Just when you thought pickleball couldn’t be more popular, it’s now hitting the big screen.
Dana Calderwood, a filmmaker and recreational pickleball player, premiered his first comedy film at the Emelin Theatre in Mamaroneck.
“Killer in the Kitchen,” which Calderwood described as an “elaborate home movie,” is a 120-minute comedic murder mystery, in which pickleball becomes more than a fun, harmless game to play with friends.
The film follows Detective David Olarsch, played by Rye resident David Olarsch, as he and his “trusty assistant,” played by Rye resident June Rogoznica, work to uncover the mystery of a “vicious killer dressed in a black robe” who is murdering the pickleball players of Rye.
“The thriller/horror aspect was just icing,” Calderwood said. “All of the ‘Scary Movie’ sequels come to mind.”
Calderwood, who lives in Mamaroneck, describes the movie as “Knives Out” meets “Police Squad,” saying he took inspiration from many 20th-century movies. He even included some movie clips within his film.
“Killer in the Kitchen” had scenes modeled after Goldfinger (1964), Jaws (1975), and Psycho (1960), which made an entire generation afraid to shower.
Calderwood also included the famous Wilhelm scream, which has been used by many directors, including Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Many moviegoers are not familiar with the sound, “but you’ve heard it a million times,” Calderwood said.
The Sept. 10 premiere was not open to the public because the film includes plenty of movie clips that are copyrighted, Calderwood said. The director and producer are trying to line up additional venues where the movie can be seen.
He and Olarsch plan to donate any proceeds to their favorite charities.
Though Calderwood, 63, is retired, he had a long career in film and comedy. Among his many credits are working alongside Jon Stewart on “Caroline’s Comedy Hour” and launching NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in 1993.
But he recently shifted his focus toward more recreational filming along with other hobbies, including photography, guitar, and, of course, pickleball. When he became part of a growing community of pickleballers, he began thinking of fun things to do off the courts.
The cast of “Killer in the Kitchen”
“The real story here is that 87 pickleball players (of middle age!) decided it would be fun to make a movie. And did!” Calderwood said.
Even Rye resident and U.S. Rep. George Latimer made a cameo.
“Thank God I don’t play pickleball!” he said during a montage of public reaction to the murders.
Most of those recruited by Calderwood to perform in the movie had zero acting experience, including Olarsch, the film’s executive producer and star. Olarsch, a naturopathic doctor, co-heads the Rye Picklers group with Rye resident Susan Romeo. Most of the cast came from the local pickleball courts, and around 80 were Rye residents.
Some actors are members of the Rye Picklers Group, while others belonged to clubs like Manursing Island Club and Shenorock Shore Club. Regardless of their home court, the actors shared a passion for the community that pickleball creates, both on and off the courts.
Calderwood said many actors had no idea what they were getting into; he expects many “will come up to me after the Emelin premiere and say ‘So THAT’s why you had me doing that!’”
Because many lacked experience, and most had other obligations, filming took around a year. Calderwood, however, said that busy schedules were built into the process from day one. “We would only shoot two to three days a week, and often take weeks off,” he said.
Beside the occasional overseas filming cast members did while on vacation in Morocco or in Florida at a family beach house, “Killer in the Kitchen” was completely filmed in Rye at the Rye Rec pickleball courts and at Wainwright House.
Olarsch played pickleball with Wainwright executive Tricia Madden, who helped make the Wainwright library available for the film’s intense finale. Calderwood said he “knew that had to be the final scene of the movie” right as he walked in.
What began as a group of pickleball players searching for fun activities off the courts turned into a yearlong adventure and a rewarding project for the Rye pickleball community.
