4 | AUGUST 6 - 12, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM
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Locally produced short fi lm ‘Mercy’ hoping to be a big picture Richard Duckett Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK
For what will be a short fi lm, “Mercy” is looming large as a Worcester produced indie with some big hopes attached. Although fi lming is expected to continue through September, an indoor shoot on July 24 on a specially constructed set at 344 Franklin St. was viewed by participants as a big success and has optimism about the project soaring. “Saturday was a good feeling for all of us knowing it worked well. It just seemed like we really killed it Saturday. It was awesome,” said Dan Rosario, the fi lm’s story creator, director and cinematographer. “I was blown away by the footage we got,” said producer Ed Gutierrez. The suspense drama being shot in Worcester is a collaboration project involving Central Mass Studios in association with Fat Foot Films & 256 Films. According to the fi lm’s offi cial synopsis, “Mercedes Hollingsworth, a demure young woman navigating the repetitive grind of her mundane life, suddenly fi nds her daily routine interrupted by a mysterious stranger lurking behind every dark corner.” “Mercy” features Worcester native Samantha Rose Valletta as Mercedes (aka Mercy) and actors Derek Mikula and Paul E. Kandarian also have leading roles. Without giving too much more away, “Mercy is facing a not very good situation where
The team working on the short fi lm “Mercy” includes producer Ryan Convery, wardrobe assistant Luz Rizzo, producer/director Dan Rosario, camera operator Nathan Quattrini, producer Ed Gutierrez, hair and makeup artist Jacqueline Hunt and actress Samantha Valletta. ASHLEY GREEN/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
someone is following her,” Rosario said. “It does involve crime. It’s pretty intense.” Rosario, of 256 Films, knows something about crime as he is also a detective with the
Worcester Police Department in addition to running his own fi lm production company. For “Mercy” he’s putting his accumulated fi lmmaking and story-telling skills on the line.
“This is the culmination of years of study and practice that we’re taking to a much larger stage,” he said. Rosario is aiming for the short fi lm to be a trailer that will
attract interest in the fi lm industry for “Mercy” becoming either a television/streaming series or a full-length motion See FILM, Page 5
