FILM BIOGRAPHY

THE FILM

“THE PATH” is a Rhode Island based, true story about jealousy, murder and the love of family. 

George DeSalle, a divorced father of two boys and owner of The Showboat Restaurant, a family owned institution for three generations, is entrapped in the coils of self-employment, when he becomes the lead suspect in a murder.

When the gangland style murdered body of James DiMuccio is found just 10 feet over the state line, FBI agent Martin Stone, is called in to head the investigation. Stone, mid-fifties and weathered, is a skilled agent who's knack for bending the rules get results.  He is faced with the double-task of training a new FBI recruit, while invading a suspicious small town police department and taking over the murder investigation.

Agent Stone discovers that George DeSalle was engaged in an argument with the victim at a local nightclub the night of the crime. This fluke of fate gives the local cops the opportunity to channel the heat off of them and onto George. This event changes DeSalle's life and the lives of this small Rhode Island town forever.

The Film is to be a full-length theatrical film, and is budgeted for filming on location in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut and will be photographed in 35mm color film.  The producer expects that the Film will receive an "R" rating by the Motion Picture Association of America.  However, there can be no assurance that the Film will be submitted for a rating or, if submitted an "R" rating will be obtained.  A detailed synopsis of “The Path” will be provided upon request. 

THE PRODUCERS AND DIRECTOR

From nightclubs to screenplays Barry Blier has The Midas touch.  Having been at the forefront of the extremely competitive nightclub business for an unprecedented 25 years, Blier has been hailed as the Nightclub King of Rhode Island.  He is now bringing that same relentless work ethic, professionalism, innate creative ability and dedication to his new born film company, Cupidon Productions, Inc.  Seven years ago the production studio was built above the nightclub complete with state of the art video and editing facilities.  Blier has been tirelessly fine tuning the script, auditioning hundreds of actors, storyboarding and surrounding himself with brilliant students from such fine schools as New England Tech, Emerson College and Rhode Island School of Design to assist on the production.  Blier has invested over one-quarter of a million dollars of his own money into this lifelong passion.

Blier did his undergraduate work, with his major in acting, at the University of Rhode Island with Judith Swift. From there he trained at the Trinity Repertory Extension program in Providence with Bob Colonna and Steven Berenson. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Los Angeles and furthered his theatrical training, performing in regional and community theatre, while supporting himself through commercial and voiceover work.

Three years later Blier moved back to Rhode Island and continued his professional acting career doing several community theatre performances. Blier went back to his roots and auditioned at the Tony Award winning Trinity Repertory Theatre and landed the role of Sugar Boy in “All The Kings Men”,  written by Pulitzer Prize winning author Robert Penn Warren, directed by Adrian Hall and featured Peter MacNichol (Alley McBeal, Sophie's Choice, The Dragon Slayer).

Blier combined his training with his business savvy and began writing, producing, directing and promoting original numerous musical theatrical show's at Barry's Nightclub. Along with his original work, Blier has attracted, produced and promoted such international acts as Evelyn Champagne King, Pamela Stanley, Beenie Man, J Mee, Alexandra and Jordan Knight.

Somehow during his incredibly full life, Blier graduated from the New York University Summer Intensive Film Program in 1999, which are a testament of what is to come and the first of many projects from this creative force.  www.thepathfilm.com

Paul Hornstein will also produce the Film.  Hornstein started off as photography editor of his high school yearbook and after showing his portfolio to Haig Manoogian, the Dean of the world-renowned New York University Film School, he obtained a full-four year scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Live Action and Animated Motion Pictures.  His student motion pictures won top honors (C.I.N.E. Eagle, Le Touget Silver Medal – France) and are in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.  After graduation he was immediately accepted into the Directors Guild of America.  He has participated on the production teams of such notable and award winning live action and animated motion pictures as “Kramer vs. Kramer” (Oscar winner) starring Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep, “That's Dancing” (MGM) starring Gene Kelly and Liza Minnelli,  “Fame” (MGM) starring Irene Cara, “Moscow on the Hudson” starring Robin Williams, “The Wanderers”, “Warriors”, “An Unmarried Woman” and “Strawberry Fields”, Al Brodax/Executive Producer, (Feature Animation -Voices Debra Winger and Steve Guttenberg).

His television credits include “The New Mike Hammer” series (Columbia Pictures Television starring Stacy Keach).  “Ripley's Believe It or Not” series (Starring Jack Palance).  “Houston Nights” series, (Executive Producer Jay Bernstein) and many more.

He has also won The CLIO award for “Space” Nickelodeon station identifications.  

After 30 years of experience and working with Barry Blier on the shooting script and casting, Hornstein is confidant that The Path will make a classic piece of American motion picture history. phfilm@hotmail.com

Chriss Pagani has created original "Shotgun Art" for the film. 
www.chrisspagani.com

Ithaca Model 37 12 Gauge

“From the original model which served its purpose of hunting and putting food on the table of some hungry family, time has evolved the Ithaca. It now takes on a more sinister appearance. Utility is replaced with aggression; serviceability gives way to the doctrine of shooting first and asking questions later. They say we live in a different time, but if the time we live in wants a body count then we only have ourselves to blame - for our time, is whatever we make of it.” Chriss Pagani.

The term "outsider artist" has become a cliché in the art world, yet if such a thing exists then painter Chriss Pagani must be a prime example.
Born in Portland, Oregon in 1955, Pagani used art as a way of escaping a violent, tumultuous upbringing. The elements of uncertainty and chaos that characterized Pagani's early life seem to seep through into disturbing imagery and troublesome, difficult to categorize art. Perhaps that unstable early life also contributed to the artist's present-day outsider lifestyle, which includes being part of the transgender community and living a vagabond existence.
As an abstractionist, Pagani has chosen to paint without brushes and upon canvas that is almost never flat. Sticks, leaves, CD cases - almost anything can be a painting tool, while the painting surface, usually canvas lies draped atop interesting objects or any convenient surface. The artist calls this style "object-oriented abstraction," a style which - again according to the artist - is a revolution in painting. That is quite a statement coming from a self-taught artist whose early life was characterized by homelessness and domestic abuse.
The artist is currently featured at The Survivor Art Gallery (web: www.survivorart.com ) and The Roadside Artist Gallery (web: www.roadsideartist.com ). Other recent shows include Oregon's Pioneer Museum and the Bay City Arts Center where Pagani's work was featured in a show highlighting the effects of domestic violence.
The artist is listed with the World Wide Artists Registry and the Watercolor Society of Oregon. Picture

THE ANIMATOR

David Lubell lives and works from his home/studio, an 1850's farmhouse in the mountains of upstate New York. He attended New York University and studied film and TV in the late sixties. He has been making commercials and animated shorts ever since, as well as producing animation for children's television, corporate and advertising. His work has been featured on "Animals, Animals, Animals," the Peabody Award winning "Make A Wish", Nickelodeon, and "Nick at Nite." He won a Clio for "Space," an ID created for Nickelodeon, and numerous other media awards.  David will be animating action scenes, credit backgrounds and visual effects through Chris Pagani's abstract artwork. www.davidlubellanimation.com

THE SOUNDTRACK

We are in discussions with Jordan Knight (Former lead singer of New Kids on the Block) to possibly be adding original compositions and new renditions of classic music to the Film.   New Kids on the Block sold over 60 million albums during their reign as “The” boy band of the 90's.  Knight is now being hailed as a solo artist with a new single and album just released.

Barry Cowsill is from Newport, Rhode Island. He started playing with his family's band, The Cowsill's, in the late 1960's.  They gained nationwide recognition with three Gold Records, Television appearances and concerts.  Their biggest hit was a cover of the title song of the rock musical "Hair," which they recorded for use in the Carl Reiner TV special "The Wonderful World of Pizazz." Cowsill is touring with his band “US 1” and has recorded original music for the film.