New feature film touts Lorain-NYC roots

‘Shine’ viewing is Oct. 5 at Lorain Palace Theater. It was written and directed by Anthony Nardolillo

On Oct. 5 the Lorain Palace Theater will hold the opening for “Shine,” a film more than ten years in the making with local roots.

The film written and directed by Anthony Nardolillo is set in a New York Spanish Harlem neighborhood through a heavy backdrop of salsa music and dance. The story follows two brothers who are reunited following the death of their father through the lens of gentrification and family.

“Shine” was developed into a full feature following the successful release of Nardolillo’s 2007 short film “Mano” featuring Giancarlo Esposito, best known for his role as Gustavo “Gus” Fring on Breaking Bad.

In developing “Mano” and transitioning into the full-length, Nardolillo, a New York native built upon his Lorain connections in capturing the world of salsa music and dance.

Eileen Torres, a salsa music historian and Lorain native coordinated the music on “Mano,” bringing in a number of regarded salsa musicians and dancers and has been a part of the project through and through as an executive producer.

Torres spent 28 years in Washington D.C. before returning to Lorain and would cross with Nardolillo a lot, collaborating on numerous projects, and stressed his Lorain connections.

“His mom was born in Lorain and Anthony spent many summers and still continues to return to Lorain for the holidays at the end of the year. He’s got a lot of cousins here,” Torres said.

Unbeknownst to Torres, her aunt used to babysit Nardolillo when he was a child.

After years in development and a few setbacks along the way, a 2016 Kickstarter campaign raised more than $100,000 making it the largest fundraiser for a Latino film in Kickstarter history.

The film was shot in 2016 and was honored with the Audience Award for Best Feature Film in September of 2017 at a New York UrbanWorld Film Festival.

Along with help from some private investors, the independent film is set to highlight an authentic story about community that is rarely recognized, and it represents diversity in front of the camera and behind the scenes.

The opening at the Palace is expected to be the largest opening of Shine in the United States where the film is expected to be screened in 600 theaters.

“I know it’s going to be not just a very successful event but a very memorable event. We are calling on the support of Lorain Proud, Lorain Growth Corporation and the Lorain Port Authority. All those people who have a stake in seeing Lorain rise,” Torres said.

The film features David Zayas of Dexter, Gotham and Bloodline fame, as the recognizable face to audiences.

“What was really gratifying is when he got back to his manager, he wanted to stick around and do a little bit of extra work at no cost. He said he had never been on a set where there had been such an atmosphere of positivity and giving,” Torres said.

In addition, Gilbert Salvidar, a dance coordinator who has worked with Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera and Janet Jackson also appears in the film.

“We have been pushing for that ever since the film was made, knowing that Lorain would support this,” she added.

Nardolillo’s cousin, Lorain native Fred Lozano, co-write the film’s script collaborating over a dozen years.

“He started sending me scripts that some of his friends had written and he said some of the characters that they’re writing remind me of you,” Lozano said.

Through a series of phone calls between Lozano and Nardolillo, “Shine” developed from a three paragraph synopsis that eventually grew into a full-length feature film in creating the dialogue and characters that would show on the big screen.

Lozano said at the time he didn’t consider himself a writer but said the process was very organic.

“It’s really been a fun interesting process. The writing has been easy for me. It mirrors Lorain a lot with gentrification with family and tradition,” Lozano said.

“Shine” is a New York story but Lozano noted the connections are there.

“It wasn’t that much of a stretch to do some New York type writing. Just growing up in Lorain there is just such a connection between New York and Lorain people,” he said.

Seeing the final product come to fruition and debut at the Lorain Palace Theater has a special connection. As a Lorain native Lozano remembers attending the Palace

“The October opening at the Palace, we really want to make that a big deal. Growing up in Lorain, the Palace means a great deal to me,” Lozano recalled. “Just that whole transformation of the Palace is just such an inspiration of mine. I think with the way that we made the movie so grassroots, it would be the perfect venue.”

The whole process has given him a new appreciation for film with the creative process with all of the stars aligning on multiple levels to bring “Shine” to life.

“I’m excited to be able to bring something to Lorain that we can be proud of. I hope the story of the movie inspires people as much as the movie does. These guys took a shot and they made it.”

Nardolillo