Donnybrook Production Services

So I’ve admittedly been struggling to find the time to update lately, or much of any free-time at all for that matter.  As mentioned recently, I’ve jumped on board as the UPM for the indie feature “Backwards”, and the 70+ hour work weeks have a way of impeding things.  Nevertheless, I did want to carve out time to bring attention to a group of philmmakers well worthy of mention.

Currently, in tandem with the filming of “Backwards”, a group of dedicated indie filmmakers are in the midst of production on the horror film “Alpha Girls”.  I know a number of the crew members personally, and have the utmost respect for what these fellas (and ladies) are putting together.  I would strongly suggest to anyone of you out there who support Philly-based indie film production to visit the film’s Kickstarter page and make a contribution…no matter how modest.  After all, in a world where budgets are micro-cosmic, every penny helps!

I’ve recently been in contact with a group of indie filmmakers, in a largely consultative capacity, after a mutual film friend put us in touch.  Director/Producer Dwight Wilkins and Writer/Producer Joseph Ruggiero, the filmmaking duo behind A Rose on Ninth Street Productions, are currently in the developmental and fundraising stage for their feature film.  ‘Rose’ is a feature-length script, based on Ruggiero’s book of the same name, that focuses on an Italian-American family in South Philly.  And while the book is a period piece, set squarely in the Italian Market in the 1950’s, the script is a contemporary take on the same plot.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a fundraising event that the filmmakers held this week, at Cesare’s in Bristol, and it was encouraging to see that level of passion and commitment to a project.  It never ceases to amaze me when I come across a dedicated group of filmmakers, caught full-tilt in the midst of kick starting a passion project.  I wish Joe and Dwight all the best as they continue to bring “A Rose on Ninth Street” to life, and hope to be a more active part of the project as it moves forward into development.

In some respects, the City of Philadelphia is clobbering the competition when it comes to PA-centric bragging rights.  The Fightin’ Phil’s hold a significant advantage, after all, over the trailing Pirates, when it comes to the State’s baseball rivalry.  Regardless of their 1-1 split in the pre-season ending On-Deck Series, the Phil’s have established themselves once again as the team to beat in the NL East…or, even arguably, in the NL overall.  With the team well on its way to another championship season, their four straight NL East division titles offer them a hefty edge against the woeful Pirates (who haven’t even witnessed a winning season during the same stretch).

Having said that, the efforts of the PaFIA seem to be tilted strongly in favor of our sister city to the west, as Pittsburgh continues to attract high profile films looking to take advantage of the State’s tax incentive.  Already this year, films like “Steel Town”, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, and “The Dark Knight Rises” have all staked a claim in the vicinity of the three rivers, while Philly sits in absence of any features of note thus far in 2011.  A disheartening statistic after recent years have witnessed the likes of “Transformers 2”, “Limitless”, “Law Abiding Citizen”, and “The Last Airbender” setting up camp in the CoBL.

I’m fortunate enough to be jumping on board the first feature of note (the indie “Backwards”) to visit Philly this calendar year, but remain conscious of the dwindling options nonetheless.  I, for one, love our fair city and decided long ago to settle in the Greater Philly region.  It’s for that very reason that I remain hopeful (or dare i say optimistic) that Philly will once again start to hold its own in the production showdown.  Maybe not in lopsided Phil’s versus Pirates fashion, but at least enough to even up the odds!  Here’s hoping…