Off SEASON
OFF SEASON marked Bruce’s directorial debut as a director for a full length feature film. It premiered on Showtime Sunday, Dec. 16 at 8:00 PM EST / PST. If you missed it, watch for it to be revived each holiday season.
OFF SEASON was released on home video from Showtime Entertainment on Nov. 19, 2002.
Bruce received FIVE Emmy nominations for OFF
SEASON, including:
Best Children's Special
Best Director - BRUCE!!!
Best Screenplay
Best Performer - Hume Cronyn
Best Sound
OFF SEASON received two Emmys for:
Best Screenplay
Best Sound
The directors category winners were announced May 11, 2002 in LA, and The Best
Children's Special winners were announced May 17, 2002 in NYC. Bruce and his
wife attended both events.
Synopsis:
Orphaned by a recent auto accident,
ten-year-old Jackson Mayhew (RORY CULKIN) has come to live with his aunt,
Patty Winslow (SHERILYN FENN) at a tacky Florida hotel where she works as a
bartender. Patty, a romantically challenged aspiring torch singer is
struggling to convince the hotel's manager Mel Breskin (TOM MCBEATH) to let
her sing in the bar.
Concerned that Jackson's habit of making up dark outrageous tales about
everyone around him is a sign of unexpressed grief, Patty dares her nephew to
make up a "nice story." Jackson responds with the idea that elderly,
white-haired hotel guest Sam Clausner (Hume Cronyn) is actually Santa Claus
vacationing incognito during his "off season."
Jackson's
notion becomes a fast-spreading rumor in the hotel, much to Sam Clausner's
dismay. Sam arranges with Patty to have Jackson talk with a kindly but inept
child psychologist, Dr. Zimmer (Bruce Davison), who proves to be no match for
the brooding, intelligent boy. Sam, therefore, quietly takes Jackson aside to
explain that he is indeed Santa on vacation, which makes Jackson's rumor
extremely inconvenient. Jackson agrees to help Sam conspire to conceal his
"true identity." However, it's too late. Mel's greedy hype brings
the story to the attention of TV stations.
Richard Frangello (Adam Arkin), a dentist from Albuquerque, arrives along
with the deluge of guests that soon swamp the hotel wanting to meet Santa.
Patty and Richard find themselves instantly attracted to each other. Jackson
discovers Richard is in fact an undercover police officer, looking to arrest
Sam. The mystery of Sam's true identity, Patty's first opportunity to sing
professionally, and Jackson's ability to believe in something good all come
together in a climactic confrontation during the hotel's tinsel-draped
"Christmas In July" promotional event. It turns out that no one is
quite what they seem - yet everyone gets what they deserve.
Cast:
Patty Winslow...SHERILYN FENN
Sam Clausner...HUME CRONYN
Dr. Zimmer...BRUCE DAVISON
Mel Breskin...TOM McBEATH
Milton Loomis...STEPHEN E. MILLER
Richard Frangello...ADAM ARKIN
Jackson Mayhew...RORY CULKIN
Mona Sanchez...KARIN KONOVAL
Ashley Manson...LISA PELIKAN
Mr. Murchison...PHILIP GRANGER
Mrs. Murchison...JUDY NORTON
Irma Murchison...MICHAELA SLINGER
Zachary Murchison...SAGE TESTINI
News Director...DERYL HAYES
Customers...AMANDA O'LEARY, ICHAEL ROBERDS, AVERY MARTE
Reporter...BYRON LAWSON
Managing Editor...PAULA SHAW
Boozy Santa...RICK POLTARUK
Stella...ERIN WRIGHT
Mitch...NICHOLAS HARRISON
Stunt Coordinator...JIMMY BROYDEN
