MAKING THE DAY
MAKING THE DAY
ABOUT THE FILM
Synopsis: A has-been character actor attempts to complete a movie honoring his deceased wife, when divine intervention leads him to a free-spirited actress who might just be his perfect leading lady.
Art imitates life in Making The Day as the film’s director, Michael Canzoniero (Wedding Bros, Don Peyote), employed a hybrid-narrative/documentary process called organic filmmaking in the production where elements of the actors’ real lives were incorporated into a heavily improvised shoot. In the case of Making the Day, lead actor Steven Randazzo’s own real-life struggle with underground film financiers “coming after him” for an incomplete movie, provided the inspiration behind the film’s narrative.
Making The Day was produced by Francesco Ros, Ellyn Vander Wyden, and Tim Dorsch and edited by Michael Berenbaum (Sex and the City, The Americans, Barton Fink and Marry Me starring Jennifer Lopez.) The script was co-written by Michael Berenbaum and Michael Canzoniero. The film features an original score by Peter Nashel (I, Tonya, Marco Polo) and an original song by composer Gabriel Berenbaum.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
I really believe that it is the chemistry between the lead actors that is the single most important element of a quality movie. I’m thinking of Deniro and Grodin in “Midnight Run” Benigni and Waits in “Down by Law” or Lopez and Clooney in “Out of Sight”.
''The magic of the film’s ending only happens because of the journey these two have gone through in the pressure cooker of trying to make a movie together.''
If that lead actor dynamic is combustible, if that pairing can create sparks, there’s a magic on-screen that all the big-budget CGI in the world can’t compete with. So in the case of Making the Day, my co-writer Michael Berenbaum and I began not with a script but with an attempt to “organically” build a story around the hysterical energy that we had discovered between Steve Randazzo and Juliette Bennett in some of our early workshop exercises. To us, their performances were like gasoline and tinder in almost every scene: Steve’s a totally grounded, everyday guy, downbeat and desperate, while she’s a spinning top of almost manic energy, with an innocent optimism that is both contagious and comedic. The magic of the film’s ending only happens because of the journey these two have gone through in the pressure cooker of trying to make a movie together. After all the laughs the movie delivers, I still get a lump in my throat every time I watch that last sequence play out.
—Michael Canzoniero, Director, Making The Day
BTS
THE CAST
The two leads are played by Steven Randazzo (Awakenings, Mighty Aphrodite,The Night of) and Juliette Bennett (The Nth Ward, Don Peyote, Las Vegas.)
Movie's still with Juliette and Steven
The ensemble cast features some of New York's most talented actors including Tony Winner Dan Fogler (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Goldbergs), Dominic Fumusa (13 Hours, Nurse Jackie, Homeland), Ali Marsh (Rabbit Hole Bull, The Affair), Natalie Knepp (A Joyous Christmas, Sam, The Good Wife), Nicole Ansari (Son of The South, Remember Me, Side Effects), Sondra James (The Joker, Late Night with Stephen Colbert) Christian Campbell, (Reefer Madness: The Musical, Trick, True Detective) America Olivio (Chicago P.H, Blue Bloods, Mission Impossible-Rogue Nation) Ilana Levine (Friends with Kids, Failure to Launch, The Nanny Diaries) Dwayne Hill ( Mean Girls, Peg + Cat, Atomic Betty), Craig Geraghty (Ray Donovan, Iron Fist, The Many Saints of Newark) Ray Iannicelli (Joker, Annie, Madam Secretary) and Timothy "Speed" Levitch (The Cruise, Up-to-Speed, High Maintenance). The film also features Supermodel Kira Dikhtyar in an acting role and several New York comedians.
ABOUT MCM CREATIVE
MCM Creative is a full-service production and post-production company with over twenty years of experience in the New York market. MCM Creative produces and shoots narratives, documentaries, live shows, music videos, and interviews.
They are known for their feature films: Don Peyote, Wedding Brod, and the award-winning documentary Shelter Island.
STILLS
REVIEWS
''I thought the film was terrific, very funny, heartwarming, and in some instances, all too true. The cast was wonderful, especially Juliette, and it's well-directed. Please congratulate everyone, I think it will do well on the festival circuit."
Frank Marshall, Producer (Indiana Jones, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Signs, Jason Bourne, Jurassic World) and Co-Founder, Amblin Entertainment and Kennedy/Marshall Company.
"Making The Day is original. It deserves the best kind of attention"
Brian Cox, Actor (X2, X-Men United, Troy, Adaptation)
''Making The Day is delightful! A joy ride!''
Gregory Nava, Writer (Frida, Selena, El Norte, My Family, Bordertown) and director (Selena, El Norte, My Family, Bordertown, Why Do Fools Fall In Love)
Final Cost Report Top Sheet
PDF to download
CREDITS
Directed by
Michael Canzoniero
Writing Credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Berenbaum
Michael Canzoniero
Cast (in credits order)
Dan Fogler ... Tony Guest
Steven Randazzo ... Nick Fazzio
Juliette Bennett ... Samantha Vanderputten
Dwayne Hill ... Mr. Smith
Craig Geraghty ... Mike Powers
Natalie Knepp ... Natalie Papp
Dominic Fumusa ... Movie Star
Nicole Ansari-Cox ... Kaya the Psychic
America Olivo ... Zombie Film Star
Timothy 'Speed'
Levitch ... Slim
Ilana Levine ... Hostess
Kira Dikhtyar ... Oksana
Sondra James ... Veteran Editor
Yang Miller ... Chazz
Tom Rizzuto ... Paul the P.A.
Alexandra Rey ... Audition Girl
Paul Moreno ... Grip One
Tom Dambro ... Ed the Accountant
Ray Iannicelli ... Wardrobe Stylist
Kika Child ... Nina
Ed Herbstman ... Eddie the A.D.
Nick Basile ... Horror Movie Director
Ylfa Edelstein ... Reporter
Gérald L'Ecuyer ... Reporter
Tony Notarberardino ... Antonio
Gus Randazzo ... Tommy Fazio
Thomas Michael
Sullivan ... Assistant Director
Anthony Caso ... Sound Man
Jimmy Clifford ... Bryce
Devon Brandon ... Security P.A
Peter Edmondson ... Pete
Nicole Beninato ... Blond Zombie
Ben Kissel ... Gallery Guest
Whitney Ward ... S&M Model
Frank Russo ... Grip Two
Jenni Shaw ... Alsi
Aubrey Hardwick ... Assistant Editor
Jamie Mattus ... Goon
Carmine Famiglietti ... Cagney Cried A.D.
Sal Mattioli ... Cafe Owner
Max Elk ... James
Jeremiah David ... Slate Zombie
Colleen Carow ... Masseuse
John Merolla ... Police Sergeant (credit only)
Pilot ... Camera Intern
Jacob Serlen ... Editor
Amy Hendrick ... D.J Booth Groupie
Grey Smoley ... Crew Member
Produced by
Juliette Bennett ... co-producer
Stuart Braunstein ... executive producer
Michael Canzoniero ... producer
Joe Coleman ... associate producer
Joe D'Imperio ... executive producer
Tim Dorsch ... producer
Robert O. Green ... associate producer
James Habacker ... associate producer
Dwayne Hill ... co-producer
Gérald L'Ecuyer ... executive producer
Sara Lennox ... line producer
Francesco Ros ... producer
Ellyn Vander Wyden ... line producer / producer
Adam Yeremian ... consulting producer
Nikolas Zasimczuk ... co-producer
Music by
Eric V. Hachikian
Cinematography by
Mauricio Vasquez
Film Editing by
Michael Berenbaum
Production Design by
Tim Dorsch
Tony Notarberardino
Makeup Department
Sophie Ono ... makeup artist
Carola Pizarro Hernandez ... makeup artist
Jenni Shaw ... makeup department head
Production Management
Peter Edmondson ... production manager
Aubrey Hardwick ... post-production supervisor
Tom Hohle ... production assistant
Desiree Lavoy ... post-production supervisor
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Max Berger ... first assistant director
Thomas Michael Sullivan ... second assistant director
Sound Department
Neil Benezra ... sound effects editor
Max Berger ... sound mixer
Jack Dixon ... assistant sound editor / sound mixer
Brian Langman ... sound mixer
Tom Myers ... sound mixer
Carlos Rodriquez ... sound mixer
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Canzoniero ... camera operator
Sal Carolei ... key grip
Jake Clennell ... camera operator
Jason Daversa ... gaffer
Jeffrey Hagerman ... camera operator
Jared Levy ... camera operator
Alan McIntyre Smith ... camera operator
Tony Notarberardino ... camera operator
Isak Tiner ... still photographer
Editorial Department
James Clark Barton ... first assistant editor
Lou Daumas ... colorist
Jeremiah Davis ... assistant editor
Zachary Halberd ... Senior Colorist
Tom Hohle ... post-production assistant
Adam Teninbaum ... Graphic Designer
Location Management
Stuart Braunstein ... location manager
Thomas Michael
Sullivan ... location manager
Music Department
Gabriel Berenbaum ... music producer
Russell Pollack ... music producer (as Russell Evan Pollack)
Additional Crew
Sara Lennox ... Title Sequence Designer
Adam Seth Nelson ... Public Relations
Brooke Saffire ... Production Coordinator