FLUTTER is a dark family drama. Imagine BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD meets WINTER’S BONE.
Full synopsis:
Johnathan is a nine-year-old boy who loves sea monsters, and his 300 lb. pet pig, named Wee Wee.
Unlike most kids, Johnathan has nystagmus, which makes his eyes “flutter.” He also suffers from severe narrow angle glaucoma; an acute condition that if untreated can lead to permanent blindness.
JoLynn cares for Johnathan alone while her singer/songwriter husband David travels in search of his big break. To treat Johnathan, she grows hydroponic marijuana to relieve the painful intraocular pressure Glaucoma causes. She cooks the marijuana into brownies and feeds them to him in secret.
David’s parents, Mark and Linda, live nearby and provide for JoLynn and Johnathan as best they can on a fixed income. Linda is highly critical of JoLynn’s ability to raise Johnathan. During her son’s absence, Johnathan has become more undisciplined than Linda would like. While Mark tries to keep the peace, he is torn between his wife and their daughter-in-law, who he loves deeply.
When JoLynn discovers that Linda is secretly mounting a case for legal custody of Johnathan, JoLynn is forced to forego the support of her in-laws. The result is a spiral of desperate acts that force JoLynn to make a decision that will change Johnathan’s world forever.
Flutter explores the truest love on earth – the love of a mother and child.
Dallas International Film Festival time blocks
Texas Competition nominee:
FLUTTER (USA, 2014, 96 min)
Friday 4/4 Angelika 6 at 10:15 pm
Saturday 4/5 Angelika 7 at 8:30 pm
CAST AND CREW
Lindsay Pulsipher
Lindsay Pulsipher most recently starred as Roseanna McCoy, in the record-breaking miniseries “Hatfields & McCoys,” opposite Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton. She is best known from the hit HBO series “True Blood,” where she played werepanther, Crystal Norris, in seasons 3 and 4. She also appears on FX’s “Justified,” and NBC’s “Law & Order: SVU,” in recurring roles.
Prior to that, Lindsay was a series regular on the A&E series “The Beast,” which starred the late Patrick Swayze in his critically acclaimed final role. More recently, Lindsay was seen in the indie feature THE RAMBLER, opposite Dermot Mulroney.
Glenn Morshower-Actor/Producer
One of the busiest character actors in Hollywood today, Glenn Morshower has appeared in more than 200 film and television projects in a career spanning 4 decades. His first appearance was in the feature film DRIVE-IN, in 1975.
Audiences worldwide know Glenn best for his 7-year run as Agent Aaron Pierce on the FOX hit series: “24.” Glenn currently appears as Lew Rosen, the Ewing family attorney on TNT’s “Dallas.”
Glenn was most recently seen on the big screen in MONEYBALL, with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill, as well as all three of the TRANSFORMERS movies, as General Morshower. He appeared this past summer in AFTER EARTH, with Will Smith, and in PARKLAND, with Paul Giamotti and Billy Bob Thornton. PARKLAND was executive produced by Tom Hanks.
Other film credits include X-MEN: FIRST CLASS, MEN WHO STARE AT GOATS, GOOD NIGHT & GOOD LUCK, THE ISLAND, HOSTAGE, BLACK HAWK DOWN, PEARL HARBOR, GODZILLA, AIR FORCE ONE, THE RIVER WILD, STAR TREK: GENERATIONS, and the upcoming films HOOVEY, and DARK PLACES, with Charlize Theron. Additional television credits include “Law and Order SVU,” “NCIS,” “Revolution,” “Castle,” “Eli Stone,” “Friday Night Lights,” “Shark,” “Bones,” “The Closer,” “Walker: Texas Ranger,” “Charmed,” “Monk,” “ER,” “Alias,” “Deadwood,” “CSI,” and “The West Wing,” among many others.
Glenn is also very successful in the hugely popular video-game industry, with prominent voiceover work in “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” “Call of Duty: Black – Ops 2,” and “24: The Game.” He also has a starring virtual role in “Battlefield 3,” as Agent Gordon.
Director Michael Bay chose Glenn, to be the virtual host of the new TRANSFORMERS Ride, at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Orlando, and Universal Studios Singapore. He had the honor of declaring the ride open to the public at the Opening Day Ceremonies at Universal Studios Hollywood, in 2012, and at Universal Studios Orlando, in 2013.
When Glenn is not busy filming, he travels extensively as a motivational speaker with his program, “The Extra Mile.” He has spoken to audiences all over the world.
Reis Myers McCormick
Reis Myers McCormick plays Linda, Johnathan’s grandmother, who feels JoLynn is an unfit mother. Reis’ theater credits span the U.S. and she has appeared on Lifetime, NBC, and AMC networks, as well as numerous indie films. She has brought historical characters to life for elementary and junior high students with her original one-woman shows. As a health and wellness advocate, Reis hosts “Backyard Boomers” and co-hosts a segment on “Empty Nesters” for the Veria network, as well as the web series “Your Child’s Health” for Children’s Medical Center. She is an award-winning commercial broadcast talent, a founding member of Lone Star Comedy, a published writer, and serves on the faculty of KD College Conservatory of Film and Dramatic Arts where she teaches Creative Process to actors and filmmakers. Reis makes her home in Dallas, Texas with her husband, Jeff.
Other standout cast members
• Jesse Plemons from “Breaking Bad,” plays David, JoLynn’s absentee husband
• Charles Halford, from “True Detective” and the upcoming “Constantine,” portrays Curtis, JoLynn’s trusted friend
• Johnathan Huth Jr., in his screen debut, as Johnathan
Cameos
• Rex Linn, “CSI: Miami”
• Charles Baker, “Breaking Bad”
• Brad Leland, “Friday Night Lights”
• Kathy Lamkin, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
• James Hampton, TEEN WOLF
• Brad Maule “General Hospital”
Prominent Dallas Talent
• Cassie Shea Watson, TECHNICALLY CRAZY
• Denise Lee, CRY
• Farah White, MY DOG THE CHAMPION
• Denton Blane Everett, MULBERRY STAINS
Newcomer
• Jasmine Stringham
Philip Roy-Director of Photography
At a relatively young age, Philip Roy is a busy man. Twenty-four feature films in eight countries as well as national commercials for clients such as Ralph Lauren, Abercrombie and IBM are a testament to his work ethic and his unbelievable eye. Philip is not committed to his craft; he is obsessed with it. He has won multiple awards such as Best Cinematography at the Milan International Film Festival and worked with diverse directors including Academy Award nominated Bruce Weber.
Philip is truly an artist and responsible in helping Eric Hueber craft a look and feel for FLUTTER that is both timeless and unique.
Eric Hueber-Writer/Director
Eric grew up somewhere behind the Pine Curtain of deep East Texas. He misses his roots but he loves his new home in Austin, TX. His previous work includes lots of TV commercials, shorts, and music video work for artists such as White Denim, Fall Out Boy, Less Than Jake, At All Cost, Total Chaos, and Sleepthief.
Having grown up in rural East Texas in an unorthodox household, Eric has a love and fervor for the South; a world he feels is rich with character and often-unrecognized poetic beauty. His first feature-length documentary, RAINBOWS END, follows a colorful cast of unbelievable characters from his Piney Woods home as they travel west in search of their dreams. FLUTTER is Eric’s first narrative feature length film.
Director’s Statement
I lost my mother unexpectedly in June of 2010. The only thing that has affected me more than her bringing me into this world was her leaving it.
My mother had me when she was 19 years old. She was merely a child raising one. She made a lot of mistakes; yet, throughout life there has only been one person that was always there for me, that always loved me, and that often went unnoticed and unrewarded.
After my mother’s passing, I was compelled to write a story that celebrated the silent sacrifices that are made on children’s behalf. More than anything, I wanted to show a mother who, like mine, was doing something very right for everything she arguably did wrong. That being said, FLUTTER is the most important thing I have ever written. It’s a story for little boys destined to be men and for woman alike. It’s a story for everyone.
Direct DIFF connection
In 2011, Eric brought his first feature, an offbeat documentary titled RAINBOWS END to the Dallas International Film Festival. Aside from providing Eric and his crew with an amazing experience, DIFF 2011 served as an incubator for Eric’s first narrative feature starring Lindsay Pulsipher and Glenn Morshower who attended the festival that year.
During the Festival, Eric actively sought out, and was able to meet Glenn Morshower. Eric had a role in an unfinished script titled, FLUTTER, for the seasoned actor.
“Glenn was perfect for the role, it wasn’t a huge part given his career, but all I could do was ask,” states Eric.
Little did Eric know the role that Glenn would ultimately play in making FLUTTER.
“I was deeply moved when I read Eric’s script, and felt that FLUTTER was a beautiful story that needed to be told.” Glenn continues, “We are extremely pleased with the finished product.”
Along with their longtime friend, John Holt Hall, Glenn and his wife Carolyn, took on the role of Executive Producers. Glenn also served as a Producer on FLUTTER.
Eric also became aware of the FLUTTER lead, Lindsay Pulsipher’s independent film work thanks to her starring role in THE OREGONIAN, which screened at the 2011 DIFF.
Lindsay is a DIFF favorite. FLUTTER’s JoLynn is her fifth role to screen at DIFF, and her first DIFF World Premiere.
Along with Glenn, a Dallas native, FLUTTER boasts an amazing cast of Texas talent including: Jesse Plemons, Rex Linn, Brad Leland, Charles Baker, Kathy Lamkin, James Hampton, Reis Myers McCormick, Cassie Shea Watson, Farah White and Denton Blane Everett.
DIFF alumni credited among the FLUTTER production crew include Eric’s business partner and FLUTTER co-producer Andy Cope, cinematographer Philip Roy, gaffer Zach Humphreys, best boy James Staats, first assistant camera Tony Franklin, composer Brandon Brown, post sound artist Tom Hammonds.
“I am so pleased to premier FLUTTER at the place where I first came to know two of the many key people that worked tirelessly to make this movie possible,” said Eric.
FLUTTER will vie for top honors in the Texas Film category.
