"Chisel" To Premiere at The 2024 Chelsea Film Festival
Carmona Pictures, a New York-based production company, proudly announces that Chisel, the short film written and directed by Julissa Scopino, has been selected as an official entry at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival. The film, which powerfully explores the immigrant experience, will screen at the prestigious event, held from October 16-20 at Regal Theaters Union Square in New York City.
In Chisel, a jobless teenage immigrant desperately seeks employment, only to be met with cold indifference from fellow laborers on a street corner who are also desperately looking for work. Isolated and longing to fit in, he faces a moral crossroads: follow the right path or get involved in a risky opportunity that promises quick success. The film offers a raw and urgent portrayal of the immigrant struggle, addressing labor exploitation, inequality, and the harsh realities of chasing the American dream. The film’s main character is portrayed by actor Nico Bustamante (Riverdale, Gotti, and Bel Canto), who brings an emotional depth and authenticity to the role, capturing the internal struggle and desperation of his character.
Chisel draws its power from Scopino’s sharp directorial vision and her dedication to illuminating this untold story of the Latino labor community. Influenced by cinematic giants like Vittorio De Sica (The Bicycle Thief) and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York), Scopino captures the emotional and physical toll of working-class life in an unforgiving system.
“This film resonates profoundly with me as I witness the pervasive struggles in our New York City streets, where individuals grapple with challenges ranging from theft and violence to homelessness and unemployment,” states Scopino. “The impact of inflation has created an atmosphere of economic insecurity that clouds decision-making and intensifies despair. These issues touch us all, reminding us of our interconnectedness; we are influenced not only by our own struggles but also by those of others. Economic adversity can alter not just our circumstances but also the very quality of our character and judgments.”
Chisel will be screening on Saturday, October 19th, at 2:15 PM at Regal Theaters, Union Square. The Chelsea Film Festival is an international event showcasing the work of independent filmmakers worldwide. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit ChelseaFilm.org.
Video Description
A trailer from Chisel, the short film written and directed by Julissa Scopino, which has been selected as an official entry at the 2024 Chelsea Film Festival.
The film offers a raw and urgent portrayal of the immigrant struggle, addressing labor exploitation, inequality, and the harsh realities of chasing the American dream. The film’s main character is portrayed by actor Nico Bustamante (Riverdale, Gotti, and Bel Canto), who brings an emotional depth and authenticity to the role, capturing the internal struggle and desperation of his character.
About Carmona Pictures
Carmona Pictures is a New York-based production company specializing in short-form content. Chisel is their latest project, crafted with a dedicated team, including Director of Photography Samuel Romero, who brought to life the visual narrative of labor struggles inspired by the iconic works of photographer Sebastião Salgado.
While Chisel prepares to make its mark on the festival circuit, Scopino’s upcoming film, Daughter Replica, is already embarking on its own festival journey. Daughter Replica merges the elegance and sentimentality of the Victorian Era with the mystique of an AI-driven future, further showcasing Scopino’s talent for weaving human emotions with speculative worlds.
For inquiries, please contact
Carmona Pictures Website @ https://www.carmonapictures.com/contact
Video Credits
DIRECTOR/ WRITER: Julissa Scopino
DP: Samuel Romero
AD: Nicole Fernandez
PRODUCERS: Nicole Fernandez, Samuel Romero, Julissa Scopino, Yuanwei Wang
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Joe Amon, Mattie Johnson
AC: Humberto Blanco
2nd AC: Maya Parkoff, Yael Grunseit
GAFER: Quentin Guobadia
GRIP: Nelli Toth, Shae Elsayed Colin Couch
G&E: Alex Tsays
SOUND: Jonniece Howard
PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Ryan Watt
STUNT COORDINATORS: Kevin Murphy,
EDITOR: Jacob Huller
ASSISTANT EDITOR: Maya Parkoff
COMPOSER: Danny Schwartz
STORYBOARD ARTIST: Jeremy McHugh
MARKETING DIRECTOR: Daniel Azarian
LEAD TALENT: Nico Bustamante, Kelving Roosevelt Cuevas, Peter Antoni
SUPPORTING TALENT: Steven Greenstein, Alyssa Politi
STUNT PERFORMERS: Richard Rodriguez, Drew Zambelli
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