A long road: ‘Fine-Tune’ filmmaker realizes his vision

By Guy D’Astolfo

The premiere is only for invited guests, but a public screening is in the works.

Chris Rutushin is done tinkering with “Fine-Tune.”

The movie that has consumed his life the past few years is finally ready, and will premiere Saturday at Ford Family Recital Hall before an invitation-only audience.

Rutushin wrote and directed “Fine-Tune,” a full-length movie based on stories about his family and friends. It has been percolating for seven years, taking root when Rutushin began researching his family history.

“It started with curiosity about my great-grandfather, who came over from Italy,” he said. “I was always curious about him and my Italian heritage, so I started asking my parents and grandparents and got stories. I did interviews with them and a picture started to form in my head. I said, ‘There is a script here.’”

The script and the tone of the movie evolved over the years, but its basic themes remain.

“It is about trying to fit in, and finding a place within your family — or someone else’s — and with friends,” said Rutushin.

“It’s not going to blow people’s minds, but people can relate to it and have a laugh along the way,” he continued. “It also deals with race, acceptance and forgiveness. it won’t be a revelation, but these are all common human themes. It has humor, but people will get a little choked up, too.”

Rutushin studied videography at Ohio University, and has worked at television stations in Youngstown and Las Vegas. “Fine-Tune” is his first film.

“It has always been one of those ‘I have to do this’ things,” Rutushin said.

The movie is set in Youngstown in 1971, and Rutushin took pains to give it a look that is true to the era.

Cars from the Mahoning Valley Old Car Club and others were used to lend authenticity. Other references — including old commercials — will bring a nod of remembrance to anyone who lived in the city during the ’70s.

“Fine-Tune” was shot at several locations, including The Royal Oaks bar and grill on the East Side; the Home Savings and Loan building, downtown; the original Handel’s ice cream stand on the South Side; and Mill Creek Park, as well as at various residences.

The story revolves around Jerry and Marie, a young couple who come back home to Youngstown for a funeral. The newlyweds are guilt-tripped into living with and taking care of Marie’s Italian grandfather, who strongly disapproves of Jerry. The living arrangement, which was supposed to be temporary, turns into a trying — and outlandish — 18 months for Jerry.

During his stay, Jerry reconnects with Clay, a college friend, who helps him work out his frustrations while they work on his car. But Jerry soon finds himself at odds with his wife and Clay, and must find a way to reconcile his life.

Rutushin has been frantically tying up loose ends and finishing up the editing as the premiere date nears.

He described the rush of emotions leading up to the big day: “Stressed, anxious, excited, worried ... .” The filmmaker said family and friends are coming in from across the country and Europe, but he can’t find time to relax with them. “[‘Fine-Tune’] has been my life for the last several years,” said Rutushin. “There have been a lot of problems that we had to fix, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Rutushin praised the talented people who worked with him, giving special mention to Jenean D. Atwood of Youngstown, a college friend with whom he shares screenwriting credit.

“She shared her family’s stories, and that was a pivotal point in the making of the film,” he said. “I had a naive view of the things that happened to black people here. Jenean gave a more accurate version of Youngstown in the ’70s. It was not quite as ideal as I had in my mind. The story evolved in the writing, thanks to Jenean.”

Tony Lariccia, a local philanthropist, is the executive producer who funded the project.

As for the music, it would have been too costly and complicated to secure rights to songs from the ’70s for the score, but Rutushin believes he went one better.

He got several local bands and musicians to pen and record original music, with a folky feel, for the soundtrack, including Koebel, The Zou, Pete Drivere and the Pretty Demons, Matt Palka and the Caravan, Superbird and Adam Scone.

The soundtrack will be recorded at Ampreon Recorder in Youngstown and made available to the public, he said.

Rutushin is also working on securing a date and location for a public screening of his movie.

“I’m still working on it. I will do it somewhere, but I have no time to plan it now. There’s too much on my plate.”

He’s also considering getting it entered in a film festival, but that too will have to wait. “I’ve been too overwhelmed to see around the [July 26 premiere date],” he said.

There will be a post-premiere party at Cedars Lounge on Hazel Street immediately after Saturday’s premiere. It will be open to the public, though there will be a cover charge. Many of the bands in the movie soundtrack will perform at the after-party.