Filmed in Austin, An Ordinary Family highlights the difficulties for a family with a religious background when a member comes out of the closet. After years away from home Seth (Greg Wise) returns for a week with his partner William (Chad Anthony Miller) to meet the family. Each member of the family has a different reaction. For example, brother-in-law Chris (Steven Schaefer) at first finds the situation comical and slightly uncomfortable, but develops a strong bond with William.
The center of the story, however, is Seth's brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer), a Presbyterian minister. Thomas struggles to find peace in order to reconcile acceptance of Seth and William with his faith. It was his intolerance that drove Seth away, and they must come to terms with each other for Seth to consider returning home to rejoin the family permanently.
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The center of the story, however, is Seth's brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer), a Presbyterian minister. Thomas struggles to find peace in order to reconcile acceptance of Seth and William with his faith. It was his intolerance that drove Seth away, and they must come to terms with each other for Seth to consider returning home to rejoin the family permanently.
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- 10/24/2011
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
Director: Mike Akel Writers: Mike Akel, Matt Patterson Starring: Greg Wise, Chad Anthony Miller, Troy Schremmer, Janelle Schremmer, Laurie Coker, Megan Minto, Steven Schaefer Seth (Greg Wise) and his boyfriend, William (Chad Anthony Miller), show up at the lake house while Seth's unsuspecting family members are enjoying their annual week-long vacation. Before they announce their arrival, Seth confesses to William that his family does not know they are coming. As it turns out, Seth has been estranged from his family ever since he abandoned working beside his older Christian minister brother, Thomas (Troy Schremmer), and ran away to live with William, whom he met on Chatroulette. The Biederman family presumably does not know that Seth is gay and they certainly do not know that he has been sharing a bedroom (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) with William. Seth’s arrival with William in tow catches the Biederman clan off guard. The...
- 7/13/2011
- by Don Simpson
- SmellsLikeScreenSpirit
Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Mike Akel
Written by: Mike Akel and Matt Patterson
Starring: Troy Schremmer, Greg Wise, Janelle Schremmer, Chad Miller, Steven Schaefer, Megan Minto and Lauire Coker
With the tagline “A week of vacation. A lifetime to unpack,” “An Ordinary Family” is shaken up when Seth (Greg Wise) decides that the family reunion is the time to introduce his boyfriend to his Christian family, the majority of whom not only don’t know about his significant other but are in some denial about his homosexuality. Portrayed with wonderful realism and shot with fly-on-the-wall measure, the vacation home provides physical confines within which each of the family members must accept or challenge their predispositions and prejudices.
While Chris (Steven Schaefer) and his wife (Seth’s sister) Sharon (Megan Minto) provide comic relief, Seth’s brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer...
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Mike Akel
Written by: Mike Akel and Matt Patterson
Starring: Troy Schremmer, Greg Wise, Janelle Schremmer, Chad Miller, Steven Schaefer, Megan Minto and Lauire Coker
With the tagline “A week of vacation. A lifetime to unpack,” “An Ordinary Family” is shaken up when Seth (Greg Wise) decides that the family reunion is the time to introduce his boyfriend to his Christian family, the majority of whom not only don’t know about his significant other but are in some denial about his homosexuality. Portrayed with wonderful realism and shot with fly-on-the-wall measure, the vacation home provides physical confines within which each of the family members must accept or challenge their predispositions and prejudices.
While Chris (Steven Schaefer) and his wife (Seth’s sister) Sharon (Megan Minto) provide comic relief, Seth’s brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer...
- 6/19/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
Reviewed by Elliot V. Kotek
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Mike Akel
Written by: Mike Akel and Matt Patterson
Starring: Troy Schremmer, Greg Wise, Janelle Schremmer, Chad Miller, Steven Schaefer, Megan Minto and Lauire Coker
With the tagline “A week of vacation. A lifetime to unpack,” “An Ordinary Family” is shaken up when Seth (Greg Wise) decides that the family reunion is the time to introduce his boyfriend to his Christian family, the majority of whom not only don’t know about his significant other but are in some denial about his homosexuality. Portrayed with wonderful realism and shot with fly-on-the-wall measure, the vacation home provides physical confines within which each of the family members must accept or challenge their predispositions and prejudices.
While Chris (Steven Schaefer) and his wife (Seth’s sister) Sharon (Megan Minto) provide comic relief, Seth’s brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer...
(June 2011, screening at the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival)
Directed by: Mike Akel
Written by: Mike Akel and Matt Patterson
Starring: Troy Schremmer, Greg Wise, Janelle Schremmer, Chad Miller, Steven Schaefer, Megan Minto and Lauire Coker
With the tagline “A week of vacation. A lifetime to unpack,” “An Ordinary Family” is shaken up when Seth (Greg Wise) decides that the family reunion is the time to introduce his boyfriend to his Christian family, the majority of whom not only don’t know about his significant other but are in some denial about his homosexuality. Portrayed with wonderful realism and shot with fly-on-the-wall measure, the vacation home provides physical confines within which each of the family members must accept or challenge their predispositions and prejudices.
While Chris (Steven Schaefer) and his wife (Seth’s sister) Sharon (Megan Minto) provide comic relief, Seth’s brother Thomas (Troy Schremmer...
- 6/19/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
The Los Angeles Film Festival has announced the world premiere of Richard Linklater's Bernie as the opening night film for the 2011 festival.
The film will kick off the festival on June 16 at Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 at L.A. Live. It is written by Skip Hollandsworth and director Linklater and stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey.
The film follows a beloved mortician (Black) from a small Texas town, even winning over the town's richest, meanest widow (MacLaine). Even after Bernie commits a horrible crime, people still will not utter a bad word against him.
"We're thrilled to be opening the Festival with the world premiere of this delicious black comedy - a treat from one of the most original and exciting voices in independent film, Richard Linklater," said Festival director Rebecca Yeldham. "With its fabulous all-star cast, Bernie is a perfect stage setter for the incredible line-up of...
The film will kick off the festival on June 16 at Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 at L.A. Live. It is written by Skip Hollandsworth and director Linklater and stars Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Matthew McConaughey.
The film follows a beloved mortician (Black) from a small Texas town, even winning over the town's richest, meanest widow (MacLaine). Even after Bernie commits a horrible crime, people still will not utter a bad word against him.
"We're thrilled to be opening the Festival with the world premiere of this delicious black comedy - a treat from one of the most original and exciting voices in independent film, Richard Linklater," said Festival director Rebecca Yeldham. "With its fabulous all-star cast, Bernie is a perfect stage setter for the incredible line-up of...
- 5/30/2011
- by alyssa@mediavine.com (Alyssa Caverley)
- Reel Movie News
Like sitcom dads, high school teachers in big-screen comedies are more often than not the object of ridicule. What's most refreshing about the genial and well-observed Chalk is that it describes the high school experience from the of teachers' point of view. Some of them are goofy, to be sure, but rather than two-dimensional representatives of the clueless adult class, they're also earnest, devoted working people.
Writer-director Mike Akel and writer-actor Chris Mass have experience in the classroom, and that shows in the film's attention to detail and milieu: between-class decompression and drama in the teachers' lunchroom, the whir of the malfunctioning copier, the antique machinery of paper cutters and overhead projectors. More a series of loose-limbed vignettes than a sculpted narrative, Chalk lacks a compelling dramatic drive. But the cast creates a fine, improvisatory interplay, captured with verite-style camerawork, and the unforced humor and insights go a long way in this first feature, a Los Angeles Film Festival selection.
Beginning with a title card stating that 50% of teachers quit in their first three years on the job, the film focuses on a few individuals within that tender trial period. Co-writer Mass plays history teacher Mr. Stroope, who is well aware of his intellectual limitations, something of a ham and determined to claim the title of Teacher of the Year. By contrast, fumbling, serious newcomer Mr. Lowrey (Troy Schremmer) struggles to maintain order, let alone teach a lesson. Mrs. Reddell (Shannon Haragan), meanwhile, discovers that a promotion to assistant principal translates to endless days playing hallway cop and confessor to venting teachers, the thankless job putting a strain on her marriage and her friendship with gym teacher Lindsey Webb (Janelle Schremmer), a well-meaning but overbearing stickler for policy.
Unfolding over a school year, the Austin-shot film doesn't crescendo in any To Sir With Love emotional breakthroughs. But it does show the gradual building of trust and ease between teachers and students (played by students of the filmmakers), best exemplified in a delightful spin on the spelling-bee trend du jour in which teachers, competing in a student-organized event, try to spell urban slang words.
In developing the story, the actors named their characters after favorite teachers. That affection and respect for a profession that receives little societal support and far too little compensation is the substance of Chalk.
Writer-director Mike Akel and writer-actor Chris Mass have experience in the classroom, and that shows in the film's attention to detail and milieu: between-class decompression and drama in the teachers' lunchroom, the whir of the malfunctioning copier, the antique machinery of paper cutters and overhead projectors. More a series of loose-limbed vignettes than a sculpted narrative, Chalk lacks a compelling dramatic drive. But the cast creates a fine, improvisatory interplay, captured with verite-style camerawork, and the unforced humor and insights go a long way in this first feature, a Los Angeles Film Festival selection.
Beginning with a title card stating that 50% of teachers quit in their first three years on the job, the film focuses on a few individuals within that tender trial period. Co-writer Mass plays history teacher Mr. Stroope, who is well aware of his intellectual limitations, something of a ham and determined to claim the title of Teacher of the Year. By contrast, fumbling, serious newcomer Mr. Lowrey (Troy Schremmer) struggles to maintain order, let alone teach a lesson. Mrs. Reddell (Shannon Haragan), meanwhile, discovers that a promotion to assistant principal translates to endless days playing hallway cop and confessor to venting teachers, the thankless job putting a strain on her marriage and her friendship with gym teacher Lindsey Webb (Janelle Schremmer), a well-meaning but overbearing stickler for policy.
Unfolding over a school year, the Austin-shot film doesn't crescendo in any To Sir With Love emotional breakthroughs. But it does show the gradual building of trust and ease between teachers and students (played by students of the filmmakers), best exemplified in a delightful spin on the spelling-bee trend du jour in which teachers, competing in a student-organized event, try to spell urban slang words.
In developing the story, the actors named their characters after favorite teachers. That affection and respect for a profession that receives little societal support and far too little compensation is the substance of Chalk.
- 6/30/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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