Kazy Tauginas – Odd Man Rush

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) Please tell us the premise for the movie Odd Man Rush. 

A) Odd Man Rush is what I like to call a movie about love and hockey. Based on the book by Bill Keenan, the story follows Bobby (Jack Mulhern), an American Hockey player and his adventures in playing tier-2 professional hockey in Europe.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

A) Ironically, I used to figure skate when I was younger. After I quit skating, I took up boxing. I figured playing a hockey player was a way to put those two together.

Q) How was your character Dumi originally described to you?

A) Originally, the character was named “Chara.”  He was Latvian, balding, and hustling timeshares.

Q) Was there anything you added to this role that wasn’t in the initial breakdown?

A) After I spoke with the director, Doug Dearth, he stated that he was open to me tailoring the character to my liking. I’m Lithuanian by heritage and I can also speak the language. So, we changed the character and made him Lithuanian. I landed on the name “Dumas,” which means “smoke.” “Dumi” was a shortened version which I felt fit the character. We changed sections of my dialogue to Lithuanian as well.  Instead of hustling timeshares, we came up with Airbnb since that was more specific to the times. As far as my hairline goes… I think it’s holding. Hang on, let me grab a three-way mirror. Finally, I adlibbed left and right on this project. Doug was really open to the way I work and I think we got some really fun buttons to the scenes I was in.

Q) You’re obviously in great shape to begin with, but did you have to alter your eating/workout routine to be in hockey shape?

A) Honestly, I had to get back on the ice. I also didn’t have any experience in hockey skates.  So, my workout routine changed to include attending public skates at Lasker Rink in Central Park. I skated as much as it took for me to feel comfortable on hockey blades. It was quite an adjustment. I was sore in places on my body that I didn’t even know existed.

Q) We know you’re a former ice skater, but how long had it been since you had been on the ice before filming this movie?

A) I hadn’t stepped on ice since 2004.

Q) Who were you looking forward to sharing a scene with the most in the movie?

A) I honestly just loved all the team scenes in the film. We had such great chemistry. After we all met, I’d say it took about twenty minutes for us to feel like an actual squad.

Q) What were some of your favorite scenes to film?

A) There’s a bar/club scene in the film where Klas (the team captain played by Bjorn Alexander) and Dumi (me) have a dance-off. That was the most fun I’ve ever had on a set.  While we were on-set, Doug used “Blue Monday” as the reference song for everyone to dance to. I had that damn song stuck in my head for a week after that night.

Q) What do you hope viewers take away from watching Odd Man Rush?

A) I hope that they are entertained. This movie is definitely not Slapshot or Goon. I feel like it’s a very realistic portrayal of the second-tier professional sporting life. It is by no means glamorous.

Q) What are some other recent projects that you have been busy working on?

A) Since COVID hit, I’ve been revising my older screenplays and updating them. I’ve been trying to stay as productive as possible. Luckily, I’ve got a short film that I’ve written greenlit. It’s a reallyyyyy fun project.  Unfortunately, that’s all I can say for now.  We’ll be ready to shoot whenever Rona crawls back into whatever hole she came from.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of the work you do?

A) Thank you. All I hope to do is entertain and possibly make the world a more tolerable place in the process.  #knockoutlupus