YOUNGSTOWN Filmmaker to shoot new movie in Valley
Sunday, August 20, 2006 Filming will begin in the region in October, and local partnerships are being sought. By GUY D'ASTOLFO VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER BOARDMAN — Veteran filmmaker Vahé Mansourian knows that to make a successful low-budget film, you have to have the distribution lined up before you even start shooting. "Do the marketing first, sell it and then write the script," he said, with only a partial tongue-in-cheek smile. It's a bit of industry wisdom that's worked for years for Mansourian, who also happens to own Lucine Distribution, a worldwide film, TV and DVD distribution company. The Armenian-born Los Angeleno produces films on a low production/marketing budget that, according to his Web site, have universal appeal and combine the insight and quality of an independent with the finesse of a large studio. Mansourian was in Youngstown last week, auditioning actors and scouting locations for his current project, "Bird's Eye." About 70 people showed up for Wednesday's auditions. The film will be shot entirely outdoors in the greater Youngstown area in October and will take about three more months to edit. Shooting locations will likely include Mill Creek Park and Nelson Ledges State Park in Portage County. Mansourian is being assisted in casting and location scouting by Linda Weaver, owner of LeModeln Model and Talent Agency of Boardman. Weaver first contacted Mansourian to encourage him to consider the area. Lucine's sales representatives have pre-sold the film, which will be finished sometime next year, to theater companies in a number of foreign countries. Mansourian would like to get a word-of-mouth buzz going to get the picture screened in many domestic markets, as well. About the movie "Bird's Eye," which Mansourian wrote in 1997-98, is a drama with a nine-person, ethnically diverse ensemble cast. What starts out as a tranquil bird-watching tour turns into a thriller as the group enters a fight for its lives. The film, said Mansourian, relies on the paced revelation of its characters' secrets. "It should be of special interest to [northeast Ohio]," said Mansourian, "because it deals with the uncovering of an environmental disaster. It makes a statement." Mansourian is trying to sign a Hollywood star for the one of the roles, and mentioned Martin Sheen, Michael Douglas and Antonio Banderas as possibilities. "Bird's Eye" has a budget that will range from $3 million to $25 million, depending on the actors that are signed. Actors that are obtained from the region will be paid the Screen Actors Guild rate of $712 a day. Extras will receive minimum wage. "Bird's Eye" is just the first of a four-project deal — which also includes two other feature films and a television series — that Mansourian has sold to investors. Area's advantage The low-cost of business in the Mahoning Valley was a factor in luring Mansourian, who will bring his own production crew to town. He is now looking for collaborators who can mutually benefit from assisting in the film's production. "We will generate lots of money for local businesses for food, gas, rentals," Mansourian said. Local businesses who can offer a facility, service or product and could benefit from entering into a barter agreement with the filmmaker — which could include product placement in "Bird's Eye" — should contact LeModeln at (330) 758-4417. Interns and investors are also being sought.