Jim Toepper (above) is a burnt out ex-spy, down on his luck at the end of a legendary career. After going rogue and screwing up yet again, his former Agency must bail him out, however vowing this favor will be his last. But in refusal to accept old age and a forced retirement, Jim recruits a young protege (Chris Barbis, below) to help him crack one last case: an international drug-smuggling ring… in Canada.
The Essentials takes a jam-packed cast of Rochester’s best actors and upcoming filmmakers to dozens of untapped locations throughout western, central, and upstate New York. The project was greenlit on September 25, 2010 and the final script was finished in January 2011, giving us six months to Pre-Produce for filming to begin on a part-time basis that June. We finally wrapped Principle Photography in January 2012 after numerous breaks and part-time shooting. Post-Production also continued part-time until July 1st, 2012, as I had the flight booked well in advance and was moving to Los Angeles… literally the next day.
The award-winning film was been accepted in numerous festivals and screening series across the nation already, with it’s next showing to be held on Saturday, April 13th at the Market Arcade Film & Arts Center at part of the 2013 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. Buffalo, here we come!
Unfortunately, Blu-Rays / DVDs are not yet available yet for pick-up or purchase, as we have signed with a foreign sales representative for all worldwide distribution opportunities. We are still in the very early stages of this process, but the film is finished and will soon be out there… somewhere, somehow. In the meantime, LIKE the film’s Facebook page (seriously, it takes two simple clicks and your support can help us reel in some serious investors for the next one) as you will certainly like the movie itself. More details coming as this story develops!
In the above film still, you can see we took over the CIA (err… Newhouse 3 at Syracuse University) for a day back in July. YNN stopped by to do a story on the production and yours truly:
After the film’s LA Premiere in the Hollywood & Vine Film Festival, I was interviewed by TheFilmCircuit.com and had plenty to talk about. Give the story a read and listen to one of my favorite little anecdotes from production:
Send all questions, comments, concerns, criticisms, or surprises to:
Essentials.Film @ gmail.com
