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
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.
InStraight Outta Tompkins,drugs areGene’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
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.
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.
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Aaron Costa Ganis / Cruz
Aaron Costa Ganis was featured in the 2013 international action filmBlood, Sand, and Gold,directed by Gaelan Connell. He can also be seen inA 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 seriesUnderstudies,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 theMFA NYU Graduate Acting Program.Aaron will be appearing in the 2015 season ofUnforgettable on CBS.
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.
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.
Michael Steinmetz / Bobby
Mike Steinmetz film credits includeNot 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 filmCampus 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, andpreviously worked in advertising before making the transition to acting. She is a member of the Anthony Meindl Acting Studio, and was recently selected to jointheir advanced master class.
Patrick Brana / Ace
Patrick Brana can be seen in Isabel Coixet’s international feature Learning to Drive with Sir Ben Kingsley and Patricia Clarkson. He appears on an episode of NBC’s Taxi Brooklyn after making his television debut in 2013 as a guest star on the Ironside pilot directed by Peter Horton. Other credits include All My Children, a lead role in Dead Man’s Trigger, as well the independent short The Dark Ages. Patrick appeared in the critically acclaimed independent short film Nevo, based on the NY graffiti scene, as well as the independent web series produced by and starring Kiefer Sutherland, The Confession, directed by Brad Mirman.
Andrew Butler / Matt
Andrew Butler is a Brooklyn-based writer, performer and composer. With musical-sketch comedy group Political Subversities he has performed at Joe's Pub, Ars Nova, UCB and The PIT, and been featured on Funny or Die, College Humor, HuffPo and MSNBC. Andrew has created and performed new theater at Ars Nova, The Bushwick Starr, HERE, CATCH, Dixon Place, The Skirball Center, The Williamstown Theater Festival, and The ICA in London. Web Series: No Place Else To Go,Going Gold,GoodCopGreatCop. Film: An Addiction To Payne, But Not For Me. Andrew holds a BFA from the Experimental Theater Wing at NYU.
Cliff Bemis / Headmaster Toddman
Cliff Bemis originated and performed the role of Ezekiel Foster in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas on Broadway and in San Francisco, LA and Detroit.He has worked Off-Broadway at the Irish Repertory Theatre and The Mint Theatre in NYC, toured nationally in The Drowsy Chaperone and White Christmas, and appeared in regional theatres. His film work includes Billy: The Early Years, Nancy Drew, The Distinguished Gentleman, World Trade Center, and Au Pair II. His more than 75 guest star TV appearances include shows like White Collar, Law and Order SVU, One Life To Live, Dallas, and Cheers. He has worked with such distinguished directors as Robby Benson, Clint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, David Zucker, and Ted Demme.
ERICA EVERAGE / GENE’S SISTER
Erica Everage was born and raised in Santa Monica, CA. She began acting as a child, appearing in numerous TV commercials and playing Michael Madsen's daughter (and the title role) in the filmThe Sender (1998).After graduating from Crossroads School in Santa Monica, she went on to major in Theatre at Northwestern University. After graduation Erica returned to Los Angeles, where she has appeared in many short films, commercials, and comedic web sketches, as well as starred in an original sitcom created and produced at the USC graduate film school.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BIOS
ROBBY BENSON / Executive Producer, Original Score
RobbyBenson haswritten, produced and directed feature filmsand television series for 40 years, including directing over 100 sitcom episodes, most notably for Friends and Ellen. Amusician and composer,he wrote the iconic “We Are Not Alone” forJohn Hughes’ seminal filmThe Breakfast Club. Most recentlyheproduced Lyric’s Love Light Revolution(2012) for his daughter, Lyric Benson. He is atwo time Golden Globe nominated actor. Hestarred in Jeremy, Ode to Billy Joe, IceCastles, Tribute, Harry and Son, Running Brave, TheChosen, and is the voiceof Beast in Disney’s Academy AwardwinningBeauty andthe Beast.On Broadway he starred inZelda, The Rothchilds and JosephPapp’sPirates of Penzance, where he met his wife, singer/actress Karla DeVito.In 2007 he wrote the best-selling Who Stolethe Funny? A Novel of Hollywood(HarperCollins) and in 2012 the multimedia medicalmemoir,I’m Not Dead…Yet!At age 19,working with his father,Robbysoldhis first original screenplay for the basketball classic Oneon One to WarnerBrothers, and isthrilled to be continuing thatfamily tradition collaborating with his son,Zephyr Benson.
DAVID RUDD / Executive Producer
DavidRudd is a Los Angeles based producer, director and directorof photographywith over 30 years’ experience.His credits includefeatures, commercials, promos and music videos. He has directed commercial campaigns for Nissan, Infiniti, Thomasville Furniture,Nutrilite, Community Hospital ofMonterey and Crest;as well as directingliveperformances for Transiberian Orchestra and Cirque Du Soleil. He has done photography forMcDonalds, Discover Card,Ameritech, AT&T, Captain D’s and Cincinnatti Bell. His featurefilm creditsinclude Keeper of the Pinstripes, Bill, Wisteria, The Grey Man and CaptainNuke and TheBomber Boys. His televisioncredits include ABC’s UglyBetty, Comedy Central and HappyMadison PretendTime, Sting: Inside-The Songs Of Sacred Love, Sting:AllThis Time, Sting:Songs From The Labyrinth.With credits on over 200music videos and live shows he has worked with Metallica,Keith Urban, Dave Matthews, The Rolling Stones, DavidBowieAndJohn Mayer.