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_ _ _ _ _ _ _ "Mass Romantic, is so indie, it hurts." - BlackBook "a living, breathing example of what it takes to get along. Isn't that what politics should be?" - Rob Christopher, Chicagoist "Critics' pick" - Time Out Chicago mudgeonsoul productions presents Mass Romantic Screenings ~ Synopsis ~ Credits ~ Trailer ~ Fun Pics ~ Soundtrack ~ Poster ~ FAQ ~ Myspace ~ Press ~ Press Materials Mass Romantic, a new independent feature by Richard Paro, follows activists and academics struggling to find love while creating political art. The film focuses on relationships, while the characters work with controversial topics such as healthcare, queer politics, abortion, transphobia, food activism and corporate control of media. Mass Romantic celebrates the everyday lives of activists, queer people and their allies, and acknowledges the importance of allies in building meaningful, enriching communities. The theme of coalition-building present in Mass Romantic is reflected by the diverse group of individuals involved in the making of the film, many of whom are underrepresented in American cinema and identify as women, LGBTQ, people of color, non-native speakers and/or activists. Paro, along with partner Cyra K. Polizzi, produced Mass Romantic with a DIY sensibility after extensive story development and workshopping, utilizing the creative input and improvisational skills of the cast. After years of development, Mass Romantic was shot in the sweltering Chicago heat of late summer in just 11 days featuring 40 actors in over 10 locations, producing 33 hours of footage. The film features 13 independent bands, including live performances by Carrie Lydon, Kate Brown, ROFO and members of Head of Femur. _________________________________________________ Jamie and Erin's activist theater company sets out to create a play based on PJ's book of political short stories. PJ hasn't written much in a while... or socialized much either, except for hanging out at Olson's vegan cafe. Erin's girlfriend Bel, having just moved from New York, prepares for a conference and searches for an apartment, as well as community, in Chicago. Meanwhile, Billy is void of direction even with the self-fulfillment classes, but his partner Sally hopes his new job at Olson's cafe will help. Olson's partner Annette is writing her third quantum physics book and feeling uninspired... as are her students. When you're an artist, academic or activist and known for your passion, where do you turn when it wanes? Your work? Your partner? How do you fall in love with life again? 112 Minutes . Black & White . Not Rated . English Top _________________________________________________ Watch the first trailer for Mass Romantic! If you are having trouble viewing the trailer here, it is also up at www.myspace.com/MassRomanticFilm. Top _________________________________________________ Check out some pics from our latest screenings! Click "View All Images" to see larger images. If you are having trouble viewing, the slideshow is also on www.myspace.com/MassRomanticFilm. Top _________________________________________________ SCREENINGS & AWARDS December 2008 - Reel Time Film Festival in New York, NY October 2008 - Vacant Era Film Festival in Norman, OK September 2008 - Illinois International Film Festival in St. Charles, IL August 2008 - Portobello Film Festival in London, England August 2008 - Deep Fried Film Festival in Lanarkshire, Scotland August 2008 - HONORABLE MENTION FEATURE FILM - The Indie Gathering Film Festival in Cleveland, OH May 2008 - Entzaubert Queer Film Festival in Berlin, Germany May 2008 - Trailer Screening at Looptopia March 2008 - Women's International Film Festival in Miami, FL March 2008 - World Premiere Screening in Chicago, IL October 2007 - WINNER BEST DIRECTOR - LINK Film Festival in Olympia, WA _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is an Official Selection of the Reel Time Film Festival -- When: Tuesday, December 9, 2008 - Friday, December 12, 2008 -- Where: New York, NY -- Director Richard Paro and members of the cast and crew will be in attendance. Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is an Official Selection of the Vacant Era Film Festival -- When: October 2, 2008 - October 5, 2008 -- Where: Norman, OK -- Location: The Sooner Theater, 101 E. Main St -- Director Richard Paro and members of the cast and crew will be in attendance. Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is an Official Selection of the Illinois International Film Festival -- When: September 20 - September 21, 2008 -- Where: St. Charles, IL -- Location: Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St -- Director Richard Paro and members of the cast and crew will be in attendance. Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is an Official Selection of the Portobello Film Festival -- When: August 28, 2008 - September 14, 2008 -- Where: London, England -- "The biggest celebration of independent film in Europe" - The Independent Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is a Drama Day Selection of the Deep Fried Film Festival -- When: August 13th, 2008, 7:00 PM -- Where: Lanarkshire, Scotland -- Location: The Georgian, 26 Lefroy Street, Coatbridge Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic to be awarded Honorable Mention at The Indie Gathering International Film Festival -- When: Friday, August 1, 2008 - Sunday, August 3, 2008 -- Where: Cleveland, OH -- Producer Cyra K. Polizzi will speak on the Casting Panel Discussion on Sunday, August 3rd at 4:00pm. Cyra will discuss the unique experience of casting 40 actors on the micro-budget film Mass Romantic, as well as the insights she has gleaned working on numerous films as a director and actor. Mass Romantic's Cyra K. Polizzi with The Indie Gathering's Ray Szuch Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic selected for DIY Point program of Entzaubert Queer Film Festival -- When: Thursday, May 15th 2008 - Sunday, May 18th 2008 -- Where: Schwarzer Kanal, Michael Kirch Str. 20, Berlin, Germany -- As a radical, non-commercial festival, Entzaubert Queer Film Festival compiles a DIY Point program. DIY Point films are offered to viewers throughout the festival in a separate viewing room regardless of the scheduled films, giving viewers more choices in creating their own experiences. Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic is an Official Selection of the Women's International Film Festival -- When: Sunday, March 30th 2008, TIME CHANGE: 4:30pm -- Where: Miami, FL -- Location: AMC Cocowalk 16, 3015 Grand Ave -- Director Richard Paro will be in attendance -- Special guests at WIFF 2008 include Oscar nominee Ruby Dee, Ally Sheedy and Chelsea Handler Richard with Catalina, Kim & Anita McGruder, of the WIFF Board Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic World Premiere & Official Party -- COMPLETELY SOLD OUT! Join us in Chicago on Thursday, March 13th for this exclusive one-night event! Members of the cast and crew will be in attendance, most of them viewing the film for the first time, right along with the audience. -- Screening: Thursday, March 13th, 2008 at 7:30pm at Landmark's Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657) -- Q&A: Immediately following the screening there will be a brief Q&A with the director, cast and crew. -- Official Party: Join the cast and crew after the screening at Mickey's Grille & Pub (just across the street at 2831 N. Broadway). Bring in your ticket stub for a free drink during the party! -- Soundtrack: The World Premiere Event is the only place to get your hands on advance copies of the Mass Romantic: Music from the Motion Picture CD before the March 18th street date! -- Admission: $15 General Admission, $10 Artist/Industry/Student/Senior/Low Income/FiLM Club Advance tickets are available on our store page. Tickets will also be available at the door (cash only) starting 2 hours prior to the screening. Some content may not be appropriate for all viewers, therefore children under 17 will be not be admitted without a parent or guardian. Landmark's Century Centre Cinema's seven screens occupy the fourth, fifth and sixth levels of the Century Shopping Centre located at 2828 N. Clark St where Clark meets Diversey and Broadway. Parking is available in the mall lot (enter on Clark St). Thank you Brian Turner, Landmark Theatres and the Century staff for hosting this event! Top _________________________________________________ Rough cut of Mass Romantic awarded "Best Director" at LINK Film Festival! - A rough cut of Mass Romantic gains early acceptance into LINK Film Festival -- Director Richard Paro and cast members in attendance for Q&A -- When: Thursday, October 4th -- Where: 610 Columbia St., Olympia, WA 98501 Kevin Gladish, Richard Paro, Niki Mohrlant and Cyra K. Polizzi with "Best Director" award Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic Trailer screens Looptopia The trailer screens on a loop as part of Film Loop...topia with 13 other shorts, trailers, animation, and music videos. -- When: May 2, 2008 from 5:00pm to Midnight -- Where: 1 E. Jackson Blvd (at State), Chicago, IL -- Filmmakers will be in attendance --"Presented by the Chicago Loop Alliance, Looptopia is a free, all night celebration of arts, culture and the Loop... an amazing success, with over 200,000 participants creating and experiencing art in dozens of locations throughout the night." Top _________________________________________________ Mass Romantic: Music from the Motion Picture - Release Date: March 18, 2008 Purchase CDs on our store page. All 13 independent bands featured in Mass Romantic are now available on the soundtrack album Mass Romantic: Music from the Motion Picture. The 21 song album contains exclusive tracks, including live performances by Carrie Lydon, Kate Brown, ROFO and Head of Femur. Advance copies will be available for purchase at the March 13th World Premiere Screening of Mass Romantic. Proceeds from the soundtrack album help fund Mass Romantic post-production costs. Mass Romantic: Music from the Motion Picture features Heidi Spencer, Head of Femur, The Blasphomatics, Coyote Grace, Dave Maxon, Home Demo Vixens, Carrie Lydon, Kate Brown, ROFO, Martha Berner, Actor Slash Model, Renee-Louise Carafice and Ticklepenny Corner TRACK LISTING 1. Waiting For Me Home (3:14) . HEIDI SPENCER . www.myspace.com/heidileighspencer 2. The Breakup Song (3:02) . COYOTE GRACE . www.coyotegrace.com 3. I Didn’t Know (2:00) . DAVE MAXON . www.myspace.com/davemaxon 4. Sleep (3:04) . HOME DEMO VIXENS . www.myspace.com/homedemovixen 5. Songs For Trains (2:48) . THE BLASPHOMATICS . www.myspace.com/theblasphomatics 6. Hurricane (3:26) . ACTOR SLASH MODEL . www.actorslashmodel.com 7. Insomniac (1:27). HEIDI SPENCER . www.myspace.com/heidileighspencer 8. Isn’t It A Shame Instrumental (3:03) . HEAD OF FEMUR . www.headoffemur.net 9. A Town Called Happiness (4:47) . MARTHA BERNER . www.marthaberner.com 10. Dance on A Hook (4:53) . THE BLASPHOMATICS . www.myspace.com/theblasphomatics 11. Asylum Escape Song (3:51) . RENEE-LOUISE CARAFICE . www.myspace.com/reneelouisecarafice 12. Just Like Theives (3:09) . TICKLEPENNY CORNER . www.myspace.com/ticklepennycorner 13. Witness (3:30) . HEIDI SPENCER . www.myspace.com/heidileighspencer 14. Suffer (4:37) . DAVE MAXON . www.myspace.com/davemaxon 15. Honey Bee, Leave Me (3:41) . THE BLASPHOMATICS . www.myspace.com/theblasphomatics 16. Denied (3:27) . COYOTE GRACE . www.coyotegrace.com 17. Theme Song (3:28) . HEIDI SPENCER . www.myspace.com/heidileighspencer 18. Radical Live (3:31) . KATE BROWN . www.myspace.com/katebrownghostman 19. Isn’t It A Shame Live (3:06) . HEAD OF FEMUR . www.headoffemur.net 20. Bush Ain’t King Live (2:39) . CARRIE LYDON . www.myspace.com/carrielydon 21. Three Little Words Live (3:25) . ROFO . www.myspace.com/rofolicious Top _________________________________________________ Top _________________________________________________ credits director Richard Paro producers Richard Paro Cyra K. Polizzi written by Richard Paro interpreted by the cast director of photography Amanda Clifford editors Richard Paro Cyra K. Polizzi cast principal cast Annette Falk...Petrucia Finkler Bel Cantrellini...Cyra K. Polizzi Billy Adler...Christopher Weiher Erin Campbell...Lori Duncan Jaime Blasband...Teissia Treynet Jordan Stray...Crystal Hartford Olson...Niki Mohrlant PJ Jaskulski...Richard Paro Sally...Brenda Barrie supporting cast Elyta...Samantha Garcia Grace / Angie...Riebana Biegel James / Dean...Christopher Rutherford Kelli (Marie's Wife)...Robin Posavetz Laura...Kate Brown Marie Cantrellini...Sarah B. McLaughlin Melanie / Franny...Breahan Eve Pautsch Nicole / Asia...Ruta James Stuart...Patrick Babbitt featured cast Canoe... Mort Burke Debra...Sarah Goeden Heidi (Dancer)...Heidi Schreck Lauren...Mercy B. Oni Mark...J Kilgore Nicholas (Subletter)...Kevin Gladish Patricia (Professor)...Ellen Peace Sam (Jordan's Roommate)...Tracie Dahlke VPT funraiser Carrie Lydon...Carrie Lydon, Kate Rickenbacker Head of Femur...Mike Elsener, Matt Focht additional cast Audience...Thomas V. Clayton Customer... Rachel Murphy Grace's Friend...Jennifer Koesling Matt (Audience)...Rodrigo R. Dienstmann Sue (Student)...Lauree Enos conference Kayle...Lynette Morris Gina...Paula Setta-Garcia Gracie...Giovanna Carmella Babbo Julia...Kristina Burkel Cora...Tiffany Villarin music Heidi Spencer Head of Femur Ticklepenny Corner The Blasphomatics Dave Maxon Home Demo Vixens Coyote Grace Carrie Lydon Kate Brown ROFO Martha Berner Renee-Louise Carafice Actor Slash Model Additional Production Team/Crew Associate Producer...Nicholas Langholff Associate Producer...Teissia Treynet Assistant Camera/ Boom/ Gaffer...Thomas V. Clayton PA/ Boom...Kelly McDowell Assistant Camera...Justin Watson Gaffer...Quentin Lareau Grip...Jayme Joyce Boom...Andrei Antipov Conference Paper...Cyra K. Polizzi Choreography...Cyra K. Polizzi VPT Art...Ben Garcia Computer Consultant...Ben Gollmer "Seek the Truth Now!” story Richard Paro "Seek the Truth Now!” writers Rienana Biegel Ruta James Richard Paro Breahan Eve Pautsch Cyra K. Polizzi Christopher Rutherford Teissia Treynet thank you Cast and Crew Contributing Musicians Brenda Barrie Kate Brown Michael Fitzsimons Kevin Gladish Amy Gunderson Crystal Hartford Mike Hollander Kelly McDowell Breahan Eve Pautsch Lea Polizzi also thank you Joanne Zielinski Tatiana Tchoryk with Glaceau Adam Webster with The Side Project Theatre The Fixx Coffee Bar, 3053 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago IL 60657, (773)248-0841 and with much love, thank you… Barb and Dick Paro Barb and Frank Polizzi Top