The UB Post

Mike Finazzo wrote, directed and acted in "The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn" [Click to enlarge]

Baltimore native proves you do not have to be Catholic to go to Catholic school and you do not have to live in Los Angeles to make a movie.

Have you ever dreamed of making your own movie? If the answer is yes, then you have something in common with Mike Finazzo, Baltimore native and writer and director of "The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn," a new movie shot entirely in Baltimore and featuring a cast of Baltimore actors, including members of the Baltimore Improv Group.

"The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn" tells the story of how the title role's untimely death affected the lives of those around him in surprising ways. Andrew's former boss is left to deal with a rattled office, including Jack, Andrew's former co-worker interested only in picking up girls at Andrew's funeral, and the relationship between his former friends Julia and Peter is left in jeopardy once the news of her affair with Andrew is uncovered.

Finazzo compared the movie to a "really screwed up version of 'Death of a Salesman.'" He categorized it as a "mockumentary," one that he believes will appeal to audiences in the same way as reality television or shows such as the NBC prime time hit show "The Office" because it portrays "what you are not supposed to see—ridiculous things happening to real people."

Although the movie contains elements of dark comedy, Finazzo, confident that all audiences will find the movie funny, said "the plot of it is dark, but the humor is not." He assures audiences by saying, "If anyone who goes to the premiere does not laugh at least once, I will go to their house and make them dinner."

Finazzo, an ambitious 22-year-old, not only wrote and directed the movie, but acted in it as well. He kept production costs minimal with the help of friends in the business and by using a cast of local actors, which he believes contributes to the appeal of the film.

Greg Engel, the movie's producer, and Mark Hendricks, who plays Jack, had ties to Finazzo before "The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn." All three attended Cardinal Gibbons High School in Baltimore city.

"If I met someone really funny, they would end up in the movie," Finazzo said. "I think it is a common misperception that good actors cost a lot of money."

In regard to fulfilling personal ambitions, Finazzo advised University of Baltimore students: "In reality, no one has the answers," and "Just don't care....do it because it's what you want."

The movie will be screened at film festivals across the country and is anticipated to be released on DVD in the spring. Regardless of the profitability of the film, Finazzo perceives the movie as a success. "My biggest goal was to make a movie I liked," he said.

Work has begun on a follow-up film.

"The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn" premieres at The Charles Theatre on Dec. 21.

Noll, contributing writer for The UB Post, can be reached at lauren.noll@ubalt.edu.

web - www.andrewquinnmovie.com

"The Life and Times of Andrew Quinn"
Dec. 21, 7:20 p.m.
The Charles Theatre
1711 N. Charles St.
$8
410) 727-3464
www.thecharles.com

A 15-minute-short "Styrofoamology" by Joe Anderson, a Towson University alumnus, will precede the movie at 7 p.m.

For advance ticket sales, e-mail oldacademypictures@gmail.com

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