Wolfe Releasing Presents A Film by Pete Jones
OUTING RILEY
Starring Pete Jones Nathan Fillion Michael McDonald Jeff Garlin
USA • 2004 • English
Distribution Contact Jeffrey Winter 323/466.3536 Jeffrey@WolfeReleasing.com Publicity Contact Corey Eubanks 323/229.5759 Corey@WolfeReleasing.com
www.WolfeReleasing.com
OUTING RILEY Principal Cast and Crew
PRINCIPAL CAST Bobby—Pete Jones Luke—Nathan Fillion Andy—Michael McDonald Maggie—Julie Pearl Connor—Stoney Westmoreland With Steve Dahl and Jeff Garlin
PRINCIPAL CREW Written and Directed by Pete Jones Producers—Judd Nissen and Patrick Peach Cinematography—Peter Biagi Editing—Gregg Featherman Production Design—Wesley Tabayoyong II Original Score—Rick Butler and Fred Rapaport SHORT SYNOPSIS OUTING RILEY is the second film from Chicago native, Pete Jones, winner of the first season of "Project Greenlight" OUTING RILEY is the comedic story about a gay man who has finally decided to come out to his Catholic family. There's just one problem... nobody believes him. Michael McDonald from “MadTV” plays his boyfriend Andy and SERENITY’s Nathan Fillion plays his wise-ass brother Luke. OUTING RILEY also stars Jeff Garlin (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”), Julie Pearl, Stoney Westmoreland, and Chicago radio personality Steve Dahl.
OUTING RILEY From the Director
Excerpts from Pete Jone’s Film Threat blog on the making of OUTING RILEY On Planning the Film: Unlike "Project Greenlight," I don’t have the studio’s money. Which creates serious problems. But it also gives me incredible freedoms. The script is about a fun loving Irish Catholic guy who shocks his family by coming out. They think it’s just another prank he’s pulling so he needs to prove to them that he’s not playing a homosexual for giggles. He is gay. The script is hopefully funny but does not shy away from the relationship between Bobby Riley and his boyfriend Andy. It’s also not afraid to show the frank views that Bobby’s brothers have toward homosexuality, so though the script is light, it does deal with the issues. Which is why…it was difficult to sell a studio on a gay comedy that hopefully is broad enough for mass audiences but specific enough to cater to the real gay community. I sat down at my computer hoping to write that blockbuster script. I think about these flawed yet heroic characters saving the world, yet by the end of the day, I’m writing a story about how my family would react if I were gay. But really gay, not sitcom gay. Where my lead character actually loves the other man physically and emotionally. On Shooting in Chicago: One thing that has made this film difficult to shoot is locations. Because of the subject matter of the film, a gay man coming out, both the Catholic Church and the Chicago stock exchanges didn’t allow us to shoot in any of their locations. The Catholic Church is understandable, though completely hypocritical. But the best “no” was from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade. Both establishments said no to us because they wanted to protect the image of their institutions. “Outing Riley," definitely has some crude, even objectionable moments, but for the Merc or the Board to say no to us because they want to protect their image? Come on. They’re homophobic. Plain and simple. Because adding tolerance to the list of adjectives that usually describe traders (selfish, greedy, chauvinistic,) could only help. On Making a “Gay Film”: On "Outing Riley," there’s so much to worry about because the tone of this movie is incredibly tricky. It’s a comedy and we have funny stuff to deliver, but there’s some dramatic moments that are essential to the story. After the ripping I took from some people on the melodrama of Stolen Summer, I’m gunshy to deliver anything that might be considered an "after school special." But the audience needs to feel how difficult it is to be a closeted gay man and the pain an individual bears when they are not allowed or choose to not reveal their real self. Nothing is more important to me with this movie than to have gay men who have experienced Bobby Riley’s life to tell me I got it right. On Jeff Garlin: Jeff Garlin grew up in Chicago and I was lucky enough to meet him a few times. We hit it off pretty well and at the HBO Emmy parties, he said to me that no matter where, when and how I was shooting my next movie, he wanted to be in it. People say anything at parties, but with stars in my eyes, I remembered the comment. So when I started casting for the movie, I called Jeff. He called me back and said he’d read the script. He called me a week later, exactly when he said he would, and said this was a bad time for him. He just finished shooting “Curb” and was moving homes, so he needed another week. He again called me exactly when he said he would and Jeff told me he had three conditions before taking the role. One, I can’t pay him. Two, he would fly himself to Chicago. Three, he would put himself up at a hotel. Jeff Garlin isn’t what you would expect from a Hollywood star, but everything you would expect from a Chicago guy.
OUTING RILEY From the Director, continued
More Excerpts from Pete Jone’s Film Threat blog on the making of OUTING RILEY On Writing and Passion: I’m no good unless I’m passionate. There are a million better writers than me out there. Ones that could look at the last sentence and see I used an objective pronoun when I should have used a subjective pronoun. But with passion, I truly feel there are only a hundred or so better writers out there than I. For me to be passionate, it’s gotta be my way. When I finished writing “Oting Riley”, I was told to drop the gay element from the story and concentrate on the camaraderie of the brothers and we could sell it for a decent chunk of change. Look, I’m not looking to be the grand marshal at the Gay and Lesbian parade next year. I want a decent chunk of change. But this story doesn’t work for me unless Bobby Riley is gay. I can’t change that. And no amount of money can influence my passion for writing. I really wish money could create passion, but it doesn’t for me.
OUTING RILEY Biographies
PETE JONES—Writer / Director / “Bobby” Pete Jones wrote, directed and stars in OUTING RILEY, his second feature film. Jones first came to national attention as the winner of the inaugural season of HBO’s “Project Greenlight.” The reality series, produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, looked at the making of Jones’ debut feature STOLEN SUMMER, which was selected from over 7,000 entries to be made. STOLEN SUMMER premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and was followed by a limited theatrical release. NATHAN FILLION—“Luke” Nathan Fillion is best known for his role as Captain Malcolm Reynolds in Joss Whedon’s cult hit television series “Firefly” and its big-screen adaptation SERENITY. Nathan has also been seen in SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, the sci-fi horror film SLITHER, and as Caleb in the final season of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” among many other projects. He co-stars in Adrienne Shelley’s WAITRESS, which just premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, and the new Fox drama “Drive.” MICHAEL MCDONALD—“Andy” Michael McDonald is part of the comedy ensemble on Fox’s “MadTV,” where is also now directing episodes of the late night sketch comedy show. At the same time, he has a recurring role on the series “Seventh Heaven” as Hailie Duff’s alcoholic father. He also has a recurring role on “Scrubs” and recently played Kirstie Alley’s manager on “Fat Actress.” Michael has also appeared on “Seinfeld,” “Ellen,” “News Radio,” and many other television shows. His film credits include AUSINT POWERS IN GOLDMEMBER, SCARY MOVIE 4, SLACKERS, and more.
OUTING RILEY About Wolfe Releasing For over 20 years, Wolfe has been the largest exclusive distributor of gay and lesbian entertainment in North America. In addition to theatrical distribution and television sales, Wolfe is well known for its expert development of relationships with major retailers, including Blockbuster, Amazon.com, and Virgin Megastore, to name a few, as well as a very lucrative mail-order business. Each year, the Wolfe acquisitions team attends major film festivals around the world to discover the best new films featuring gay and lesbian themes. Wolfe’s president, Maria Lynn says, “There are some incredible lesbian and gay films and stories out there. We love to help filmmakers find their audience and we are simply the best company to introduce a diverse range of new films to both mainstream retailers and our loyal base of customers.” Film consultant Orly Ravid heads up Wolfe acquisitions and distribution wing and directs the company’s new theatrical efforts. filmmakers and distributors. Wolfe’s most recent theatrical release was 3 NEEDLES, directed by Thom Fitzgerald and starring Lucy Liu, Chloe Sevigny, Stockard Channing, Shawn Ashmore, Sandra Oh, and Olympia Dukakis. Recent Wolfe releases include the Sundance-winner BROTHER TO BROTHER, the Italian melodrama ADORED, and Finland’s official submission for the Best Foreign Film Oscar, PRODUCING ADULTS. www.WolfeReleasing.com Ravid previously managed the distribution of the controversial French thriller BAISE-MOI, as well as consulting with many independent