(odd effects)
A feature film in development
by writer director Catherine Craig
about
OddFX is an inventive and emotionally powerful drama that invites well-meaning men to walk in a woman's shoes and learn how to become true allies.
The story follows a resilient mother who escapes real-world violence to take a job at a funky, all-male special effects studio—a place where the crew enjoys an extended childhood creating "pretend" monsters. As her reality collides with their playground, the narrative becomes an open invitation for men to learn how to truly see, protect, and stand alongside the women in their lives.
It is a timely, necessary story about empathy, community, and how a brotherhood of imaginative creatives learns to build a safer world for a survivor and her children.
logline
At a studio where every monster is pretend, a mother on the run enlists a crew of eccentric special effects men to stop her real-life monster before he takes her children.
Sponsored by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman
Screenwriting Lab Finalist Twice
Documentation upon request
Screenplay Available Upon Request
director’s statement
Video by Jason Doiy
recommended by
“Catherine is a dedicated and talented artist with experience in all aspects of the film industry. As a camerawoman, artist, and storyteller, my hope is that she be given the opportunity to combine all those unique skills and create her vision for the big screen.”
—Francis Ford Coppola
characters
Cady Langton (30s) Intelligent, talented, and guarded. Protective of her children. Self-sufficient, and not prone to suffer fools. In shock and shocked by the dilemma she finds herself in. Alienated from society. Trying to reenter, but wary of the cost. She is the best camera operator at OddFX.
Barrett Jones (50s) Owner of OddFX, a brilliant man living an arrested childhood making special effects (FX). Revered by a small worldwide following. He helps Cady get her foot in the door and becomes her mentor.
Prism Langton (8) A talented child whose abilities and welfare are overlooked with all that is going on. She tries to mediate between her mother and father and protect her younger brother. When it becomes too much, she escapes into dissociation by twirling. She wants help with her science project.
Parker Langton (6) He keeps his vision and interest centered closely around him. Prism is his only constant as they shuttle between parents.
Nolan Langton (40s) Manipulative and controlling. He uses a charming facade to psychologically torment his wife and children to maintain power.
Sergeant Wu (30s) Tired of seeing dead women. It is all life and death for her. She’s touch with the nuances.
Teisha Ramos (30s) Outgoing, eccentric, aware. Helps Cady and her children integrate into the shelter. Nothing matters more to her than her dog, Frida.
Thena Jones (50) Married to Barrett. Grounded in the real world. Empathetic. She wants Barrett to step outside his curtained-off world and into reality. She sees Cady as an opportunity to get him there.
Yamiah and Rocky (20s) Two of the brilliant men working at OddFX; many have traveled great distances to join OddFX.
location
Cady and her children must navigate two unique and contrasting worlds.
Locations Two primary settings. A warehouse for OddFX and a shelter in a converted house. The story is written to be production-easy—a warehouse, an older house dressed for the shelter, the family home, a school, a corner store—all locations that can often be found 10 to 15 miles from each other.
OddFX is a story about a traditional special FX shop. It is not an expensive FX film. Many visually impressive practical effects can be done for very little money.
Director Catherine Craig knows the visual effects and special effects industry from the inside — and precisely how to make OddFX look like a studio picture without a studio budget.
why this film now?