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Synopsis
Set in the early 1970’s, Richard Nixon, the most guarded president of the United States of his time, manages to sneak away from his security detail to visit an old golfing buddy, Jackie Gleason one fine evening.
Jackie Gleason renowned actor, musician, ufologist and golfer is starstruck accepts the invitation and sneaks away with Richard Nixon on a leisurely drive to Homestead Airforce Base.
The drive supersedes all their expectations as they both come to realize they are about to experience a moment that will question LIFE for years to come. Nixon, candidly opens up about his experience as the president of the United States and certain luxuries he is afforded as president. Including his personal feelings about being the most guarded president, his ability to play tricks on his security detail, his fascination with messing with the human mind.
Richard Nixon surprises Jackie by treating him to a once in a life time experience to show him the mangled bodies of what appear to be other earthly beings stuffed in a coke cooler. This experience is finely engrained in Jackie Gleason mind, leaving him wondering if what he saw was true or if it was president Richard Nixon messing with his mind the moment he showed up at his home.
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Director's Statement
One of my interests in life besides film is Ufology. I love UFOs, and stories about them. I came across a story too good to be true, involving Richard Nixon and Jackie Gleason.
In 1978, Beverly McKittrick, Jackie Gleason’s, Ex-wife, gave an interview for a magazine and where she described the night then President Richard Nixon, Showed up at the Miami home of Jackie Gleason with no security or anyone else with them. Nixon took his friend Jackie Gleason to Homestead Air force base to show him a crate that he claimed to contain a UFO. He then proceeded to show Gleason to the back part of a hangar where it is described that 3 coke freezers Housed the bodies of alien lifeforms that had been in a crash.
Beverly, claims that Gleason, had been golfing earlier in the day with Nixon at his own celebrity golf tournament. That is when Gleason, asked Nixon, if he knew anything about UFOs as president. Nixon said he had heard somethings but nothing to exciting. The part of the story that perplexed me was the idea that Nixon showed up by himself, without any secret service or a driver with him. I investigated and confirmed that 1. Gleason had in fact hosted a celebrity golf tournament where Gleason and Nixon did play together on the day and time Beverly said this took place. 2. Nixon left his security behind on more than one occasion. He eventually had his security detail tripled. His code name for the secret service was Searchlight.
Now with the admission that there is in fact UFOs in the atmosphere being verified by the U.S. government, documents being disclosed and people coming forward, this urban legends start to look more like fact. Also, that this is just too weird not to be true is why I had to make this story into a short film. It gave me characters, drama, comedy, and some aliens to top it off. What more do you want in a film?
Key Team Biographies
Owen Royce
Writer, Director, Actor
Owen Royce is a Writer/Director, and he also portrays Richard Nixon in Searchlight. He is an independent filmmaker in the local Twin Cities (Minnesota) market for over a decade. He has several awards under his belt that include best director and best writer. Some of his most recent films include, The Part We Keep, Away We Go, The Moment You Wake, Half Smile, The Wolf, You’re in Trouble" and many more. His goal is to direct and write more engaging stories that explore reality, dreams and the profound experience that is the human consciousness, whether it be through genre films, sci-fi, horror, comedy or films that ground themselves in day-to-day existence we experience. No matter the challenge of the film, his goal is to bring complexity to characters.
Reyna Rios-Starr
Producer
Reyna Rios-Starr is the producer for Searchlight and brought the project to its feet in collaboration with local passionate artists. Her goal is to continue to produce more thought provoking stories that speak to diverse audiences . Searchlight is Reyna's first producer credit but since filming ended she has gone to produce several other projects which include; Chapulin, The Part We Keep, and Ave Maria . She's excited to keep collaborating with filmmakers in Minnesota and beyond.
Tim Schrader
Director of Photography
Tim Schrader is an award-winning Minneapolis based cinematographer with experience in both commercial and narrative filmmaking. Over the years, Tim has worked on music videos, short films, documentaries, and feature films. He is always looking for unique ways to elevate any project he is involved in. His favorite type of stories are those that toe the line between reality and the surreal or magical.
Nathan Eby
Sound Mixer & Composer
Jay Ness
Editor & Colorist
Jay Ness is an ADDY award winning filmmaker based in Minneapolis. His work has screened in the United States, Europe, and Canada. Ness has directed numerous narrative films, documentaries, commercials, music videos, etc and has as collaborated on assorted content featured on HBO, Comedy Central, Netflix and Universal Music Group’s Republic & Capitol Records. His feature film debut, Dark Cloud was released theatrically and distributed in 2022.
Cast
E.J. Subkoviak
Actor/ Jackie Gleason
Owen Royce
Actor/ Richard Nixon
Lori Roovers
Actor/ Beverly Gleason
Charla Marie Bailey
Actor/ Sherry
Dante Pirtle
Actor/ Valet
Paul Economon
Actor/ Agent Johnson
