Little Silver’s O’Scanlon Films in Borough

1552

By John Burton
LITTLE SILVER, August 6 – For a few days this week the Little Silver home of actress-screenwriter-producer Heather Brittain O’Scanlon will be a busy place, even busier than the usual, raising a 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.
O’Scanlon is an actress who has done TV commercial work (her most recent work is a 30-second ad shown in the New York television market for Emergency One medical care facilities) along with appearing in episodic television, independently produced features and short film subjects.

Some of the cast and crew of the film “House Broken”: Beth Spitaly, director; Nicola Raggi, cinematographer; Andy Peeke, co-star and writer; Heather Brittain O’Scanlon, actress-screen- writer-producer; with Chilli Peeke, actress, in front. Photo: John Burton
Some of the cast and crew of the film “House Broken”: Beth Spitaly, director; Nicola Raggi, cinematographer; Andy Peeke, co-star and writer; Heather Brittain O’Scanlon, actress-screen- writer-producer; with Chilli Peeke, actress, in front. Photo: John Burton

With her latest venture, a short film that is expected to run about 14 minutes when completed, O’Scanlon is taking on what she’s calling a “multi-hyphenate” role of actor-producer-writer, for the first time wearing the triple threat hat.
Under taking much of the responsibility, while novel for her is “very exciting and very satisfying,” she observed.
“I like the control,” of being one of those who gets to have a say on the overall project, she said.
What she’s getting a say over is her S.O.S. Productions’ project “House Broken,” a film in which she will act and her colleagues are scheduled to shoot for three days starting on Aug. 9, mostly in O’Scanlon’s home as well as a few scenes in Sickles Park here in the borough.
“House Broken” is what O’Scanlon called “a family movie,” but one that takes a comedic – and skewed look – at one of the travails of parenthood.
“House Broken,” which participants said is a comedy, is “A story of a family that is kind of at wit’s end trying to potty train their 4-year-old and the strain it puts on their marriage, social life and family,” explained co-star and cowriter Andy Peeke.
Admittedly, a film centered around “trying to get your kid
to take a poop,” may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Peeke acknowledged. But “It is something that we can share war stories about,” and that parents can certainly relate.
“As far as potty humor goes,” O’Scanlon offered, “it’s pretty tasteful.”
“It’s 2015,” Peeke observed. “Is there subject matter that isn’t offense to someone?”
Peeke, a Bergen County resident, is an actor, standup comedian and television host who is currently appearing in “That Bachelorette Show,” an Off-Broadway interactive stage production in New York City. He and O’Scanlon met while they were taking an acting class and shared some of those war stories about raising young children and everything that involves, including potty training. And O’Scanlon (who has been married since 2008 to state Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon, a Republican representing the 13th Legislative District), who has two children, Colin, who is now 13, and Elly, 10, knows something about; as does Peeke, who has two children of his own, daughter Chilli and son Preston, who have rolls in the film.
Overseeing the project
along with acting in it, is challenging and O’Scanlon conceded, “I’m learning as I go,” as she oversees all the details, logistics that are required for even a small production.
“I think she’s saying that humbly,” responded Peeke, noting, “she’s been on enough sets to know what to do.”
O’Scanlon was quick to offer, “You’re only as good as the people you work with.” And in that regard, she explained, she’s lucky to have a talented cast and crew.
Behind the camera are Beth Spitalny, directing, and cinematographer Nicola Raggi, who both live in Brooklyn and say they are enthusiastic about the project. “I’m enjoying it,” working in a short film, offering an artistic freedom, Spitalny said. “I feel it’s kind of liberating. You have to make a statement quicker.”
The project is budgeted at about $20,000, with O’Scanlon keeping her fingers crossed and watching the pennies (as a good producer should) to try to bring it in on budget. She hopes to have it completed by next January so the film will be eligible for next year’s film festival circuit.
The overriding hope is, she added, “to make the best film we can.”
Published August 6, 2015