Film by alums returns to West Michigan

"RiffRaff," a film by former Grand Valley State University students Justen Naughton and John Otterbacher is currently being scheduled for screenings throughout Chicago and West Michigan. The film premiered at the Muskegon Film Festival in 2008.

“RiffRaff” will play at the Goodrich Grand Haven 9, July 24-30 and the Goodrich Holland 7, August 7-13. A Grand Rapids run will follow in late August or early September.

Naughton, who came to Grand Valley on a basketball scholarship, eventually moved to California and played basketball for international teams. He also continued to follow his interest in filmmaking. As a college student Naughton spent summers as a lifeguard on the same Chicago beach featured in the film. He wrote the script, a coming-of-age comedy involving the challenges lifeguards face on the beach and in their interlocked personal lives, as his senior thesis in 2005.

Otterbacher also spent time at Chicago’s North Beach as a kid, after sailing from Muskegon with his father, John, a former Michigan congressmen and senator, and author of the book Sailing Grace. Now an adjunct professor at Columbia College, the younger Otterbacher heads his own production company, Orange Chair Productions. He partnered with former classmate Naughton to form Naughty Otter Productions and produce “RiffRaff.”

The film stars Robert Belushi (son of actor Jim Belushi,) Ben Wells, writer/director Justen Naughton, Chryssie Whitehead and Katie O'Hagan. The film was produced by John Otterbacher and David J. Miller.