INTRINSIC VALUE FILMS
and
OZMOSIS PRODUCTIONS
present
CALIFORNIA WINTER
a film by Odin Ozdil
CONTACT:
Odin Ozdil
Writer/Director/Producer
Ozmosis Productions
646.894.0052
odinozdil@gmail.com
Aimee Schoof
Producer
Intrinsic Value Films
917.327.7826
aimee@intrinsitcvaluefilms.com
CALIFORNIA WINTER
LOGLINE:
Clara Morales, a young real estate agent who encouraged
risky loans during the housing boom, must now rescue her
father's home from eviction-- a consequence of the loan she
advised him to take.
SYNOPSIS:
Clara Morales begins a rising career in real estate in 2005,
encouraging risky loans to her clients so that they can
afford houses above their means-- loans that she didn’t
fully understand. She even recommends such a loan to her
father.
With the onset of the 2008 housing market crash, Clara's
father's house goes into foreclosure, and Clara must now
save her childhood home. The result is a strain on her
relationship with her father, leading him to ignore matters
of his health. Meanwhile, Clara engages in a fierce
competition with a coworker to hold onto her job in a
downsizing workplace.
One positive aspect to her life is a burgeoning romance
with her bank representative, the handsome and caring
Carlos. However, with the eviction date right around the
corner, Clara gives in to the continuing stress at work and
makes a reckless play to acquire a new client. Her plan
backfires and she loses her job. At this point saving her
father’s home seems more impossible than ever.
Ultimately, Clara and her father realize that although they
have made some poor decisions along the way, they need to
put the past behind them, and they enact a final and
desperate plan to save their home. This is a timely story
about how personal choices and family are a stronger force
than any other.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Unlike other recent films that explore the housing market
crash from the ivory towers of Wall Street or back room
government offices, CALIFORNIA WINTER is the story of how
everyday American families have experienced this crisis.
Long after Wall Street has recovered and turns record
profits, and banks continue to enforce predatory policies,
difficult times continue to be the day-to-day for many.
From the initial decision-making that led them to take out
troublesome loans, to the pressures on the family unit
while dealing with foreclosure, CALIFORNIA WINTER focuses
on the story of a Los Angeles family-- The story of
millions of families across the country.
Through Clara's interactions with the banks, other
homeowners, and most importantly her father, we get an
understanding of the stresses on both the individual and
the greater family unit in these difficult economic times.
Although the story in CALIFORNIA WINTER takes place during
the crisis, this film is not an investigation into the
cause of it, but a portrait of what a family suffers
through when the greater machinations of a corporate-first
society caters to business institutions first, and how,
regardless of the powerlessness of your position, you can
always come out ahead if you put family first.
I’m honored to share this film with you, and hope you find
it timely and heartwarming.
-Odin Ozdil
Writer-Director, California Winter
PROJECT BACKGROUND AND PRODUCTION
CALIFORNIA WINTER, the first feature by Odin Ozdil, was
born out of interviews the Writer-Director conducted of
homeowners in the Los Angeles area in 2009. This was the
height of the crash, and with so much unknown, one thing
was clear: people had fallen into a rabbit-hole of
financial uncertainty, and the crisis was having a profound
effect on their lives and communities.
Characters and their stories in CALIFORNIA WINTER are based
on real people and the very real circumstances they have
found themselves in during this crisis.
From Pacoima to Eagle Rock, to the cast and crew,
CALIFORNIA WINTER was only possible because of the generous
effort of many who believed in the film; giving their time,
money and homes to be a part of getting this touching yet
unfortunately all too common story filmed.
BIOS
ODIN OZDIL (WRITER-DIRECTOR-PRODUCER)
Odin Ozdil is a Writer-Director based in Los Angeles. He is
a graduate of Columbia University with an MFA in Film and
was subsequently hired at MTV Networks and the Brave New
Films Studio. From being chosen to participate in the CocaCola’s Refreshing Filmmaker competition, to winning Best
Documentary at the Chicago International Reel Shorts
Festival, Odin’s narrative and documentary work has played
in film festivals around the country. He has also directed
plays in the Los Angeles area. Odin has numerous other spec
comedy and dramatic scripts, as well as an almost-completed
documentary in postproduction about the DREAM Act.
AIMEE SCHOOF and ISEN ROBBINS (PRODUCERS)
Aimee Schoof and Isen Robbins founded Intrinsic Value
Films in 1997 and have produced over 25 films, 6 of which
premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, including THE
ALPHABET KILLER, THE SKEPTIC, SATAN’S LITTLE
HELPER, XX/XY (Grand Jury Prize Nomination,
Sundance), MISSING IN AMERICA, ANYTHING BUT LOVE, THE
HEBREW HAMMER, DEATH OF A DYNASTY and BROTHER TO BROTHER (4
Independent Spirit Award nominations, Grand Jury Prize
winner Sundance).
Recently, Intrinsic produced BLUE CAPRICE, based on the
2002 sniper killings in DC, SHOCKWAVE DARKSIDE, a sci-fi
action epic shot in 3-D, GABI ON THE ROOF IN JULY currently
being released by WB ppv/vod, and NIKO, an animated
children's fantasy, that premiered at the Tribeca Film
Festival. Currently in post production with OMPHALOS, a
sci-fi time travel love story, and RUN, about a young man
who practices parkour and is both a hero and a thief.
CAST BIOS
ELIZABETH DOMINGUEZ (ROLE OF “CLARA MORALES”)
Originally from Mexico City, Elizabeth Dominguez received
her BFA with Honors in Theatre from NYU’s Tisch School of
the Arts where she studied with The Atlantic Theatre
Company. Upon graduation, she spent time doing theatre in
New York City before participating in a three month acting
intensive where she studied with acclaimed writer and
director David Mamet. Other credits include various
national and regional commercials, “Chasing Eagle Rock”
directed by Erick Avari, and “In the Picture”, the
60thanniversary Ode to Cinerama.
MICHAEL IRONSIDE (ROLE OF “SHERIFF HILLMAN”)
Michael Ironside has made a strong and indelible impression
with his often incredibly intense and explosive portrayals
of fearsome villains throughout the years.
Ironside first began acting in movies in the late 1970s. He
received plenty of recognition with his frightening turn as
deadly and powerful psychic Darryl Revok in David
Cronenberg's Scanners (1981). He was likewise very chilling
as vicious misogynistic psychopath Colt Hawker in the
underrated Visiting Hours (1982). Other memorable film
roles include the hard-nosed Jester in the blockbuster
smash Top Gun (1986), ramrod Major Paul Hackett in Extreme
Prejudice (1987), loner Vietnam veteran "Ben" in Nowhere to
Hide(1987), the ferocious Lem Johnson in Watchers (1988),
and lethal immortal General Katana in Highlander II: The
Quickening (1991).
RUTINA WESLEY (ROLE OF “MARCY SANCHEZ”)
Rutina Wesley is known for the character Tara Thorton, on
the gritty Southern vampire drama, "True Blood." Rutina
studied dance for years then earned an undergraduate degree
in Theatre Performance from the University of Evansville in
Indiana. She had the good fortune to be accepted by the
acclaimed Julliard School. During Rutina's stint at
Julliard, she was fortunate enough to spend a summer at the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She soon made a big-screen
appearance in the dance melodrama “How She Move.”
WALTER PEREZ (ROLE OF “CARLOS GONZALEZ”)
Most recently, Walter can be seen in the blockbuster hit
“The Avengers.” Other guest appearances include "CSI:
Miami", "The Closer" and "Free Radio" as well as a five
episode arc on "Friday Night Lights". His feature film
credits include HBO's "Walkout" and winner of the John
Cassavetes award "August Evening". He just completed the
title role in "Emilio" and worked on "Run For Your Life"
alongside Dermot Mulroney and Diane Kruger.
ERIK AVARI (ROLE OF “DOUGLAS HARIRI”)
Erick Avari’s credits include leading roles in films from
cult classic The Beast of War to commercial megahits such
as Stargate, Independence Day, The Mummy and Planet of the
Apes. His comedic skills have landed him starring roles in
Mr. Deeds, For Love or Money and Woody Allen's only
television film Don't Drink the Water. His long theatrical
background has garnered him critical acclaim for several
roles at the Joseph Papp Public Theatre in New York City,
including his portrayal of Vasquez in "'Tis Pity She's a
Whore" and the Broadway hit, "The King and I".
A MARTINEZ (ROLE OF “PAPI”)
A has starred on such television programs as “Santa
Barbara” (daytime emmy), “All In the Family”, and “The Bold
and The Beautiful”. In film he worked with John Wayne in
“The Cowboys” and Meryl Streep in “She Devil” and with Gary
Farmer and Wes Studi in “Pow Wow Highway” for which A won
the best actor award at The Native American Film Festival.
The film won best film at The Sundance Film Festival.
FACT SHEET
TYPE: FEATURE NARRATIVE
GENRES: Drama, Family, Historical
RUN TIME: 82 MINUTES
FORMAT: HD
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: ENGLISH AND SPANISH
SCREENING RATIO: 16:9
FPS: 24
CREDITS
An INTRINSIC VALUE FILMS and OZMOSIS PRODUCTIONS film
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY
Odin Ozdil
PRODUCERS
Aimee Schoof, Odin Ozdil, Isen Robbins
CAST
ROLE
CLARA MORALES:
PAPI:
SHERIFF HILLMAN:
MARCY SANCHEZ:
DOUGLAS HARIRI:
CARLOS GONZALEZ:
CAMILA VASQUEZ:
KEN RICHMOND:
HOWARD GORSKI:
PLAYED BY
Elizabeth Dominguez
A Martinez
Michael Ironside
Rutina Wesley
Erik Avari
Walter Perez
Laura Ceron
Sean Patrick Murphy
Rod McLachlan
CREW
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Brayton Austin
EDITED BY:
Nelson Brann, Susan Vaill
COMPOSER:
Goliath Flores
COSTUME:
Angela E. Thomas
CASTING:
Rosalinda Morales & Pauline Ocon