King of Baskets

Shot with Canon 5D, HDV ProRes 422, 14:40, 16:9

ContactBrandon Walsh317.445.0173bawalsh@indiana.edu

written and directed by Brandon Walsh

Synopsis

Following the death of his parents, Terrence Mantucket spends his inheritance entering the cut-throat business of dealing high-end decorative baskets. Terrence founds Forever Woven, a company run out of his parents’ Indiana home with his staff of unpaid interns. Terrence won several Golden Baskets, the annual award given to the top basket seller, with his best friend and business partner Ryan Beatty. But after Ryan broke off to win last year’s, Terrence will stop at nothing to take back his special prize.

Revenge and glory drive Terrence Mantucket to take the crown from his best friend in this quirky and dark comedy set in the high-octane world of high-end decorative basket dealing.

Logline

I never would have guessed this was the script I was waiting my whole life to write – a comedy that combines a French documentary with an Indiana backdrop, power struggles and unpaid interns, big band jazz, loss and grief, action and violence, and thousands of the baskets I grew up with.

For as long as I can remember, my Mom has sold baskets. I was always surrounded by them, and in the past few years the operation has grown to take over large portions of my parents’ house. I wrote this film not only as a way for a large group of my talented friends to collaborate, but also to help excavate rooms lost to baskets, give life to what had become furniture, and reflect a kind of single-minded pursuit that follows loss in a way that feels absurd, but also real to me.

I’m a lot like Terrence sometimes. He’s a person whose vision can eclipse the feelings of those around him, but his vision is loving. He’s just trying to fill something missing. The film is somehow the most sincere and cynical work I’ve ever done – a loving parody of a real business whose real fellowship encompasses an enthusiasm and endless passion that I will never understand, but here’s my attempt anyway.

About the directorBrandon Walsh is a freelance filmmaker based in Indianapolis, IN, working with creative and community-based clients. His films have been featured in a number of regional screenings and festivals in the Midwest. His short film “Good Man” won the audience award at the 2015 Iris Film Festival in Bloomington, IN. Before graduating from Indiana University in 2014, he was the programming director of the Campus’ film series and assisted at the IU Cinema, including interviewing Oscar-nominated directors David France and Joshua Oppenheimer. Brandon also serves on the features jury for the 2015 Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.

His film projects have ranged across documentary, narrative, animation, music video, and experimental film.

Watch his 2015 Production Reel

Adam Cook - Terrence MantucketAdam arose in the winter wheat of the southern Indiana tundra. Born in Boonville, Indiana, where Abe Lincoln learned the law and the law learned Lincoln. There he discovered a burning penchant for acting, writing, and filling minds with visuals that explode the soul. He studied at Indiana University and The Second City Improv School in Chicago. Adam currently works in advertising at the ABC and CW station and is currently developing his own show. That’s all. That’s all he has to offer.

Travis Brown - Ryan BeattyTravis Brown plays the role of Ryan Beatty in “King of Baskets.” He is a recent graduate from Indiana University with a BA in Informatics. He has acted in multiple short films and has also acted in theater productions. In his spare time he enjoys cycling and playing guitar.

Mike is an Indiana University junior pursuing a career in scriptwriting. He has written and directed several short films and intends to move to Los Angeles to continue his work. As a stand-up and sketch comedian, Mike is always proud to make people laugh and think about the world differently. Mike is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. vimeo.com/mblomquist

Kalen Granger - Celeste Ledoux (voice), Life CoachKalen Granger graduated from DePauw University in 2014 where she studied Psychology and French. She is excited to begin her graduate studies in the Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Indianapolis during the fall of 2015. Kalen plans to have a career as a therapist serving LGBTQ adolescents and young adults.

CAST

Mike Blomquist - Jimmy

Jessica Froelich - Celeste LedouxFor more than 4 years, Jessica Froelich has been pursuing a career as a full-time actress for a number of clients and directors across short films, feature films, commercials, and music videos. Within the past year she began working at GEM Filmworks, a full-service production company, and the Indy Actor Studio, which offers workshops and services for actors.

Ian Barker - HansIan Barker hails from South Bend, Indiana. He is composed primarily of carbon, though it is often found conspiring with other fundamental elements. Ian has sacrificed other aspects of his personal life for the sake of good brushing habits. Most recently, Ian was asked to write a fifty word bio.

Max Walter - BrianMax Walter is an Indiana University graduate and a stand-up comedian in Chicago. He enjoys speaking Chinese with awkward white people in a classroom, and the comedy stuff is fun too. You can find him on the street, joking with the passersby. Also look him up on his YouTube channel.

Dari Odman - Young ReporterDari Odman has done work in films and theatrical productions for nearly two years. In 2013, he played the role of Deshawn in Brandon Walsh’s “A Children.” He would like to thank Brandon for another great opportunity and God for the blessings he has received thus far in his ventures. dariodman.com; twitter.com/dari_odman ; instagram.com/dariodman

Meg Duell - TamaraMeg Duell an English Literature student and soon-to-be graduate of Indiana University. A member of SAG-AFTRA, her work has appeared in film, on the stage, and online. Favorite roles include Nora in A Doll’s House, Dorothy in Wizard of Oz, and Little Ben in Catamitus. She’s very excited to be part of this awesome team.

Brigit Rooney - InternBrigit is an Indiana University junior majoring in Animal Behavior. She aspires to work in wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, and education. Her goal is to make a difference in animal welfare. Brigit grew up around the world and plans to continue traveling in the future.

CREW

Russell Sheaffer - Executive ProducerRussell Sheaffer is an experimental film and documentary filmmaker who received a Master’s Degree from NYU’s Department of Cinema Studies and is currently working on his PhD in the Department of Communication and Culture at Indiana University. Most recently, his short experimental documentary “Acetate Diary” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and was named one of the “12 best shorts” of Tribeca by Film School Rejects. His experimental work has screened at numerous venues and festivals including MoMA, Inside Out, New Orleans Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Anthology Film Archives, MIX NYC, and Queer Lisboa. In addition to his own experimental work, he has worked as a producer for documentary and fiction films, including Josephine Decker’s “Thou Wast Mild and Lovely,” which premiered in Forum at Berlinale in 2014, and ESPN’s “The Diplomat,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2013.

Nancy Walsh - Production DesignNancy Walsh has been buying and selling premium collectibles for over 20 years. Her collection includes 1000s of products. Nancy has been recognized for her sales and recruiting achievements with exclusive baskets and trips to tropical islands. Her experience in the market was one of the inspirations for this film.

Andrew Behringer - Director of PhotographyAndrew Behringer is an award-winning filmmaker from Bloomington, IN. He has had the opportunity to direct a variety of projects, including music videos, documentaries, short films, performance videos, TV commercials, and feature films. He equally enjoys writing and performing music and is always looking for ways to use his projects as a gateway for his friends to collaborate and exhibit their own creativity.

Brie Petty - 1st Assistant CameraBriana Petty is currently living in her hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana. She is working toward a return trip to Peru with hopes of making a documentary about indigenous artists in the Amazon. For now, she is educating herself in philosophy, indigenous rights, and filmmaking. She contains multitudes.

Maria Behringer - Assistant DirectorMaria Behringer is currently studying Fine Arts through Ivy Tech Community College with hopes to continue to Herron at IUPUI. She was adopted from Bogota, Colombia when she was 4 months old. She hopes to use her interests in art to take her back there and learn more about where she came from.

Alex Crouch - Sound DesignAlex is an Indiana University Senior studying Film Production and Film Studies. He hopes to pursue a career in directing and cinematography and plans to move to Los Angeles after he graduates. He has produced, written, and directed several shorts while at IU. Originally from Valparaiso, IN, Alex is interested in combining narrative and experimental techniques to tell unique stories.

Eric Overton - Visual EffectsEric is a graphic designer and animator working in Chicago. He is currently the VFX Supervisor at The Onion. twitter.com/dream_hunk

Von Storm - Additional PhotographyVon Storm is a high school senior who has written and directed his fair share of short films in the last few years. He is also involved in music videos for various local artists. In addition to filmmaking, graphic design is another passion of Von’s. youtube.com/vrsrox ; twitter.com/vonstormfilms

Edward Joyner - Original MusicWater is a collective musical project based out of Bloomington Indiana. The name ‘Water’ relates the guiding principle that every human, and most forms of life for that matter, is made primarily of water: on the most visceral level, we are all One. Using this principle as a guiding post, Water performs and records a variety of musical styles, yet claims a finite “genre”: MEDicine Music, which stands for Message, Energy and Dance. watertheband.bandcamp.com

Katie Siefker - Original MusicKate Siefker is a musician and audio mastering engineer based out of Bloomington, IN. She participates in numerous musical projects including Birdbath, Follies and Lily & Madeleine, and also studies at Indiana University. She plans to graduate in December of 2015 with an Associate’s Degree in Recording Arts and continue working in freelance music.

Valerie Detwiler - CostumeValerie Detwiler is an IU Graduate of Fashion Design. She has previously worked on A Children and Plato’s Inferno. She currently works at Plato’s Closet but would love a design job if you have one. She hopes to end up in Nashville, TN in the next year, because she is a little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n roll. She also hopes you enjoy the film.

Set decoration of King of Baskets required hundreds of hours of production design around what would become the Forever Woven home office in the film.

Director Brandon Walsh, Assistant Director Maria Behringer, and Director of Photography Andrew Behringer setting up a shot

CAST Terrence Mantucket – Adam CookRyan Beatty – Travis BrownJimmy – Mike BlomquistCeleste Ledoux (voice) – Kalen GrangerCeleste Ledoux – Jessica FroelichHans – Ian BarkerBrian – Max WalterJanitor (Kyle) – Phillip WalshYoung Reporter – Dari OdmanBrenda – Maria BehringerTamara – Meg DuellLife Coach – Kalen GrangerGraphic Designer – Brandon WalshInterns – Brigit Rooney, Zachary Moustis

CREWDirector – Brandon WalshExecutive Producer – Russell SheafferProduction Design – Nancy WalshDirector of Photography – Andrew BehringerAssociate Producer – Adam Cook1st Assistant Camera – Brie PettyAssistant Director – Maria BehringerSound Design – Alex CrouchAdditional Audio – Brie PettyAudio Mixing – Kendall DemarestCostume – Valerie DetwilerVisual Effects – Eric OvertonAdditional Photography – Von StormEditor – Brandon WalshElectronic Press Kit – Stephanie Barr

Original Music – Edward Joyner – watertheband.bandcamp.com

Original Music – Kate Siefker – soundcloud.com/folliesmusic

“Friday” by Birdbath – written and recorded by Ben Craig, Kate Siefker, and Will Bowman – birdbathzin.bandcamp.com

“slow motion” by Earsmack – freemusicarchive.org/music/Earsmack/fall_n_rise_n1/slow_motion

The Glenn Miller Orchestra live recordings used under public domain – archive.org/details/Glenn_Miller

SpECiAl ThAnkSPhillip WalshKen GrangerJames GroganAlice KirkHeather WalshChris Walsh

Edited with Adobe Premiere Pro

A Forever Woven Film © 2015All Rights Reserved

Script registered March 2015 Writer’s Guild of America East (WGAE)

Filmed in Indianapolis, IN

King of Baskets

2015 Forever Woven Films, All Rights ReservedEPK Photography by Von Storm