Sibling filmmakers hailed

By MAUREEN MILFORD
Staff reporter

When Gordon DelGiorno says he was jolted into starting a small movie company, he’s not being dramatic.

In 1990, while working as a sheet metal worker, DelGiorno was injured on the job when he drilled into a commercial-size air conditioner that mistakenly had been left on. The current surged through his body, threw him off the ladder and onto a desk. DelGiorno, 36, is convinced he would have been “fried” if he hadn’t been using a plastic drill.

“I figured there’s got to be a better way to make a living,” DelGiorno said.

A few years later, DelGiorno, with his brother, Greg, 34, started an independent film company, Film Brothers Productions in Wilmington. With two feature films, two shorts and a television show under its belt, Film Brothers is the kind of small business the state’s tourism office wants to nurture.

Last month, the state gathered about 15 film industry people together to discuss ways in which the state could foster growth for the film industry in Delaware. Gordon DelGiorno, who has gained a reputation for making his films into community “happenings,” was among the participants.

“The economic development office truly sees the film industry as an important element that we would like to help strengthen,” said Julie Miro Winger, acting tourism director for the Delaware Tourism Office with the state’s economic development office.

John Rago, communications director for Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker, said Film Brothers is an example of the type of independent movie company the city would like to support and develop because of the community dimension of the Film Brothers films.

Key to his success is that DelGiorno includes large numbers of local people and shoots his films in area locations. What’s more, he ties social events to the film premiers. He calls it “cross-promoting” and said it evolved out of desperation.

“I didn’t have any money and I thought: How can we get people to invest and give things in trade? How can they benefit from it?” DelGiorno said. “We make it into a whole cultural event. When you get 500 people together, you’re bound to have a good time.”

Consider the Film Brothers’ most recent offering, “Getting Even,” a dark comedy about senior citizens taking revenge on people who disrespect them. The film, which showed for two nights in March at the Newark Cinema, brought in a crowd of 950 people.

“I think Gordon’s ability to put people in seats is amazing,” said Barry Schlecker, president of The Network Group in Wilmington and a corporate sponsor of the Film Brothers’ first film “Franks and Weiners, The Movie.”

By that, he means that many in the crowd at the showing of “Getting Even” were friends and family members of the 225-member cast.

“Everybody hopes they’ll be in the next ‘Blair Witch Project,’ ” Schlecker said.

Since people paid up to $25 to buy tickets for the three showings, ticket sales topped $12,000, DelGiorno said. For now, all profits are being plowed back into the business.

Michael Finocchiaro, co-owner of Newark Cinema, said he has never seen anyone fill a theater using that formula. He rented the theater to DelGiorno for a nominal fee and made his money on the concession stand.

“I’d have to have a ‘Shrek’ or a ‘Harry Potter’ or a ‘Spider Man’ on a rainy Saturday or Sunday to do that type of business. For him to do it on a Thursday is pretty phenomenal,” Finocchiaro said.

While actors and the staff usually are not paid, the half dozen members of the Newark Senior Center who participated in the film “had a blast,” said Wendy Stamm, the center’s communications and volunteer coordinator.

“They’re excited about doing something else,” Stamm said. “They got a taste of Hollywood.”

Rose M. Smiley, 76, of Newark, who participated in the final club scene in the movie, said she was satisfied to get dinner after the shooting and free tickets for the show.

“We weren’t experienced actors. It was just fun,” Smiley said.

After the film, DelGiorno made an $803 donation to the Newark Senior Center.

Besides ticket sales, revenues are generated by on-screen advertising at the beginning of the film. Advertisers included Patterson-Schwartz & Associates Inc., Video Americain and Three Little Bakers Dinner Theatre.

Aaron Immediato, marketing director with Three Little Bakers, said the story line of “Getting Even” appeared to appeal to seniors, which is a big part of the dinner theater’s audience.

“But we’ve been supportive of the DelGiorno brothers. It’s a form of entertainment that is rising in Wilmington and gets the attention,” Immediato said.

There were also product placements within the film. Matthew’s Formalwear and Tailors on West Fourth Street in Wilmington supplied tuxedos and DelGiorno filmed a scene in front of the store.

“It just keeps your name out in the public eye,” said Matthew Smith Jr., owner of Matthew’s Formalwear.

Another aspect to “Getting Even” was an after-show party at Timothy’s Restaurant in Newark. Timothy P. Dever, owner of two Timothy’s Restaurants in Newark and on Wilmington’s waterfront, was one of the film’s investors. To pay him back, DelGiorno sold tickets to a dinner at the restaurant following the premier.

“It was exposure – there were people who came here who have never been here before,” Dever said.

During the party, DelGiorno held a silent auction to raise money for Newark Senior Center.

“As corny as it might sound, I want to build a community around film. People love the fact they can be in film and then see themselves on a 25-foot screen and in a theater with 500 people. They love it,” he said.