Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures PRESS KIT
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1 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures PRESS KIT Straight Outta Tompkins A film by Zephyr Benson WEBSITES indicanpictures.com straight-outta-tompkins.com DISTRIBUTOR Indican Pictures 1041 North Formosa Ave, Formosa Building – Ste 221A, West Hollywood, CA 90046 (323)850-2667 • (800)862-6234 ONE SENTENCE SYNOPSIS A forlorn, gifted teenager abandoned by his family in New York City mistakenly substitutes the attention of a Lower East Side drug dealer for the love of his absentee father. SYNOPSIS Zephyr Benson shines a light on addiction and the middle class drug scene with his debut film about a forlorn, gifted teenager abandoned in New York City who mistakenly substitutes the attention of a Lower East Side drug dealer for the love of his absentee father.. As writer, director, producer and protagonist, Benson reveals innocence lost with a gritty & sometimes humorous narrative on the mixology of weed, narcotics and pills, and the absurdity of the junky lifestyle. He is supported by the outstanding dramatic performances of Aaron Costa Ganis as Cruz, Adonis Rodriguez as Ivan, Jon McCormick as Sam, and Michael Steinmetz as Bobby. This universal story follows the sales and distribution of narcotics through teen social circles before coming to an inevitable violent end. Benson’s fearlessly honest insider’s view destroys the myth of casual drug use as his character, Gene, morphs from troubled child to novice dealer to accidental addict. The ending is a jolt audiences won’t soon forget. FILM INFORMATION Run time: 92:44 minutes Shooting Format: HD Screening Format: HD-DCP Sound: 5.1 Rating: Not rated at this time Country: USA Language: English Genre: Drama Trailer: available 2 FILMMAKER’S STATEMENT Since I was 17 years old, heroin has been an unfortunate part of my life. I’ve watched friends of mine battle addiction. Some ended up going down similar paths with similar tragic outcomes. I've lost people I love to this drug. If you haven't experienced it, it's hard to imagine. But it’s a story I felt compelled to share. I dropped out of NYU after one semester to write this script. I was 19, and I was angry. I wanted to tell an honest story about something I’ve seen personally and expose the truth — the comradery, the highs and lows of selling and using these drugs. In Straight Outta Tompkins, drugs are Gene’s escape -- from the pain of rejection by his dad, the pain of the loss of his family, and the pain of uncertainty. He is attracted to a drug dealer like Cruz because Cruz is certain. He has all the answers. But it’s a lie. Cruz represents heroin to me. He lies to Gene the way heroin lies to an addict. He tells Gene everything is ok though clearly it's not. I think the film is an authentic portrayal of how a person can slip so easily into addiction. Drugs falsely gives your life focus and your other problems recede and become small. Chasing the high becomes your life.I wanted to put drugs in a light I have seen. Not good light or a bad light, just an honest one. Hopefully, people will come out of the film and see life through a new set of eyes. — Zephyr Benson 3 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures CAST BIOS Zephyr Benson / Writer, Producer, Director, Gene ZEPHYR BENSON Actor/Writer/Producer/Director Zephyr Benson makes his feature screenwriting and directorial debut in March 2015 with his bold and gritty drama “Straight Outta Tompkins” (Indican Pictures). Taking place in New York City’s Lower East Side, “Straight Outta Tompkins” follows the story of a young high schooler (Benson) who is recruited by a known drug dealer and inevitably becomes entwined with his inner city drug ring. “Straight Outta Tompkins” was filmed entirely in Manhattan over the course of less than 20 days and with an impressive ultra-low budget of $160,000. He also will appear in the upcoming independent drama, “Coming Through the Rye,” the story of two teenagers and their search for elusive author JD Salinger (Chris Cooper). In a pivotal role, Benson plays Gerry Schwartz, the older brother to one of the teens. Benson was born in California in 1992 to singer/actress Karla DeVito and multi- hyphenate talent Robby Benson. Surrounded by a loving family he felt most at home in NYC when his parents relocated there in 2004 to debut their musical ‘Open Heart’ at The Cherry Lane Theater, with Benson as the voice of Adam. But it wasn’t until age 16, while working as a production assistant in all departments on his father’s film “Billy,” starring Armie Hammer, where he fell in love with every aspect of production. Back in New York, Benson attended an unconventional Arts high school which allowed him the freedom to participate in his dad’s highly sought after senior level filmmaking courses at New York University. Upon graduation, he entered NYU/Tisch Filmmaking and Television class of 2014. 4 After a short time and at only 18 years old, Benson opted to leave the University and pursue his passion project – writing and producing his own film based on his experiences and people he interacted with on the Lower East Side. From there, and one year later, “Straight Outta Tompkins” was born. Benson still lives in New York City and is busy writing and developing several projects for Lyric Films: an edgy, dark comedic series about a young artist in NYC; an untitled horror feature set in Brooklyn; and producing the screenplay ‘Garth Garmen’ - a palpable, revealing look at the insanity within the worldwide pharmaceutical industry. Zephyr Benson is president of Lyric Films, in partnership with his executive producing team BensonRuddBenson, David Rudd and Robby Benson. *** 5 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures Aaron Costa Ganis / Cruz Aaron Costa Ganis was featured in the 2013 international action film Blood, Sand, and Gold, directed by Gaelan Connell. He can also be seen in A New York Love Story (Soho International Fest, Dances With Films) with director/writer Apolla Echino, cast by Emmy Award winning Judy Henderson. Other credits include the upcoming comedic web series Understudies, Double Crossed (SXSW), The Mess We're In (NY Shorts Fest), and numerous theatrical credits in New York City and regionally. He was trained at the MFA NYU Graduate Acting Program. Aaron will be appearing in the 2015 season of Unforgettable on CBS. 6 Adonis Rodriguez / Ivan Adonis Rodriguez is a Brooklyn born and raised actor making his feature film debut in Straight Outta Tompkins. After ditching a pre law political science major, he found his true passion in acting and attended the New York Film Academy and hasn’t looked back. 7 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures Jon McCormick / Sam Jon McCormick film credits include Further Lane (2009), Poetry Man (2010), Greenwood. His Off Broadway stage credits include Luke in Phantom Killer, Abingdon Theatre Company. Chi in Tuesday Night Poker, Theatre Row. Garcin in No Exit, 59E59. His Off Off Broadway stage credits include Jake in happYouth, The Gene Frankle Theatre. Grazy in Revolution on the Roof, NY Fringe Festival. Turner in Thunder Rock, ReGroup Theatre Company. His other credits include Laertes/Guildenstern in 3D Hamlet, and A Lost Generation, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 8 Michael Steinmetz / Bobby Mike Steinmetz film credits include Not Fade Away (2012) (Dir. David Chase), the indie feature I Don't Want to Kill Myself (2011) and for television Unforgettable (CBS). He is a proud member of the Pipeline Theatre Company and of the band Miko and the Musket. Graduate of NYU Tisch. 9 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures Angelina Fiordellisi / Miss Kintrich Angelina Fiordellisi has acted on Broadway, Off-Broadway, on national tours and in every venue imaginable across the country in about 50 plays. Her film credits include When a Man Loves A Woman, Where The Heart Is, Big Stone Gap, Out Of Darkness, Delusion and Word of Honor. Her television credits include Law & Order, LA Law, Star Trek: TNG, The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Thunder Alley, The Kennedy Center Honors Program and The New Munsters. Angelina owns and operates the historic Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village. On Broadway, she won her first Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critic's Circle and Drama League awards for producing the revival of Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolff. 10 Ezra Knight / Killer Ezra Knight has most recently appeared in The Blacklist, Orange is the New Back (Season 1), and soon to be released To Whom It May Concern and The Confines. 11 Straight Outta Tompkins Press Kit - Distributed by Indican Pictures Lisa Pettersson Bearpark / Tandra Lisa Pettersson Bearpark is an actress and producer working in the US and Sweden. After graduating from Columbia University with a degree in Art History and pre-med, she went on to study acting with the legendary Wynn Handman. You can catch her as the lead in the upcoming feature The Tangent Room. 12 Christina Saragaglia / Roxy Christina Saragaglia made her television debut as the lead in an episode of Fatal Encounters, and will soon appear in the new HBO series The Leftovers. She can also be seen on MTV in the upcoming PSA “Bias Isn’t a Good Look.” Other credits include the film Campus Life (Dir. Catherine Scorsese), the web series Wave Goodbye, and various theater productions in New York City. Christina graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in marketing, and previously worked in advertising before making the transition to acting.