Hartford Business Journal

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THINK • PLAN • BUILD Our products and services were designed with your growing needs in mind. Visit chelseagroton.com/growthatbusiness or call 860-448-4203 to learn how we can grow that business of yours together. When you have the right bank for your business, you'll never have to grow alone. BUSINESS BANKING & COMMERCIAL LOANS • TREASURY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS have to do it in Hartford," Wolf- son said. Hummel told him: "That would be great, but we've got to raise the money." The first call Wolfson made was to Collins. "She knows everybody," he said. "She's a force of nature." And indeed, Collins success- fully pitched Cox, Adams and Patricelli, and is hoping to add to the investor list soon. "The investors that we have are investing in the film primarily because they believe it's good for Hartford and it's good for the state," Collins said. There have been a number of failed attempts by various groups to adapt Willie Pep's story into a feature-length film over the years. "It's a story that's dying to be told," Collins added. Crunch time Loff, the producer, said he's pleased with the quick fundraising progress over just a few months, but he says the film's future remains uncertain. He had hoped to have enough money raised to move forward with leasing a production office in Hartford by the last week of January, but it didn't happen. Getting the full funding soon would help ensure filming could happen be- fore the snow melts. The Hartford win- ter, he said, is a key element of the "Pep" script, which tells the story of the boxer after his 1960 retirement, struggling with family problems and searching for his rightful place in the city. He eventu- ally decides to stage a career comeback after four years out of the ring. "It's cold and dark and depressing — it's a tough time," said Loff, who has some producing and directing credits to his name, mostly for small-budget productions. "The winter is kind of a metaphor for where he's at." The film's funding so far is comprised of $275,000 in equity investments and $325,000 worth of Connecticut film tax credits, for a total of $600,000. That means Pep Films is about 40 percent of the way to its budget. In order to have a shot at some winter filming in March, Loff said his fundraising deadline is Feb. 18. There's some leeway, but not much. For example, he would likely open a production office with another $200,000 or so, and then continue trying to raise money. Hitting 80 percent of the budget goal would get "Pep" through the film- ing stage, but post-production would cost additional dollars. If investments come too slowly, or not at all, it could mean delaying the project, perhaps until summer, which brings the risk of losing actors and crew to other projects, as well as the potential need to rework the script. "We are wor- ried about losing talent," Loff said. "Schedules be- come a problem." Actor James Madio, who had roles in the 1995 film "The Bas- ketball Diaries," and the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers," has long been on board to play the lead role of Willie Pep, Loff said. In fact, Loff said it was Madio who first told him about Willie Pep after they became friends years ago in Los Angeles. Loff said he's also confident that ac- tor Ron Livingston will accept the role of Pep's manager in the film. Star of the cult hit "Office Space," Livingston crossed paths with Madio during their time appearing in "Band of Brothers." "Pep's" director is Robert Kolodny of New York, who has directed a televi- sion series and a number of shorts, according to the website IMDB. Loff said he's ready to finally get over the fundraising hurdles so they can start announcing talent and making the art. "I'm confident that we're going to raise the money and get the film done and do it in Hartford," he said. "The timeline is concerning." Director Robert Kolodny (left) and producer Steve Loff were scouting in Hartford last month. Here, they are at the Hartford Armory, which hosts boxing matches. In the right photo, Kolodny chats with HBJ's associate publisher and movie fundraiser Donna Collins.

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