Rent-A-Pal, starring Wil Wheaton (Big Bang Theory, Star Trek: The Next Generation), an IFC Midnight release, opens in theaters and on demand on September 11, 2020. Noted Los Angeles based casting director Robert B. Martin Jr., joined the Denver CO based filmmakers Jon Stevenson, who wrote and directed the feature, and producers Annie Baker and Jimmy Weber. IFC Midnight, an IFC Films division, is the distributor of horror, sci-fi, thriller and more genre labels.
“We wanted someone who hadn’t been seen in this way before, someone who has never done a horror film,” said Baker. Stevenson says, “I reached out to a friend and he said Robert was the person who can make that happen” After reading the script, Martin said, “The script was well written with an amazing concept, I wanted to be part of it, because I knew I could bring something to the project.” He immediately thought of Wil as the right person for the role. “I’ve cast Wil in many films and commercials over the years,” said Martin, “I knew that for his first horror film, Rent-A-Pal was the one.” The filmmakers collectively agreed that Martin played a vital role. “Robert helped us tremendously. As independent filmmakers, Wil is the biggest actor we’ve worked with so far and Robert made that happen for us.”
Rent-A-Pal is set in 1990, and a lonely bachelor named David (Brian Landis Folkins) searches for an escape from the day-to-day drudgery of caring for his aging mother (Kathleen Brady). While seeking a partner through a video dating service, he discovers a strange VHS tape called Rent-A-Pal. Hosted by the charming and charismatic Andy (Wil Wheaton), the tape offers him much-needed company, compassion, and friendship. But Andy’s friendship comes at a cost, and David desperately struggles to afford the price of admission.
The filmmaking team is already contemplating their next feature. Stevenson said, “It will most likely be a small indie film and we will definitely be working with Martin again.”
Robert is best known for casting unique award-winning commercial campaigns, feature films and is the "real people" casting specialist.
Robert Jr began casting feature films for Oliver Stone, Steven Spielberg, and Ron Howard, and under Steve Jobs, Apple's very first commercial campaign product launches including the iMac, iBook, MacBook Pro, OS X, Apple Store, iPod, iTunes, iPhone, & iPad. This resulted in Martin becoming one of the most sought-after casting directors in the industry.
