Producer PJ Leonard in pre-production for New TV Series HUDSON COUNTY

Shows will feature fictional reality similar to LAW & ORDER

 By Sally Deering  

Once upon a time in Hudson County, the splotch of towns across from Manhattan, some strange, brutal and even hilarious happenings seem to have taken place in the dog-eat-dog world of local politics. Just mention former Jersey City Mayor Frank “Boss” Hague, who ruled with iron fists in Kidd gloves from 1917-1947, and peopleâ€s ears perk up. Hagueâ€s infamous political career paved the way for those who followed in his corruption-soaked footsteps. Their stories made front page headlines and to film producer PJ Leonard, they also make for good TV.

Leonard has assembled a creative team to launch a new TV series heâ€s creating, HUDSON COUNTY, which he says, will be fiction based on non-fiction similar to shows like “LAW & ORDER”. He recruited writer Raymond McAnally, whose play SIZE MATTERS earned critical acclaim, and who lived in Jersey City for several years; actors Obba Babatundé and Sonny Marinelli, and Robert S. Fingerman, CPA, founder of Independent Films Production Consultants.

Leonard came up with the idea for a series about Hudson from growing up the Marion section of Jersey City; his time as a bar manager, and the years he spent as a bookie. Then thereâ€s his work on political campaigns. Meld that diverse background with a penchant for the entertainment industry and Leonard seems to have the right credentials to get a show like HUDSON COUNTY off the page and onto the screen.

 Leonardâ€s production company Other Side of the River Productions has begun pre-production on HUDSON COUNTY with a $20,000 fundraising campaign on Indiegogo to produce the showâ€s pilot and development for the showâ€s first season. He formed Other Side of the River in 2005 with his first film, THE IMMACULATE MISCONCEPTION. He followed that with the short films THE HIT and WAITING, and the feature, THE FALLEN FAITHFUL which won the 2010 International Beverly Hills Film Festival award for Best Story. His most recent feature, CHU & BLOSSOM stars Oscar and Tony Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (THE FISHER KING, LOST IN YONKERS) and Tony Award winner Alan Cumming (CABARET).

Leonard took time out of his busy schedule – with a phone that never stops ringing – and sat down to talk about what itâ€s like producing films and getting a show like HUDSON COUNTY off the ground.

RVO: Can you tell us a little about your background?

PJL: I was born in Jersey City in the Marion section; nine people in a 3-bedroom apartment; that was Jersey City. I went to Mt. Carmel School and then we moved to Bayonne and I attended Our Lady of Assumption grammar school, and Hudson Catholic high school. My motherâ€s from Hellâ€s Kitchen in New York; my father from Chelsea. I was a comedian as a kid. I always had a bubbly personality. I consider myself a funny guy.

RVO: How did you get into the movie business?

PJL: I worked at the Stock Exchange on Wall Street. I sold insurance. I was a bookie, and I was in the restaurant business. But I always wanted to be in the entertainment field. THE IMMACULATE MISCONCEPTION, that started my career. THE HIT, a short film I produced, was at the Cannes Film Festival.

RVO: Did you ever want to be an actor?

PJL: I took acting at the Three of Us Studios in New York.

RVO: Why a series about Hudson County and not, say, Bergen County?

PJL: I think the grittiness of Hudson County, thereâ€s a certain vibe here thatâ€s not in other parts of the U.S. Iâ€ve been to other cities and towns for film festivals and I became the main attraction just by the way I talk. When this series gets picked up (by a network like HBO or Showtime) weâ€ll have a five-year run because of the subject matter. Hudson County is the county that keeps on giving.

RVO: Can you tell us about the Indiegogo campaign?

PJL: It is our goal to raise capital to help support the development stage; writers, research and interviews are all needed to develop a series of this caliber. There are different perks for donations. For instance, for $2000 you can have a character named after you in the pilot script. You’ll even get to talk with the writer about whether or not your namesake is on the up and up. For $4000, you will be included as a Development Associate. We need to raise $50,000 for development. We donâ€t need to fund the whole project. Itâ€s not like weâ€re looking for a lot.

RVO: Isnâ€t film producing a tough go? What does it take to succeed as a producer?

PJL: You have to have a big personality. Youâ€ve got to make some true connections. Iâ€m not a big believer in destiny. I know where Iâ€m going. I donâ€t have a filter; the truth is the truth. Filters are for people who have something to hide. I donâ€t drink. I donâ€t do drugs. I have no vices. When I do something, it will get done.

 For more info on HUDSON COUNTYâ€s Indiegogo campaign, go to www.indiegogo.com/projects/hudson-county-tv-series-development#/story

 

 

 

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Other Side of the River Productions announces Sonny Marinelli will depict Liam Hourigan in “FRAGMENTED COMMITMENTS”Jersey City, NJ, July 21, 2011 –(PR.com)– Other Side of the River Productions has announced that Sonny Marinelli will portray Liam Hourigan and will also join the production team of their new project “Fragmented Commitments”, scheduled to be produced in the winter of 2012.

 

The company headed by PJ Leonard, just completed “The Fallen Faithful” which starred Sonny Marinelli as Moran Douglas. “Fragmented Commitments” is based on a story by PJ Leonard and written by Brandy Mead.

 

Producer PJ Leonard said, “I was looking for someone with a similar background as the character Liam. I wanted that street wise, energetic person who possesses compassion and soul for what he desires both in his career and personal life.

Sonny Marinelli who has appeared in numerous films, including Other Side of the River Productions “The Fallen Faithful,” and “Dot Kill” along with TV series, “Raising the Bar,” “ER” will also guest star in 2 episodes of the final series of “Entourage.” He is also starring alongside Rose McGowan in the upcoming feature “Rosewood Lane.”

 In 2005, PJ Leonard established Other Side of the River Productions. As a New Jersey native, PJ focuses on dramatic and comedic stories based on the working class. The Immaculate Misconception (starring Courtnee Draper and Joe Perrin) was the first project brought to life by his company. PJ’s second project, a short film titled The Hit (written and directed by Marcus Bleecker), premiered in Canada’s 2007 Cinefest Sudbury International Film Festival and The Beverly Hills Film Festival. Fallen Faithful, is the latest film produced by Other Side of the River Productions and is on the film festival circuit and will be released in 2012. They currently have 10 projects in development. The company’s goal is to develop the bodies of work in concert with acclaimed screenwriters, attach the industries foremost actors and directors, to create productions of high artistic and commercial value for the audience.

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 Film Producer PJ Leonard Rolls out Red Carpet for Little Curly Top at NYC Premier of “The Fallen Faithful”

 By Sally Deering

 Film producer PJ Leonard grew up in Jersey City at a time when mothers taught sons to do the right thing with a smack in the back of the head. He’s one of those tough-talking types with the heart of a marshmallow, like when Bogart says bye-bye to Bergman in “Casablanca.”  Bogey, too, had to do the right thing and maybe his mama cracked him good because he ended up sacrificing his only crack at freedom for the woman he loved.

 “The Fallen Faithful” is Leonard’s second crack at filmmaking as Executive Producer doing what producers do best – making a movie from script-reading to film screening. As Executive Producer of Other Side of the River Productions Leonard raises money, puts creative teams together, hires actors, negotiates contracts and scouts locations – the bim, bam, boom of movie-making. It’s also his job to get his new film seen, which is exactly what Leonard put in place for Monday, October 25th at the Director’s Guild Theater in New York City where “The Fallen Faithful” makes it’s NYC premiere. It promises to be a glitzy night with the film’s stars Sonny Marinelli and Obba Babatunde attending and one special name on the guest list that isn’t in the credits. 

 Meghan “Maggie” Elizabeth Russo, a curly-topped two year-old from Staten Island was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare form of cancer that forms in the eye. Currently in treatment at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, little Meghan has a tough road ahead as she prepares for a bone-marrow transplant and a series of chemo. Her dad, Mike is a NYC Firefighter and mom, Mary Beth, left her full-time job to care for Maggie, her older brother Michael and baby sister Mary Kate. Keeping the family healthy and happy are Mike and Mary Beth’s number one priority, and according to Leonard, “they look like the happiest people in the world, always doing things together,” but they can use a helping hand paying for necessities like Pampers and babysitters. That’s where Leonard plays a part.

 

 A friend of the family through his niece Jacqueline Lux, Leonard feels for the Russo family. Jacqueline has lived with Cystic Fibrosis most of her life and Leonard knows firsthand what his brother had to go through doing right by his little girl. That’s why, at “The Fallen Faithful” premier Leonard will donate the screening’s net proceeds ($75 ticket price) to help the family pay those much-needed expenses as they do right by little Meghan.

 “What people don’t realize is there are other expenses they have to worry about like childcare,” Leonard says. “Medical insurance doesn’t cover that. They have two other children so obviously it’s hard. Their clock ticks a lot quicker.”

 The Russos, especially Meghan, will be guests of honor at “The Fallen Faithful” screening on the 25th and Leonard members of the cast who live in L.A. will also be attending the premier.

“It’s going to be a red carpet event,” Leonard says.

 Making a Film that Questions Destiny vs. Free Will

“The Fallen Faithful” follows the journey of Moran Douglas (Sonny Marinelli) a ruthless killer churning with inner turmoil as the confusion of his early childhood begin bubbling to the surface. Orphaned as a boy, Moran turned to surrogate fathers for guidance, a power-hungry psychopath Asa (Mark Margolis) and the priest Father Emanual (Obba Babatunde.) Riddled with conflict, Moran questions whether his life was molded by decisions that were made for him or by him. Was Moran destined to be a murderer because that was his fate or did he choose to be a killer of his own free will?

 Sonny Marinelli, who plays Moran has appeared in the films “Noel” and “Dot.Kill” and several TV shows, He says his role in “The Fallen Faithful” connected on a personal level – he lost his mother when he was 9 – and like most people, has gone a few rounds with some personal demons. Formerly a longshoreman, Marinelli took night classes at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City and his passion turned to acting. He was originally cast in a different role in “The Fallen Faithful,” but a couple days before shooting started in Tampa the lead actor dropped out and Marinelli landed the role.

“I understood the character’s story,” Marinelli says. “It wasn’t a huge stretch. The father is beating up his mom, and he kills his father and soon after his mom accidentally gets killed in the crossfire of shootout. He’s raised by two guys – a priest and a psychopath – and he chooses a life of violence. As the movie opens, I’m filled with guilt and shame over the life I’ve led and try to cross over the spiritual side.”

 Playing Father Emanual, Obba Babatunde has more than 100 film and TV credits listed on his IMDB.com page. On Broadway, he starred in the original “Dreamgirls”  and earned amn Emmy nomination for his role in HBO’s “Miss Evers’ Boys.” He starred with Halle Berry in “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge,” and appeared in the films, “That Thing You Do” and “Philadelphia.” Babatunde’s TV appearances include roles in “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds,” “Boston Legal” and “Cold Case.”

 Veteran character actor Mark Margolis rounds out the cast as the power-hungry psychopath (Asa) and his previous roles include Al Moody in “Californication,” Tip on “Breaking Bad,” and the films “Gone Baby Gone,” “The Wrestler” and “Defiance.”

 Elizabeth Regen penned the script to “The Fallen Faithful;” Csaba Bereczky directed and Executive Producer Leonard watched over every minute detail that comes with making a good independent film on a million-dollar budget. He landed a deal with Stuart Hall of Media 8 Entertainment to distribute the film and after the NYC premiere Leonard and Media 8 take “The Fallen Faithful” to the American Film Market in Los Angeles to get the movie to the next level. 

 Producing Movies from a Jersey Perspective

A relatively new player on the movie-making field, Leonard formed Other Side of the River Productions in 2006 with his first film, “Immaculate Misconception” that cost $175,000 to make and according to Leonard “looks like a million bucks.”

 “Right now, the production team that produced ‘Monster,’ they have it now,” Leonard says. “I was offered deals previously, but I didn’t want to give it to just anybody, so I flew to Los Angeles, met with Stewart Hall of Media 8 Entertainment,  and they’re going to rep both ‘The Immaculate Misconception’ and ‘The Fallen Faithful.’ They’re a major company. I’m not a small game no more.”

 “The Fallen Faithful” was made for $1 million, a small budget compared to blockbusters in the double-digit range. Leonard doesn’t expect to see it in movie theaters, he says. The budget’s too small for the big screen, but Leonard is convinced the film will do well in distribution and venues like cable-TV and Netflix.

 “It’s not like the old days,” Leonard says. “Unless you’re doing $24 million out of the gate, it’s not going to benefit people to get it into the movie theater.”

 Although his work takes him to Los Angeles and other film locations, Leonard prefers to stay on the East Coast and make Jersey City his home.

 “I’ll never be West Coast,” Leonard says. “My persona never fits out there. They look at me like I’m crazy. I’m not a phony. I speak my mind.”

 Leonard, who once considered becoming an actor, doesn’t try to be something he’s not. He doesn’t write, direct or act, and he sees himself as the person who puts all the pieces of the puzzle together and, he says, he gets great satisfaction completing the puzzle.

 Leonard is already putting the puzzle pieces together for his next film, “Three-Way Split,” written by Glenn Taranto who worked on several projects with Academy Award winning writer Paul Haggis (“Million Dollar Baby.”) Scheduled to shoot in Mississippi in 2011, Leonard is thrilled to have Taranto on the project and is already looking to sign an A-List cast on the caliber of Kathy Bates, Ed Harris and William H. Macy.

 “I’m not Spielberg,” Leonard says, “but I love the camaraderie of the people and the satisfaction of seeing something you created up on the screen.”

.For more information on “The Fallen Faithful” contact:

Other Side of the River Productions

551-655-3371

Email: PJ9462@aol.com

 If you’d like to help Meghan and her family,

go to www.maggiesfund.net

The post Jersey City Film Producer PJ Leonard Lends a Helping Hand With The Premiere of Falling Faithful first appeared on River View Observer.

The Other Side of the River Productions.

The Fallen Faithful is Leonard’s second movie  he has produced and his largest film undertaking to date.

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