THE BALLAD OF SANDEEP

Short Film Competition

Director Derek Frey

USA, 2011, 28 minutes, color

EXHIBITION PREMIERE: January 27, 2012

WATCH TRAILER  |  WATCH FULL FILM

SYNOPSIS:

Where the dirt meets the pavement, where the sub-continent meets the Delaware Valley, one song rings out clearly: The Ballad of Sandeep, anthem of clowns, slaves, and heroes.

After his IT job is outsourced to Bangalore, Sandeep Majumdar sets up a remote access in his apartment, tricking his former company into believing that he is really working from India. Operating under the alias Sudesh Patel, he soon catches the eye of the company's vice president, who wants to promote him.

CAST AND CREDITS:

Director: Derek Frey

Writers: The Minor Prophets (Brian Gillin, Steve Kuzmick, Gil Damon, David Amadio)

Starring: Deep Roy, Gil Damon, David Amadio, Steve Kuzmick, Brian Gillin, Bud Damon

Official Site: www.lazerfilm.com

THE BALLAD OF SANDEEP

Short Film Competition

Director Derek Frey, USA, 2011, 28 min, color

WATCH TRAILER  |  WATCH FULL FILM

FULL SUMMARY:

Quiet, unobtrusive, and painfully polite, Indian-born Sandeep Majumdar (played by Deep Roy) works in the IT department of a software company in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. When he learns that his job has been outsourced to Bangalore, the fifty-four-year-old widower finds himself unemployed for the first time in eighteen years. After an embarrassing stint as a birthday clown’s sidekick, Sandeep convinces Henry, an ex-co-worker and notorious glutton, to help him get his old job back. They secretly install a remote access in Sandeep’s apartment, tricking his former company into believing that he is really working from India. Over the next six weeks, operating under the alias Sudesh Patel, Sandeep navigates a raging river of data, often breaking night to fulfill the day’s quota. Masquerading as an offshore peon reacquaints Sandeep with his forgotten cultural heritage, while simultaneously running him into the ground. Despite the physical and mental exhaustion of programming for twenty-two hours a day, his performance is so impressive that the boss of the company—the same man who fired him two months prior—requests an interview with Sudesh to discuss a big promotion. Sandeep goes to the interview disguised as Sudesh, but walks out a louder and larger version of himself, singing proudly The Ballad of Sandeep: anthem of clowns, slaves, and heroes. 

DIRECTOR BIO: DEREK FREY

Filmmaker Derek Frey's passion for cinema was evident at a young age. Always feeling the need to entertain those around him, Derek's attention turned towards the camera in high school and college. While those around him partook in studies and socializing, Derek could be found wandering the halls at night with a video camera, creating his next off the wall production.

A suburban Philadelphia native and graduate of West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Derek began his professional career in the entertainment industry on the ABC sitcom The Faculty (1996). He then assisted film director Tim Burton on Mars Attacks!, Sleepy Hollow, Planet of the Apes and Big Fish. Derek served as Associate Producer on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In 2009 Derek worked as Editor on the extensive book The Art of Tim Burton. Most recently he worked as Associate Producer on the box office hit Alice in Wonderland. Derek is currently working as Associate Producer on Dark Shadows and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter as well as Co-Producer on Frankenweenie. All three projects are scheduled for release in 2012.

Derek's most recent directorial outing, the award winning The Ballad of Sandeep, marks his third collaboration with The Minor Prophets.

Derek is currently developing a number of projects and seeking representation to help pave the path to his feature film directorial debut.

DEEP ROY BIO:

Deep Roy, is a Kenyan-born Indian actor, stuntman and puppeteer.  Because of his short stature, he has played a variety of unusual characters in his acting career. Roy made his professional screen acting debut in a 1976 episode of The New Avengers entitled "Target!" as character named Klokoe. He would later make his film debut that same year, in The Pink Panther Strikes Again, as the Italian Assassin.  He has played apes in two movies: Greystoke - The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes and again in the 2001 remake of Planet of the Apes (Two roles: one as a young gorilla boy and as Thade's niece). His most notable role is playing the Oompa-Loompas in Tim Burton's 2005 adaptation of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Deep had extensive training for the role in dance, yoga, and even some minor instrument playing. He is noted for his frequent collaborations with Tim Burton, appearing in Planet of the Apes, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Corpse Bride.

ABOUT THE MINOR PROPHETS:

The Minor Prophets are a four-man comedy troupe from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Since 2001, they have written, directed, and produced over 35 short films. They are currently working on a full-length stage show entitled “Fade to Yellow”, which will debut in spring 2011 at Philadelphia’s legendary Trocadero Theater. The Ballad of Sandeep marks their third venture with long-time collaborator Derek Frey, and their first with Mr. Deep Roy.

The Minor Prophets are Brian Gillin, Steve Kuzmick, Gil Damon and David Amadio.