These Hopeless Savages
(Independent Feature Film, 2014)
Co-Director/Producer/DP/Editor
When big news comes in for the constant bachelor Shawn, he makes it a mission to visit everyone who has shunned him for years. This includes his old friend Greg - a children's musician living in the cozy, domestic confines of Brooklyn. After the two hit some hilarious re-acquainting pains, they soon hit the American road for a trip that will show them the gifts and the costs of real friendship.
Based on an original screenplay, THESE HOPELESS SAVAGES stars Matt Dellapina (CBS’ Tommy, Blue Bloods, and Netflix’s The Iliza Shlesinger Sketch Show), Mackenzie Meehan (CBS’ Bull, HBO’s Vinyl, and The Wolf of Wall Street), Sean Lewis (award-winning playwright and contributor to NPR’s This American Life) and newcomer Maria Vorhis (award-winning actress and writer) in this bromantic comedy/drama co-directed by Sean Christopher Lewis and Kaitlyn Busbee.
Featuring
Matt Dellapina | Sean Christopher Lewis | Maria Vorhis | Mackenzie Meehan | Matt Slaybaugh | Acacia Leigh Duncan | Michelle Schroeder | Kristy Hartsgrove | Megan Gogerty | Ian Short | Tori Morgensai | Dave Willingford | Emily Hinkler | Matthew James | Kevin Moore | Rip Russell | Phillip Kincheloe | Jacob Langenfeld | Thomas Eslinger | Liu Li | Jessica Egli | Lucy the Dog | Eleanor Catherine Schroeder | Carly, Tanner & Keegan Sells | Robbie & Owen Lucas | Eva Fraser | Ezra Lewis | Jillian & Ainsley Savage | Lilly Lamparyk | Sonda Staley | Suzanne Lucas | Heather Doyle Fraser | Angie Sells | Allison Savage | Angie Toomsen | Brooke LeWarne | Jessica Traufler | RG McGhee | Joe Ritland | Levi Smith | Sean Michael Sampson
Crew
Directors - Kaitlyn Busbee & Sean Christopher Lewis | Written by - Sean Christopher Lewis & Matt Dellapina | Producers - Sean Christopher Lewis, Matt Dellapina, Maria Vorhis & Kaitlyn Busbee | Director of Photography & Editor - Kaitlyn Busbee | Sound - Maria Vorhis | Original Music Written & Performed by - Greg Samothrakis & Tack Fu | Second Unit Camera - Brant Jones & Mark Stastny | NY Sound Assistant - Jesse Jensen | Iowa City Sound Assistant - Mark Stastny | Post Production Audio Engineer - Mark Turrigiano | Production Assistant - Ben Jones
Special Thanks
Matt Moses | Joe Clarke | Matt Rebelskey | GT Ferguson | Jennifer Fawcett | Kimberly & John Busbee | Jean Breitenbucher | Jenny Hill & Ryan Smalley | Martin Andrews | Working Group Theatre | Lensrentals.com | Lee Iben | PSZ & PS1 | The Mill | The Fleur Cinema & Cafe | FilmScene | The Friendly People of Knoxville, IL
A bit of notable backstory on the production
In the summer of 2013, I rented the bare essentials of production equipment, we packed ourselves and the gear into a little Ford Focus, and hit the road from Iowa City, IA to Brooklyn, NY. Once we arrived, we began our shoot in Brooklyn and gradually wove our way back to Iowa City, stopping in various cities along the way and working with actors we knew from across the country. Shooting a 70-page screenplay in 7 days due to our schedule, time, and budgetary limitations. We continually had to brainstorm contingency plans, like when our car (the sole production vehicle and picture car) broke down and stranded us in Galesburg, Illinois for 24 hours. It felt like everything we encountered was an opportunity. And flexibility was key to discovery. This production was a true adrenaline rush, guerrilla style approach to filmmaking, and we're very happy to share this experience and the result of it.
Film Festivals
These Hopeless Savages played over 30 film festivals worldwide and is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Distributed by Meridian Releasing Group
Wild Rose Independent Film Festival, Des Moines IA (Nominated for Best Screenplay, Winner of Best Feature, Best Director, Best Actor)
Hamilton Film Festival, Hamilton Ontario (Nominated for Best Feature, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Editing)
Orlando Film Festival, Orlando FL (Nominated for Best Performance in a Feature)
Twister Alley Film Festival, Woodward OK (Winner of Best Comedy)
Phoenix Film Festival, Melbourne Australia
Universal Film Festival, Kansas City MO
Gettysburg Film Festival, Gettysburg PA
Buffalo-Niagara Film Festival, Buffalo NY
Fort Myers Film Festival, Fort Myers FL
Richmond International Film Festival, Richmond VA
Snowdance Film Festival, Landsberg Em Lech, Germany
Anchorage International Film Festival, Anchorage AK
Twin Cities Film Festival, Minneapolis MN
Indy Film Festival, Indianapolis IN
Hoboken Film Festival, Middletown NY
Nevada City Film Festival, Nevada City CA
Beacon Film Festival, Beacon NY
Yonkers Film Festival, Yonkers NY
Long Beach Indie Film Festival, Long Beach CA
Red Dirt Film Festival, Stillwater OK
Julien Dubuque Film Festival, Dubuque IA
East Lansing Film Festival, Lansing MI
Mission Creek Film Festival, Iowa City, IA
KahBang Film Festival, Bangor ME
Tucson Film and Music Festival, Tucson AZ
30 Under 30 Film Festival, NY, NY
