Filmmakers to Watch

By Independent Film Quarterly

Interview with Justine Mascioli, Executive Producer of "Two-Minute Heist"  Indie Festival Winner.

"Two-Minute Heist" is a surprise. It is a grown-up’s comic book that is quirky, campy, kooky, and just plain funny.  It also won a number of awards including one for Best Comedy Screenplay from former Saturday Night Live writer Craig Kellum of Hollywoodscript.com. The NYIIF Festival also bestowed their awards for Best Directorial Debut in USA for first time directors, Dan DeLuca and Kris Arnold, and Best Actor for Dan DeLuca in his role as Dino Rado, the down and out slacker casting director.

Natalie Diorio as Claudia Brit

Filmed in Washington D.C., the clever story is told through a gifted ensemble cast. Dino Rado and Steve Scheere run a casting office and have only one paying client who is obsessed on directing a film. Unfortunately, the last film they made was a huge flop and the Jamaican mob that financed them wants their money back.  Ryan, their office manager, is kidnapped and held ransom for the movie money or better yet Dino’s stash, which he also doesn’t have.  They cast unsuspecting actors to stage a real heist and plan a getaway.  One of the film’s highlights is the casting scene featuring a variety of wannabes lining up to get hired.

Dan Deluca as Dino Rado and Kris Arnold as Steven Schreere

There is also an amusing movie –within- a movie subplot in the recurring “El Corizon Caliente”, a parody of a soap opera on Spanish TV as well.  Performance wise, Natalie Diorio shines as the quick, street smart, and vulnerable gun-toting actress Claudia Brit who steals Dino’s little, black heart. Dave Brown is Jackie Gleasonesque as the smarmy Stu of Stu’s Discount Casting. Bryan Sherman is over the top as the prissy, do-good office Boy- Friday.  Additionally, the comic book fade-ins are a touch of creative, visual flair and a tribute to today’s cinematic editing technology. All in all, these” pows and wows”, a great musical score by Planet Melvin, Evil Weiner and the renown Thievery along with the inspired script and performances make this smart, fun film a terrific good time.