In the Rear of a Coffeehouse, a Telluride in the Making
By JEFF VANDAM.......New York Times
Published: June 20, 2004
In Staten Island last week, a trembling man confronted an oversized inflatable rat with a mousetrap, then a machete. After that, some mobsters knocked off a couple of their enemies. Then a wily group of Dadaists overtook a house in Zurich and refused to leave. These events were all connected; in fact, they happened in the same room. Each was the subject of a short film at the Muddy Cup, a coffeehouse in Stapleton whose weekly independent film series is at the center of a burgeoning neighborhood scene.
Staten Island may not be known as a hipster scene, but the Muddy Cup and environs are looking more and more cool. Every Wednesday, about 30 Staten Islanders gather in the back room of the coffeehouse, where shorts by local filmmakers are shown on a projector borrowed from a nearby high school. The cafe is outfitted with furniture in various states of upholstery and a bathtub full of books, among them a 1993 guide to the astrological sign Sagittarius. Outside the shop's entrance on Van Duzer Street, a bar for the under-40 crowd called Martini Red has opened, along with a host of antique stores and a brunch spot called Vida that serves quiche, frittata and pâté.Bill Woods, the coordinator of the film series, sees the program as a way to bring islanders an art form they may not necessarily be familiar with. "I wanted to show independent film to this audience," said Mr. Woods, 35, a former actor who got to tell Kenneth Branagh to shut up in Woody Allen's 1998 film "Celebrity." "It wasn't part of their lexicon."Since the series began in October 2001, its audience has grown along with the credibility of its filmmakers. Lance Reha, whose short "Sledge" took one week and $50 to make ("including the pizza"), has seen his stock rise in his borough and in the film community. "On Staten Island, people know who I am," said Mr. Reha, who moonlights as the program's projectionist. "And I've just started to make contacts with people in the studio system."Back at the Muddy Cup, Mr. Woods serves as the evening's M.C., cracking wise and interviewing visiting filmmakers. On a recent evening, the crowd welcomed a teenage animator and a guest from the Ohio Independent Film Festival, who brought along three films from that event. After the show, actors and directors mingled, all aglow with the excitement of seeing their films on screen. One actor, Frank Dudley, who starred in three of the night's pictures, assessed the rise of the neighborhood. "It's coming around," Mr. Dudley said. "The North Shore of Staten Island is really more like the East Village now."
Lake Films' newest
member of the family!
The Panasonic 24p..
Frank applying makeup on an actor and on himself as well, on the first shoot of "Dark Reflections"
A Man of many talents!
My 2 "Clowns"
Frank & an 'old star'
Tiffany Scott will be appearing
in "Dark Reflection"
Kimbra Eberly & Kenny Graham from 'The Director's Chair' tape a segment for the "making of, makeup in the movies" for their upcoming film festival. Lake films has 3 films in the fest!
Below: Frank getting into "Diddles" makeup...
Lake Films' Writer, Chris Mancuso during a quick break in the 90+ heat out in NJ
George, Frank & Lance after a great night shoot
A sincere thanks to the folks over at 'bump in the night productions' for letting us use their puppet in the film "Dark Reflection" Support independent film!!
DARK REFLECTION
"There's no escape from the truth."
Tiana applies 'bruise' makeup to Tiffany Scott for the opening scene of the film. Tiffany was a sport, as was my whole cast & crew, enduring bugs, heat and weeds!
Lance & Frank pose for what was the last day of Principal Photography on Dark Reflection!! Tiffany surprised us all with great acting and enthusiasm. Wait till you see the opening scene!
It all starts here...
Late night out in NJ on the last day of Principal Photography.
The last shoot, completed!
Chris Mancuso (Writer) unloads the 'clown gear' from the Lake Films van...
a word from the Director..
I'd like to thank my cast & crew for working so hard on all of my films. Your hard work & passion will not go unnoticed...
New York's own "Only real Rock Radio Station" Q104.3's Jonathan Clarke is set to be in "Night Watch."
Brenda Cooney will be playing "Nora" in Night Watch, a character with, shall I say, 'many sides' to her personality..
Some Teasers for you to enjoy....
NIGHT WATCH
starring Richard Miller & Brenda Cooney
with Jonathan Clark Brian Cano
& Paul DiGennaro
written by Chris Mancuso
produced by Angela Antonopoulos
directed by Lance J. Reha
Producer Angela Antonopoulos & Director Lance J. Reha. check the performances at the last rehersal before the shoot begins
Screenwriter, Chris Mancuso reads for the rehersal
(From l-r) Tony Galtieri & Brenda Cooney read through an intense scene as Paul DiGennaro & Brian Cano look on awaiting their turn
Some behind the scenes shots of Jonathan Clarke's "Field Reporter" scenes. This was shot pretty quick as Jonathan was prepared and ready!
From behind the lens,Tina Cervasio preparing for her scene. Thanks to Matt & CTV for letting us use the "chroma key studio".
Night Watch will feature a guest apearance by former CBS & now NESN sports reporter Tina Cervasio.
No really, we did 'pick-up' shots for Dark Reflection and Chris was cool enough to volunteer to be butchered! Pedro came down for the makeup, a long ride for a couple of hours work, I'll tell ya, dedication!
Even I got the blade! Better watch out the next time I call CUT!
Producer, Angela Antonopolous takes the helm and shoots some 'behind the scenes' footage for the special edition DVD...
Directing a crucial scene, probably at 1 AM in the morning!
Pedro works his magic on poor victim Tom Greely
A day with Director Armand Mastrianni...
I had the pleasure of spending the day with Armand shooting inserts for his new feature. It supposed to take place in Staten Island. We went everywhere from the SI ferry to Newark Airport.
We talked about working together on a future project, stay tuned for that!!
Richard Miller as
"Hooper"
The last day of Principal Photography
on "Night Watch"
The 'car mount' in action..
the 'stars' take a well deserved break
We like what we see during the last shooting day on "Night Watch"
Check out the page 'underneath the surface' for a 'paper' written on me...
"Between Floors" is in the final stages of editing and color correction. Next Audio editing will be done, and then sent out for scoring. To my surprise, it came out to be 50 mins!
"Nadine" is complete. edited & scored.
We continue to look for a location to shoot "Last Call". It calls for an old bar basement, a warehouse or an old basement will pass as well with a little set dressing. This will be a full feature film.
For a look at our trailers from "The Mind's Eye" series go here.
The 'official' "Dark Reflection" poster. Courtesy of talented Graphic Artist Brian J. Cano
Lance & Frank receive their awards & then posing with the awards, which are Director's chairs!
(L) With Executive Producers William Gato Galarza Jr. & Chris Pascale. (R) With wife Elizabeth & Sister in Law Anna
With Chris Mancuso and Actor Frank "Uncle Pat" Albanese from 'The Soprano's, who will be starring in the upcoming drama 'Dylan's Tree"
And of course with Mom & Dad who got me started on this crazy road!
Baby Doll & Dark Refection on DVD
4 Gravestones
These two short films from “Lake Films” are the latest works from a company that
really loves what they do and it shows it too. The first film “Baby Doll” Stars
Rosemary Gore in the title role and her helpless victim is a man held
captive by a crazy chick (who among us hadn’t been there) as she lives out her
fantasy of being a little girl. As this poor son of a bitch tries in vain to get away, she
holds him there, beats him over and over and all the time play acting (or just nuts altogether depending on how you see it) that she is this little girl playing dress
up. Rosemary is just wonderful in the part of the wacky chick and pulls it off well
and makes you truly feel scared for her victim as he tries dealing with the crazy little/ grown up girl.
In their short film “Dark Reflections” Lake Films treats us to a tale of madness and
murder seen by the eyes of a crazy ass clown. (I knew them bastards were all evil!)
This short flick is played well and very dark and spooky as director Lance Reha
brings his best to this film. The clown too is creepy but then again I always found
clowns to be a little dark and spooky. Anyone who puts on make-up or a mask and
goes about........oh wait a minute....... that’s me too! Well after all......I am Dark Soul.
