buscemi and Romany Malco; Rage (2009), directed by Sally Potter and featuring Judi Dench, Jude Law, and Dianne Wiest; The Open Road (2009), starring Jeff Bridges and Justin Timberlake; and Erick Zonca’s Julia (2008), which premiered at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival with Tilda Swinton.
Balancing studio productions and independent films, Heidi has frequently collaborated with esteemed directors such as Oliver Stone, Wayne Wang, Wim Wenders, and Neil LaBute. In 1997, just before Hong Kong’s handover to China, she co-produced and cast Chinese Box (1997) with Wayne Wang, a film capturing that historic moment. She has also produced features including The Open Road (2009), Fido (2006), The Center of the World (2001), Coastlines (2002), and Delivering Milo (2001).
Through her company Three Chapeau Productions, Heidi developed the website http://www.500kin365.org (2008), dedicated to Indie Folk-Rock artist Katie Reider, who passed away on July 14, 2008. Heidi is currently executive producing this project.
In collaboration with Oscar and Emmy-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, Heidi is producing the film series Exiles on Main Street (2008). This trilogy explores themes of cultural conflict and immigrant assimilation in America. The first film, Saint Chola, adapted by K. Kvashay Boyle from her award-winning short story, is set in the San Fernando Valley during the onset of the Gulf War and follows a Muslim American girl's decision to wear the veil. Cherien Dabis will direct.
