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The Odd Couple

A story of two triathletes

The short documentary “The Odd Couple: A Story of Two Triathletes” is an inspirational tale of two triathletes, each with their own set of challenges. Jeff is a below the knee amputee and an Ironman finisher while Parvin, a follower of the Sikh faith struggles to find a balance between maintaining identity and the rigors of training to be an athlete. Contrasting their challenges, the documentary honestly explores the similarities in their motivation. Ironically both chose their challenges – Jeff is an amputee by choice and Parvin is Sikh by choice.

The movie is an attempt to bring to light Jeff and Parvin’s inspiring friendship and their positive attitude to achieve their dream of being a triathlete despite their daily struggles. The film transcends cultural and demographic barriers and has a universal appeal in how we all can overcome our own challenges. Indeed, Harleen, a debutant filmmaker, was inspired to complete the entire movie while she was pregnant with her first baby.

Equality between two humans of different cultures, race and ethnicity is captured through the cinematic lens.

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Original Music by Ryan Spratt

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The awesome team behind The Odd Couple

EDITOR : EDMONDO TINETTI

My first film project was a short called ‘If The Walls Could Talk….’ About six magically disturbed chairs. I shot it digitally in 1997 when digital media was just emerging using tapes to record. I was hooked on all the promises the digital age was predicting which led me to becoming a digital editor in 2003. In 2011 “Behind the Bush” Short Documentary won at Scarycow Film Festival in San Francisco for best short documentary and was the official selection for Sonoma International Film Festival in April 2011.
In 2013 I worked on “What’s the T?” documentary as a colorist. It can be currently seen on Hulu Plus and has won Festival Favorite at the Cinema Diverse Film Festival 2013 in Palm Springs, CA.
“The biggest challenge was to do justice to the Sikh faith and make it accessible to an audience and that is why by using an athlete to represent how there can be a balance between your everyday life and your faith was a brilliant choice. Parvin, the film’s main character is just an average guy but the way he lives his life is inspiring.”

ORIGINAL MUSIC: RYAN SPRATT

Ryan Spratt is a composer working in San Francisco. He started composing on his father’s Atari ST circa 1989. From there, he cultivated a double life as a classically trained band nerd during the day and a Grunge rock iconoclast in his own mind later in the day. His work has evolved with technology and he is now well equipped to express himself in a wide variety of styles, specializing in cinematic, ambient, electronic and indie.
“What attracted me to this project was that it is about how we all have challenges, in our lives, that can be overcome no matter where we come from or what our situation. Parvin’s story is filled with very universal themes but is unlike anything I have seen in a documentary before. I was very excited by Harleen, Aman and the whole team’s passion and enthusiasm to get this project going from the very start.”

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: JEFFERY GARY

Jeff is a photographer and cinematographer based in California. He has over 30 years of experience and has worked on numerous documentaries. Jeff is also an aspiring writer and director. Regardless of the project at hand, his goal is always to create images that move the story forward and create a true picture for the audience. He graduated the USC Film School in 1984

Special Thanks

Without the unconditional support and understanding of our friends and family, The Odd Couple would never have been made. Together we first premiered the film at the SIFF Toronto, and made it to the Parliament of Religions, 2015 – along the way touching many lives, inspiring kids and adults alike. Along the way, a number of kids were born to many of you, so here is a big cheers for them growing up to be inspirational figures as well.

Parvin, Manmeet and Sarbjit Panesar

Jeff and Jenny Schmidt

Jefferey L. Gary

Edmondo Tinetti

Ryan Spratt

Blake Nolan Brown

Mandeep Singh

Manjit Singh Johar

Valarie Kaur

Prabhjot Singh

Ravinder Singh

Gaganpreet Singh and Divyajyot Kaur

Gurbani Vichar Group, San Francisco

Kate Mulligan

Hardeep Singh Aulakh

Shiggy Ichinomiya

India Community Center, Milpitas

Northwest YMCA, Cupertino

Gurdwara, San Jose

Manikaran Singh Johar

Gobind Singh Johar

Douglas Kreitz

Becky Sanders

Midpen Media Community Center

Lucia Panini and James Kenoyer

Amardeep @Amardeep Photography

Saanjh, The Bay Area Retreat

Akhar

Radio Zindagi, Fremont

Praveen Suggala

Neeraj Dhar

Michael Chand

Tanuja Bahal

Shelly Rojas

Ravi Abhang

Harbans Kaur

Brig. Avtar Singh

Paramjit Kaur

Manjeet Kaur Johar

Manpreet Singh Dhot

Samriti Singh

Mannat Kaur

Ekam Dhot

Dedicated to the love of our lives

Raisa Kaur
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