A Resident’s Film: TRIPLE TROUBLE
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
A Resident’s Film
TRIPLE TROUBLE
Written & Directed by: Homer Flynn and The Residents
October 15, 2022
“California Premiere” at 45th Mill Valley Film Festival
(Mill Valley, Calif.)
San Francisco, Calif. – Legendary art-rock group The Residents officially announce the “California Premiere” of their debut feature film, Triple Trouble, as part of the 45th Mill Valley Film Festival screening at The Roxie Theater (3117 16th Street, San Francisco) on Saturday, October 15, 2022 (7pm). At the Sweetwater Music Hall (19 Corte Madera Avenue) on Thursday, October 13, The Residents will showcase music from their 50th Anniversary tour Faceless Forever with a special live performance at the legendary non-profit music venue in downtown Mill Valley (film screening tickets are available at mvff.com – tickets for the Sweetwater concert go on sale on Sept. 13 via mvff.com). Written and directed by Homer Flynn and The Residents and produced by Starr Sutherland, Triple Trouble features an all-star cast of independent actors including Dustin York, Gerri Lawlor, Isabelle Ellingson, and Isabelle Barbier. Triple Trouble appears at film festivals throughout North America and Europe in 2022.
Triple Trouble takes place in the near future, following the death of Randy Rose, former lead singer of The Residents. His son Randy Junior discovers that his father’s ashes have been stolen and listed for sale on eBay by a mysterious culprit. While investigating, Junior discovers the footage for the group’s unfinished feature film, Vileness Fats, in a foot locker in his mother’s basement. Vileness Fats was left uncompleted following its initial filming in the 1970s – and never released due to its format on half inch “industrial” video tape. The Residents resurrect Vileness Fats with a rewritten screenplay for Triple Trouble.
“As chief enabler for The Residents for 50 years, it’s been my pleasure to help the group fulfill its ambition on a large number of projects,” says Homer Flynn, President of The Cryptic Corporation. “I’m proud to say contributing to the group’s legacy is my life’s work. With that in mind, there is one notable project, Vileness Fats, the group’s unfinished underground film, which, up to now, could only be seen as a notable, but glaring failure. But, while the film is destined to remain undone, it’s not forgotten. The challenge posed by Triple Trouble was not to remake or reboot Vileness Fats but to advance and validate those original ideas in a modern way for today’s audience. Given that challenge, we’re bringing the same enthusiasm, creativity and joie de vivre to Triple Trouble that The Residents brought to Vileness Fats in the 1970s.”
Triple Trouble Synopsis:
A former priest who lost faith in the church, Randall “Junior” Rose has become a plumber and instead of the simple life he envisioned, Junior’s new occupation reveals an unexpected danger: a foreign fungus plugging sinks all over the city. Convinced that the fungus is a threat to humanity, Junior records a series of reports detailing the emergence of the strange white growth. Accompanied by his only companion Cherry, an AI enhanced drone, the plumber slowly gathers evidence to support his bizarre theory: an epidemic of white vans, a repeated pattern of black and white sidewalk drawings, a pervasive communications tower, and a massive increase in stopped-up drains. He’s further provoked by news of a “white flu” infiltrating the culture.
The death of his mother and a recent divorce have left Junior emotionally isolated, a victim of his own deeply rooted anxiety, but despite the cautions received from Cherry and Suzi, his ex-wife, his obsession continues to swell at an alarming rate. Encouraged by the ghost of his father, Junior spirals out of control while being plagued by a mysterious figure menacing the edges of his solitary world. Panic-stricken, the plumber retreats to his apartment and begins to drink.
Drunk and unhinged, Junior staggers around his apartment, neurotically craving the company of his dead mother. Desperate for a breath of fresh air, he opens his patio door just as an ominous figure bursts in. It’s Al Gump, the former custodian of the crematory where Junior’s father was incinerated. Five years earlier, Gump and his brother Ollie had kidnapped his ex-wife Suzi; in the ensuing aftermath, Junior’s mom shot and killed Ollie and the raging Al is demanding revenge. But with the brute’s fingers tightening around the hapless plumber’s neck, Gump suddenly gurgles, snorts, and lurches around the room, falling to the floor with a massive thud as a foamy white substance ripples and oozes from his mouth.
Staring in amazement, Junior can utter but one word, “FUNGUS!.”
To learn about upcoming film festivals featuring Triple Trouble, please visit: residents.com
The Residents – Live Performance at Sweetwater Music Hall on Thursday, October 13, 2022:
Featuring songs from their classic catalog, as well as their most recent album, The Residents are pleased to announce FACELESS FOREVER, their 50TH Anniversary Tour appearing at Sweetwater Music Hall on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Gloriously celebrating their odd and improbable 50 years of existence, the group will present selections from their iconic 1978 DUCK STAB! album as well as spotlight music from the recent release Metal, Meat & Bone along with an eclectic collection of fan favorites. Always unpredictable, The Residents will also unleash a few unexpected surprises in this curious and unique carnival of chaos.
In addition to their upcoming live performance at Sweetwater Music Hall, as part of the Mill Valley Film Festival, the group will also screen several of their classic videos from the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (NYC). The videos will include Hello Skinny, The Third Reich’n Roll, One Minute Movies and a selection from DUCK STAB! Alive!, a recent live-in-the studio set created for Night Flight in celebration of its 40th Anniversary.
About The Residents
The Residents (band, writers, artists; they/them) are an American art collective best known for creating avant-garde music and multimedia works. Since their first official release, Santa Dog (1972), the group has released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects, and ten DVDs. They have undertaken ten major tours and scored multiple films. Pioneers in exploring the potential of CD-ROM and similar technologies, the Residents have won several awards for their multimedia projects. Ralph Records, a record label focusing on avant-garde music, was started by the band. Throughout the group’s existence, the individual members have ostensibly attempted to operate under anonymity, preferring instead to have attention focused on their art output. Much outside speculation and rumor has focused on this aspect of the group. In public, the group appears silent and costumed, often wearing eyeball helmets, top hats and tails — a long-lasting costume now recognized as its signature iconography. Its albums generally fall into two categories: deconstructions of Western popular music, and complex conceptual pieces composed around a theme, theory, or plot. The group is noted for surrealistic lyrics and sound, disregard for conventional music composition, and the over-the-top theatrical spectacle of their live performances. In addition to their groundbreaking work in the areas of trance, world fusion, electronica, punk, industrial and lounge music, the group has also been credited with being among the originators of performance art and music video. Two of their videos are in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and their Freak Show CD- ROM has recently been featured in MoMA’s “Looking at Music 3.0” exhibition. The Theory of Obscurity, a documentary about The Residents, premiered at SXSW in 2015.
In January, 2020, resurrecting their widely acclaimed 1988 album, God in 3 Persons, The Residents, in collaboration with noted video artist John Sanborn, created a major multimedia performance at the Museum of Modern Art. In addition, based on the newly discovered recordings of Alvin Snow, aka Dyin’ Dog, the group completed their 49th studio album, METAL, MEAT & BONE. In August, 2021, featuring the music of Snow, The Residents performed select concerts revisiting The Third Reich ‘n’ Roll and Duck Stab, two quintessential Residents albums. residents.com
About the Cast:
DUSTIN YORK
Junior
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Dustin began his journey as an artist in his teenage years making music. In the mid-2000s he shifted to studying acting in Sacramento at American River College, eventually graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from CSU Long Beach. Dustin spent several years in Los Angeles working professionally in film, on both sides of the camera, doing mostly independents. He has since returned to Northern California, continuing life in the arts, and maintaining a long-time collaboration and friendship with The Residents.
GERRI LAWLOR
Junior’s Mom
Gerri Lawlor, Junior’s mother, sadly passed away between the shooting of Double Trouble and Triple Trouble. A talented American character and voice actress, Gerri was the co-creator, along with Marc Gimbel and Stephen Kearin, of the fictitious Simlish language used in The Sims video games. Speaking Simlish, Lawlor was the voice of numerous Sims over a period of several years. In addition, Lawlor played the “Vanna White” hostess in the 3DO Game Twisted and, in 1999, starred as Elizabeth Goodman in the deconstructive comedic film Suckerfish. Lawlor was also a Company Player at BATS Improv.
ISABELLE ELLINGSON
Suzi
Isabelle is a producer and actress living and working in Sausalito, CA. She graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Acting. In the summer of 2021, she produced, directed, and acted in Twelfth Night in the inaugural production of her new theatre series called Shakespeare on the Water on the houseboats in Sausalito. Her notable film credits include Transformer’s prequel Bumblebee directed by Travis Knight. She has performed at theatres around the country including Marin Theatre Company and Manhattan Repertory Theatre. She works commercially with Stars the Agency in their on-camera division while consistently fit modeling for Specialized Bicycle Components and Title Nine clothing. Isabelle loves to surf and bike.
ISABELLE BARBIER
Cherry and Amy
Isabelle Barbier (she/her) studied theater at the Atlantic Acting School conservatory program. After graduating Isabelle realized that there was a MAJOR lack of compelling parts for women, so she decided to write some of her own. Her plays have been featured at Dixon Place, A.R.T. , and The New York Fringe. Most recently, Isabelle starred in the feature film CRSHD, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and can now be streamed on HULU. She’s currently working on a draft of Guts – a screenplay that was an Academy Nicholls Fellowship – Quarter Finalist, and WIF Feature Residency finalist.
MARK PETRAKIS
Father Reilly
Mark has spent 20 years in and out of live theater alternately serving as an actor, playwright, and director at such theaters as the Public Theater, LaMaMa, ETC., Steppenwolf, Berkeley Rep, Magic Theater, Overtone Theater, and Seattle Rep. He is currently at work on a book about transhumanism and the global war for control over life. Stay Human!
MATT HECKMAN
Al Gump
Matt is an actor, cameraperson (esp. drones), producer and is considered a stalwart of any endeavor. If he were a dog, he’d be a Rottweiler. He is fueled by Costa Rican coffee, ocean breeze and California sunshine.
About the Crew:
HOMER FLYNN
Director
For nearly 40 years, Homer Flynn has been involved with the murky aesthetics of San Francisco’s music, performance and video group, The Residents. As their chief visual designer and president of The Cryptic Corporation, The Residents’ business and public relations interface, Flynn has been involved in nearly all of the group’s improbable projects since the mid 1970’s. Currently, he lives in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco with his charming wife, Leigh Barbier. Homer Flynn and The Residents directed and wrote Triple Trouble.
STARR SUTHERLAND
Producer
The legendary producer, Starr Sutherland has an extensive range of credits, from theater, to movies, to music, to art, and 360 VR. His latest is producer on the Residents art feature, Triple Trouble.
DAVID LAWRENCE
Editor
David Lawrence is a producer, researcher and media artist with over 30 years of expertise in all aspects of digital media. His early work in the 1980s at Lucasfilm Ltd. includes pioneering research, design and production of innovative multimedia projects and tools that launched the interactive digital world we take for granted today. He’s a frequent creative collaborator with other media artists and has produced video installations for exhibitions in galleries and museums nationally and internationally.
FRAZER BRADSHAW
Director of Photography
As a cinematographer, Frazer Bradshaw has shot 17 features, seven documentaries, and a plethora of shorts and commercial projects. Bradshaw’s work has played Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, Tribeca and many other film festivals, winning multiple awards. Highlights include Tom E. Brown’s Pushing Dead and Kurt Norton and Paul Mariano’s These Amazing Shadows. Bradshaw is driven by work that is challenging and authentic, and which makes social and artistic contributions.
JIM MCKEE
Sound Designer
Jim McKee is the owner of Earwax Productions, which he co-founded in 1983. Jim has worked on major motion pictures, festival-winning independent films, documentaries, as well as IMAX productions. Since 2007 he has mixed feature DVD/Blu-ray feature compilations for Pixar/Disney, and, over the past five years, has devoted much work to the area of archiving and restoration, including Coppola’s first film Dementia 13, Cotton Club and Apocalypse Now.
JOHN SANBORN
Dream Sequence Creator
John Sanborn is “a Key member of the second wave of American video artists” whose career spans the early days of experimental video art in the 1970s through the heyday of 80’s MTV music/videos to digital media art of today. In addition to exhibiting his work on television and in museum installations, John is known for collaborations with virtuosic performers, contemporary composers and choreographers.
CREDITS
CAST
Junior Rose
Dustin York
Mom
Gerri Lawlor
Suzi
Isabelle Ellingson
Father Riley
Mark Petrakis
Randy Rose
Randy Rose
Cherry, Amy
Isabelle Barbier
Al Gump
Matt Heckman
Ollie Gump
James Heckmam
Newscaster
Rodney Earl Jackson, Jr.
CREW
Co-Director
Homer Flynn
Written by
Homer Flynn and The Residents
Producer
Starr Sutherland
Executive Producers
Lynda Weinman, Carlotta Fontaine, The Cryptic Corp
Editor
David Lawrence
Director of Photography
Frazer Bradshaw
Music
The Residents with Eric Drew Feldman
Sound Design
Jim McKee
Dream Sequences
John Sanborn
Associate Producers
Sharon Ludtke, Josh Keppel, Matt Heckman
Gaffers
Dan Juenemann, Dick Favaro
1st AC
Alex Zajicek
Location Sound
Shawn Doyle, David Norfleet
Art Direction
Hugo Fat, Susie Alegria
Props and Inspiration
Leigh Barbier
Make-Up
Andrea Pino, Bethaney Deal
Stunt Coordinator
Tony Vella
Location Photographers
Henrick Kam, Elizabeth Gohr
Graphics
Nathan Moody, Casey Stockdon
Additional Editors
Jesse Spencer, Rick LeCompte
Colorist
Frazer Bradshaw
Additional Camera
Peter Strietmann, Stephen Buckingham, Don Hardy, Roger Jones
DIT
Alex Zajicek, David DeJong
Legal Services
George Rush
Media Contact: Jesse Cutler, JP Cutler Media, 925.253.3163, jesse@jpcutlermedia.com