A feature film in development
by writer director Catherine Craig
They only get one childhood
It shouldn't be this
logline
A mother living in a women’s shelter, battling a physically abusive husband and a broken support system, enlists the help of a special FX film crew to defend against his attacks and save her children.
synopsis
Cady Langton, a fiercely protective mother and talented camerawoman, finds herself at a crisis point when her abusive husband’s attacks cause her and her children, Prism and Parker, to flee to a women’s shelter.
Determined to give her children a safe childhood, but low on resources, Cady grabs the only helping hands she can find; the guys at a special FX film company. Can she get them to step out of their imaginary world to help her in her very real world?
two worlds
Cady and her children must navigate two unique and contrasting worlds.
shelter
The world of a domestic violence shelter, where women face the chilling reality of homicidal violence...
A mother must win—for her Family, Her Future, Her world.
They only get one childhood.
It shouldn't be this.
logline
A mother living in a women’s shelter, battling a physically abusive husband and a broken support system, enlists the help of a special FX film crew to defend against his attacks and save her children.
synopsis
Cady Langton, a fiercely protective mother and talented camerawoman, finds herself at a crisis point when her abusive husband’s attacks cause her and her children, Prism and Parker, to flee to a women’s shelter.
Determined to give her children a safe childhood, but low on resources, Cady grabs the only helping hands she can find; the guys at a special FX film company. Can she get them to step out of their imaginary world to help her in her very real world?
two worlds
Cady and her children must navigate two unique and contrasting worlds.
shelter
The world of a domestic violence shelter, where women face the chilling reality of homicidal violence...
…not only from their abusers but from the abusers targeting the other women, and…
OddFX, a funky all-male special FX shop where Cady reluctantly takes a job to fulfill shelter work requirements.
OddFX
OddFX is a world of vivid imagination, where violence is carefully crafted as an illusion, in sharp contrast to the real-world brutality endured by the women at the shelter.
It is also a world of joyous creativity and unbridled imagination where every day men work to create something never seen before.
Each world needs something the other one has.
Cady's belief in safety, hope, and compassion have been violently dismantled by trauma. Her imagination, once vibrant and hopeful, has been shattered, leaving her unable to envision a future. OddFX, is more than just work—it's her lifeline.
Prism and Parker desperately want to protect their mother. Fearing that talking to authorities will escalate the situation, they remain silent. 'Daddy will get you,' they've learned from past experiences. They need people they can trust to act on their behalf.
Will the guys at OddFX step out of their imaginary worlds and into the real one?
Can Cady learn to blow up her past and trust the men around her?
Will Prism and Parker escape their troubled world and experience the magical, creative childhood their mother so desperately wants them to have?
characters
Cady Langton (30s) Intelligent, talented, 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.
cady langton
Barrett Jones, owner of OddFX, (50+) a brilliant man living an arrested childhood making special FX. Revered by a small world-wide following. He helps Cady get her foot in the door and becomes her mentor.
barrett jones
barrett jones
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 dis-association by twirling. She wants help her with her science project.
prism langton
parker
langton
Parker Langton (6) keeps his vision and interest centered closely around him. Prism is his only constant as they shuttle between parents.
sergeant wu
Sergeant Wu (40s) real tired of seeing dead women. It's all life and death for her. She's lost touch with the nuances.
teisha ramos
Teisha (30s), befriends Cady and her children, guiding them through the challenges of shelter life. Her greatest love is Frida, her loyal dog.
yamiah and rocky
Rocky and Yamaha are two of the seven brilliant and talented men (a playful nod to the Seven Dwarves) who have traveled from diverse corners of the world to work under the guidance of Barrett Jones.
thena jones
Thena Jones (50+) Unlike Barrett, Thena, his wife is deeply grounded in the real world. She wants Barrett to step outside his curtained-off-world and into the real world before he loses his studio. She sees Cady as an opportunity to get him there.
screenplay recognition
"The strength of the narrative is its originality. This is a unique, singular story with a particular selection of elements which combine in a manner that has not been done in any other film. That is noteworthy and reflective of a writer with a voice and the courage to express it." The Black List
"The script deals with the issues of sexism, domestic violence, and self defense in very real and vivid ways that sends a powerful message, but it does it in an extremely cinematic way." The Black List
"This is a very strong concept for the Indy genre and it takes on a powerful female protagonist as well as a wide array of thought provoking and politically topical issues." The Black List
The Writers Lab · Stowe · Sundance
OddFX was selected for the prestigious The Writers Lab, sponsored by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman, as well as the Stowe Narrative Screenwriting Retreat. Additionally, OddFX has been a finalist twice for the Sundance Screenwriting Lab.
tone
director's statement
This story explores the power of voice, the need for male responsibility, an examination of physical violence versus movie violence, and the importance of imagination, creativity, and joy. In the 1980s, I was one of the first women studied by the nascent UC Berkeley Center for Domestic Violence. They told me my journal was a gift to them, as it provided their first insight into the mind of a battered woman. The first book on domestic violence in the U.S., Battered Wives, wasn't published until 1976.
Giving them my journal taught me that the power of my voice can create change. My second key lesson came when I became the first female animation FX camerawoman at George Lucas's Industrial Light & Magic and I learned everything is easier to accomplish when you're not being beaten."
Behind this independent film's quirks and emotional depth lie years of research, analysis, and interviews with women, therapists, and educators. Men talking to men can save lives.
The initial literary work on spousal abuse, 'Battered Wives', saw the light of day only in 1976. Prior to this, any mention was scarce, often painting women as masochistic in self-help literature. During the 1980s, the University of California at Berkeley established the Domestic Violence Center where I happened to be an early recipient of their services. Severe disassociation plagued me during questioning, which led me to simply hand over my journal to them. They deemed it a precious asset — the foremost clear insight into the psyche of an abused woman. The act of sharing my experiences instilled in me the value of discovering and utilizing my voice. An important realization was that everything becomes more manageable when one is not enduring physical abuse. OddFX is by no means a biopic. Instead, the character of Cady is a painstakingly designed archetype aimed at generating universal identification, backed by years of study and conversations with women, therapists, and teachers. Violence aimed at women can be prevented when men counteract detrimental norms by advocating equality, displaying respect, and holding one another responsible. Peer education has the potential to realign societal viewpoints, diminish violence, and cultivate safer communities (White Ribbon, CDC, UN Women). OddFX narrates the tale of a woman, crafted to appeal to male viewers. We urge you to stand with us in this endeavor.
recommendations
"Catherine is a dedicated and talented artist with experience in all aspects of the film industry. As an archivist and part of the American Zoetrope family, Catherine preserved and worked with distributors for many of my films. Since that time, I have followed her career with great interest. She is a camerawoman, artist, and screenwriter. My hope is that she be given the opportunity to combine all those unique skills and create her vision for the big screen."
writer, director, producer
francis coppola
janet healy
"Catherine Craig and I have been friends and colleagues for many years. Her extensive filmography includes more than thirty five feature films, many of them the biggest blockbusters of their time. Catherine’s well respected professional talents range from fine arts painting to computer graphics wizardry, and she is also a highly regarded camerawoman and film archivist.
"In the past few years she has also found success as a screenwriter. Her partly autobiographical, award winning screenplay, OddFX showcases her creativity in a particularly poignant and original way. It is the quirky, fascinating journey of an independent woman who is determined to persevere for the sake of her children. The characterizations are rich and the setting hip. I look forward to witnessing Catherine Craig’s enormous artistry and filmmaking talent as this project moves forward; she is sure to provide a unique voice and exquisite vision to her terrific material." Producer of the Despicable Me, Minions, Secret Life of Pets and Sing franchises.
producer
Women are a precious global resource.
why this film now?
30% of the global female population (1.17 billion women) has experienced violence, with up to 60% (702 million) occurring in their own homes by intimate partners and family members.
Everywhere on Earth, we face a future of unprecedented challenges. We cannot afford to have women spend valuable time and energy fighting for their lives in their homes when their intellectual and creative efforts are vital to addressing the world's most significant problems.
Bringing awareness to the worldwide problem of violence against women—and to the cultures that enable it—is a step toward unlocking the potential of millions of women across the globe.
Research now tells us that violence against women is preventable, and prevention begins with men speaking up to other men.
OddFX is written to inspire men to start talking about male violence against women (hence its setting in an FX house). (Men are almost universally responsible for violence against women.)
Please join us in supporting this effort.
We hope you enjoyed this.
For a larger window into our world, please continue through the website.
Our exquisite screenplay and reasonable budget are available upon request.
Catherine Craig is a highly accomplished, award-winning writer, director, producer, and cinematographer specializing in narrative, experimental, animated, and documentary films. Her feature film OddFX was selected as one of only twelve screenplays from an international pool for the prestigious Writers Lab, sponsored by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. Catherine attended the Stowe Narrative Screenwriting Retreat, and OddFX has twice been selected as a finalist for the Sundance Screenwriting Lab.
Catherine founded her own award-winning production company, where she directed and produced films for the tech industry, managing large budgets and leading union crews and guild actors. She made history as the first woman to work as a visual effects animation camerawoman at George Lucas’s Industrial Light & Magic, with her camera work and CGI artistry featured in over thirty major motion pictures.
Her passion for film preservation led her to work as Francis Ford Coppola’s film archivist for over a decade. Catherine studied directing at the American Conservatory Theater and photography, art, and design at the Kodak-influenced Rochester Institute of Technology. She holds a BFA in film from the California College of the Arts and considers her years working with Francis Ford Coppola her graduate degree.
Catherine Craig Writer Director
ANAHID NAZARIAN has collaborated with Francis Ford Coppola for over 40 years, during which she worked as an Executive Producer on Megalopolis, Youth Without Youth, Tetro, and Twixt. Her screen credits include One From The Heart, The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, The Cotton Club, Mishima, Peggy Sue Got Married, Gardens of Stone, Tucker, The Godfather Part III, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jack, The Rainmaker, Youth Without Youth, Tetro and now Megalopolis. Nazarian was also the writer and producer for her independent feature film, Pomegranate, and producer for the film Illusion, starring Kirk Douglas. Nazarian is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Anahid Nazarian Executive Producer
LEAH MEYERHOFF (she/they) wrote and directed the the award winning narrative feature film I Believe In Unicorns which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Atlanta Film Festival and awards from Tribeca Film Institute, and the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. Leah’s films have screened in over 200 film festivals and aired on IFC, PBS, LOGO and MTV. Leah is also the founder of FILM FATALES, a non-profit organization which advocates for parity in the film industry and supports a membership community of over a thousand feature film and television directors of all marginalized genders.
Leah Meyerhoff Associate Producer
LEAH MEYERHOFF (she/they) wrote and directed the the award winning narrative feature film I Believe In Unicorns which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Atlanta Film Festival and awards from Tribeca Film Institute, and the Adrienne Shelly Foundation. Leah’s films have screened in over 200 film festivals and aired on IFC, PBS, LOGO and MTV. Leah is also the founder of FILM FATALES, a non-profit organization which advocates for parity in the film industry and supports a membership community of over a thousand feature film and television directors of all marginalized genders.
Leah Meyerhoff Associate Producer
Special & visual FX consultant JOHN KNOLL won an Academy Award for Visual Effects for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and was nominated for five films, Rogue One, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, Pirates of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. Knoll has over 50 visual effects credits. John and his brother Thomas were the original co-creators of Adobe Photoshop. Knoll is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
John Knoll Visual and Special FX Consultant
RANDY THOM is Skywalker Sound’s Director of Sound Design. Awarded an Academy Award for The Right Stuff and The Incredibles, Randy has been nominated for 15 Oscars, an Emmy, and a Grammy. He has worked on over 175 films with directors such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, David Lynch, Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson, and Brad Bird and Francis Ford Coppola. Randy was honored with the C.A.S. Career Achievement Award in 2010 and the MPSE Career Achievement Award in 2014. His essay “Designing A Movie For Sound” is used in many universities. Thom is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Randy Thom Sound Design Consultant
DAVE CARSON was the Visual Effects Supervisor for Titanic and Joe Versus the Volcano. He was the Visual Effects Art Director for Willow, Witches of Eastwick, Enemy Mine, Young Sherlock Holmes, The Goonies, Star Trek III: Search for Spock, dragon set designer for Dragonslayer, model maker and storyboard artist on Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and a key sculptor on Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Other credits include Casper, Forrest Gump, Baby’s Day Out, Jurassic Park, Alive, Hook, and Total Recall. Carson is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Dave Carson Visual and Special FX Art Director Consultant
PETER DAULTON has over 60 credits as a Visual Effects Camera Operator and CGI Lead Animator. His credits include Return of the Jedi, The Right Stuff, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Ghostbusters II, Back to the Future, Part II, The Hunt for Red October, The Rocketeer, Forrest Gump, Twister, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Avengers, Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Daulton is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Peter Daulton Motion Control Consultant
