Goodfella Exposed in New Documentary to be Featured At Prestigious Los Angeles Film Festival
Lincoln, NE (PRWEB) August 18, 2006
Henry Hill, the most famous mafia turncoat in history, was immortalized by one of America’s definitive mobster movies, Martin Scorsese’s 1990 film, Goodfellas. After testifying against his former associates, Hill entered the Federal Witness Protection Program and lived on the run for 25 years.
Hill is now the subject of a new documentary film, Shooting Henry Hill, produced by Prairie Entertainment. The film exposes the private side of Hill’s life after he surfaces in a conservative small town in the middle of the Great Plains.
The filmmakers find themselves immersed in an organized crime investigation involving dozens of methamphetamine indictments, allegations of murder, theft of rocket-propelled grenades from a U.S. Army base, and, ultimately, the betrayal of Henry Hill.
After a Nebraska screening, audience members described Shooting Henry Hill as “dark“, “intimate“, and “revealing“. One viewer called the work, “a fascinating portrait”. Several area reporters picked up on the film:
“…powerful…the true-to-life capstone to a story never finished by Scorsese or Coppola” –Chris Tiwald, The Daily Nebraskan
“…an honest depiction…Hill’s story is a sad but compelling one”
–L. Kent Wolgamott, The Lincoln Journal-Star
“[the filmmakers]…strip away the myth of this wiseguy…to portray the real Hill” –Michael Joe Krainak, Omaha City Weekly
The film has generated media attention from Howard Stern’s radio show, where Hill has made guest appearances, and StreetMasters Magazine, which will be featuring a story on Hill and reviewing the film.
The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in Los Angeles will host the world premiere of the 53-minute documentary on Saturday, September 16 at the Fairfax Laemmle Theater, 7907 Beverly Blvd., at 6pm.
Shooting Henry Hill has been nominated for Best Documentary by the festival committee. Stuart Alson, Executive Director of the NYIIFVF said, “We chose the film because Henry is a real-life pop culture icon. Audiences have always enjoyed our crime films, especially those in the mobster genre. In the past, we’ve presented stories about fictional mobsters featuring Harvey Keitel, Danny Aeilo, and Sopranos castmembers. We always premiere Abel Ferrara films like Gangs of New York. We are excited to screen an edgy film about a true-to-life mobster that dispels the myths and stereotypes.”
The Opening Gala celebration will be in Los Angeles at the Wyndam Belage Ballroom, West Hollywood, on September 14th, 7pm. Representatives from Miramax, William Morris, MGM Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures, Lions Gate, New Line, Paramount, MTV, and Greenstreet Films are expected to attend.
Prairie Entertainment, founded by Ron and Heather Silver, is a Nebraska-based production company that aims to make films with socially significant subject matter. The Silvers are currently working with Heppener on their upcoming documentary short, “Grace: The Littlest Animal Rescuer”, the story of one 3-year-old’s contribution to the animal rescue effort following Hurricane Katrina. The team is also in pre-production on a documentary film about White Clay, Nebraska, a town of 30 people, on the edge of the “dry” Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where 12,000 cans of beer are sold each day.
Ron Silver is a producer, director, and actor with 29 years of experience in film, theater, television, and commercials. Heather Silver is a producer, director, and actor with experience in theater and commercial work. The couple has collaborated on numerous ventures since 1993.
About the NYIIFVF: The New York International Independent Film and Video Festival is now the largest independent film festival in the world, showing films in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Cannes, Milan, and Brazil. Founded in 1993 by filmmaker Stuart Alson, the festival is known as “the voice for independent film”. Festival mission is to identify and develop new talent in the motion picture industry. The festival receives extensive coverage in all major publications including Variety, CNN, New York Observer, New York Times, LA Times, Hollywood Reporter, Fox TV, Time Out NY, E News, Daily News, and the New York Post. When you join the ranks of artists who have had their work screened at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, you become associated with a group of ground-breaking, talented artists. Many of the filmmakers and films that have participated in the festival have achieved great success. Online press kits available at www.shootinghenryhill.com
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