ORIGIN:
Originally titled “Ottowomba”, the film serves as an homage to Jim Varney, and, namely, his first film appearance as Ernest P. Worrell – in “Dr. Otto and the Riddle of the Gloom Beam”. The initial script draft was written in 2016 where it stayed untouched, and the first idea of pursuing the project wasn’t until 2020, when writer Mike Barkhoff suggested it to Dylan Van Hauen as the latter’s debut feature film. Barkhoff expressed fear he wouldn’t adapt it well due to it being a comedy, but, when a commentator complimented Barkhoff on a comedy project, Barkhoff decided to pursue the script as his next film. It went into production in late 2022 alongside three other film efforts – all of which stalled and remain incomplete. Barkhoff originally wanted to release the film on Varney’s birthday in 2024, but decided to shelve it until the following year to coincide with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Varney’s passing as the ultimate tribute.
Structure:
The film is presented in a non-linear format, and bore no marketing before it’s release. Only posters were revealed to the public, and, briefly before release, a small summary of the plot was given. There are no trailers or clips, as Barkhoff wanted the film to be a complete surprise beyond the brief information he’d revealed. The film is dedicated to Jim Varney and, after release, Barkhoff’s grandmother, who passed four days after it came out. It was also released forty years after the aforementioned “Dr. Otto” film.
cast:
Mike Barkhoff, Conner Paulsen, Tyler Glenn Barthelmes
DIRECTOR, WRITER &EDITOR:
Mike Barkhoff
PRODUCER:
Jarrod Van Hauen and Zach Delfs
LIGHTING & AUDIO:
Mike Barkhoff
