Jodom in the News
He Captures His Dream On Film
Tom Connolly, Staff Writer, The Woonsocket Call - May 28, 2001
FRANKLIN -- Mike Amato, a successful 40-something vice president at a Marlborough high-tech, decided a couple of years ago that he wanted to leave his mark on the world. He decided he wanted to make a full-length feature film.
So, Amato dropped about $10,000 on equipment, started Jodom Pictures (named after his two sons) and began writing, directing and editing his own feature film.
Amato, who said he's always loved film, had two reasons to put his time and money on the line.
"One, it's the ability to make a statement in such a way that it's a story," said Amato. "And two, it's just fun to do. It's fun to pretend. It's fun to take a bunch of people who just enjoy what they're doing and make something."
His first film, "Kilroy Was Here," was an office comedy about a 40-something professional pursuing a dream and trying to spend time with his family.
It was released to an audience of friends, family and associates last year, but Amato could not market the film because he did not have permission to use the music on the soundtrack.
So, in his second feature film, "After Midnight," which is now in production, Amato had a full musical score composed and is seeking to release, market and distribute the new movie in November.
Amato said "After Midnight" is a suspense thriller with a strong anti-violence message.
The film shows the aftermath of violence on a family through the eyes of a man who's lost his memory.
He credited M. Night Shyamalan, the director of "The Sixth Sense" and "Unbreakable," as a big influence for his latest film.
Although he doesn't object to them, Amato said movies with heavy action and strong violence aren't his style.
He said his films are more script oriented and character driven, and he tries to create characters with which people can identify.
He said dealing with a serious subject and building suspense is more challenging than comedy, but both are rewarding in their own ways.
Now, halfway through "After Midnight," Amato has two other films percolating on the back burner.
Amato said he intends to submit "After Midnight" to various film festivals and plans to continue writing, directing and producing a feature film a year for the foreseeable future.
For both films, Amato enlisted the help of Boston-based Random Foo Pictures, by their own account "a group of rogue filmmakers who got their start not using scripts, have no budgets, and make damn good movies."
He said the group has collaborated with him on both films, supplying a film man, soundman and many of the actors for "After Midnight," and he called the partnership "more of a friendship."
"We do a lot of stuff together," Amato said. "They're just a lot of people who really enjoy doing stuff."
Amato said the toughest part of making movies has been getting actors and locations.
Amato said use of all of the locations was also donated, including a hospital, Remington Middle School and even the Walpole Mall.
He said that during his first film he used more "guerilla filming," capturing images of people and places without permission.
However, he said that kind of filming is limiting because if a person is on film for more than three seconds he needs permission to use the clip.
Because his Hollywood weekend job isn't yet an economic engine, Amato's cast consists largely of friends, family and co-workers.
There is only one actor with professional acting experience, the rest simply have a natural acting talent, and all are working on a pro bono basis.
He said that if the film turns a profit he'll figure out some sort of payment, but that he hasn't even begun to recoup the cost of the first film.
Amato said he's always looking for people who want to contribute and has even cast both of his children in his films.
"I'm kind of like Kilroy in a lot of ways," said Amato. "I'm
in my 40s and I want to leave my mark on the world."
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