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Film maker presents first look at movie shot in city

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor



SPRINGFIELD The Mardi Gras gentlemen's club seemed at first glance like an unusual location for a first-look at a new independent movie, but made it sense once it was known that the bar's owner, James Santaniello, is one of the executive producers of the film and that the Springfield bar is one of the local businesses featured in Bristol Boys.

The gritty urban morality tale about a young man trying to escape his dreary working class life by selling marijuana was based on a true story set in Bristol CT, but was shot largely in the Springfield area last summer.

This was the second time that writer, director and editor Brandon Paul had come to Springfield to shoot a feature film. His previous film, Six Figures, was also co-produced by Santaniello.

Paul explained to Reminder Publications that the version of the film presented on Wednesday night to members of the cast and crew was "close to being the final version." He intends to complete the editing and then start submitting the production to film festivals. Eventually, Paul would like to sell the film to a cable television network and then strike a deal for a release on DVD.

Paul said that his contract with the Screen Actors Guild also requires him to have a theatrical release of the film in New York and Los Angeles.

When the film is released, local audiences will recognize Springfield businesses such as Balise Auto Sales on Columbus Avenue, as well as People's Pawn on Worthington Street, and Agawam Tire and Auto. Footage was also shot at the former York Street jail.

Well-edited and fast paced, Bristol Boys has a topical story that, if had been produced 70 years ago, would have starred the likes of James Cagney.

The story is based on that of Kevin Toolen, another executive producer, on whom the character played by Tom Guiry was based.

Guiry is Michael "Little Man" McCarthy, the working class guy stuck in a series of dead-end jobs. His drug-addicted mom contributes to his woes and he sees selling marijuana on the side as a way to get out of Bristol.

Guiry has appeared in a number of feature films, from big budget films such as Tigerland and Blackhawk Down to independent movies such as Scotland, PA. Guiry has also made guest appearances in television shows, such as Law & Order S.V.U.

He is supported by a cast of newcomers, with the exception of Max Cassela, who has been acting since his teens and was first noticed as a co-star on the sit-com Doogie Howser, MD. Casella has been playing Benny Fazio on the hit program The Sopranos.

The film is dedicated to the late Harold Murphy, a Springfield resident who played a major role in Paul's Six Figures.

Paul is now researching another crime drama and has been riding along with a detective unit of the Hartford (CT) Police Department.

While he is moving back to Los Angeles after a year on the East Coast, Paul said he wouldn't rule out another stay in Springfield for another film shoot.