Littlechicagothemovie

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Little Chicago The Movie Update

Filming locations coming up.
http://www.littlechicagothemovie.com/Map.pdf
NEWS RELEASE – WITH PHOTOS AND A MAP
June 17, 2009
A front row seat to the filming of a Prohibition Parade
Olean, NY - Everybody loves a parade, especially a historical hometown parade
with the color and pageantry of the Prohibition era coming to life on the streets of Olean
on Saturday June 27.
The re-enactment of this historical event will be part of a two-hour documentary
that will air on national television. The parade will have all the zest and sparkle of a
holiday celebration with food and music and will offer a front row seat on an educational
journey to a rich and memorable part of American history.
Filmmakers from WAR Entertainment, Batpack Studios and Allegheny
Productions (all from Pennsylvania) will visit Olean during the last week of June to
produce a documentary titled, Prohibition; A Historical Epic. The documentary is a
derivative work under Executive Producer Carl Veno of the feature film “Little Chicago”
continuing in development.
Many may ask: why the subject of prohibition and why Olean?
“The theatrical-release film Little Chicago will introduce a panoramic view into
the history of Prohibition,” says Executive Producer Corey May from WAR. WAR
Entertainment is the company of seventeen-year NBA veteran Dale Davis from the
Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons.
“When I realized the incredible historical development already completed for the
film “Little Chicago”, I thought that it would be a shame not use the groundwork for
educational purposes. Olean provided the perfect setting for the 1920’s period,” states
May.
“The people of Olean are very film-friendly and accommodating to the industry of
fine arts and entertainment,” said Christine Smith, Production Designer formerly of
Beverly Hills. “We visited the local stores and found the merchants and sales people
very helpful for wardrobe and found production assistants in Olean who graduated from
film schools in the area. We are excited to be here.”
Jenny DeLong of Jennylin Antiques of Johnsonburg consulted with the wardrobe
staff to share her knowledge and abundant collection of wardrobe, jewelry and props of
the time period, which will be used for the documentary and the featured music video
performed during a steam engine train shoot at Rock Hill Furnace near Altoona,
Pennsylvania.
The team, led by Christofer Lombardo of Batpack Studios, will have Andrew
Mclean as Director of Photography. They are no strangers to documentary, media
development and feature films. Batpack Studios is a major studio in the Pittsburgh area.
Lombardo and Mclean scoped the block for the recreation of the “We Want Beer”
Prohibition protest parade scheduled for noon on Saturday, June 27th along Union Street.
“We have prepared a parade line of the times during the Great Depression when
many people wanted to repeal the 18th Amendment. The parade line exemplifies how the
“wets” viewed the importance of repeal for the sake of the economy,” explained
Lombardo.
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John Anast of Allegheny Productions was instrumental in organizing the
communities of central Pennsylvania to participate in the parade. The filmmakers have
picture vehicles, horse drawn carriages, antiques, authentic props and vintage clothing to
portray a historical slice of life. “We are looking for historical society members, families
and kids who like to march and help us document this event. As our staff organizes the
parade line, we have found many people from other communities excited about visiting
Olean and participating in the documentary.”
“Little Chicago” has been instrumental in producing the documentary and aiding
the documentary makers to get the real feel of the time, says May. “This documentary
preserves the sociology of the time period which is often lost when only a historical time
line is presented in film work. We are providing extensive detail to leave a legacy of
visual details. Storytelling doesn’t always give the true picture,” added May, who was a
teacher in Chicago for fifteen years. “Kids today need to get the visual behind the story.”
The Mayor of Olean, David Carucci, is pleased to see the focus on Olean. “Any
time we can do something positive in Olean that has never been done before, it is good
for the community,” he said. “I have no problem in helping the filming be exciting to the
community. I think that it is great that Olean was chosen to be a location for the filming,”
he added. “Olean will be on the map for something good instead of the opposite. I hope
that [the filming] will draw hundreds of people to the downtown next weekend.”
Veno, of Little Chicago LLC, noted, “Parts of the Olean scenes and the parade are
expected to be used for a music video. We are hoping to see history merge with the pop
culture of the times and have the area receive the attention it deserves, since it once was
known as ‘Little Chicago” because of the Prohibition-era activities here.” Veno added
that Little Chicago’s partnership with WAR for the current documentary will be the
second documentary that Little Chicago has produced. The first was a 46-minute show
entitled “The Last Prohibition Witnesses,” which has been completed.
The crew plans to shoot the “funeral of John Barleycorn” (symbolizing beer) and
the preacher Billie Sunday’s crusade against alcohol on Thursday, June 25th and Friday
June 26th in Olean. Restaurateur Milo Belvees will lend his authentic historical bar for a
scene on Friday to help the documentary makers get the “real deal” right.
Andrew Mclean said, “Just visiting the Village Green was very informative for
the cinematography of the documentary. Mr. Belvies provided a great lesson in the rich
history of Olean from the original pictures that he has displayed in his establishment.”
He also noted that the crew will shoot on state-of-the-art film cameras and as an
added feature for authenticity, he has collaborated with Kodak to shoot on film with the
old-style “crank” cameras as were used in the 1920s.
May noted, “The recreating of history is a major effort and very difficult
accomplishment for even the most experienced professionals in our industry. It can never
be accomplished without the political cooperation of the city government and the help of
the community.” Her staff agreed that Olean has been especially helpful and welcoming.
Sanzo Beverage Co., Inc., is helping to promote the activities in Olean. Its
president, Chris Sanzo, said, “The filming of this documentary in Olean is not only good
for our local economy, but brings excitement to the community. Sanzo Beverage Co.,
Inc. is proud to help bring attention to Olean and the fact that the first post Prohibition
case of beer was delivered to the White House by the Budweiser Clydesdales. My great
grandfather started Sanzo Beverage Co. that very same year and I’m proud to be a 4th
generation beer man.”
At the train scene to be filmed in Pennsylvania, music will be featured. The
documentary producers have teamed with KOKOLO, a New York City based jazz- Afrorock
band that has just returned from a European tour. The combination of contemporary
drumbeats with Big Band jazz is expected to be incredibly attractive to youthful music
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listeners. KOKOLO members wrote the original Big Band-style song for the
documentary titled, “Don’t Need No Permission – It’s Prohibition.” Under the direction
of bandleader Ray Lugo, the band scored ragtime and Big Band jazz tunes into upbeat
pop songs for a music video about the true life of Chicago gangster Al Capone. Dancers
from Point Park College will perform Charleston dance styles for the video while the
historical society from Beaver County, Pennsylvania, will portray the Women’s Christian
Temperance Union.
* * *
Local students and movie buffs are always looking into the details of “how” the
film producers do it. Here is a quick glance at the schedule.
Filmmakers’ Schedule – Public Is Welcome to Attend
Monday, June 22 – East Broad Top Railroad in Rock Hill Furnace, PA for several
scenes to be filmed at the authentically preserved railroad station, roundhouse and
machine room. KOKOLO and the Point Park Dancers will perform for the music video
and for inserted dance shots of the famous flappers of the 1920’s.
Tuesday, June 23 – East Broad Top Railroad will fire up the trains for inserts of the
authentic movement for prohibition lead by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union.
Mathew Craig of WQED, Pittsburgh folk singer and producer of Magic Woods, will
perform an original version of “John Barleycorn” for the opening of the documentary.
Wednesday June 24 Thursday June 25th and Friday June 26th – On Wednesday, the
company moves to Olean where the crews will begin the rigging for the Olean scenes.
Production offices are stationed at the Country Inn Suites in Olean. On Thursday and
Friday, the producers and crews will film all over Olean while preparing for the parade
with the production assistance of local filmmakers and students.
Saturday June, 27 – The “We Want Beer” Repeal Parade will filmed with the help of
sponsorship Chris Sanzo of Sanzo Brewing and Budweiser (Anheuser-Busch).
Budweiser, Coors, Miller, Pabst and some other major companies have contributed to the
stock footage that is necessary to capture history.
The parade will begin with the lineup at 10:30 a.m. on Union Street and aim for a noon
start. Participants are welcome, including children. The parade will march past
Community Bank, Custom Shoe Repair and Total Video and turn west for a “wrap party”
with the crew at the city parking lot. Community members are welcome.
Monday, June 29 – The Mansion of Mars, Pennsylvania, will be the location for the
scenes of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. The Mansion has been restored to
its original upscale 1920s décor.
Tuesday, June 30 – The Saxonburg Hotel in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania will be the site for
the scene “FDR gets the first beer.” Caroline Gentile, the current owner, has decorated
the rooms in the motifs of the time.
END.
CONTACT INFO: Dee Gould, Little Chicago, 814-558-8656.

Little chicago the movie update with Ace Gangero

Ace Gangero here with an update on littlechicagothemovie and http://www.littlechicagothemovie.com
Because of a change in production plans, filming at the Option House in Bradford on June 28 will be replaced by filming at The Mansion, 141 Mansion Lane, off Route 8 in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
**NEWS RELEASE**

“LITTLE CHICAGO” SETS “SUPER DOCUMENTARY ”
FILMING FOR OLEAN

June 10, 2009

The producers of the feature film titled Little Chicago plan to continue their media development by filming a state-of-the-art documentary that recreates and embellishes the true stories of the historical era of prohibition.

Little Chicago, to be produced at a later date, is a feature film based on the historical accounts of Al Ritchie of Olean in the 1920s written by Carl Veno, author of Invisible Ink. Olean will be the location of several scenes being filmed for the documentary the third week in June.

Prohibition: A Historical Epic, is a two hour documentary based on the pop culture sociology of prohibition and the economic consequences of the government’s attempt to regulate and restrict the manufacturing and distribution of alcohol in the 1920s.

“What a terrific event this will be for Olean,” Veno said. “The parade set for the corner of Laurens Street and North Union Street is expected to attract a huge crowd on June 27. Crew members have already booked hotels and the project is expected to pump thousands of dollars into the city’s economy. The documentary will be a super documentary in two parts for national viewing.”

As previously announced, the producers at Little Chicago have teamed up with WAR Entertainment (Pittsburgh and Atlanta), Batpack Studios (Pittsburgh) and Allegheny Productions (Bradford), all under the supervision of Corey May of WAR Entertainment, to film and capture the time period’s slice of life. The producers have chosen locations in Olean, New York, Bradford, PA and Rock Hill Furnace, PA because of their beauty and historical preservation.

The documentary will feature scenes using authentic steam engines at East Broad Top Railroad in Rock Hill Furnace. Olean has been chosen as a location for several scenes including the “I Want Beer” protest parade and John Barleycorn’s funeral. The Option House of Bradford will exemplify the true décor and design of the interiors of the time. It will feature the Women’s Christian Temperance Union and two scenes, Joe Sent Me and FDR Gets the First Beer!

Producers invite the communities and their families to participate in the recreation of these historical events for future distribution. The Beer Parade in Olean is supported by Sanzo Beverage Co., Inc. and Anheuser- Busch, which was instrumental in lobbying Congress to repeal the 18th Amendment.

Rock Hill Furnace will fire up the old steam engines for production on June 22nd and June 23rd. Olean shooting is scheduled for June 25th through 27th. Bradford shooting is scheduled for the Option House on June 28th.
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In a world -where in a small city, the excitement builds for it's first ever movie!! Ace Gangero, Bradford, PA (That is my post)-Ace :)

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Just did my first casting call and got a call back which means so far so good..more to come!!
Little Chicago is not in the state of Illinois. It's 75 miles from Niagara Falls, New York.

Stefano Magaddino, cousin of Joseph Bonanno, and his brother Antonio stood by the roaring waters of Niagara Falls on a freezing day in January of 1920, a day that changed the drinking habits of Americans. This was the day the Volstead Act -- Prohibition -- went into effect.

"We’re going to be rich, Antonio," Stefano said, looking over the Niagara River. "I'm glad I voted Republican."

They made a fortune moving alcohol, the golden key of bootleg whiskey, across the Canadian border. Magaddino would become the man to be reckoned with in Western New York. No one would dare cross one of the last "Dons" in America.

Like a giant conglomerate, the illegal booze racket ran wild. Speakeasies saturated the landscape, small-time hoods battled for power and Wild-West-style gang wars raged in small towns in Western New York and northern Pennsylvania.

The smell of big money reached the noses of ambitious young thugs.

Murder numbers ran out of control. It was a wide-open franchise as long as the Magaddinos received a generous return.

Out of the gunsmoke surfaced Al Ritchie, an ex-boxer and small-time thug who was given a gold badge by the district attorney and ran a successful bootleg operation.

The main character, Richie, an outside Mafia renegade, was behind many of the 14 unsolved murders in "Little Chicago." When he came to town he was a tall, handsome, 26-year-old Italian immigrant. He was a womanizer with a hypnotic charm. His jet-black hair, deep set eyes and slender build gave him a Valentino appearance. He always wore expensive suits and a $1,000 diamond pin in his lapel. He was the target of at least five attempts on his life but always walked away unscathed. To stay alive, he had to be clever, cunning and ruthless. He always wore a smile on his face, but kept a sinister hate in his heart. He trusted no one. His involvement with a 16-year-old beauty was taken as a passing fancy, but the affair carried a dark shadow with it. Rose Parente, a wide-eyed cupie-doll high school senior, was a constant companion of Ritchie’s.

Al Ritchie would go on to live his immigrant dream. He made a fortune with bootleg booze, ran a nightclub, the Sunset Inn, a few miles outside of Olean. He had cars, clothes, action and a reputation to be reckoned with. What more could one ask out of life?

He was a Robin Hood to the poor and downtrodden, but a chilling person to his enemies.

The movie is based on the true story described in a chapter of the book “Invisible Ink" by Carl A. Veno.
A little bit of Hollywood came to Bradford in 2007 when movie crews began planning for and shooting segments of the movie “Little Chicago,” which focuses on the city’s well-chronicled gangster past during the 1920s and 1930s.

While actual filming began in November — with cast members and movie crews fanning out across the city to capture shoot-outs and explosions, among other special effects — planning for the movie began much earlier in the year with the announcement that executive producer Carl Veno of Olean, N.Y., would be using Bradford and Olean as locations for the gangster flick.