Press Kit - 108 Media

Nobody Goes to Hell for Love...
Wolfclan Productions, in association with Deebo Pictures & Highland Myst Entertainment
present: ODD MAN OUT
Matthew Stephen Tompkins, Chuck Huber, Angela Chase, Jonathan Brooks. Cinematography: Alan
Lefebvre. Editing: Steven Baker. Produced by: Matthew Stephen Tompkins. Co-Produced by:
Michael Crabtree & Jon Keeyes. Written and Directed by: Michael Crabtree. Running time: 99 min.
www.oddmanoutthemovie.com
ODD MAN OUT – Synopses
Short Synopsis:
Are the things that make us freaks on the
outside or the inside? For Mike and Matt
Turner, two brothers in love with the same
woman, Gracie, and crippled literally and
figuratively by the demons of sibling
rivalry and bone deep jealousy, the
answer will have very real and terrifying
repercussions. One thing is for sure:
NOBODY goes to Hell for Love.
Set against the backdrop of a small town and the largest, most famous, haunted, and macabre
antiques store in Texas, ODD MAN OUT is an emotionally potent and darkly comedic
psychological thriller about the damaged and dysfunctional Turner Family.
Long Synopsis:
Set against the backdrop of a small town and the largest, most famous, haunted, and macabre
antique store in Texas, ODD MAN OUT is a complicated, darkly comedic, and emotionally
potent psychological thriller about the damaged and dysfunctional Turner Family.
Two brothers, Mike and Matt, one able-bodied and haunted by the horrifically detailed
memories of his childhood that he can't shut off, and the other wheelchair-bound after a terrible
childhood accident. Both of them are crippled in their own way and both of them are in love
with the same woman: Gracie, who’s now Matt’s wife.
Matt seemingly has it all. Brother Mike has returned after years away and a lifetime of being
overlooked, left out, and pushed aside. He is the dark-hearted Prodigal Son coming home to
lay claim to what he thinks is his.
Under the watchful and deeply suspicious eyes of the now bitter, elderly, and largely silent
Mother and the strange caretaker of the family business, Orvis Scuttle, Mike moves back in to
the big, new family house built on the ashes of the home they grew up in, with all the
wrenching memories buried far below.
Orvis is the unofficial “third brother” of the family: an outcast from the world at large, but
master of his own special inner world. He will see right away what Mike is up to. Others won’t,
until it is too late.
As the demons of sibling rivalry, bone deep jealousy, and maddeningly unrequited love take
hold, ODD MAN OUT begins to ask a very important question: Are the things that make us
freaks on the outside or the inside? Are the Turner brothers ready for the very real and
terrifying answer? One thing is for sure... NOBODY goes to Hell for Love.
ODD MAN OUT– Selected Photos
Mike Turner (Matthew Tompkins)
plans a monstrous evening’s
“entertainment” for his brother, Matt
and his wife, Gracie,
The angelic Gracie (Angela Chase)
is Matt’s wife, but also the unrequited
love of troubled Mike’s life.
Orvis Scuttle (Jonathan Brooks) will
see the “real” Mike long before
anyone else does.
Mike (Matthew Tompkins) lays out
the deadly “rules of the game” to
Gracie (Angela Chase) and his
brother Matt (Chuck Huber).
Selected Photos (Cont.)
Orvis (Jonathan Brooks) is Mike’s
first target in the game for Gracie.
Matt (Chuck Huber) has no choice
but to play the game.
Gracie (Angela Chase) is caught in
Mike’s sights.
Mike (Matthew Tompkins) makes
his move. “The game’s afoot!”
ODD MAN OUT – Cast
Matthew Stephen Tompkins (Mike Turner) has a long list of
credits both in front of the camera as an actor, and behind it
as writer, producer, and director. He starred, co-wrote, coproduced and co-directed the feature film, The Fragility of
Seconds (Vanguard Cinema/Princ Films), starred and coproduced the feature, Killing Down (Blue Sky Media/Maverick
Entertainment Group), and starred and co-produced the
feature film, Radiant (Vanguard Cinema/R-Squared Films).
Other selected film credits include: Parkland, Spilt Milk,
Machete, Missionary Man, Living & Dying, Doonby, Phobia,
The Mechanical Grave, and the upcoming Nightmare Box,
Bad Asses, and The Harrowing. TV work includes: Prison
Break, Chase, Friday Night Lights, The Good Guys, War of
the Ewings, To Serve & Protect, In Plain Sight, Logan’s War,
some 20 episodes of the Emmy-honored hit PBS series,
Wishbone, and 15 episodes in various co-starring roles
through multiple seasons of Walker, Texas Ranger. Stage
works include his NY Times-lauded performance as Nelson
Algren in the Off-Broadway smash, Transatlantic Liaison. He
is a seven-time winner of the Dallas Theater Critics Award for
Best Actor in such roles as King Henry II in Becket, Lenny in
Of Mice and Men, Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire,
Valmont in Dangerous Liaisons, and Oberon in A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, and the title role in Othello
Chuck Huber (Matt Turner) is an accomplished stage and
voice actor, and writer. Branching out, he’s directed and cowritten the upcoming comedy feature, Arbor Day: The
Musical. He had a starring role in the feature film, The
Fragility of Seconds, which he also co-wrote and coproduced. He can be seen in the films, Parkland and The
Mechanical Grave. Major voice work includes Dragon Ball Z,
Soul Eater, Full Metal Alchemist, Yu Yu Hakusho, and many
other anime. As writer, he’s adapted the English-language
screenplays for many anime. Stage work includes
Bolingbroke in Richard II and Hank in Marvin’s Room, both at
the Goodman Theater in Chicago.
Jonathan Brooks (Orvis Scuttle) is a stage and screen
actor. He can be seen in the films: The Playroom, Phobia,
Arbor Day: The Musical, Seasons of Gray, The Retrieval, and
The Mechanical Grave. TV work includes the series: Chase
and Friday Night Lights. Stage works include Korvin in The
Black Monk, Malcolm in Macbeth, and Clov in Endgame.
He’s also a musician, and voiced the part of Foxy the Silver
Fox in the TV series, One Piece.
Odd Man Out – Cast (Cont.)
Angela Chase (Gracie Turner) is well-known as a
radio personality and production director in DallasFt. Worth at the stations 97.1 “The Eagle,” 102.1
“The Edge,” and 102.9 “NOW.” She acted in the
short films: Wash, Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over, and the
hour-long film, The Life Experiment. Odd Man Out
is her feature-film acting debut.
Gail Cronauer (Mother) is an accomplished stage and
screen actor, and acting teacher. Gail is one of three
Texas actresses honored by the USA Film Festival for
her career. Film work includes Boys Don’t Cry, Beyond
the Farthest Star, JFK, Born on the Fourth of July, The
Newton Boys, and Dr. T and the Women. TV work
includes HEFNER: Unauthorized, Murder in the
Heartland, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Stage roles
include Maria Callas in Master Class, Lucille in Dividing
the Estate, and the title role in the rock n’ roll
Shakespearean update: Richard 3.
Trey Walpole (Noakes) is an actor and composer. Film
roles include Upstream Color, Phobia, The Mechanical
Grave, Takedown, and the upcoming The Harrowing. TV
roles include Wishbone, Sons of the Brotherhood, and
Big Yellow A-hole. Theater roles include Shylock in The
Merchant of Venice, Brother Charles in Incorruptible, and
Coleman in The Lonesome West. Trey composed the
original music for the short film, Odds or Evens.
Laurel Whitsett (Laurie) is a stage and screen actor
and acting teacher. Film work includes Radiant, The
Overbrook Brothers, Super, Premonition, Splinter, and
Dr. T and the Women. TV work includes Queen Sized,
Not Like Everyone Else, Everyday Life, and Walker,
Texas Ranger. Stage Roles include Phoenix in The
Kiss at City Hall, and the Governess in Turn of the
Screw.
Odd Man Out -- Production Crew
Michael Crabtree (Writer, Director, and Co-Producer)
ODD MAN OUT is Michael Crabtree's feature-film directorial
debut from his original script after a long career as an actor,
as well as writing and producing documentaries and shorts.
Film appearances include Temple Grandin, Life of David
Gale, Tender Mercies, The Alamo, Fragility Of Seconds,
Dancer Texas, Pop. 81, Phobia, The Mechanical Grave, and
the upcoming The Harrowing. TV work includes the miniseries North and South, Chase, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Matthew Stephen Tompkins (Producer)
Matthew Tompkins founded Wolfclan Productions to develop
and produce quality, multi-genre films with high production
values for modest budgets. Matthew’s other award-winning
productions, screened and distributed world-wide, include:
Radiant (Best of Fest, Edinburgh International Film Festival,
Fest Favorite-CineVegas Film Festival, distributed by Mystic
Pictures), The Mechanical Grave, The Fragility of Seconds
(Gold REMI Award (Top Prize) - Best Drama, WORLDFEST,
distributed through Mystic Pictures & Vanguard Cinema),
Killling Down, (distributed by New Films International) and
the upcoming features: Nightmare Box, and The Harrowing.
Jon Keeyes (Co-Producer) Jon Keeyes began his movie
career as an entertainment journalist. He’s published over 300
movie-related articles and interviews, and edited two books on
the history of horror films. Jon then moved into feature film
production as director and screenwriter. Among his credits are
American Nightmare (director/writer), Suburban Nightmare
(director/writer), Hallow’s End (director), Mad Bad (director),
Phobia (director), The Harrowing (director/writer), Living & Dying
(director/writer) and Fall Down Dead (director). Living & Dying
was released to the European theatrical market through Warner
Bros. and domestically by HBO Video. Fall Down Dead had an
international theatrical release through Warner Bros., a U.S.
limited theatrical release, and a TV release via Lionsgate. 2014
will see the release of Nightmare Box. Jon is also an Academy
Award Semi-Finalist with his short film, Angela’s Body. Jon also
directed and produced the award winning steam-punk short film,
The Mechanical Grave.
Production Crew (Cont.)
Alan Lefebvre (Cinematographer).
Alan has lensed numerous features, shorts and TV
series. Features include the upcoming Infiltrators, plus
Spilt Milk, Fissure, Killing Down, and Lebensborn. TV
series include the Warner Bros. Web Original: Exposed,
and Pink. He’s the owner of Best Film & Video, and has
hundreds of credits producing, directing, shooting, and
editing for commercials, corporate video, documentary,
and theatrical.
Steven Baker (Editor & Digital Colorist)
Steve did the editing of picture, sound, music, and Foley, plus
digital coloring on the feature films: Radiant, The Fragility of
Seconds, and the upcoming The Harrowing. He’s also the
editor/colorist and co-producer/co-director of the documentary
short, Nick Wells: Golden Gloves, Golden Years.
Orvis Scuttle (Jonathan Brooks) sees the full extant of Mike’s brutal intentions.
Production Notes & Press:
This First Time Director Is No Odd Man Out
by Tommy G. Kendrick
Can A First -Time Director Make A Good
Movie?
Well, of course. But it is not going to be easy.
Every movie director was once a ‘first time director’ so
what’s the big deal? Am I using ‘first time director’ as an
excuse in the discussion of Michael Crabtree’s ODD
MAN OUT? Or maybe as a pejorative term? Neither.
In fact in this case I think the tag ‘first time director’ can
be viewed as something of a badge of honor. Let’s think
about this ‘first time director’ thing. How many first time
directors in the indie sector begin a project but never
finish? I don’t have a number but I know anecdotally that
the number is LARGE.
What steps can the first time director take to help ensure
that his or her project will not collapse from the weight or
too much responsibility in too few hands? How can the
first time director succeed?
Since I have screened ODD MAN OUT, I can truthfully
say that Crabtree has exceeded expectations for most any
director, not just a first time director with his work on this
movie.
Location, Location, Location
It’s not just in real estate that location matters. The genesis of ODD MAN OUT can be
traced to a visit first time director Michael Crabtree paid to the Deridder Antiques Store
in Forney, Texas.
First Time Director Big Time Talent
“I was nuts [felt compelled] to do my first film. I’ve written several scripts… I’ve
pitched ‘em, I’ve sent ‘em out, I’ve talked ‘em up but never gotten anywhere with
them. But this was a smaller story.”
“The ‘genius’ of my film directing was casting terrific actors”
ODD MAN OUT stars Chuck Huber and Matthew Tompkins as the two brothers, Matt
and Mike Turner, respectively. Add in the beautiful object of desire for both brothers,
Angela Chase as Gracie and top off the main cast with Jonathan Brooks as Orvis Scuttle
and you have a very strong ensemble indeed.
When I asked Michael how long it took to write the script I got a surprising answer. Not
only was he a first time director, he was a first time director who began production with
what amounted to an outline.
Crabtree talks extensively about the style of shooting which was very improvisational.
Michael explained that his actors
had experience working in such a
fashion and were comfortable with
improvisation and developing the
script in a sort of piece-meal fashion
based on the existing outline.
In hindsight, would he approach the
film in this manner again?
“I’m old school and I thought we
had to have a script, actors had to
have pages. I’d often times write
scenes the night before we shot and
send them out to the actors the night before or two nights before if possible.”
The Shooting Schedule
The film was shot in a total of 18-20 days, mostly on weekends.
“We might have a consecutive three days. But pretty much it was piecemeal…when
we could get people together.”
The location became a major player in this story.
It adds such a rich texture to the visual. This
DeRidder Antiques store is a location Fellini
would covet.
Michael told me that the owner allowed the film
company great latitude to shoot when they
needed to. They mostly shot at night because
large portions of the story that happen at the
antiques store occur after dark.
The use of this great location is key to the
climactic scenes. The art direction came ‘prepackaged.’
Final Thoughts: What Would
You Do Differently
I think it’s always interesting and
hopefully instructive to find out what a
first time director would do differently if
they started over from scratch. Here was
what Michael Crabtree said about that:
What is it that you know now that you wish you’d known two years ago that would’ve
made your life easier along the way?
“I think pre-production. We ran and gunned….there was little or no pre-production
really. We just thought that action would breed action and we just needed to jump
in the water and start swimming. So, pre-production first and foremost.”
Mike (Matthew Tompkins) is about to make the night even darker as his plans are set in
motion.
Dallas actor-producer Matt Tompkins fantastic latest film, ‘Odd
Man Out,’ will be shown Saturday night at USA Film Festival
By Joy Tipping/Staff Writer [email protected]
11:48 pm on April 26, 2013
Local actor Matthew Stephen Tompkins has been doing fabulous
work on local stages for a couple of decades, but what you may not
realize is that he’s also doing some great work in film and TV
(including appearances on Friday Night Lights and In Plain Sight).
He’s got his own company, Wolfclan Productions, that’s steadily
been turning out terrific horror and thriller films.
The latest, a psychological thriller called Odd Man Out, has been
making its way around the festival circuit (where it’s won several
laurels) and Saturday night (April 27) will get a showing at 8:30 p.m.
at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas, courtesy of the USA Film
Festival.
Matthew Stephen Tompkins
Tompkins sent me a preview copy of the film, and it’s a treat. It’s a
slow-burn thrill, taking its own sweet, tension-building time to let you absorb the creepy, just-atad-off atmosphere and feeling that something’s not quite right with Tompkins’ seemingly goodnatured and good-willed protagonist, Mike Turner. Without giving too much away, it tells the
story of Mike, who returns from parts unknown since being estranged from his family since
1985. His wheelchair-bound brother, Matt (Chuck Huber) and sister-in-law Gracie (Angela
Chase) had all been tight since childhood, but that changed when Mike left home. Also in the
mix is their mostly silent, glaring mother (Gail Cronauer) and the disturbing caretaker of the
family antique store (Jonathan Brooks).
As the story progresses, we learn that Mike has long been in love with Gracie, and harbors
resentment toward Matt because he ended up married to Gracie, and also because Matt got
special treatment because of his disability. To make matters worse, Mike suffers from a
condition that lets him remember with complete accuracy, down to the last detail, every single
day of his life. (It’s a real condition; Marilu Henner has something similar). Because Mike’s past
life constantly replays itself in his mind, it’s really, really hard for Mike to forgive past snubs,
whether real or simply perceived.
The film was shot locally, including in the De Ridder Antiques store in Forney, which has a
wonderfully cluttered and horror-movie ambience that makes me want to go explore it
immediately. In his feature directorial debut Michael Crabtree (who also wrote the script)
makes wonderful use of some of our best acting talent (in addition to Tompkins, Huber, Chase,
Brooks and Cronauer, you’ll see Jerry Russell and Laurel Whitsett in smaller roles). Whitsett,
especially, brings perfect bemusement to her funny role as a bar pickup early in the film;
Crabtree inserts just enough humor to keep the movie from being completely maudlin. As the
lead, Tompkins masterfully lets the layers of his “nice guy” mask drop away, and Huber also
excels as the “disabled” brother who’s actually much more functional than his troubled sibling.
It’s a low-budget indie, but still remarkably polished due to cinematographer Alan Lefebvre’s
use of lighting and unusual shooting angles.
Cast and crew will be in attendance at Saturday’s USA Film Festival screening. For information
and tickets, visit the film fest website. If you miss it Saturday, you can buy Wolfclan’s films at
the company’s website, and also at Amazon and other outlets. Odd Man Out will be available
soon.
Festival Screenings & Awards:
ODD MAN OUT Credits
Wolfclan Productions, in association with Deebo Pictures & Highland Myst Entertainment
present: ODD MAN OUT
Matthew Stephen Tompkins, Chuck Huber, Angela Chase, Jonathan Brooks.
Cinematography: Alan Lefebvre.
Editing & Digital Color: Steven Baker.
Sound: Eric Williamson
Produced by: Matthew Stephen Tompkins.
Co-Produced by: Michael Crabtree & Jon Keeyes.
Written and Directed by: Michael Crabtree.
Running time: 99 min. Color. 2014.
Matthew Stephen Tompkins
Chuck Huber
Angela Chase
Jonathan Brooks
Gail Cronauer
Trey Walpole
Laurel Whitsett
Kent Williams
Mike
Matt
Gracie
Orvis
Mother
Noakes
Laurie
Doctor
Danny Lewis
J.D. Lewis
Bobby Urrutia
Justin Flowers
Jerry Russell
Asheley Brown
Shauna McLean
Michael Crabtree
Auctioneer
2nd Auctioneer
Troublemaker
Nice Guy Who Had to Go
Old Drunk
2nd Doctor
Jennifer
Bartender
NIGHT CLUB PATRONS:
Erin Smith
Chris Anderson
Jennifer Coonrod
Paula-Jane Sandquist
Sarah-Kate Bozarth
Natalie Napli
Ginger Sandquist
ORIGINAL SONG:
"Should I Not Awake Tomorrow"
Written by Michael Crabtree
Performed by Chuck Huber & Angela Chase
"Feel So Good"
Written by
Timmy Dixon & Ryan Jarnagin
Performed by GRAVITY
Timmy Dixon - Vocals
Ryan Jarnagin - Lead Guitar
Phil Ward - Bass Guitar
Loren Moore - Drums
MUSIC by GETTY IMAGES:
"Below Sea Level"
"Bittersweet Memory"
"In the Dark"
"Levitate"
"Love Song"
"Mind's Eye"
"Time Bomb"
"Value Received"
CREW (Grip/Electrical/2nd Unit Sound):
Kirk Edwards
Ian Overtoom
Sloane Shoenberg
Keith Brown
Matthew Stocks
Scott Payne
Trey Garrison
Michael Sharp
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY:
Jim Holcomb
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Willie DeRidder and the Staff of DeRidder Antiques (Forney, Texas)
Chris Rubio
Kenny Robertson
Charles and Sharon Tompkins
Stage West (Ft. Worth, Texas)
Thom Sicklesteel
Harold David Jones
Mary Elizabeth Haines
Steven Foster
Steve and Tona Jebbia
Robert Harmon
Janet Farrow
Bob and Marsha Long
Georgeanne Warnock
R.L. Turner High School (Carrollton, Texas)
Hector Garcia
Jason Warner
Jennifer Culbertson
Elizabeth Ware
MPS Studios (Dallas, Texas)
Best Western - CityPlace Inn (Dallas, Texas)
97.1 The Eagle (Dallas, Texas)
IN MEMORIAM:
Anthony Schurba
(1954 - 2010)
SHOT ON LOCATION IN:
Forney, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Ft. Worth, Texas
Celina, Texas
Frisco, Texas
Carrollton, Texas
© 2014 Wolfclan Productions, LLC