Peekskill Hosts Sci-Fi Production Shoot

A man and his seven-year-old daughter are on the run from villains who want him for his telekinetic super powers. They turn to Peekskill for shelter and hiding, but the bad guys are only one step behind. The final face off takes place at the Transatlantic RV and Auto Garage in Peekskill.

This is a summary of the plot of Odessa, a science fiction web series being produced by ValDean Entertainment, based in New York City. Al Thompson, creator, executive producer and director of the independent project, brought his crew of 30 people to Peekskill this weekend, March 5 and 6, to film the pilot episode that he hopes will catch the eye of a sponsor or carrier. The series features a number of actors from popular television shows and movies like Star Trek, the Watchmen, X-files and many others. Thompson chose Peekskill because of its small town feel, but mostly because of the communities’ support, willingness and ability to accommodate him and his crew.

“We wanted an area that was rural and could be USA anywhere,” said Thompson of Peekskill, explaining that he chose Peekskill over a location in New Jersey. “We felt a lot of support from the artistic community here.”

Thompson also has family in Peekskill, his aunt and uncles Stanley and Celeste Hill and Rafael Quintero, and said that Ted Bitter, owner of the, was a big help in making local contacts. The Bean Runner supplied breakfast to the crew, The provided rooms at a discounted production rate, local churches offered their space as holding areas for the cast’s break time, and a local Peekskill man, T.K., aka Thomas Barnes, served as an assistant on site. The crew shot at 1 Industrial Park on Saturday and at the RV and Auto garage all day Sunday.

If the pilot succeeds, Thompson wants the entire series to be shot in Peekskill. “Money would be poured into this community,” he said. “We’d hire local drivers, stay at the Inn, use local restaurants.”

The series is Thompson’s sixth web series, and first one with a science fiction theme. A web series is a short, typically 6-8 minute episode, similar to a television series, except it is made for the Internet. Odessa is only shooting one episode, which will then be presented to potential sponsors or web channels, in hopes that funding for more episodes will be forthcoming.

Fulvio Cecere who was in Watchmen, Smallville, the X-Files, and other popular sci-fi and other productions, said he is very supportive of the web series.

“This is the next wave of technology,” said Cecere, who plays Dr. Hill in Odessa. “I totally support web series’…the whole landscape is changing, everyone will be doing this.”

Richard Herd, who was in Star Trek, among other productions, and who plays Ben in Odessa, told the crew that web series are the new Off-Broadway. “What’s going on, on the net, is a showcase for everybody,” Herd said.

The six-person cast is supported by a robust crew, including a stunt coordinator and special effects supervisor.

“I am excited about any tool that makes film-making more democratic,” said VFX (special effects) supervisor Kris Anderson, who uses compositing software and 3D camera tracking to create special effects in the production. He uses the technology to create explosions, bullet holes, remove visible wires used in stunts, and create the final climactic scene where telekinetic powers are used to make objects fly off the walls.

“Because things have changed on what you can do digitally, the playing field has kind of been leveled between independent projects and studios,” said Thompson. He said this is why community support and being able to connect well with a community where he is shooting really fuels an independent project.

Thompson himself acted in The Royal Tenenbaums, A Walk to Remember, and other popular television shows and movies. Brian Rolling and Angel Acevedo are also producers on Odessa, and Rolling, along with Thompson, is directing the series. The episode should be released by the end of the year.   

Thompson invites community members to reach out to him at www.facebook.com/AlThompsonInc and twitter.com/AlThompsonInc

Editor's Note: The original article said that this was Thompson's third web series, it is actually his sixth. The correction has been made.  The original article also provided more details on the ending, which we have removed.