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Locally produced short film ‘Mercy’ hoping to be a big picture
Richard Duckett
Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK
For what will be a short film, “Mercy” is looming large as a Worcester produced indie with some big hopes attached.
Although filming 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 film’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 film’s official synopsis, “Mercedes Hollingsworth, a demure young woman navigating the repetitive grind of her mundane life, suddenly finds 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 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 film production company.
For “Mercy” he’s putting his accumulated filmmaking 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 film to be a trailer that will attract interest in the film industry for “Mercy” becoming either a television/streaming series or a full-length motion
The team working on the short film “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
Film
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picture movie.
“My goal is to get a series. If everything worked out, it would be one of the majors,” he said of platforms such as Netflix or HBO
Rosario got in touch with Gutierrez of Fat Films in Worcester after watching a short comedy Fat Foot had put out in the pandemic titled “There’s a Ghost in the Bathroom.”
“I’ve seen some of their work. I reached out to Ed (Gutierrez) and asked if he’d be interested in working on a production together,” Rosario said.
Rosario needed no introduction for Gutierrez.
“I’m a big watcher of indie films. I like to watch the credits at the end,” Gutierrez said. He had seen Rosario’s name listed as director, cinematographer, editor and more for several local film projects.
“Fat Foot films has always been a fan (of Rosario), and when we we got the phone call, it was awesome and we jumped all over it,” Gutierrez said.
“When we met, the chemistry was immediate. He had this detailed idea for ‘Mercy.’ We started putting everything on paper, getting ideas, looking for locations,” Gutierrez said.
Fat Foot Films has made movies such as its 2019 short horror-drama “Stray,” which was picked up for distribution by Reveel Movies.
For “Mercy,” Gutierrez is producer as well as wearing several other hats, including being in charge of casting and set construction.
Meanwhile, “Central Mass Studios had a large part in making this come to life. They found a location and props,” Gutierrez said.
The indoor centerpiece set at 344 Franklin St. (which was once home to the Factory of Terror haunted house) is Mercy’s studio apartment.
“For us it was the next level. We literally built a studio apartment. It was as real as real can be,” Gutierrez said.
Tropical Storm Elsa, however, was also interested in moving in. After a night of heavy rain, Gutierrez showed up at 344 Franklin St., and “when I came around the corner the set was literally floating on water,” he said.
Rosario led the cleanup. Five days later there was more torrential rain and the set “completely flooded again,” Gutierrez said.
More cleanup.
“Magically, somehow we pulled it off last Saturday. It was a long 16-hour day, but it was the most magical day of my life. It made it all worth it,” Gutierrez said.
Rosario wasn’t going to be distracted.
“We’ve spent six weeks building our set and perfecting it for when we start shooting. I’m very meticulous in my planning, but I was able to pull off what I wanted,” Rosario said.
Exterior shots will be at some of the city of Worcester’s icons, Rosario said. “We are being unapologetically Worcester.”
There will certainly be no apologies if “Mercy” reaches a world-wide audience.
Rosario said he has an industry contact who has “produced 50 or more major motion pictures. He’s very interested in the pilot.”
The intent is to have “Mercy” at no longer than 15 minutes. There are elements within the storyline that can be expanded into a series or feature-length film, Rosario said.
However, “If my picture is not received as I hope it will, it will be (released as) a short film,” he said.
Gutierrez and Fat Films are sharing the dream. “We do too, man. We are on that train for sure. We think we have something special,” Gutierrez said.
It’s hard to give specific numbers for the film’s budget because “as filmmakers in Worcester, we’ve a developed a lot of great relationships. We pulled those resources,” Gutierrez said. But the collaboration is going all out for “Mercy,” with the set alone at 344 Franklin St. costing thousands of dollars.
Rosario said, “We’re shooting through September, then we’ll go to edit. Hopefully before the end of the year we’ll have something completed and ready to go out.”
For Valletta, “Mercy” is also a project close to home. Valletta grew up in Sutton and now lives in the North End of Boston where she is a filmmaker, actor, choreographer and involved with several creative projects.
“‘Mercy’ is drastically raising the bar for indie filmmakers in MA,” Valletta said in an email. “When our tax incentive program was first established years ago, productions were almost entirely curated in larger markets; sets, actors and crew were all flown in from out of state, but in recent years the industry has started to see the production value and work ethic brought on by local filmmakers, now making MA a top market.
“In this digital age, it’s no longer necessary to uproot all your belongings and leave behind the comfort of home for chance and promise. Our job is to tell authentic stories, about complicated, messy, arresting people; MA provides you with the full range of eclectic communities and atmosphere that leave behind any trace of the superficial.”
Meanwhile, “To have the opportunity to play Mercy is thrilling and refreshing. My first pass at the script and I was abruptly hooked,” Valletta said.
Gutierrez said that at auditions for “Mercy” he was taking extensive notes. He said that when Valletta auditioned, he wrote just one word: “‘Brilliant.”
“She’s fantastic. She’s pretty awesome. She really understands the character. We’re happy to have her. Lucky to have her, actually,” said Rosario.
Valletta was there July 24.
“She was spectacular Saturday,” Rosario said.
Rosario is in his 33rd year with the Worcester Police Department and plans to retire shortly to concentrate on his second career in film, he said.
“I’ve managed to combine them both. I’ve been doing it for quite a while,” he said.
“Early with the Worcester Police Department I worked with youth, anti-drug, anti-violence messages.” For the police department’s community services division he made an award-winning video “Too Smart for the Streets” (1993), and later a video, “Live in Peace,” (1995) for the state Executive Office of Public Safety.
For 256 Films he’s done, music videos and corporate projects.
“Now that I’m looking to transition I’m taking on the narrative film more often,” Rosario said.
Working as a detective can give him some unique insight in crafting a suspense drama narrative.
Rosario said “Mercy” is his first film “where there is an avenue for it to go to a different level, motion picture or series. Either one would be an incredible thing for all the people involved to have accomplished.”
The view through the camera lens of the specially constructed set at 344 Franklin St. for the film “Mercy.”
ASHLEY GREEN / TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
On a related note
Private Eyes Films will present “The Lost Year,” a series of shorts made during the pandemic by Worcester filmmaker and actor Kris Salvi from 1 to 5 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Elm Draught House Cinema, 35 Elm St., Millbury.
The shorts include “Eight Minutes,” “10:59 PM,” “Runaway Night,” “New Years,” and more. There will also be appearances by special guests and a chance to mingle with the cast and crew. Tickets are $10 online or at the door. For a ticket link, visit eventbrite.com.
FEATURED
With RISE program, Jennifer Hernandez eyes helping female entrepreneurs
Veer Mudambi
Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK
Starting a business is no small thing, especially making the transition from employee to entrepreneur. Suddenly, your weekends are no longer your weekends, there are no offhours and your business is everything. But every business needs a storefront — and on the internet, your storefront is your website.
It’s where customers get their first impression and often decide to stay or leave. So how do you make them stay? There are people willing to design a professional website, but often, the price can be steep for a fledgling business. This is often the biggest hurdle to a small business getting off the ground and that’s where the RISE program comes in.
The brainchild of Jennifer Hernandez, the program grants a custom-designed starter website free of charge to one female entrepreneur each month. “I kept meeting people who had great ideas and great vision,” said Hernandez, whose company, GEM Marketing Solutions, caters to small businesses, “but could not afford a website, even though I was offering affordable services.”
So in a decidedly un-entrepreneur-like move, she started offering her help for free. “Nowadays, an online presence is mandatory,” said Hernandez, but the financial burden of starting a website can be a barrier. “I thought, why don’t I give back to the community in a way that can help especially women entrepreneurs, 16 and up, to promote their businesses and become successful entrepreneurs?”
Launching a business is hard enough as it is, and being a woman makes it harder, even today. “A lot more great things happen when you have a tribe of people who support you,” said Hernandez, who aims to provide that support network through RISE.
“I want to see more women doing more of what they want,” Jennifer Hernandez, on the RISE program
RISE puts out a call for essay submissions that outline the goals and objectives for the
Program
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business, then announces winners on the first of the month. Hernandez goes by the entrepreneur’s story — what they’re doing and how the business will make a difference. “The good thing about this program is if you enter one month, you’re still in the pool of people that could be picked at a later time because the applicant list carries over month to month.”
Linette Ortiz, of Real Meals with Linette, was one of the lucky ones. She found out about RISE through social media and Facebook friends she shared with Hernandez, and her business was chosen as the April winner. Ortiz said about the website, “it’s great to have somewhere to point people to … I absolutely loved the process and thought [Hernandez] did a great job.” She and Hernandez were able to get together where she provided some information from “about the chef,” a little bit of history on why she began the catering business, and she shared menu items and pictures.
Natalie Aguilar, who specializes in website design for RISE, tag teams with Hernandez on the responsibilities.
“When Jennifer told me about RISE, I couldn’t help but feel grateful to be part of something that not only helps these budding entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams, but also impact and grow the Worcester community,” Aguilar said.
Hernandez’s drive to help female entrepreneurs jump into the deep end comes from personal experience. “I had a great, comfortable, well-paying job for UMass Online as a marketing manager for about 10 years,” she explained, but was bothered to see Worcester businesses opening then closing, where she felt they could have succeeded. In a bid to use her marketing skills to help, she left her job in 2016 and started GEM.
When asked if she herself benefited from support like this as a first-time entrepreneur, Hernandez said she had the wherewithal “to find what I needed to make it happen but not everyone has that.”
RISE — and her work — lets her share that energy with others who need it. She freely admits that RISE would not have been possible when she first started but once business picked up, she felt a need to make sure that other women had the opportunity and support to follow their dreams.
Entrepreneurship carries inherent risk, Hernandez agreed, but the rewards can be worth it. “If you’re not fulfilled being an employee, you want to strike out on your own,” she said, “and though the transition is hard, it’s harder to not take the chance at all.”
The inability to have a website should not be what stops women — or anyone — from taking that chance. “I want to see more women doing more of what they want,” Hernandez said. This is part of why she chose website building for RISE, as opposed to a free month of marketing services or managing a business’s social media, she explained. Launching a website is the equivalent of putting up an “open” sign — if you don’t have a website to direct people toward, she said, you might as well not exist.
While the goal of RISE is to give as much love to their winners as they would to their paying clients, Hernandez makes it clear “this is a starter website — home page, services, testimonials, basically something to get you up and running with branding.” They provide “a little training session” to make sure that participants understand how to make edits, log-in info, and they are always available as a resource.
The industries where they have supported entrepreneurs have been very diverse — from home-cooked meals and catering, to spiritual types of business such as Reiki and Energy Healing, to pre-made Indian meal kits where everything is pre-measured. They have found that these small businesses depend on word of mouth, and websites help them feel official in addition to taking them to a whole new level. Hernandez said that getting that website is the key to clients, and “we want that domino effect, that’s the power of websites.”
Ortiz agrees that the website helped catapult her business into a growth spurt and filled up her summer calendar with events to cater, so much so that now, she is considering buying a food truck. Presently, she is on that path so she does anticipate some revamping on the website. “I look forward to working with [Hernandez] on that,” she said. “Right now, I have access to make changes as needed but definitely once I have the food truck, some more tools will be needed on the site.”
RISE plans to continue picking a winner on the first of every month and by the 31st, they expect to have that website up and running. They love to learn about all these new businesses and their target audience as well as figure out the proper copy that will spur consumers to take action. “RISE provides it all, a graphic, copy, outline of what we think will give the recipient the biggest ROI, tools within their website like a subscriber feature to get them started email marketing,” said Hernandez.
The winner for August, which was announced Sunday, was Regal Kitchen Remodeling.
As far as testimonials for RISE itself go, Ortiz said, “I would absolutely recommend it to other women entrepreneurs and I’m excited for what’s to come for Real Meals and thankful for Jennifer for help.”
Hernandez herself shared that all she wants is for the benefit “to go towards people who really need it — we have our community in mind and give back the best way we can. We love Worcester — it’s hard to keep a business alive in Worcester so we’re trying to do our part.”
Natalie Aguilar
Jennifer Hernandez runs a podcast on local start-ups and small businesses in Worcester at worcesterbusinessconnect.com.
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Podcast delves into ‘human angle’ of the Worcester Cold Storage fire
Veer Mudambi
Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK
The “true crime” genre in media is one often associated with grisly and sensational crimes, such as murders. The 1999 Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. fire doesn’t fit the genre’s usual mold, but for radio personality and podcaster Anngelle Wood, that was part of the appeal of taking it on as a subject.
Wood hosts the podcast, “Crime of the Truest Kind,” which this past month did a two-partepisode on the Worcester Cold Storage fire, which claimed the lives of six firefighters — Lt. Thomas Spencer, Firefighter Paul Brotherton, Lt. Timothy Jackson, Firefighter Jeremiah Lucey, Lt. James Lyons and Firefighter Joseph McGuirk — who have now become known as “the Worcester Six.” The event is rightly seared into the city’s history, and that’s something of which Wood is cognizant.
Wood says she is actively trying to counter the cheap scares and thrills for which the genre has become known. “The way that true crime has morphed into Halloween 24/7, all about the guts and gore, I don’t like that kind of podcasting,” she said.
She says that the true crime genre, by its very definition, is about events that happened to real people, something that can be forgotten in the search for lurid details. Wood calls the genre “exploitative,” and says she instead wants “to get to the heart of the matter and how it affected people.”
A leader in the Boston media community, Wood hosts the radio program “Boston Emissions with Anngelle Wood,” which focuses on highlighting up-and-coming New England bands, but she has also worked for radio stations such as WFNX, WBCN and WZLX. The podcast is the result of the forced vacation taken by many people as a result of the COVID lockdown, giving her the opportunity to pursue a project that had been on her back burner for a long time, she said. “I just couldn’t put the time and energy into it that it really needed, prior to COVID, until the world slowed down to a crawl.”
Wood, who grew up in southern New Hampshire, is familiar with Worcester and Worcester County, and says her research for the episode brought back fond memories of things such as going to shows at the Worcester Centrum, now the DCU Center.
She agrees that the Cold Storage Warehouse fire does not quite fit the “true crime” mold, saying that the podcast is really more about things that have happened in New England. She’s also tackled the 2003 Station Nightclub fire in East Warwick, Rhode Island, she said, which she covered in a two-parter back in February. That tragedy, like the Cold Storage fire, resulted in criminal
Anngelle Wood is the host of the radio show “Boston Emissions” and the podcast “Crime of the Truest Kind.”
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charges, though on the whole was deemed an accident. “The parallel between those two incidents has been how emotional both of them are to this day,” said Wood. “I know the city of Worcester and the region has suffered greatly as a result of [the fire].”
In revisiting this defining event, Wood is looking at the ramifications closer to home. Her podcast delved into how the firefighter’s families and communities were impacted. She says she did not talk directly to the families involved in the tragedy. “It was their 9/11 before we had 9/11,” she said, referencing the level of community trauma. “I’m not going to go knock on the door of one of these family members and say, ‘tell me about the worst day of your life’ — not the right thing for somebody like me to do.”
Instead, Wood found a wealth of research material through media archives, such as the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and the Boston Globe. “The more I delve into these stories and dig into the archives, I start to see what was happening with people, and it’s really about having compassion and empathy for people,” she said, “that’s where I try to focus my research and reporting.”
Wood says that the more human angle often means talking about the area as well as the things that happen here, and looking at the wider context of a situation. For example, the blaze was the result of a homeless couple trying to make a fire to keep warm, and she contends that city authorities had always known about people sheltering in the abandoned warehouses, but after the fire, “they pretended they never heard of this before.” This was impossible, as according to her research, just two months before the fire, a K-9 officer had visited the building and could not have missed the obvious signs of human habitation such as clothes, sleeping bags and trash.
For Wood, this is a sign of actively choosing to ignore an issue, especially one present for decades such as homelessness. “Society wants these people to live underground and not see them,” so this population is often left to fall through the cracks. Both individuals in the storage fire — a man and a young woman — had developmental disabilities. The man, at 37 years old, reportedly could not read or write, said Wood. “That’s a massive societal failure.”
With this in mind, Wood can’t help but feel compassion for not only the families of the men who died but those responsible for the fire as well. With their disabilities, she said, it’s unclear how much responsibility can be reasonably applied to either of them. “The question remains to this day,” she said, “were they really equipped to understand what could have happened?” For her part, she believes they didn’t understand the ramifications of the fire and its destructive potential.
While the ultimate responsibility for the cause of the fire may be unclear, the legacy of the six firefighters blazes brightly. Seven of the 17 children among those firefighters are now serving in the WFD, some of whom even at the Franklin Street firehouse constructed at the site of the warehouse. “That legacy is amazing to me and chokes me up every time,” said Wood. One of the Worcester Six, Brotherton, had six children, five of whom became firefighters themselves. “Their dad was their hero and it’s so sad he was taken from them, but his memory is so real and alive for those boys.”
Despite this, 21 years on, there are still those who don’t know the story of the Worcester Six. Wood hopes that her work can contribute to the memorial of these men’s service and sacrifice.
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