Local filmmakers find financing to make their movie

By Chet Williamson

Call it the little film company that could. After two years of hard luck and tough-selling, the Worcester-based AA Films has finally secured the minimum amount needed to make We Got the Beat.

According to Larry Army, one of the film's executive producers, the company has raised the more than $500,000 necessary to go forward.

"We currently have enough money to begin and complete the production," Army says. "Ninety-nine percent of it has come from people who either reside, work or own businesses in Worcester."

We Got the Beat is a teen comedy about the making of the first-ever boy band. It takes place in 1983 and is set in Worcester. The film will be shot here and cast with a combination of Hollywood stars and local talent. AA Films is the same company that brought you Rutland, USA, Freedom Park and Still Green.

Back in the summer of 2006, it looked like AA Films also had its funding together, but their dreams were dashed when their major investor, Lou Perlman, pulled out.

On paper, he was the perfect investor for the project. Perlman was the boy-band mogul who created The Backstreet Boys and 'N Sync. He is now faces federal charges for alleged bank fraud to the tune of $120 million.

Admittedly, it was a major setback for AA Films, but the little company is showing that it has the grit and determination to continue.

Andrea Ajemian

"It's been a hard two years," says producer/actress Andrea Ajemian, one half of AA Films with writer/director Jon Artigo. "I've been trying to raise this money full-time, with a lot of rejection and close calls on the financing front."

Army admits that the local fundraising was an uphill battle, but says the producers wanted to "give the people of Worcester the opportunity to invest in a project that is going to support the city."

"Worcester is a tough town to raise money," he says. "It's not like California where they understand that certain investments have a risk level. Worcester is much more conservative market when it comes to investments."

Army, a local sports and entertainment lawyer, says the reason they were successful was the passion of filmmakers Ajemian and Artigo.

"It's contagious. It allowed people to open up their wallets. That's what helped us to raise the funds."

Although she won't name names, Ajemian allows that there is no single investor.

"It was a number of investors who made this possible. Right now, we want to protect the privacy of everybody involved," she says.

In a state that offers tax breaks to draw Hollywood filmmakers to Massachusetts, Worcester has yet to cash in. Ajemian hopes that the making of We Got the Beat will change that by successfully spotlighting the city.

"It's going to be a good marketing thing for the city," she says. "Worcester is missing out on this film buzz. Everything is going to Boston. We might catch up, but I'm not going to wait around."

State Rep. James O'Day (D-Worcester) is one of the legislators who voted for the tax breaks. Upon hearing the news that AA Films secured their funds he said, "Worcester is extremely fortunate to have talented young people like her. Anything I can do to help a company like theirs I'm happy to do so. I'm really looking forward to their successes."

Ajemian admits that $500,000 is a tiny movie budget to most Hollywood filmmakers, but says Worcester has the right stuff to pull it off.

"People can pour all kinds of money into big movies," she says. "With this project, the passion behind it is unstoppable. The local volunteers have committed many hours and have been put on hold for two years waiting to hear that the project is happening again.

"This will be a low-budget production with a high-quality end product. We are going to have to work hard. We need everyone in this community to help make it look like it was made for $2 million," Ajemian says.

What could drive costs up is signing name talent in cameo roles. AA Films has had discussions with ‘80s icons Don Johnson and Tia Carrere, who have expressed interest in the project. Ajemian also mentions a perfect role for Denis Leary.

"We've been in touch with his assistant," she says. "We would love for him to play the role of the principal. It's a hilarious role, but we have not spoken to him directly."

Pre-production for the film starts in May and shooting begins in July.

"Now is the time for everybody locally who couldn't afford to invest, but wants to be part of the project, to step forward," says Ajemian. "We are going to start crewing up. We are going to start local auditions.

"We need people who are going to let us shoot in their restaurants, donate clothes from the '80s — everything has to look like 1983. What's crucial to me is to involve as many local people as possible," Ajemian says.

For more information, visit www.aafilms.com. o