New York TV actors co-star in Chicago indie romcom

Catherine McCafferty and Larry Thomas

Two familiar actors from popular primetime TV shows co-star in filmmaker Robert Alaniz’ latest low-budget indie romcom,“Mind Over Mindy,” which just wrapped after a month of local area shooting.

New Yorker Larry Thomas, famously known as the Soup Nazi in “Seinfeld,” and Chicago native Jim O’Heir, who plays Jerry, the consultant in “Parks and Recreation,” are the only two non-Chicago actors among the feature’s 20 parts.

Alaniz of Frankfort-based Sole Productions wrote the screenplay, produced and directed. “Mindy” is his seventh feature since he started his company in 2002.

“Mind Over Mindy” is the story of Tom, a single man in his 40s, and his troubled relationship with Tina, his fiancée. Following a traumatic breakup with ex-girlfriend Mindy in 1989, he has sabotaged every marriage opportunity. Tom agrees to therapy to save his present relationship. Complications arise, however, when Mindy materializes out of his mind into his present life.

Filmmaker Robert AlanizTom is played by Steve Parks, a familiar local film and theatre actor; Mindy is Catherine McCafferty, a promising young actress and recent Loyola University graduate and Tina is popular actress Ann Hagemann.

Thomas plays the therapist and O’Heir is Tom’s boss at the car dealership.

Principal photography was lensed by DP Ryan Juszkiewicz from July 6 through Aug. 8 in Frankfort, Homer Glen, and Chicago, with an all-Chicago crew of 25.

Executive producers are Tom Rovak and his partner Steven Collins of Annex Studios — Rovak is also the film’s postproduction supervisor; Max Nayden, who has been EP on Alaniz’ previous films and William Wagoner.

Christina Uribe Stumpf is editing. Casting assistance provided by actress Hayley Camire.

The rough cut is expected to be completed this fall for a round of distribution calls. The finished film will premiere in spring 2015.