An American

Odyssey

a film by

Michael Kontomanolis

The true story of one immigrant

who found his place

within the halls of America’s

most prestigious hotel.

Pitch Deck

This is the Story of...

Michael Kontomanolis

The restroom attendant at the Waldorf Astoria. From 1961-2008 he handed a napkin to every major celebrity, debutante, and politician in the world; learning from some of the most iconic figures like Muhammed Ali, Gregory Peck, Cole Porter, and befriending many of them. He met his wife there too as she worked in housekeeping. They and their colleagues - many of whom were also struggling as poor immigrants - endured grueling hours and spent their days surrounded by the most lavish guests who came to New York City. And when the hotel was asleep, they made it their paradise, running through the halls like kids in a playground. They would sit in the same seats their guests dined in, dance in the empty ballroom, even sneak into the Presidential Suite to get a taste of the lifestyle they so dutifully served. During those quiet hours, these immigrants with nothing, had everything.

Logline

Set in the 1960’s, AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY follows Michael - a scrawny young Greek immigrant in New York City. A chance encounter gets him into the glittering world of The Waldorf Astoria, serving as a restroom attendant. Within these hallowed halls Michael will grow into his own, fall in love, and befriend some of the world’s most prominent historical figures as he learns the American way through the lens of the most privileged.

Synopsis

New York, 1961 - A tough and unforgiving city; where the towering skyscrapers cast long shadows over the dreams of its newcomers. Michael works two jobs on an 18-hour shift just to make ends meet, all while living in constant fear of deportation, dodging both authorities and prejudiced street gangs. A chance encounter at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel offers Michael an unexpected opportunity. Initially denied employment, Michael arrives home to find his mother dead. He packs his things, ready to return to Greece, but his determination prevails and he storms into the hotel, showcasing his multilingual skills and hospitality experience, proving he’s up for the challenge.

As he navigates his newfound job, Michael becomes acquainted with the hotel's staff, which include: A pair of charismatic immigrant chefs, an abusive hotel events manager, an affable receptionist, and some of the world's most renowned historical figures, such as John F. Kennedy, Muhammad Ali, and Gregory Peck. These encounters open Michael's eyes to the broader mosaic of American society and its complexities.

His most profound connection is forged in the moonlit corridors of the Waldorf's grandeur when he meets Cally, a fellow Greek and hotel maid with dreams of becoming a schoolteacher. Their budding romance unfolds within the hotel's glittering halls, amidst secret rendezvous and romantic dinners during the guests' slumber.

Their love story is marred by obstacles. Michael’s dark skin and ethnic features make him a target for racial stereotypes and violence. Cally struggles to manage work, school and their relationship. When her health deteriorates, Michael pushes her away, driven by the belief that he is jeopardizing her health and her dream. An altercation with a racist guest costs Michael his job, and he contemplates leaving his newfound life behind. However, a pivotal moment of truth exposes the insolent manager and his abusive practices, leading to Michael's return to the Waldorf. He reunites with Cally and they start a family in Queens. Yet, the American Dream proves elusive, as they both make profound sacrifices for the future of their children. Cally's dream of becoming a schoolteacher remains unfulfilled, as she declares the American Dream takes "longer than a lifetime.”

"An American Odyssey" is a journey through the challenges and triumphs of one man's pursuit of the American Dream, underscored by themes of identity, sacrifice, and unwavering love. Michael's odyssey is a testament to the enduring spirit of immigrants who shape America's rich tapestry.

Michael Kontomanolis II (me)

Michael Kontomanolis I

(my grandfather)

Director’s Statement

Michael Kontomanolis is my grandfather. I started working on his story to better understand where I came from. The more I unpacked his life, the more this film became inevitable. My grandmother, Cally, says in the film that “the American Dream takes more than a lifetime.” I am the continuation of that lifetime. My grandfather spent his life in a bathroom scrubbing toilets so that I could have the opportunity to tell his story.

My most recent short film took place in a one-room setting. I have always been intrigued by these types of films (12 Angry Men, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Reservoir Dogs) where the action takes place in one room, with the internal conflict setting the stage for the drama. I intend to employ the same techniques as I did in my short - utilizing the entire space, with a crucial focus on blocking. The intention behind the camera in every scene will parallel Michael's circumstances. As the story unfolds the camera’s perspective follows our hero’s emotions. The camera will start low, to mimic Michael’s feelings as he first enters the Waldorf. Entranced surely, but feeling insecure, small amongst the elite; seeing everything - and everyone - as larger than life. As he grows into his own and gets more confident the camera will move faster, the angles higher. As the movie progresses we will see more and more of him with the guests, shots of him being included, as he becomes an American before our eyes. Again the blocking will be crucial, as the distance, quite literally, between him and his patrons will dissipate over time.

The colors will mimic our character’s view of the world, from his destitute beginnings as an immigrant thrust into the harsh realities of living in a basement, to working and falling in love at the Waldorf. The colors start dull as we begin in grungy Astoria, Queens. They will start to pop in Act 2 as we follow Michael into his new life in the Waldorf. And when he meets Cally and falls in love (as in real life) the colors will glisten with vibrancy.

There is a nostalgia invoked on the ’60s that I intend to employ in various ways. Our color scheme will feature warm, saturated, soft light. The warmth will contribute to the nostalgia and the bygone glory days of New York City. I will use saturation to further infuse the almost ethereal, dreamlike state of being in The Waldorf during this time in history (employed in a similar way to hand-coloring during Hollywood’s golden age). And much like an old 35mm film, I want to feel the graininess, to truly transport the viewer. Textures on our costumes will further create the sense of enchantment the Waldorf Hotel elicits.

Director’s Statement (cont’d)

Much of the film takes place during the quiet moments of the hotel. When all are asleep. As such, the emptiness of the shots will play an important role. Specifically, the way that emptiness is filled, and how in that vacancy a love story is told. I worked in restaurants and catering halls growing up, where I spent much of my time imagining how I would shoot them. As with any film that showcases the quieter “behind-the-scenes”, the way the characters move us along contributes to the kinetic feeling of being there. This goes back to the matter of blocking, above all else.

I’d be remiss not to mention how blessed I am to have such a talented actor at the helm of our cast - Tony Revolori. He knows my family and has an intimate understanding of his characters’ true story. This will make rehearsals (which have already begun) even smoother.

As a director my goal is to tell honest, raw, human stories. Stories that reflect on the hardships that life can bring. Stories that don’t take you where you wanted to go, but always end where you needed to be; that reaffirm what it means to be human, where the journey is unexpected and arduous, but that ultimately leave you feeling inspired and hopeful. My hope is that immigrants and children of immigrants can see pieces of themselves in our film. This story is for anyone with a history of American immigration. This isn’t just for the Greek culture, it’s for every culture. Every immigrant who left their country in search for a better life. The journey of those who worked tirelessly so that their kids could have the opportunities they never did - indeed the real American Dream.

Comparable Films

Brooklyn

Budget: $11 Million

Box Office: $62 Million

Minari

Budget: $2 Million

Box Office: $15 Million

Midnight in Paris

Budget: $17 Million

Box Office: $151 Million

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Budget: $30 Million

Box Office: $177 Million

Michael

Cally

Cast

Tony Revolori

Adele Exarchopoulos

Elena Kampouris

Eamon

Mr. Richardson

Caleb Landry Jones

Chris O’Dowd

Domnhnall Gleeson

Paul Giamatti

Tom Hanks

Christopher Walken

Mr. Kane

Elester

Bobby Cannavale

Jude Law

Sam Rockwell

Lakeith Stanfield

Andre Holland

Trevante Rhodes

Budget

$8,000,000

Location

We are shooting the majority of the film at a hotel (The Chateau Laurier) in Ottowa, Canada, where the strength of the USD vs. CAD and the net effective tax incentive of 39.5% will keep our budget manageable while still delivering the same level of quality as films of a much larger budget.

Production Plan

Period pieces can be expensive to make - the costumes and set designs often absorb a large amount of the budget. However, AN AMERICAN ODYSSEY is a drama that happens in intimate settings and during the quiet hours of the hotel. Our character’s mostly roam through empty hallways and interact in small spaces, helping us keep our budget down, our relationships human, and our film squarely grounded in character.

After setting up the location with two major set pieces, the film mostly moves inside into the hotel suites, the bathroom, and the kitchen. This will allow us to save a large amount on background actors. We have also chosen a practical location that is outfitted like a luxury 60s hotel, bringing down our production design costs even further.

The Team

Michael Kontomanolis

Writer | Director

Nico Alvo

Producer

Michael Konti is an Emmy-nominated producer, ​writer, and director. A first generation Greek ​originally from Queens, New York, he earned his ​degree in Film & Television at NYU’s Tisch School of ​the Arts before moving to Los Angeles in 2013. He ​went on to produce the Emmy-Nominated Show ​“Home & Family.” In 2019 he was an associate ​producer on A24’s “The Last Black Man in San ​Francisco”. In 2021 he created and executive ​produced “Smart Home Nation” for A&E. In 2022 he ​co-wrote his directorial debut “Blindspot”, starring ​Tony Revolori and David Alvarez. He is making his ​feature debut with “An American Odyssey.”

Nico Alvo is an award-winning producer originally ​from Santiago, Chile, currently based out of NY. His ​projects have screened at multiple festivals such as ​SXSW, Raindance and Fantasia, among others. Nico ​has two features - “Turning” and “Bound” - starting ​their festival runs in 2024, with his next project ​“Babymoon” slated to begin production in March of ​2024. He is currently developing the feature ​version of his short “Dead Enders”, winner of the ​2023 Midnight Audience Award at SXSW and ​selected for the Fantastic 7 at Cannes. His feature ​“The Ones You Didn’t Burn” just finished its award-​winning festival run and is available on the AMC ​owned streaming platform Shudder.

Tony Revolori

Lead Actor | Producer

Logic

Actor

Logic is a rapper, singer, producer, writer ​and actor. He has released 8 studio ​albums, receiving two Grammy ​nominations, and winning two BMI ​awards for his work as a musician. As an ​author, he released the novel ​“Supermarket” which became a New York ​Times Best Seller. He has written - and ​will star in - the feature film “Everything ​Must Go”, which is set to be released in ​2025 by Bad Robot.

Tony Revolori burst onto the scene playing ​“Zero,” the lobby boy, in Wes Anderson’s “The ​Grand Budapest Hotel.” He returned filming with ​Wes’ on “The French Dispatch” and “Asteroid ​City.” He also played ‘Flash Thompson’ in the ​reboot of Sony’s “Spiderman: Homecoming and ​reprised the role in “Spiderman: Far From Home” ​and “Spiderman: No Way Home”. He has been ​writing for the last 5 years, producing his own ​short film “Blindspot”, and just finished filming ​Andrew Patterson’s latest film along side ​Matthew McConaughey “Rivals of Amziah King.”

American Odysseys

Since working on this film, we have been inundated with stories from fellow filmmakers and friends, many of whom have shared incredible journeys of struggle and survival from their families who emigrated to America. Our ultimate goal is to empower those filmmakers, friends and others whose stories deserve to be told and shared. Stories that could potentially use the same moniker and title (‘American Odyssey’: an Iranian Story, for example). These could be told not just as films, but also as miniseries, podcast episodes and VR experiences. In that sense, a film franchise that highlights some of the most incredible, eye-opening, true and ORIGINAL stories of coming to this country… The challenges faced, and the lessons learned.

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