Blue LIGHT
BANDITS
Ian Beckman
Director/Writer
(951) 970 3378
ibeckman671@gmail.com
Press Kit
www.bluelightbanditsmovie.com
Synopsis
Shorter Synopsis (49 Words): Nick, only given a day to pay back a dirty
loan shark, seeks the help of his obtuse brother Craig whose brilliant new
scheme is impersonating police officers. When a lone detective discovers
their greedy ploy they are forced to flee as fugitives and reconcile their
differences as brot
Short (82 Words): Nick, a failure at life, is finally confronted by Knuckles,
a dirty loan shark who demands the return of his money or else he will cut
off Nick’s precious finger.
Only given a day to pay him back, Nick seeks the help of his obtuse brother
Craig whose brilliant new scheme is to impersonate police officers, known
as “Blue Light Bandits.” When a lone detective discovers their true identi-
ties and their greedy ploy they are forced to flee as fugitives and reconcile
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pitch/cover letter
To Whom It May Concern:
“Blue Light Bandits” is an independent student short film that follows Nick, a failure of a man
whose one goal is to save his precious finger from being cut off by a loan shark. With the help
of his obtuse and inane brother Craig, the duo set out on an adventure of action, suspense,
and brotherhood. Drawing inspiration from such films as “Raising Arizona”, this zany comedy
shot on 16 mm film will appeal to wide variety of audiences looking to laugh.
Blood ties and adventure are just the beginning: “Blue Light Bandits” is truly a film that a
wide range of ages can enjoy. The audience can relate to the film and its emphasis on loyalty
and creativity, brotherhood, nostalgia, and more.
Thank you for your consideration of our film for your film festival. We look forward to hearing
from you soon. Enclosed are all promotional materials and a screener of
“Blue Light Bandits”.
Best Regards,
Ian Beckman
Director/Writer
(951) 970 3378
ibeckman671@gmail.com
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About the production
Over the span of a year and a half, “Blue Light Bandits” became a reality of short film written to make people laugh,
cry, and laugh some more.
When I was first accepted to Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, I had envisioned myself
directing a short film to show off my skills creating, writing, and telling stories. In a screenwriting course offered
by the school, I was given the opportunity to develop a short comedy script for a potential thesis project. At the
time, the short was entitled “Impersonation is Not Funny” which later became what you see now as “Blue Light
Bandits.” Basically the same story on a grand budget, the two characters of Nick and Craig originally took the De-
tective Jacob as a hostage and tried to make money bartering his freedom while on the run.
When I was then given the opportunity to develop the thesis for Senior Thesis Workshop, I decided to use this
script and tame it. With the help of mentors Dan Leonard, Dave Kost, John Badham, and Barbara Doyle, I was
able to develop the script further and receive guidance on how to make the short you see now. Over the course
of five months, Dan Leonard and others offered me suggestions and were the greatest source of inspiration when
it came to connecting the story together as a whole. With the help of the faculty, I learned the keys the develop-
ment of a story.
Shot over the course of six days in Southern California and with the support of Chapman crew members, “Blue
Light Bandits” became more than just a script. It became a story. With the help of Panavision and Kodak’s gener-
ous donation of equipment, the story of Nick and Craig could arise and be shown to the world.
The professional environment stressed at Chapman University allowed me to collaborate with fantastic students
who had the same passion about making the film that I did. And with the professional tools at my disposal, using
Avid and Autodesk products, the film could stand as its own professional piece. Are you sure it was made by a
student?
“Blue Light Bandits” was an experience like no other: I learned how a film begins and how it ends. I learned how
to start a story on paper and how to end it on the big screen.
I hope you laugh and enjoy the film. Thank you.
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press release
ORANGE, CALIFORNIA – “Blue Light Bandits”, directed, produced, and written by Ian Beckman (Beckman
Movie Productions) with the assistance of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University, is
a comedy film that an audience of a wide range of ages can enjoy. Inspired by the film, Raising Arizona, “Blue
Light Bandits” is about two brothers who share a quest for wealth.
Nick, a failure at life, is finally confronted by Knuckles, a dirty loan shark who demands the return of his money
or else he will cut off Nick’s precious finger.
Only given a day to pay him back, Nick seeks the help of his obtuse brother Craig whose brilliant new scheme
is to impersonate police officers, known as “Blue Light Bandits.” When a lone detective discovers their true
identities and their greedy ploy they are forced to flee as fugitives and reconcile their differences as
brothers.
Taking place in the fictional setting of Wolf Valley, California, “Blue Light Bandits” exhibits a barren, rotten and
dry atmosphere. The film will aim to screen at several select film festivals in the upcoming months.
The film stars Sean Dodder as “Nick”, Daniel Kash as “Craig”, and Jorge Borrelli as “Jacob”.
For more information, please contact Ian Beckman at (951) 970-3378, or ibeckman671@gmail.com.
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character biographies
Nick
The main protagonist, Nick (Sean Dodder), 24, is stuck in a financial rut and must
act quickly to get himself out of trouble. Upon being threatened by the gangster,
Bloody Knuckles, Nick is faced with a decision to choose either his morals or his
precious finger and a life of crime.
Craig
Craig, (Daniel Kash), 27, Nick’s scheming older brother and partner in crime, loves
to act and take on criminal duties. Constantly getting Nick into all sorts of trouble,
his newest scheme is to impersonate police officers and take the law into his own
“hands.” However, this time, he may have gone too far.
Jacob
A detective (Jorge Borrelli) mistaken for just another common driver, Jacob, 37, is
pulled over by the two brothers in an attempt to take his money. Will he see through
their act of impersonating officers of the law, or will he be fooled as well?
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Actor biographies
Sean Dodder
Sean grew up in a small town in Iowa where he cut his teeth on cheesy musicals and super meaning-
ful, life changing drama club productions. In 2000, he came to Los Angeles to attend the University
of Southern California’s acting conservatory. He escaped 4 years later with a degree and the ability to
breathe from his belly. Since then, Sean has booked national television commercials, print ads, and
more student and independents shorts than he can count.
Daniel Kash
Upon graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Dramatic Art, Daniel Kash has been working steadily
as an actor in Los Angeles. Guest starring on such popular primetime television series as Alias, Cold Case,
Boston Legal, and The Unit, and playing recurring characters on Sleeper Cell, Windfall, and Days of Our
Lives, he most recently starred in the SciFi Channel Movie of the Week, The Immortal Voyage of Captain
Drake, due to be released in early 2009. In addition, he is an avid filmmaker himself, having written,
directed, and produced multiple festival award winning short films.
Jorge Borrelli
Michigan born actor Jorge Borrelli grew up in Texas and Florida before he attended high school in Cara-
cas, Venezuela. He performed in a number of plays in college at the University of California, Santa Cruz
including the lead role in the The Promise before earning his bachelor’s degree in drama and moving to
Los Angeles. Shortly after, he earned a recurring role on the television series Sweet Valley High. Recently,
he has appeared in such films as Reunion, The Woman Upstairs, Che Guevara, and Le Petomane: Parti
avec le vent and the award winning De Pura Cepa. Most recently Jorge appeared as a guest star on
House M.D. fifth season. Los Angeles theatre credits include the lead role in On the Open Road at the
Noho Arts Center. Jorge currently lives in Los Angeles with his son Cole.
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crew biographies
Ian Beckman – Director, Producer, Writer
Ian Beckman transferred to Chapman University, interested in Directing feature films and
commercials. From Temecula, California, he has completed an internship at Ubiquity Broad-
casting Company, writing webisodes and mobisodes of various sorts. In addition, his inde-
pendent production company/studio has been responsible for the creation of the web series’
“Film School,” and the “Azerothian Super Villains,” a Machinima series utilizing video game
engines and pre-rendered 3D animation from stylized computer games. Using the popular
video game World of Warcraft, his work recently showing at the DragonCon International
Film Festival and the Machinima Film Festival 2008, winning Best Student Work.
Yuki Noguchi – Cinematographer
Yuki Noguchi was born in Japan and came to California in 2005 to study film production at
Chapman University. Noguchi is a story teller before a cinematographer, but knows how to
pass it on through his visuals. He developed his knowledge of still photography at Konica
Minolta, where he worked for the developing crew for the new digital SLR. He has worked
on over 30 Chapman University films, including eight graduate thesis films as 1st AC in the
previous year.
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crew biographies
Vanessa Haney – Production Designer
Vanessa started acting at age three and later chose to move behind the camera working
as a director, first AD, and most notably in the art department. Vanessa started produc-
tion designing at Chapman University in her college career, and chose her first project,
art direction for a film by Carlos Torren’s entiteled “ Coming To Town.” The film required
over seven sets, dozens of props and shot for 10 days. From there she worked as art
department and production designer for numerous student films and shorts for Chap-
man Students.
Blake Smith – Editor
Blake Smith is a student filmmaker who has been pursuing a career in postproduction
editing since his early teens. Through his experience in high school and courses taken
at an Orange County community college, he was able to obtain a job as an editing assis-
tant for a small production company in Laguna Beach called True Colors Studios. He was
then accepted into Chapman University and has gained further experience in various
stages and types of postproduction. Since arriving at Chapman University, Smith has
been nominated for Best Undergraduate Editor for the film From the South, and also
recently won third place for Best Drama at the Best Fest Film Festival in San Diego.
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crew biographies
Zach Anderson – Sound Designer
Born and raised in Orange County, California, Zach Anderson started doing school projects
with a video camera and high school. In 2005, Anderson came to Chapman University and
was accepted into Dodge College of Film and Media Arts for editing and sound design.
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CREDITS
Directed, Written, Faculty Advisor Camera Second Assistant Location Manager
and Produced by Dan Leonard Becky Bauer Cristian Quintero
Ian Beckman Additional Camera Second Asst Transportation Manager
Cast Ian Coad Brian Garson
Cinematography by Nick Sean Dodder Still Photographer Casting by
Yuki Noguchi Craig Daniel Kash Kyle Good Ian Beckman
Jacob Jorge Borrelli and Brittany Curl
Executive Producers Knuckles Jonathan Caplan Gaffer
Jeff Beckman Driver Mike DeCamp Ryan Weeda Credits Animation
Shawn Beckman Clerk Andrew Delman Best Boy Electric Ian Beckman
Police Officer Sam Thornton Philipp Claucig Visual Effects
Production Designer Prisoner Sean Jackson Nick Erickson
Vanessa Haney Victims Ian Beckman Key Grip David Dunn
Brittany Curl Kyle Good Colorist
Edited by Additional Key Grip Yuki Noguchi
Blake Smith Additional First Assistant Director Chris Manigault Foley and ADR Mixer
Chris Manigault Best Boy Grip Ian Clark-Daugherty
Sound Designer Second Assistant Director Micha Newman Foley Artists
Zach Anderson Laura Parent Dolly Grip Celeste Noreen
Script Supervisor Jennifer Hanks Mike Robertson
Music by Blake Smith Grip Grant Olin
Grant Olin James Nguyen
Production Assistant Grip Press Kit arranged by
Unit Production Manager Jason Brescia Owen Svelmoe Crystal Chou
Brittany Curl
Camera Operator Sound Mixer Orchestrations by
First Assistant Director Bret Watkins Mike Robertson Reece Miller
Derick Alexander Camera First Assistant Boom Operator Picture Car Provided by
Margaret King Jennifer Hanks Scott and Gretchen Cover
Associate Producer Camera Second Assistant
Yuki Noguchi Becky Bauer
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Fact sheet
Movie Title: Blue Light Bandits
Year: 2009
Manufacturer: Beckman Movie Productions and Dodge College of Film and Media Arts
Director, Writer, Producer: Ian Beckman
Starring Actors: Sean Dodder; Daniel Kash; Jorge Gonzalez Borrelli
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy / Adventure
Keywords: Crime, Theft, Comedy, Family, Police
DVD Technical Details: Region 0 (All Regions); Color; Feature Runtime: 17 minutes; Number of Disks: 1; Single layer; Single Side;
Languages: English; Closed Caption: No; Subtitled: No
Additional Brief Description 1 (60 words): “Blue Light Bandits” is a comedy film with a strong theme of loyalty and adventure.
Nick, a failure of a man finds himself in yet another binding situation to owe a loan shark money and seeks the help of his brother
Craig, ready to bail him out. Will Nick accept his brother’s help and participate in more of his wild schemes, or will his dawning
morals overpower his desperate need for cash?
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PHOTOS
Production Stills On Set Stills
These can be found under the folder ‘Press Kit’ with the aforementioned folder names. 12