Local filmmaker Frankie Latina brings some national attention to Milwaukee's film underground with his latest project, "Modus Operandi."
The film, which is described on IMDB as "a revenge tale about a desperate C.I.A. agent on a mission to find the man who murdered his wife," is still in production but associate producer Andrew Gorzalski of Milwaukee production house Purple Onion says it's poised for attention at the Sundance Film Festival.
"This past weekend we filmed a major scene with Hollywood character actor legend Danny Trejo," he says. Trejo has stared in "Grindhouse," as well as 2003's "Once Upon a Time in Mexico," when he worked with Johnny Depp, who was recently in Milwaukee filming the forthcoming "Public Enemies."
"The inclusion of Danny and some of Milwaukee's key film personalities are taking this film up a couple notches and this film's place as a festival oddity is sure to make some noise."
Mark Borchardt, best known for his "American Movie," plays a character named Dallas Deacon. Other notables with local ties include Sam Norman (aka Samwell of "What What in the Butt" fame) and the Milwaukee duo who made his video a YouTube sensation, Special Entertainment's Andrew Swant and Bobby Ciraldo.
The film features original music by Milwaukee artists Ray Chi, Didier Leplae, Nick Pipitone, Joe Riepenhoff, Renato Umali and Joe Wong.
Cinematography credit goes to Mark Escribano, whose documentary "The Super Noble Brothers" debuted at last year's Milwaukee International Film Festival.
Stay tuned for more details on "Modus Operandi" as the film takes shape, and in the meantime, enjoy the trailer.
OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Julie Lawrence grew up in Wauwatosa and has lived her whole life in the Milwaukee area.
As any “word nerd” can attest, you never know when inspiration will strike, so from a very early age Julie has rarely been seen sans pen and little notebook. At the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee it seemed only natural that she major in journalism. When OnMilwaukee.com offered her an avenue to combine her writing and the city she knows and loves in late 2004, she knew it was meant to be. Around the office, she answers to a plethora of nicknames, including “Lar,” (short for “Larry,” which is short for “Lawrence”) as well as the mysteriously-sourced “Bill Murray.”
