MARCH 9, 2010 – Following a big Oscar night for Independent Films, Berry Pond Productions, in association with Verité Films is proud to announce the Los Angeles screening of Allen Cognata's independent film "The Putt Putt Syndrome" on March 11, 2010 at the Majestic Crest Theater in Westwood.
The film, which was recently screened at the Tribeca Cinemas in New York City, has made its way to L.A. with its eclectic cast of actors such as Jason London from cult film “Dazed and Confused” to iconic “Baywatch” heart throb David Chokachi, soap opera star Heather Tom from CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful” as well as Thea Gill from the popular gay TV series “Queer As Folk.” Robert Maschio from ABC’s “Scrubs” and actor Paul Diomede from the independent film “The Messenger” are also part of the cast.
"The Putt Putt Syndrome" is a dark, sexy comedy about 2 married couples stuck in a rut in their relationshps after realizing that their perception of marital bliss is not as idyllic as it seems.
The main character Johnny, played brilliantly by Jason London, goes through an absurd journey of paranoia after his best friend, Tony (David Chokachi) plants a seed of doubt about wives' infidelities. The result is an entertaining, witty and offbeat film about two couples trying to understand what has gone wrong in their relationships. The film's universal theme is a profound commentary on the dangers of becoming complacent in life. Thea Gill and Heather Tom play the bored, distraught and confused housewives.
“This is such an exciting time for independent films. We're figuring out our own place in the mainstream market as we redefine new distribution models that can compete with big Hollywood blockbusters,” said producer René Veilleux. “It really proves that audiences want original stories and a lot of well produced independent films provide that." Producer Donald Roman Lopez added, "Independent film-making is going through a renaissance, and we are thrilled to be forging this new path for films like ours. That's the true spirit of independent film-making."
The film was shot in Cognata’s hometown of Winthrop, Maine. Locals there came together by offering their homes, businesses and volunteer services to make his dream a reality. "In retrospect, we were up against some formidable odds. It rained 15 out of 18 shooting days, the average age of our PA's was 15 and it was my directorial debut. Not to mention our budget of 200,000! I couldn't be more pleased with the team. My fellow producers Donald and René did a wonderful job bringing an independent Hollywood feel to our grassroots indie" Cognata added.
While many independent projects wallow through the post-production process, or are often never completed, "The Putt Putt Syndrome’s" post-production team quickly ushered the film through its final stages to completion less than 7 months after wrapping principal photography. The film is being submitted to festivals and producers are now working on the distribution plan.
Watch our trailer at: http://theputtputtsyndrome.com/trailer.html
