Madison Theatre adds ‘The Good Mother’ screenings supporting Youth FX
The Madison Theatre is rolling out the proverbial red carpet for upcoming Albany-based crimethriller “The Good Mother,” starring Hilary Swank, on Sept. 7.
Following the quick sellout of a special screening co-presented by New York State Writers Institute and Film Albany, which included an awards presentation and talkback with director Miles Joris-peyrafitte and co-writer Madison Harrison, the Madison Theatre dedicated its remaining theater space to “The Good Mother.” While the added screenings exclude the talkback, a portion of the ticket proceeds for the additional screenings will benefit Youth FX, the award-winning film studio and education program empowering young filmmakers of color.
“The Good Mother,” originally named “Mother’s Milk” after a slang term for heroin, follows fictitious Times Union journalist and recovering alcoholic Marissa Bennings, played by Swank, as she tries to uncover the truth of her estranged son Michael’s death with the help of his pregnant girlfriend Paige, played by Olivia Cooke. Their investigation soon becomes intertwined with the dark realities of the opioid crisis. The film also stars Jack Reynor, Norm Lewis, Hopper Penn, Diline and Karen Aldridge.
Joris-peyrafitte filmed “The Good Mother” throughout the region. Locations include the Times Union newsroom, Empire State Plaza, South Pearl Coffee Shop, the Amtrak train station in Rensselaer, the Capitol, inside homes on Madison Place and Morris Street and on a set constructed inside the New Scotland Avenue Armory on Sage Albany campus.
“We wanted to be on location in Albany. You can’t build that on a set or fake it in another city,” said Joris-peyrafitte in a previous interview with the Times Union this summer.
Albany natives Joris-peyrafitte and Harrison began collaborating on films as kids while attending The Free School on Elm Street. Bhawin Suchak, cofounder and co-director of Youth FX, was their teacher, and he and several Youth FX students worked on “The Good Mother.”
Tickets for the remaining screenings can be purchased online. Note, these tickets will not include access to the awards ceremony or talkback.
“The Good Mother” hits theaters Friday.