This week I lived at my old stomping ground in Beverly Hills, CA - the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. I was first exposed to the luxurious hotel back in the 80’s when I scheduled a several-day stay while hanging out with the creative genius Chuck Barris. It was my first exposure to the outrageous sights and lifestyles of Hollywood. The hotel is located right on the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. You probably best recognize it as the setting for the romantic comedy Pretty Woman starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere in 1990. And although we weren’t romantic, we were pretty funny when I had the Sixers team – and all of the entourages - take over the place during our thrilling run at the NBA 2001 Finals against the LA Lakers. But that’s another story.
Directly around the corner from the Beverly Wilshire is the William Morris Agency – who represent me and the little production company I share with Tim Chambers, Anthony Gargano, and Phil Calamia called Quaker Media. It was a big day for us because on Wednesday at 1:00pm we were scheduled in the agency’s posh theatre to screen our indie film Our Lady of Victory. In attendance were several of the company’s agents – including the legendary Cassian Elwes. This guy sells more indie films to distributors than anyone in Hollywood and he proudly admits, “I say ‘no’ to 99.9% of all I screen.” So need I tell you that Tim was as nervous as an expectant father. Since he wrote, produced, and directed the flick, and convinced me to raise the $8.25 million to produce the picture, you can understand his anxiety. Four years of his life invested and it all comes down to less than two hours. Holy shit!
The movie ends. The lights go up and Cassian is wiping tears from his cheeks. Yes! I was praying he’d cry his ass off. The inspirational film’s ending is reminiscent of Hoosiers, Rocky, Rudy, and Invincible, but with a female cast. So get the tissues ready.
Cassian loved the movie. He was pleasantly surprised. He shed tears.
Then the air in the room changed. His demeanor changed. He transformed from a gentle, smiling attendee into an intense, pitching machine. He began to sell us on the agency and his unique capabilities. He said he was the best in the business. He said he could walk our movie into Disney’s screening room. Right on!
Since Tim was scheduled to meet with a competitive talent agency, CAA, who represented several of the stars in the film, Cassian wanted to make sure that we knew there was no competition. I loved it!
And I also loved seeing Tim being treated like a million bucks with vigorous handshakes and energetic pats on the back. Come to think of it, I hope he felt like way more than 8.25 million bucks!
Our young agent, Josh Pyatt, enjoyed the entire scene, since it was he who reserved the famous Aidikoff screening room and made sure the infamous Cassian Elwes was present. He gambled on his two Philly clients. And we made him look like a million bucks – or whatever his commission will be.
Tim and I returned to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel bar where we boisterously celebrated in the presence of the Hollywood pretty people in the same fashion that I celebrated seven years earlier when Allen Iverson stepped over a fallen Tyron Lue during our overtime win of the first game of the NBA Finals.
Two winning memories that will last my lifetime.
Director, Tim Chambers, screening with William Morris agents in their private theater.
I took a snapshot of the movie’s Executive Producer.
This entry was posted
on Saturday, April 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pm by Pat Croce
Leave a Reply
April 21st, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Thanks for the update, Chester County is rooting for you and waiting anxiously to see it all unfold on the big screen.
LET’S Go MACS!
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Pat - Please continue to keep us posted. We are now checking your blog daily for progress on Our Lady of Victory and are anxiously awaiting its release.
Thanks for sharing details with us.
May 1st, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Pat,
I had the chance to see Our Lady Of Victory” in December at Immaculata - loved it ! I can’t wait to see it on the big screen.
I was a patient of yours in 1981 @ the Haverford Sports Clinic - just like Chambers.
All the best !
Sean Sullivan
May 6th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Mr. Croce,
We met briefly on set…I was one of the core nuns in OLV…I’m the nun hanging out the laundry in the opening scene (that must be me behind the tree!:)
I’ve been anxiously reading all the updates & I can’t wait to see “the Macs come marching in” on the big screen! I am thrilled to be a part of this project & can’t wait to share this inspirational story with my family! We need more movies like this that people can be proud to take their kids to!
I hope to work with you again someday and wish you the best of luck with this film and all of your endeavours!
Sincerely,
Jennifer Wiener
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2592686/
September 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Just saw the first five minutes on the Quaker Media home page. Pat, it looks great! I’m especially proud of you, Tim and Anthony Gargano. This is a lifelong ambition of mine, and you make it look so easy!
I am really elated for you all, and am as proud of the project , as if I was a part of it.
By the way, Smirchonish’s voice opening the film - PRICELESS!!!
Here’s a link where everyone else can see the film and lear about Quaker Media:
http://www.quakermedia.com/projects.html