An already 'out' and eccentric teenager recruits a bizarre circle of friends - made up of two oddball outcasts, a straight jock he's crushing on and a drag queen - to help him bring down the homophobic bully threatening his would-be peaceful high-school existence.

As a script alone, The Curiosity of Chance started as an experiment to accomplish several things: create a teen-comedy unique in it's voice, but still familiar in themes; to pay my own respect to some of the great teen films I grew up loving and which influenced me; and lastly to put a young gay character front and center, without the issue of sexuality being what everything hangs on. (yet still keep in integral to the story.) The Curiosity of Chance could on one hand be defined   as a coming-out story, but not in the expected turmoil-and-angst-filled way one might expect. In that regard, Chance (the character) is already "out" - the issue of his sexuality a foregone conclusion from the start of the film- which makes his "coming-out" odyssey more about finding himself, and his true voice. Chance's   struggle - like so many teenages' - is one of finding acceptance at a time when you're figuring out who you really are; even if that person is eildly different than anyone else around you. For Chance, he has the added burden of being and "out" gay teenager in a world that isn't all that accepting, while discovering and trying to find footing in a world that is.

The opportunity to take this project from script to screen was a chance to try -- in a single film -- some of the things I've always loved about cinema.  Creating and writing teen characters has always been fun for me and let's face it, high school is a microcosm of life.  Being able to re-create a high-school experience with a wisdom and perspective that didn't exist when I was living it, is akin to writing an autobiography that I wish I'd lived.  And we'd all love to re-write parts of our own histories once in a while.  Adding in a musical element -- both in soundtrack songs and on-screen performances -- was another challenge I'd always wanted to tackle.  Setting the film in the 80s, and at an international high school were the most autobiographical parts of the story -- maybe something to personalize it a bit more for myself and to create a more pointed love-letter to the classic teen-comedies of that decade (thank you John Hughes).  But beyond that, the story and characters are creations from my imagination, all combining in an attempt to capture an emotion, a moment, and ultimately a truth about navigating the turbulent teen years.

Having worked in the entertainment world for a while now, I fully expected a long haul before ever cobbling the money together to make this film -- a script I felt strongly about directing myself.  But a funny thing happened on the way to Making-An-Indie-Film-Frustrationville (yes, that's a real place): the greenlight and money came together at an alarming speed that took me by surprise.  And in this case I don't think it was due to any perceived 'genius' in the writing or my 'take' on how I would direct it, but moreso like everything in Hollywood, I happened to be at the right place, at the right time, with the right project.  (And know the right people.)

So thanks to the willingness of executive producers Michael Gleissner and Kacy Andrews to take a chance on this story (and me as a director), I teamed up with my friend, and fearless producer, Lisa Schahet -- to make the film a reality with a scant 6 weeks for pre-production.  That would include practically round-the-clock casting sessions in LA to find our two leads (which included a 'Chance' who could actually sing), plus more casting (for just about every other role) in Belgium, only 4 weeks before we had to start shooting.  But what at many times was the most stress-inducing part of the production , turned out to be the most satisfying.  I love the cast that came together to make this film -- and loved every day of being on set and working with them.  From the greenest-of-the-green to our most seasoned vet, everyone put forward an amazing amount of effort and talent, and took this little story to another level I could barely have imagined only a month before we started filming.  I could write a story on every single one of them, each with a unique history and personal style.  But as I look at the finished film today, the greatest compliment I can extend to any of them is that I can't possibly imagine any other actor playing their particular part.  They found a way to own it; taking what was on the page (and in my head), and making it better, sharper, funnier and more emotional.  

The look of what I wanted the film to be was equally as important as the cast and I quickly realized the script I had written was ambitious for the budget we had.  But I decided to be stubborn about trying to achieve it (instead of scaling back), and thankfully never once did our collaborators back away from the challenge.  Instead, they not only rose to it but surpassed it.   And so all in thanks to our dept. heads: D.P. Jack Messitt, Production Designer Kurt Rigolle, Costume Designer Lorette Meus, Hair & Make-up Stylist Frank Wolleghem, editor Mark Rees, (and their respective 'crews') and our music wizards (Cathy Duncan, Christopher Henry, Joey Peters and Willie Aron), what they ultimately accomplished in creating the 'look and feel' of this film -- on the budget we had -- was nothing short of astonishing.

Despite its period nostalgia, I endeavored for the final film to resonate in a way that feels timeless.  So that whether you're a teenager living through high-school hell right now, just stepped out of it, or you're a 10, 20 or even 30-year reunion removed from your graduation, you'll find things in this story and these characters that are relatable.  It was never my intent to shy away from Chance's sexuality, far from it.  But I did ask myself: was there a way to make a teen-comedy that could appeal to an audience -- gay and straight, male and female, young and older -- and be enjoyed by all on a level that transcends sexuality?  My hope is that no matter your age, ethnicity, sexual orientation -- whatever -- that this is a story and characters that entertain you.  If everyone seeing The Curiosity of Chance exits the theater with no more than a comment along the lines of: "That was a fun and entertaining way to spend 90 minutes", I'll feel as if I've done my job as a filmmaker.  If they take away more from it than that, then all the better. Despite its period nostalgia, I endeavored for the final film to resonate in a way that feels timeless.  So that whether you're a teenager living through high-school hell right now, just stepped out of it, or you're a 10, 20 or even 30-year reunion removed from your graduation, you'll find things in this story and these characters that are relatable.  It was never my intent to shy away from Chance's sexuality, far from it.  But I did ask myself: was there a way to make a teen-comedy that could appeal to an audience -- gay and straight, male and female, young and older -- and be enjoyed by all on a level that transcends sexuality?  My hope is that no matter your age, ethnicity, sexual orientation -- whatever -- that this is a story and characters that entertain you.  If everyone seeing The Curiosity of Chance exits the theater with no more than a comment along the lines of: "That was a fun and entertaining way to spend 90 minutes", I'll feel as if I've done my job as a filmmaker.  If they take away more from it than that, then all the better.

On the surface The Curiosity of Chance is like a throwback to the classic teen comedies of the 80's, only it couldn't have been made then, mainly because the lead character is an openly gay teenager. But writer/director Russell P. Marleau's vision is far more universal.   Indeed, his goal - and challenge - in writing the script was to create a story that focuses on an "out and proud" sixteen-year-old who remains relatable to viewers of all ages and sexual identities. It appears Marleau succeeded.

"Obviously the lead character is gay, but I think the important thing is it's not about a gay kid," says lead actor Tad Hilgenbrinck. "Chance could have been any sort of minority...anything that makes you feel somewhat different. It's that story we all go through - the feeling that you don't fit in, no matter who you are." As soon as he read Marleau's deeply resonant script, Hilgenbrinck knew he had to go after the role of Chance Marquis. "I read a lot of scripts that were being passed around, and when I saw this script, it was so intelligent. The way Russ takes every stereotype and strips it down...I really couldn't pass up the opportunity to do it."

Marleau's strong script is what drew many of the cast and crew to the project. The opportunity to tell a unique and thoughtful high-school story in the fun, exaggerated trappings of a stereotypical 80's film was irresistible.   Maxim Maes, who plays bully Brad Harden, loved the depth of the story. "In a sense you could say it's a stereotypical movie, but ...   it's actually there to break through those patterns."   "The dialogue is really smart and honest, and the story is relevant to a lot of people," adds Brett Chukerman, Chance's hunky crush, Levi Sparks. Veteran actor Chris Mulkey was attracted to the project because of the father/son relationship between his character Sir and Chance.   "[Sir is] a little like my dad ... he was in the military and sent me to military school.   I didn't have the same struggle [as Chance] of course, but the struggle of identity is always there."

With such a strong script, Chance had the unusual experience of coming together rapidly. "We had an incredibly quick ramp-up," says producer Lisa Schahet. "We were green-lit the second week of June; by the first week of July we were in Belgium beginning pre-production, and we started shooting mid-August."   Once green lit, Marleau's first hurdle was finding a young actor who could handle his lead character. "I always thought [Chance] would be a hard part to cast. He's pretty unique. Tad...came in towards the end of the audition process and had this specific take on the character... and after that first audition I knew this guy was the one to play Chance." Hilgenbrinck was game, and quickly got a reputation as someone willing to do anything for the film. "Tad arrived in the perfect frame of mind for me as a director," Marleau adds. "From the minute we started rehearsals it was clear he was fearless about this role, and ready to do anything for it. He came with a ton of ideas, and an attitude that he would go to the edge if I asked him. Tad was so collaborative in all the right ways - and so talented. There were layers to what he could do and create that I never expected. When I saw that, I only got more excited about him and what the film could be.

Because the film shot in Belgium, another challenge was finding local cast. "There were some language issues," notes Schahet. "English wasn't their first language, but we were able to communicate using a combination of English, Flemish and French.   We all understood filmmaking and the story that Russ wanted to tell. So, ultimately we were able to bridge any cultural or language gaps that we might have had."

Still, the Belgian cast could relate to Marleau's characters. "It's fun to play someone who is 17," says Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze, who plays Chance's geeky friend Hank Hudson, "to go back to that time in your life."   "I found that I was similar to Twyla, though I'm nicer," admits lead actress Aldevina da Silva. The Belgian actors rose admirably to the challenge, but throw in hundreds of non-English-speaking extras and a team of famous European drag queens appearing on film for the first time, and you're bound to run into a few problems. As Schahet explains, "there are many challenges for a low budget film to begin with...but to take an American director, producer and director of photography to Belgium, where they've never filmed before, was almost foolhardy.   But we met some terrific people and had a great local cast and crew, and put together something we're really proud of."

One of the greater challenges was Marleau's decision to set the film in the 1980's - an homage to the inspiration of John Hughes. "I always approached this project influenced by John Hughes' films, plus there was the fact that I went to high school in the 80's.   I also wanted to use some specific music from that period so I made the decision to set it in that decade." This meant the production team had to capture the specific, quirky nature of the 1980's without going over the top, not to mention the young cast, most of whom were not old enough to remember the decade. "I only had, like, 7 years in the 80's," notes Van Nieuwenhuyze. "It seems like a fun time to have lived in, with all the strange clothes and stuff.   But I really love the music, even now."

In the end, cast and crew, American and European, came together under the inspiration of first-time Director Marleau. Lead actor Chukerman notes, "Russ does an amazing job of letting the actors find their own story, their own version of the character. For someone who has such a sharp tongue on paper, he's really a very gentle guy."   Schahet relished the opportunity to work with a director who had worked in other capacities on film sets. "Working with Russ was a great experience. He is incredibly astute, smart and creative. As a writer/director who thinks like a producer, he's incredibly aware of financial constraints and issues that come up in filming any movie. He's produced before, so he has the ability to understand what it takes to put a film together."   Marleau certainly had no complaints about the decision to shoot him first film overseas. " There were absolutely no compromises in shooting this in Belgium, not with the commitment and talent of the cast or crew."

And so The Curiosity of Chance survived the challenges of a tight schedule, a small budget, a multi-lingual cast and crew, and the relative inexperience of many of its participants. The result is a charming coming-of-age film that touches a nerve with all of us who ever experienced high school.   Now safe on the other side of the process, Marleau looks at his finished product with satisfaction. "We captured the film I wanted to make - the humor, the characters, the music, the clothes and the way the story played out."

ABOUT THE CAST

Tad Hilgenbrinck - Chance Marquis
As only a talented newcomer can, Tad Hilgenbrinck hand delivered his unsolicited resume to the American Pie Presents: Band Camp casting director, and with his quick wit and charm, landed the lead role in this successful franchise. Hilgenbrinck starred as Stifler's wild little brother Matt, in director Steve Rash's teen comedy, which debuted at number one on the DVD-sales chart when released in December 2005.   The Curiosity of Chance marks Tad's second consecutive starring role in a feature film, playing the titular hero 'Chance' -- a character 180-degrees opposite from his Band Camp role.

An Illinois native who was raised on a farm, Hilgenbrinck polished his creative craft studying Shakespeare intensively in London, and has starred in multiple theatrical productions including "A Midsummer's Night Dream", "Chicago", and "Oliver". After many successful performances in London and New York, Hilgenbrinck ventured to Los Angeles giving himself only two weeks to make it or go home.   Hilgenbrinck's first run of good fortune took place when he won the Showcase Showdown on "The Price Is Right". Hilgenbrinck is currently shooting the New Line Cinema thriller Amusement to be released in late 2007.

Brett Chukerman - "Levi Sparks"
Brett Chukerman currently stars in Eating Out 2: Sloppy Seconds , which premiered at the 2006 Outfest Film Festival in Los Angeles and was released theatrically in select cities in December 2006. Born and raised in Chicago, Chukerman sang at Carnegie Hall and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra throughout his teenage years, before making the switch to theater where he studied at both Oxford and the American University of Paris.   After returning to the states he made a living performing in the theater and upon moving to Los Angeles attended USC while turning his attention to film and television, scoring roles in MTV's "Undressed", "Power Rangers." and "So noTORIous". His other movie credits include Return to Innocence and the short film Crush .  

Chris Mulkey - "Sir"
Actor Chris Mulkey's resume and film credits are extensive, as he has played various roles in all genres on both TV and the silver screen. He's featured in the current season of the Showtime series "Sleeper Cell" and most recently starred as the villain in "Broken Trail", AMC's first original miniseries, starring Robert Duvall and directed by Walter Hill. In addition to The Curiosity of Chance , Mulkey plays an agent in D-War - a film about an evil entity that attempts to destruct Los Angeles, and Dirty - a crime-thriller starring Cuba Gooding, Jr.   Additionally, he worked alongside Charlize Theron, Sissy Spacek and Woody Harrelson in North Country. Then Mulkey ventured to a dramedy in Thanks to Gravity , and starred in the critically acclaimed independent film, Mysterious Skin .

Chris Mulkey's affinity for the South led him to Charleston, South Carolina where he costarred in Radio , with Ed Harris, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Debra Winger. And he played a southern family man in Lifetime's acclaimed series "Any Day Now", starring opposite Annie Potts and Lorraine Toussant.

Mulkey starred in American Girl as the life sentence-serving father of Jena Malone. He was also in Bulworth with Warren Beatty and The Fan with Robert De Niro. Other films include Broken Arrow; 48 Hours; First Blood; Gas, Food, and Lodging; Sugar Town; The Hidden; Ghosts in the Machine , and many others including the cult hit Patti Rocks - an independent film co-written by and starring Chris and his wife, Karen Landry.

Aldevina Da Silva - "Twyla Tiller"
Born in Angola and raised in the Netherlands, Aldevina da Silva quenched her thirst for acting at an early age, performing in school and regional musicals whenever she had the chance.   The Acid Queen in the rock opera "Tommy" was one of her most cherished and challenging roles. But despite her interest in the arts during high school, this overachiever was planning a more traditional future - pursuing a career in International Business. At age 19, she started her own company, Silva Luchttechniek BV (providing air ventilation systems and advising on environmental and clean air issues), which has thrived since its inception. Yet with all her success and achievements, da Silva's passion continues to be acting.   After initially being brought in to read for a supporting role in The Curiosity of Chance , the filmmakers realized she would be better suited for the female lead, and after quickly memorizing the lines, she auditioned for that part instead. Displaying an uncanny knack for comedic-timing she was cast in her first starring role, as the acid-tongued, yet strangely vulnerable Twyla.   This experience - her first acting on camera - has proven to be a launching pad into a whole new career.   Da Silva speaks Portuguese, Dutch and English fluently.  

Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze   - "Hank Hudson"
Born and raised in Ghent, Belgium, Pieter Van Nieuwenhuyze always dreamed of becoming a performer.   As a child, one could often find him singing along to his LP's, dressing up and playing parts in his own fantasy world. In his teenage years, Pieter went to a local music academy and learned to play the piano and the flute.   He continued his studies at the Conservatory of Brussels, where he graduated with a Masters degree in Dramatic Art and a concentration in Musical Theatre. During that time Pieter also took Master classes in the UK at the Guildford School of Acting. A few weeks after graduating Guildford, he was cast as 'Hank Hudson' in The Curiosity of Chance - his first feature film role. Pieter continues to star in many theatre productions and has been performing as a solo singer in several local concerts as well.

Russell P. Marleau - Writer/Director
Russell P. Marleau is a graduate of San Jose State University. After moving to Los Angeles, he began writing and working in animation. He wrote and produced on USA Network's "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" series, which was based on the theatrical short starring Jim Carrey.  He won the Humanitas Prize and was nominated for an Emmy for his writing and producing work on the hit FOX series "Life With Louie" , created by comedian Louie Anderson.  Marleau then turned his attention back to the world of live-action programming, serving as the head-writer, executive producer and directing multiple episodes for three seasons of the Discovery Channel series "The New Adventures of A.R.K."  More recently he has moved into the world of feature-films, writing and producing the 2004 Columbia/Tri-Star release 3-Way , starring Dominic Purcell, Dwight Yoakam, Ali Larter and Gina Gershon. The Curiosity of Chance  marks Marleau's feature directorial debut and he was recently presented with the 'Best New Director' jury award at the Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival for the film.

Lisa Schahet - Producer
Lisa began her career in Chicago as a producer for Intersport Television, where she and her cameraman captured exclusive footage of the attack on Nancy Kerrigan during the 1994 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. That footage aired as a worldwide, breaking news story on ABC's "World News Tonight," and Lisa went on to produce numerous television specials for NBC, CBS and ESPN. Since producing The Curiosity of Chance , she recently wrapped production on two versions of the same independent film - which shot concurrently in Hong Kong - Irreversi the English version and Hui Lu in Mandarin. Her next film, (818) directed by Bob King (Psycho Beach Party), will go before cameras in 2007. Lisa's previous work includes Development for John Wells Productions ("ER", "The West Wing") and Feature Production for 20th Century Fox on such films as Behind Enemy Lines , From Hell , and Dude, Where's My Car? Her first independent production - the short comedy Cloud Nine - made its worldwide television debut on HBO and premiered at the 2001 Los Angeles Film Festival. A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Lisa is a graduate of Northwestern University and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Kacy Andrews - Executive Producer
Kacy Andrews is CEO of Bigfoot Entertainment and has been actively involved in the entertainment industry for over 18 years. She spent nine years in both production and project development at Hyperion Pictures. This included work as one of the producers on Miramax's Playing By Heart (Sean Connery, Dennis Quaid, and Angelina Jolie). Kacy's portfolio at Hyperion also includes the feature Tom's Midnight Garden ; "BoneChillers", an ABC children's television series; and numerous animated projects - FOX's "Life With Louie"; HBO's Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child (Denzel Washington, Robert Guillaume and Whoopi Goldberg); and Paramount Pictures' The Oz Kids .   In addition to The Curiosity of Chance, Kacy has executive produced the documentary USS Cooper , the psychological thriller, Within and the soon-to-shoot horror film, Midnight Movie . In Spring 2006, she produced Irreversi and Hui Lu in Hong Kong.

Michael Gleissner - Executive Producer
Michael Gleissner is Chairman of the Board of Bigfoot Group of Companies and served as Executive Producer on the recently released 3 Needles (Lucy Liu, Chloë Sevigny and Stockard Channing), East Broadway (Fay Ann Lee and Margaret Cho), Shanghai Kiss (Kelly Hu and Hayden Panettiere), and the documentary USS Cooper: Return to Ormoc Bay .  Most recently he made his directorial debut with two films, Irreversi and Hui Lu . The films are the same story, shot in two languages (English and Mandarin) and shot concurrently in Hong Kong with different casts and crews. Gleissner is currently directing his follow up effort, Deep Gold in Cebu, Philippines. Gleissner, a noted underwater photographer and music video director, also wrote the screenplays for Irreversi, Hui Lu and Engine Failure .

Jack Messitt - Director of Photography
Jack Messitt has worked on everything from feature films and television to music videos and reality shows. He most recently was the Director of Photography for the feature film Irreversi .   His television credits include DirecTV's "CD:USA", Fox's "American Idol" and "Mad TV", Spike TV's "John Henson Project", and Oxygen Network's comedy series "Campus Ladies".   He will direct his first feature, Midnight Movie , later this year. Messitt is on the Board of Governors for the Society of Camera Operators, as well as a graduate of Indiana University and The American Film Institute.

Mark Rees - Film Editor
Although born in the UK, Mark Rees spent most of his years editing in Belgium. Rees has edited news coverage on international channels including BBC, CNN, RAI, and RTL, as well as various shorts, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. Furthermore, he has worked with international brands such as Eastpak, Ford, Renaukt, Coke Cola, Pepsi, and Chiquita Bananas as an editor, director, and producer. In addition to The Curiosity of Chance, Rees' feature length credits include Le Veilleur. Presently, he owns his own company, "Shortcut", which specializes in production and post-production.  

Kurt Rigolle - Production Designer
Before Kurt Rigolle was the age of 20, he knew exactly what he wanted to do - Production Design. He attended the Hogar Architectuur Instituut van het Rijk in Antwerp, and upon graduation dove right into interior design. Between securing jobs as prop master and art director, Rigolle worked on various Belgian commercials, short films, and television programming including a TV-series on BBC.   The Curiosity of Chance is his fourth feature-length film.

Lorette Mues - Costume Designer
Lorette Meus, (also credited as Loret Meus) has designed costumes for over 18 Belgian and French films, including the Belgian film The Wedding Party, which has won multiple awards in Europe and screened at AFI in Los Angeles. Meus' most acclaimed work was on the 2001 Best Foreign Film Academy Award nominee Everybody's Famous! - which went on to win numerous awards in film festivals across Europe.

Joey Peters and Willie Aron - Composers
Joey Peters and Willie Aron have been branded edgy, provocative composers who artfully marry music to picture. Joey's critically acclaimed band, Grant Lee Buffalo, toured extensively throughout the United States and Europe with REM, The Cranberries, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins, as well as headlined their own tours. But it was when GLB contributed songs for   "Friends", I Know What You Did Last Summer , With Honors , and Velvet Goldmine that Joey discovered his other passion - composing.

As the lead guitarist/multi-instrumentalist with seminal Los Angeles folk-rockers The Balancing Act, Willie Aron and his band released three noted albums for I.R.S. Records and toured with REM, 10,000 Maniacs, and They Might Be Giants.  

In 2001, Joey approached Willie with the idea of collaborating. And true to form, the two complement each other beautifully.   Borrowing from their diverse backgrounds and extensive musical knowledge, they have become recognized as innovative composers with distinctive flair and versatility.   Some of their television credits include music for "Going to California " (Showtime series), "Freshman Diaries " (Showtime series), "InStyle Celebrities at Home " (NBC), "Maxim's Girl Next Door " (20th Century Fox), "I, Robot " (HBO First Look), "Catwoman " (HBO First Look), " Inside Solaris " (HBO First Look) and a special collaboration with Van Dyke Parks for " Krypto The Super Dog" (Warner Bros. Television).   They have also contributed to commercial campaigns including Toyota, Verizon, and Japan's internationally recognized hair care line Mod's Hair.  

Bigfoot Entertainment's mission is to create an innovative, profitable and socially responsible organization and learning environment that provides quality content, products, and services for our stakeholders and the global marketplace.
 
Based in Asia, Bigfoot Entertainment is the parent company of Bigfoot Productions, Bigfoot Production Services, the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) and Bigfoot Partners. Through all of its divisions, Bigfoot Entertainment recognizes a global competitive organization that provides critically acclaimed and commercially viable content as well as providing training, facilities and services to international filmmakers.

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