by Joseph Rossi
In the last year alone we’ve seen mayoral scandals, political upheavals, religion based issues, corruption, a crumbling economy and pastagate. And the year isn’t even over yet. But even after all the negativity around Montreal these days, there is a positive. A few friends got together and made a movie. Are they in the film industry? No. Did it cost millions of dollars? No. Does it star professional actors? No. What it does have is passion. It took three years, one camera, countless editing hours and a great big dose of heart.
The Pugilist Film will be screened to a sold out crowd at Cinema Guzzo’s Spheretech location on September 29th. All proceeds will be going to the Make A Wish Foundation, a noble and selfless act from director Steve Candussi and his crew of longtime buddies.
“Everyone says they can make a movie. Well, we went out and actually did it,” says producer and star Peter Longo. I sat down with Longo and his co-producer and costar Rick Ragozzino in Montreal’s Little Italy to talk about their upcoming event.
The film, about a boxing rivalry, is a told in mockumentary style. Armed with a single camera and one microphone, helmer Candussi and his cast gave up weekends, evenings and holidays to shoot scenes. “We lived this movie, lived with these characters for three years,” says Ragozzino. “They’re an exaggerated version of who we are so it was fun.”
We touched upon how Montreal is a very film friendly city. Even to the budding amateur, doors were opened when in dire need. “We needed a specific location, we got it. Everything seemed to click when we’d want it to”, says a smiling Rick, who by the way is an engineer by day. With Longo a realtor and Candussi in the construction industry, these aren’t the types one would think would make a movie. But that is the beauty of this whole endeavor. Filmmaking is dreammaking and for these guys, they are living it up.
“I come from a dreamer type of family”, says Longo. “ In the back of my mind, I always had the notion of doing something like this. I just didn’t want to wait until I was 40 to do it”. And asking about why all the proceeds are going to charity, the grinning duo simply shrugs. “We’re not doing it for money”, Rick says. Longo, a family man, references his own brood and the opportunity to give back to children who need some happiness.
Hopefully the screening on 29th sparks more interest for this little film. With interest comes the possibility of more screenings. More screenings might mean bigger and better things for this group of artists. And yes I use the word artists. It takes people with a special kind of lunacy to create any type of art form. And if it means these lunatics will have another chance to make a film, I’ll happily buy my ticket for the next one.
