The movie “You’re OUT!” is a road trip comedy of errors, much of it filmed in Champaign County. And on Aug. 12, it’s coming to the Savoy 16 theater for a local premiere.
Focusing on parents who have trouble stepping back from their kids’ lives, “You’re OUT!” tells the story of two dads who will stop at nothing to get each of their sons recruited by top college baseball teams. In the process, the fathers come across a stray dog they name Matterhorn, who ends up joining them on the road trip.
Directed by Katharin Mraz, “You’re OUT!” features an Illinois cast with Shannon and Suzette Brown, father-son duo Edward and Kenji Kaihatsu, Kyle Patrick, Bill D. Russell and Kandice Robins.
For Sandy De Lisle, the film’s writer, the animal adoption storyline was an important element to include. De Lisle also works as the head of development and community outreach at Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter in Riverwood, Ill. and said that this script was an opportunity to combine her two passions.
After its Chicago premiere and streaming release last week, “You’re OUT!” is getting a second premiere in the area that provided much of the scenery during its 2021 shoot.
De Lisle said the cast and crew filmed in locations around Champaign County, from Illinois Field, where the Fighting Illini play baseball, and the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity house in Campustown to the Rantoul Airport and the farm of Eric Rund in Pesotum.
The film will premiere at 3:00 p.m. on Aug. 12 at the Savoy 16 theater in Savoy. Following the screening will be a Q&A with the creatives behind the movie.
Writer and producer Sandy De Lisle sat down for an interview to talk about what it was like making her first foray into film, how Champaign County became the film’s set and more.
OWEN HENDERSON: Sandy De Lisle is the writer and producer behind “You’re OUT!” But film isn’t where she got her start.
Tell me a little bit about where the idea for this movie came from.
SANDY DE LISLE: So this film, actually, I started writing it over 10 years ago, when my two oldest sons were actively playing competitive baseball. I would just sit on the bleachers and scratch my head, because I just couldn’t understand the competitiveness and the lengths that some parents would go to, to advance their kid.
There were parents who were having blood tests done on their kids to see what they should be eating to be better pitchers. So I just took what I saw as silliness and took it to the nth degree in this film. And that’s kind of how it all happened.
Professionally, I am in animal welfare. I have been most of my career and anything that I write, I like to incorporate an animal welfare theme. So although the main focus of the film is comedy and how we as parents need to back off a little bit and not try to live vicariously through our kids, I also did want to incorporate an animal welfare theme into the movies.
So on this outlandish cross country road trip, the dads find a loose dog who ends up being homeless, and they end up taking the dog along for the ride. So there’s an adoption theme as well in the movie, which was important to me.
HENDERSON: What’s it like to see your first film out in the world?
DE LISLE: It is surreal, Owen. Before it was released on over 20 streaming platforms. Last week, I was just going through, I think it was AT&T U-verse, just looking for something to watch with my husband, and I wasn’t expecting to see my movie pop up under “Coming Soon.” And I just couldn’t even believe it. So surreal is really probably the most accurate term I could think of it. To have it come to fruition is amazing and a bit unreal.
HENDERSON: Why did you end up choosing to shoot most of the film in Champaign County?
DE LISLE: It literally had everything that we needed in one place. And on top of that, everyone was incredibly nice. At one point, we had a vehicle breakdown, we had a complete stranger loaned us their car. We had people just bending over backwards to accommodate us. And just so kind that just, you know, that true Midwestern vibe. It was perfection. I’ve been recommending to everyone that they should check out Champaign County to do their filming. And because everyone is just so nice, and it’s so diverse. There’s so many different looks that you can get.
HENDERSON: As you said, film isn’t your primary profession. Do you think you’ll write other scripts?
DE LISLE: My passion is definitely animal welfare. It’s where I feel like I’m making the biggest impact just in terms of making the world a better place. But I do love to write, so I will definitely always be doing that. And if I can find a way to combine those two interests, then I’ll continue to do that.
HENDERSON: For more information about this film and other art events, visit illinoisnewsroom.org. I’m Owen Henderson.
