FREEDOM PARK just wrapped in Central MA last month after a 35-day, $60,000 production. The straight to video feature film about youth sports and local gambling comes on the heels of the success of Ludicrous Productions' last film, RUTLAND USA.

The film came to life this summer when Writer/Director Jon Artigo of Los Angeles wrote the script. Auditions were held in central Massachusetts in September where a story by the Worcester Telegram and Gazette about the film caught the eye of Victor "Vic" Melfa. He contacted Producers Ajemian, Kevin Painchaud, and Julie Fletcher about coming aboard as Executive Producer. Local MA businesses helped finance the film in a creative marketing idea: exchange funding for product placement and signage in the film.

Ajamian grew up in Rutland, MA and proposed the idea of filming in Massachusetts. "It was an easy decision to shoot here. The talent is amazing," Artigo said. They team found high production value at the 12 town locations ranging from Westborough High School, The Grand Slam sports diner in Rutland to the vaults of Southboro's private school St. Mark's. They said the graciousness of local MA residents was key in helping the production, something Los Angeles people are more cynical about, especially when it comes to securing a location fee-free. Ludicrous Productions may be based primarily in Los Angeles, but "we'll keep making films in Massachusetts," Ajamian said.

Artigo said the script idea came from looking at attitudes from adults about sports. "Kids play to be kids, having fun. Money changes that attitude. Things that were fun before become more like work," he added. He said he wanted to make an uplifting story about kids, family, and values.

Los Angeles based D.P. Matthew Talesfore shot using the new Panasonic DVX900 Camera, rented from Boston's Rule Broadcast Systems. Director Chad Meserre said, "This is one of the first productions to shoot a feature with it. It has a film look similar to 24 fps HD, a notch below. It's a new mid-range that's getting good images right out of the box."

One fun part of being on the set was watching the team shoot in "ludicrous-speed" an
idea Meserre had to reshoot 30 to 40 percent of the scenes with the actors really fast, cutting lines down to one sentence, and then editing together an unusual comedic short of the original movie. "It was cool to do something fast-paced and fun, a crazy version of the movie together [to put] at the end of the DVD. Scenes that are very emotional and slow become chaotic and fast," Artigo said.

Because so much of the production was shot outdoors good old New England weather was a factor. Artigo said the last fifteen pages of the movie were rewritten at the last minute to accommodate a particularly bad stretch of foul weather. "The adjustment actually turned out better," Melfa added.

Local actor Tim Fields landed a lead role. He plays David Mitchell a young man who runs an illegal bookie business betting on local amateur sports teams. Fields quit his teaching job to pursue the role, and enjoyed it so much that he now plans to move to Los Angeles to act full-time. His partner in crime is "Stephen Sullivan" played by Los Angeles based actor Matt McDonald. Local child actors Natalie Warila, and Brett Delbuono play Grace and Marcus, the young reporters who uncover the secret scheme. Also there were hundreds of extras, Ajamian said. Seven different sports teams of 11-year olds participated.

Andrea says teamwork and the respectful courteous treatment of all members of the crew was key to their successful six-week production. Artigo said it is critical to pick your team very carefully so you work with people you respect and admire. It was an intense shoot they said. The crew ate, worked, and slept the film sometimes dreaming of being on the shoot and waking up in the middle of the night thinking it was time to get to work when it was still hours away before the alarm went off.

Andrea has some advice for independent filmmakers. "Don't let people tell you [that] you can't do something. Take time to market the movie, go after press, you'll meet a lot of contacts that way. If you can make it for $4K, do it. We made our money back on RUTLAND USA. We kept believing someone would notice it, and they did," she said. Melfa adds, "Be true to yourself. A lot of independent filmmakers may go for an avant-garde, shocker-craze instead of a fun and true-life like FREEDOM PARK. One of the reasons it will do so well is Jon came up with something true, funny, that will hit a cord all over. It's what comes from the heart and soul."

Artigo is now editing the rough cut in Westborough and said the goal is to distribute a trailer this February to promote the film. They would like to sell it to a studio, but, their Plan B is to self-distribute the film in Summer 2004. For more information on the film visit www.freedonparkthemovie.com.