‘Odd Way Home’ to film in N.M.

Nick Maniatis, New Mexico Film Office director, announced that the independent feature film, “The Odd Way Home” will begin production in Las Cruces, Deming, Hillsboro and Silver City.

The film will shoot from mid-July through August in those locations. New Mexico production companies — Slant Productions and Sandia Media — are collaborating on the film.

“The Odd Way Home” finds the oddest couple on an unforgettable journey and finding happiness in the unlikeliest of places.

Maya, played by Willis, is a tough, jaded, firecracker of a woman who is a product of a neglected childhood and the abuses and excesses of Los Angeles. When her life comes close to fracture, she catapults herself as far from her old life as possible. She blindly hits the road on an uncharted course and when her car breaks down in a town in New Mexico, her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Duncan, played by Marquette.

Duncan — who has autism — is a hermit from this sleepy speck of a town, alienated from the world physically and socially. He is a slave to his routines and obsessions of order and pattern.

Willis has starred in “The House Bunny” and “Hostage” while Marquette has been in “The Girl Next Door” and “Alpha Dog.” Also in the film are Brendan Sexton III, Veronica Cartwright and Bruce Altman.

The film is being directed by New Mexico resident Rajeev Nirmalakhandan who worked for Universal and Dreamworks before teaching film at NMSU’s Creative Media Institute. It is being produced by Peter Touche of Sandia Media, Patrick Nelson and Victor Kearney as executive producer.

“This film would not have been possible without the support of NMSU’s Creative Media Institute and its talented students,” Touche stated. “We are also most grateful to the communities of Las Cruces, Deming, Hillsboro and Silver City, all of whom have enabled this project. This is truly a New Mexico project born and bred.”

The production will employ at least 38 New Mexico crew members including 15 interns from NMSU in Las Cruces and 22 New Mexican principal and background talent.