First, our thanks to all who helped us get to where we are, a darn good little film that may just take some folks by surprise. A film with a few laughs, a few surprises, a few folks you’ll recognize and a few tears, perhaps, as well.
Primarily, we just wanted to tell a good story, and I think we’ve done that. But read on, to see how many good people it takes to tell a story, even a short one.
Our short film is one of nine stories in the feature length “Greetings from Pittsburgh Neighborhood Narratives.” It will premier at the Regent Theater in Regent Square on September 25 and then in each of several local neighborhoods, with it’s final neighborhood premier in the Strip, Saturday, November 8, at the Firehouse Lounge, which will be a benefit for Operation Safety Net.
Tommy and Me is dedicated to Operation Safety Net who continue to bring hope and dignity along with housing and medical assistance to the homeless in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Thursday, September 25, (Premiere) –
Regent Square Theater, 7:30 pm
Sunday September 28 –
Bloomfield Screening –
Brillobox, 8:00 pm
Friday October 3 –
Homestead Screening –
The Pumphouse, 7:30 pm
Sunday October 5 –
Hill District Screening –
Hill House Auditorium, 2:00 pm
Sunday October 12 –
Downtown Screening –
Harris Theater, 2:00 pm
Tuesday October 21 –
Southside Screening –
Rex Theater, 7:30
Thursday October 23 –
Oakland Screening –
Melwood Screening Room, 8:00 pm
Thursday October 30 –
Lawrenceville Screening –
Your Inner Vagabond, 8:00 pm
Saturday November 8 –
Strip District Screening (Closing) –
The Firehouse Lounge, 7:00 pm
THE CAST
We were blessed to have the talents of some really fine local actors to tell our story. Schmoo, the young drifter who is our narrator, is played by Jeffery Carpenter, and he makes Schmoo what he is – a young guy with a sense of humor, a good heart and a good story to tell – Schmoo is the narrator also, and so this is his story. Jeffery nailed it every take.
Joe Warik plays Mike, the novelty store owner, and is a likeable character from the moment you meet him. There’s a smile and a certain wisdom in him.
Tommy LaFitte plays the homeless man Tommy, and is so transformed by our makeup artist Rachel Kick, that when we ate lunch at Coangelo’s, with Tommy still in his beard, his street clothes, some folks looked at him at if he really were homeless. Tommy LaFitte turned in a stellar acting job and you believe him from the moment he tells you to “Take it soft, now, lighten up. Ain’t no big deal. Hey, you got a dollar on ya?”
DIRECTOR, GREGORY LEHANE
We were fortunate Gregory Lehane was available to bring together this great cast, with the help of Casting Director Nancy Mosser. Gregory has an arm’s length list of directing credits in film, TV and theater. He is a professor at Carnegie Mellon University,has been teaching directing for the past 18 years and has directed three plays for PICT (Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theater). It was a busy four long days of shooting and Gregory’s fine hand and wonderful way kept it going. And we got it. Thanks, Gregory.
DIRECTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY, MARK KNOBIL
Mark spends most of his time shooting for National Geographic these days, so again, we were lucky to get him in between Africa and Pago Pago. Mike’s handheld style and keen eye brings just the right look and brings the Strip alive and keeps us in the story.
UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER, JANET DRISCOLL SMITH
Without her, the process wouldn’t have come together, stayed together and kept its momentum. Thanks so much, Janet.
There are so any people to thank, there’s just one thing to do, and that’s thank them. With sincere gratitude for their talents, their time and their enthusiasm.
Our cast, in order of appearance:
Schmoo Jeff Carpenter
Tommy Tommy Lafitte
Mike Joe Warik
Fake Rat Man Larkin Werner
Toddler Judson Bell
Scarf Customer Sharon Brady
Hat Customer Josh Reese
Jammie Customer Idolde Zinobile
TV News Reporter David Highfield
Bartender Patrick Jordan
Mugger One Jack Erdie
Mugger Two Jarrod DiGiorgi
Balladeer Michael Gallagher
Tommy and Me is A Fleadh Films Production.
Ray Werner, Writer, Producer
Director Gregory Lehane
Director of Photography Mark Knobil
Unit Production Mgr Janet Driscoll Smith
Sound Christopher Strollo
Best Boy Grip Kazu Kodera
Additional Grip James Cisneros
Production Asst Caitlin Murray
Key Grip Michael Zinobile
Makeup Rachel Kick
Assistant Makeup Rod Carter
Mugging Choreographer Randy Kovitz
Production Designer Larkin Werner
Editor Brendan Werner
Financial Advisor Brian Werner
Extras Assistant Susan Werner
Extras Assistant Katie Werner
Production Assistance Jon Kasunic, Judson Heckerman, Longfellow
Editorial Assistance Barry Bogovich, SunKING
Lighting, Grip Equipment Danny Doyle, Lightspeed Grip and Lighting
Sound Design Sue Hardman, Euphoria
Sound Engineer Jack Bailey, Production Masters Inc.
Casting: Nancy Mosser
Graphic Design Wall-to-Wall Studios
Buskers Les Getchell
Bruce Molyneaux
Richard Withers
Trombone Man Robert Rubin
Music: “Connaughtsman Rambles” and “The Butterfly.”
Hooley (Traditional Irish Music Band):
Les Getchell, Bruce Foley, Bruce Molyneaux,
Oliver Brown, Ray Werner
“Hey, Tommy” Michael Gallagher/Ray Werner
Our grateful thanks to:
Mike Fineberg Company, Inc.
Mrs. Fineberg, Marcia Hellman and their staff.
The Pittsburgh Steelers:
Tony Quatrini
Rob Thompson
Andrew Heidenreich
Operation Safety Net:
Dr. Jim Withers
Louis Lipps
KDKA-TV News
Nigel’s Beauty Emporium
St. Bede Parish
Greetings from Pittsburgh Neighborhood Narratives
Andrew Halaaz and Kristen Schaeffer
And our Strip neighbors, especially:
Joe Hermanowski
La Prima Espresso
Coangelo’s
St. Patrick’s St. Stanislaus Parish
Lucy Sheets, the hoagie maker
Henry Dewey and Penn Avenue Fish Market
The Farmers @ Firehouse
Dear Heart and Pennsylvania Macaroni Co.
The Firehouse Lounge
Ayoob Produce
Material Handling Specialists
Costume World
Mon Ami Chocolates
Pittsburgh Popcorn
St. Augustine Friary
AND OUR SPECIAL THANKS TO YOU
Our particular thanks to over 200 extras for helping to fill Section 101 at Heinz Field, shop at Mike’s Stuff in the Strip and pay your respects at Tommy’s spontaneous memorial. And you did it gratis. You were great, every one of you.
Our humble thanks to four homeless men, Johnny, Michael, Ray and George, who worked as extras, and were the only ones who received a fee. Dr. Jim Withers said they had a once-in-a lifetime experience, which was gratifying.