Eagle and the Albatross
Montrose, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
Eagle and the Albatross is a comedy (that makes you cry) about a Korean girl who moves to a small American town after her father passed away. All she wants to do is play golf. When she asks the best golfer to mentor her, it changes both of their lives. We now ask that YOU help us finish the game!
Eagle and the Albatross
Montrose, Pennsylvania | Film Feature
Comedy, Drama
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Eagle and the Albatross is a comedy (that makes you cry) about a Korean girl who moves to a small American town after her father passed away. All she wants to do is play golf. When she asks the best golfer to mentor her, it changes both of their lives. We now ask that YOU help us finish the game!
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Join the Eagle team and get #onteameagle - check out our contest in the updates!
Get your voice in the film, attend a screening, own one of the original balls from the film, get a poster signed by Amber & the first ITUNES download! Click 'Make a Pledge' to be a part of the movie!
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After completing our first film, the heart-wrenching drama, HEART, BABY!, we wanted to make a fun little comedy with many of the same cast and crew.
We wanted to shoot in the small country town of Montrose PA and help bring economic growth to local businesses, while also getting to work together again.
Then we met Amber Liu! We not only were happy to be back working together, but we found a new family member!
This is our DP Leo Jaramillo with Amber on our last day of shooting:
THE SCRIPT
I wrote the script in honor of my mentors, the late movie producer, Jake Eberts, and Dr. Stuart Kaufman, who is my optometrist and my grumpy golf coach (look, he's smiling in this picture!).
That's Amber on the right, Stuart in the middle, and my friend Nancy LaScala on the left who plays Debra in this movie, and Mary in Heart, Baby!
Good mentors are such an important part of life that the story is a heartwarming homage to them with tender moments that make you appreciate life, while surrounded by insane misfits and mishappenings that sometimes make no sense - sort of like life!
Have you had a mentor in your life?
When Jake Eberts passed away, I was left with so many unsaid things and my heart was broken. This is my way to say thank you.
Stuart is very much alive and we harass each other constantly. He gets a real kick out of this movie being made and still can't believe it. You'll hear him in the background giving advice on the local golf radio station.
CHARACTERS
JI-MIN, played by K-POP star AMBER LIU, is a teen orphan who has moved to a small American town of misfits. Her American father recently passed away in service in Korea and her Korean mother died when she was young, so she has come to live with her only living relative, her aunt Debra whom she has never met. The good news is that Debra works at a golf club and the only thing Ji-min loves in the world is playing golf.
She only has one club, a 6 iron, and is always collecting balls and tees.
DR. AL WISERMAN, played by DAN LAURIA (Wonder Years), is the local optometrist and also the best golfer in town, holding the record for the most albatrosses (3 under par). A grumpy old widower who could have been a pro, he draws hearts on his golf balls in memory of his late-wife. He prefers to play solo because people annoy him, especially when they don't pick up their golf tees.
He's not returning calls from his doctor even though something is ailing him.
DEBRA KURT, played by NANCY LASCALA (Jersey Boys, Heart, Baby!) was unable to have kids and jumps at the chance to take her niece in when her brother dies. She is desperate to be a good mom after having a terrible one herself.
She will inherit the golf club, if her mother doesn't sell it first, so she sells sex toys on the side as a backup plan.
DAN, played by JAY HUGULEY (12 Years a Slave, Lizzie, Heart, Baby!) is the golf club manager and desperately in love with Debra. He tries to do and say the right thing as he does his best to help Debra save the golf club she is bound to inherit.
He always puts his foot in his mouth.
PEARL, played by ADRIENNE BARBEAU (Fog, Swamp Thing) is Debra's mom. She is not happy with the news she has a granddaughter and refuses to let her be a member at the golf club she owns. She hates golf and would rather sell the club and turn it into a strip mall.
She's still mad that her father played golf more than he played with her.
ERIC, played by PJ MARSHALL (Mindhunter, Underground, Heart, Baby!) is Al's son who became an optometrist like his dad to please him. Trouble is, his father just wants his son to play golf with him.
He says he does not have the aflliction of being a golf lover.
PATRICK, played by MICHAEL ZEGARSKI (The NEW Sopranos Movie (The Many Saints of Newark), Wonder Wheel), is the local undertaker and the teen golf coach with very bizarre coaching techniques. He's obsessed with people dying and will measure you for your coffin size.
He's not writing down your phone number, he's taking notes on how much you weigh!
MERLE, played by MICHAEL BADALUCCO (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Heart, Baby!) is one of the "Golf Buddies," an inseparable duo who seem to live on the course.
No matter if he's in good spirits or worried about the fate of the club, he only ever says, "Yeah."
BILLY, played by RITCHIE MONTGOMERY (Blaze, Ozark, Heart, Baby!) is the other half of the "Golf Buddies" duo. Despite the fact that he spends more time hunting for lost balls than actually playing the game, the course is his slice of heaven.
He'll do whatever it takes to save the golf club, even if it's a streaking dare!
DR. SWAT, played by MARCUS LYLE BROWN (12 Years a Slave, Heart, Baby!) is Al's oncologist and golf partner. That's not following HIPPA rules, but they don't care. Swat is trying to get Al to stay alive but he refuses treatment.
When Al dies he may as well get his putter.
DR. RANDY NEWBODY, played by
CHRIS WYLDE (The DUFF, The Revenant), is the new optometrist in town sent by headquarters to take over after Al dies.
He's got eyes for the undertaker.
TRACY, played by ANGELA SHELTON (Safe Side Superchick), is the lonely lesbian golf champ who wishes she had a partner.
She's got her eyes on the new girl.
MISSY, played by BREEANNA JUDY (Christmas with Cookie, How I Met Your Mother), is new to the club bar when her husband, Dr. Newbody, becomes a member.
She offers to pay for a membership to help the club, if she can play with Tracy...
TOM CAT, played by ALY DRUMMOND (Dark Harbour, Herself), is the groundskeeper who interacts with no one.
She never speaks. She can only sing. And since golf originated in Scotland, she sings Scottish songs - even though she's not Scottish.
If this were another movie, she would be the Greek chorus.
SPENCER, played by JAY JAY WARREN (Bosch, Day of Reckoning), is the stud of the highschool and only on the golf team so he can play with his balls. He doesn't even show up for tournaments.
He's got his eyes on the new girl, "Jim..."
COLE, played by BRYCE ROMERO (Maggie, Heart, Baby!), plays a young teen golfer who loves the game as much as Ji-min does, and pronounces her name correctly while everyone else bastardizes it.
He's got a little crush on "Jimmy..."
We will add more characters in the updates!
CASTING
When I finished the script and we began reaching out to K-POP artists to play Ji-min, Amber Liu called me to say she read the script and wanted this part!
We stayed on the phone for ages talking about our shared love of tacos, and the rest is history.
Casting director Scott David introduced us to Dan Lauria to play Al. What a perfect fit!
We shot for 17 days in and around Montrose, PA and included many locals.
So many of our cast from Heart, Baby! came back to work on Eagle, and for me that was a true testament to their belief and support. They went from trucks, trailers and a much bigger budget to an ultra-low-budget with no frills.
Michael Badalucco and Ritchie Montgomery were both in Heart, Baby! and play ball in Eagle!
And here's me: I gained 30 pounds and cut off my hair to add some fun!
THE GOLF CLUB
The local golf club in Montrose has 9 holes, which I think is hilarious. When we were unable to shoot there due to the amount of cast and crew we had, plus the major highway noise, we found Fern Hall instead!
Fern Hall is about 40 min away and had been closed due to a fire. They were just preparing to re-open and looking for how to bring back business when an entire movie crew moved in! Talk about timing!
Half of us stayed in the Inn, we had Fern Hall cater our meals, plus we used their Inn and golf course for the majority of our golf locations.
What a sweet little miracle!
POST PRODUCTION
After everyone went home, the post production began. Our editor and assisant worked on weekends and nights due to our low budget.
When you're working in the low budget arena, you have to take the sale time slots! You might want a certain time to color the picture or do sound, but a Marvel movie is in that room. Gotta get in line or come at night...
Some of the songs I really wanted were not available, so we had to find others.
Amber has been super helpful, not to mention beyond-talented. She has a lot of songs in the film and introduced us to other music from friends of hers. YAY!
Cut to 2019!
We are about to have our final cut and our composer (from Heart, Baby!) composed the music. There are bagpipes!
Did you know golf originated in Scotland? So it's only fitting to have bagpipes!
We have the facility - Roundabout Entertainment - and we are cooking with gas, ready to go to the next level!
We will submit to film festivals as soon as we can but psst... we officially reveal the movie in October!
WHY CROWD FUND?
This is a little movie with big love and BONUS, being a part of it now is not only a way to help us, but a great way to stay in the loop and a part of the process as it happens!
YOU, our audience, cast, crew and friends and family are a part of this family.
Thank you so much for caring about this little movie and the people who made it by helping it move forward with your shares, likes and contributions!
Hug your mentor! Or write them a thank you letter!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Professional Trailer
Costs $7,500
We need a killer trailer and it's EXPENSIVE! We have found people who will cut the rate a bit.
Final Post Sound Mix and Color
Costs $10,000
This is so it looks and sounds great. We have some great people on board!
Music Rights
Costs $5,000
This movie includes awesome music and Amber and her friends have given us great deals!
Poster Fee
Costs $1,250
This is to pay the poster artist!
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $500
We want to bring Eagle to film festivals and have to pay a submission fee!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ANGELA SHELTON, writer/director/producer
Angela’s first screenwriting and producing credit, Tumbleweeds (1999), received the 2000 Sundance Film Festival Filmmaker’s Trophy and earned actress Janet McTeer an Academy Award® nomination and a Golden Globe®. Variety listed Angela as the Top Ten Screenwriters to Watch. She followed Tumbleweeds with an adaptation of Kaye Gibbons’ novel, Charms for the Easy Life (2002) starring Mimi Rogers and Gena Rowlands (Showtime). Her directorial debut was with the multi-award-winning documentary Searching for Angela Shelton, surveying women across the U.S. who were also named Angela Shelton. She discovered that 70% of the women she interviewed, like herself, had been a victim of rape, childhood sexual abuse and/or domestic violence.
Angela’s first feature film HEART, BABY!, that she wrote, directed, and produced, is the true story of a prison boxer who turned down a chance for freedom to fight in the 1984 Olympics. In Eagle and the Albatross, Angela used her own experiences with her mentors in the tear-jerking comedy about an orphaned half Korean girl who seeks help from a widowed optometrist with the only thing both of them love - golf. The only problem is, he only has three months to live.
Angela balances her time working in Los Angeles and New York City while living in the country with her husband and daughter.
ALY DRUMMOND, actor, co-producer, web guru
Aly Drummond is an actor and producer who began her career at an early age with numerous roles in independent Canadian theatre. Aly has taught acting, was a founding member of the Montréal Fringe Festival, and studied with the British American Drama Academy in Oxford.
In the late 90s Aly discovered the Internet and became a pioneer in online business development, a prominent public speaker at events across North America, and the host of two online talk shows (pre-YouTube).
Aly has collaborated with Angela Shelton since 2006, is a co-producer of 'Eagle and the Albatross' and plays Tomcat. She is also a co-producer of 'Heart, Baby!'.
She lives in Nova Scotia with her partner and two daughters.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
Join the Eagle team and get #onteameagle - check out our contest in the updates!
Get your voice in the film, attend a screening, own one of the original balls from the film, get a poster signed by Amber & the first ITUNES download! Click 'Make a Pledge' to be a part of the movie!
After completing our first film, the heart-wrenching drama, HEART, BABY!, we wanted to make a fun little comedy with many of the same cast and crew.
We wanted to shoot in the small country town of Montrose PA and help bring economic growth to local businesses, while also getting to work together again.
Then we met Amber Liu! We not only were happy to be back working together, but we found a new family member!
This is our DP Leo Jaramillo with Amber on our last day of shooting:
THE SCRIPT
I wrote the script in honor of my mentors, the late movie producer, Jake Eberts, and Dr. Stuart Kaufman, who is my optometrist and my grumpy golf coach (look, he's smiling in this picture!).
That's Amber on the right, Stuart in the middle, and my friend Nancy LaScala on the left who plays Debra in this movie, and Mary in Heart, Baby!
Good mentors are such an important part of life that the story is a heartwarming homage to them with tender moments that make you appreciate life, while surrounded by insane misfits and mishappenings that sometimes make no sense - sort of like life!
Have you had a mentor in your life?
When Jake Eberts passed away, I was left with so many unsaid things and my heart was broken. This is my way to say thank you.
Stuart is very much alive and we harass each other constantly. He gets a real kick out of this movie being made and still can't believe it. You'll hear him in the background giving advice on the local golf radio station.
CHARACTERS
JI-MIN, played by K-POP star AMBER LIU, is a teen orphan who has moved to a small American town of misfits. Her American father recently passed away in service in Korea and her Korean mother died when she was young, so she has come to live with her only living relative, her aunt Debra whom she has never met. The good news is that Debra works at a golf club and the only thing Ji-min loves in the world is playing golf.
She only has one club, a 6 iron, and is always collecting balls and tees.
DR. AL WISERMAN, played by DAN LAURIA (Wonder Years), is the local optometrist and also the best golfer in town, holding the record for the most albatrosses (3 under par). A grumpy old widower who could have been a pro, he draws hearts on his golf balls in memory of his late-wife. He prefers to play solo because people annoy him, especially when they don't pick up their golf tees.
He's not returning calls from his doctor even though something is ailing him.
DEBRA KURT, played by NANCY LASCALA (Jersey Boys, Heart, Baby!) was unable to have kids and jumps at the chance to take her niece in when her brother dies. She is desperate to be a good mom after having a terrible one herself.
She will inherit the golf club, if her mother doesn't sell it first, so she sells sex toys on the side as a backup plan.
DAN, played by JAY HUGULEY (12 Years a Slave, Lizzie, Heart, Baby!) is the golf club manager and desperately in love with Debra. He tries to do and say the right thing as he does his best to help Debra save the golf club she is bound to inherit.
He always puts his foot in his mouth.
PEARL, played by ADRIENNE BARBEAU (Fog, Swamp Thing) is Debra's mom. She is not happy with the news she has a granddaughter and refuses to let her be a member at the golf club she owns. She hates golf and would rather sell the club and turn it into a strip mall.
She's still mad that her father played golf more than he played with her.
ERIC, played by PJ MARSHALL (Mindhunter, Underground, Heart, Baby!) is Al's son who became an optometrist like his dad to please him. Trouble is, his father just wants his son to play golf with him.
He says he does not have the aflliction of being a golf lover.
PATRICK, played by MICHAEL ZEGARSKI (The NEW Sopranos Movie (The Many Saints of Newark), Wonder Wheel), is the local undertaker and the teen golf coach with very bizarre coaching techniques. He's obsessed with people dying and will measure you for your coffin size.
He's not writing down your phone number, he's taking notes on how much you weigh!
MERLE, played by MICHAEL BADALUCCO (Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?, Heart, Baby!) is one of the "Golf Buddies," an inseparable duo who seem to live on the course.
No matter if he's in good spirits or worried about the fate of the club, he only ever says, "Yeah."
BILLY, played by RITCHIE MONTGOMERY (Blaze, Ozark, Heart, Baby!) is the other half of the "Golf Buddies" duo. Despite the fact that he spends more time hunting for lost balls than actually playing the game, the course is his slice of heaven.
He'll do whatever it takes to save the golf club, even if it's a streaking dare!
DR. SWAT, played by MARCUS LYLE BROWN (12 Years a Slave, Heart, Baby!) is Al's oncologist and golf partner. That's not following HIPPA rules, but they don't care. Swat is trying to get Al to stay alive but he refuses treatment.
When Al dies he may as well get his putter.
DR. RANDY NEWBODY, played by
CHRIS WYLDE (The DUFF, The Revenant), is the new optometrist in town sent by headquarters to take over after Al dies.
He's got eyes for the undertaker.
TRACY, played by ANGELA SHELTON (Safe Side Superchick), is the lonely lesbian golf champ who wishes she had a partner.
She's got her eyes on the new girl.
MISSY, played by BREEANNA JUDY (Christmas with Cookie, How I Met Your Mother), is new to the club bar when her husband, Dr. Newbody, becomes a member.
She offers to pay for a membership to help the club, if she can play with Tracy...
TOM CAT, played by ALY DRUMMOND (Dark Harbour, Herself), is the groundskeeper who interacts with no one.
She never speaks. She can only sing. And since golf originated in Scotland, she sings Scottish songs - even though she's not Scottish.
If this were another movie, she would be the Greek chorus.
SPENCER, played by JAY JAY WARREN (Bosch, Day of Reckoning), is the stud of the highschool and only on the golf team so he can play with his balls. He doesn't even show up for tournaments.
He's got his eyes on the new girl, "Jim..."
COLE, played by BRYCE ROMERO (Maggie, Heart, Baby!), plays a young teen golfer who loves the game as much as Ji-min does, and pronounces her name correctly while everyone else bastardizes it.
He's got a little crush on "Jimmy..."
We will add more characters in the updates!
CASTING
When I finished the script and we began reaching out to K-POP artists to play Ji-min, Amber Liu called me to say she read the script and wanted this part!
We stayed on the phone for ages talking about our shared love of tacos, and the rest is history.
Casting director Scott David introduced us to Dan Lauria to play Al. What a perfect fit!
We shot for 17 days in and around Montrose, PA and included many locals.
So many of our cast from Heart, Baby! came back to work on Eagle, and for me that was a true testament to their belief and support. They went from trucks, trailers and a much bigger budget to an ultra-low-budget with no frills.
Michael Badalucco and Ritchie Montgomery were both in Heart, Baby! and play ball in Eagle!
And here's me: I gained 30 pounds and cut off my hair to add some fun!
THE GOLF CLUB
The local golf club in Montrose has 9 holes, which I think is hilarious. When we were unable to shoot there due to the amount of cast and crew we had, plus the major highway noise, we found Fern Hall instead!
Fern Hall is about 40 min away and had been closed due to a fire. They were just preparing to re-open and looking for how to bring back business when an entire movie crew moved in! Talk about timing!
Half of us stayed in the Inn, we had Fern Hall cater our meals, plus we used their Inn and golf course for the majority of our golf locations.
What a sweet little miracle!
POST PRODUCTION
After everyone went home, the post production began. Our editor and assisant worked on weekends and nights due to our low budget.
When you're working in the low budget arena, you have to take the sale time slots! You might want a certain time to color the picture or do sound, but a Marvel movie is in that room. Gotta get in line or come at night...
Some of the songs I really wanted were not available, so we had to find others.
Amber has been super helpful, not to mention beyond-talented. She has a lot of songs in the film and introduced us to other music from friends of hers. YAY!
Cut to 2019!
We are about to have our final cut and our composer (from Heart, Baby!) composed the music. There are bagpipes!
Did you know golf originated in Scotland? So it's only fitting to have bagpipes!
We have the facility - Roundabout Entertainment - and we are cooking with gas, ready to go to the next level!
We will submit to film festivals as soon as we can but psst... we officially reveal the movie in October!
WHY CROWD FUND?
This is a little movie with big love and BONUS, being a part of it now is not only a way to help us, but a great way to stay in the loop and a part of the process as it happens!
YOU, our audience, cast, crew and friends and family are a part of this family.
Thank you so much for caring about this little movie and the people who made it by helping it move forward with your shares, likes and contributions!
Hug your mentor! Or write them a thank you letter!
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Professional Trailer
Costs $7,500
We need a killer trailer and it's EXPENSIVE! We have found people who will cut the rate a bit.
Final Post Sound Mix and Color
Costs $10,000
This is so it looks and sounds great. We have some great people on board!
Music Rights
Costs $5,000
This movie includes awesome music and Amber and her friends have given us great deals!
Poster Fee
Costs $1,250
This is to pay the poster artist!
Film Festival Submissions
Costs $500
We want to bring Eagle to film festivals and have to pay a submission fee!
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
ANGELA SHELTON, writer/director/producer
Angela’s first screenwriting and producing credit, Tumbleweeds (1999), received the 2000 Sundance Film Festival Filmmaker’s Trophy and earned actress Janet McTeer an Academy Award® nomination and a Golden Globe®. Variety listed Angela as the Top Ten Screenwriters to Watch. She followed Tumbleweeds with an adaptation of Kaye Gibbons’ novel, Charms for the Easy Life (2002) starring Mimi Rogers and Gena Rowlands (Showtime). Her directorial debut was with the multi-award-winning documentary Searching for Angela Shelton, surveying women across the U.S. who were also named Angela Shelton. She discovered that 70% of the women she interviewed, like herself, had been a victim of rape, childhood sexual abuse and/or domestic violence.
Angela’s first feature film HEART, BABY!, that she wrote, directed, and produced, is the true story of a prison boxer who turned down a chance for freedom to fight in the 1984 Olympics. In Eagle and the Albatross, Angela used her own experiences with her mentors in the tear-jerking comedy about an orphaned half Korean girl who seeks help from a widowed optometrist with the only thing both of them love - golf. The only problem is, he only has three months to live.
Angela balances her time working in Los Angeles and New York City while living in the country with her husband and daughter.
ALY DRUMMOND, actor, co-producer, web guru
Aly Drummond is an actor and producer who began her career at an early age with numerous roles in independent Canadian theatre. Aly has taught acting, was a founding member of the Montréal Fringe Festival, and studied with the British American Drama Academy in Oxford.
In the late 90s Aly discovered the Internet and became a pioneer in online business development, a prominent public speaker at events across North America, and the host of two online talk shows (pre-YouTube).
Aly has collaborated with Angela Shelton since 2006, is a co-producer of 'Eagle and the Albatross' and plays Tomcat. She is also a co-producer of 'Heart, Baby!'.
She lives in Nova Scotia with her partner and two daughters.