Valley filmmakers to premiere work

Staff report

BOARDMAN

“Isaiah’s Melody,” a film by Mahoning Valley residents David Anthony Romeo and Jason Rosendary, will be screened at 7 p.m. July 19 at Movies 8. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The script, written by Romeo, of Campbell, was inspired by a stage play titled “Unfaithful” that he also wrote and produced years ago.

The story reflects his and his friends’ experiences.

“It captures the struggles of a young man named Isaiah Wallace caught between multiple opinions on love and the direction that his life should take,” said Romeo. “Raised by a single mother and a semi-absent father, he fights with the true understanding of what it means to be faithful.”

The film is three years in the making and cost $3,000.

Romeo and Rosendary plan to submit the film to several independent film competitions.

Director and actor Jason Rosendary of Liberty is no stranger to the stage. At age 10, he became a member of the Junior Youngstown Connection and eventually moved on to the Youngstown Connection, the song and dance troupe of the city school system. He has handled choreography for the city school district’s “all city” concerts for 10 years.

Rosendary played the lead character in Romeo’s stage play “Unfaithful.”

“Isaiah’s Melody” was shot in Youngstown, Campbell, Struthers, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The cast includes Tiffany Kemp of Pittsburgh, Rosendary, Rachell Joy, Keith Baker, Dominic Romeo, Jessica Sanchez, Tamarah Harris, Eddie Chacon, Jason Hunsbarger, Joyce Jenkins, Rebecca DePietro, Octavia Bynum, Joselyn Parker and Antonia Garcia. The production crew consists of Rick Dubaj, Ashley Filipcich, Octavia Bynum, Jaimin Perkins and Antonia Garcia.

Local musicians also are used on the soundtrack.