Production begins May 6 on the locally produced independent feature that is the brainchild of veteran media producer Jim Amatulli.

        The movie is about a pair of 40ish lovers tempted by criminal possibilities in the world of high-priced art. It stars Rick Rossovich, a familiar face in movies and TV, in films as disparate as Roxanne and Truth or Consequences, N.M., and series such as E.R. and Pacific Blue.

        The actor committed himself to Artworks in 1999 and never wavered, Mr. Amatulli said. “He is still with me after three years. He's a really good person. If it wasn't for him sticking with it all this time, who knows, I might have given it up.”

        The female lead will be Jo Anderson, who was a series regular on Sisters, appeared in the HBO series From the Earth to the Moon; and the films Daylight, JFK and Dead Again.

        “It's a great role for a woman; I think that's why she liked it,” Mr. Amatulli said. “These characters are people who are re-evlauating their lives. Fate throws them together, and art keeps them together, and they have to decide how far they will go. It's like, here is your opportunity: What would you do? What line would you cross?”

        Another key role will be played by Reading native Daniel von Bargen, a veteran of dozens of film, including O Brother Where Art Thou, and such TV series as Seinfeld and Malcolm in the Middle.

        The cast also includes Eddie Mills, who played a recurring character on Dawson's Creek.

        Mr. Amatulli said some 20 speaking parts have been cast with local actors; local residents also filled most crew jobs, including cinematographer Jeff Barklage and sound man Geoff Maxwell.

        The production will use about 100 extras (already chosen) and 16 locations around town, including a Main Street art gallery, an Over-the-Rhine apartment, several homes in Mr. Amatulli's North Avondale neighborhood and Nicola's restaurant.

        The number of locations is extraordinarily high for a movie budgeted at $1.6 million, Mr. Amatulli admitted. “Ill never do this again the way I'm doing it.”

        After four weeks of shooting, the movie will be edited on the West Coast with a goal of finishing by late summer, in time to meet winter film-festival deadlines.

        Though he has been making training and marketing films for 25 years, Mr. Amatulli confessed he's feeling the pressure as he undertakes this theatrical feature. "It's frightening at times,” he said. “But it's like any other business; you just have to have good people doing their jobs, and trust them.”

        Underground filmmakers: Two Cincinnati filmmakers will be represented at the Hollywood Underground Film Festival May 9-16 in West Hollywood. Terry Lukemire, who immortalized the Naked Cowboy in his documentary American Icon, will show his new short comedy, The King of Karaoke on May 9. Homefree, a digital-video short about homeless people from Greg Newberry (Beemer Baby) will screen on May 11. Find all the details at www.hufilmfest.com.

        Fest entries: That time already? Submissions are being accepted now for the Ohio Independent Film Festival & Market Nov. 3-10 at Cleveland Public Theatre's Gordon Square venue. The curated festival showcases only film and video without theatrical distribution. Festival organizers promise personal feedback from programmers on every entry.

        Fest Web site www.ohiofilms.com has directions for submitting films, videos and screenplays.
       

        E-mail mmcgurk@enquirer.com
       

Works in progress
1883 a true frontier for PBS families
DAUGHERTY: Everyday
Her avocation is collecting career-oriented Barbies
KENDRICK: Alive and well
Laying his illness on the line
TriHealth doctor gets more time to study alternatives
Carnegie celebrates centennial, renovation
Delhi Flower wins show's top prize
DEMALINE: The arts
'King' revisits dysfunctional family
MCGURK: Film notes
Miami draws Marsalis
MARTIN: Foodstuff
Serve it this week: Dill
Trot to Parker's or Turfway for Derby dining
Get to it