Fresh off wins for Best LGBTQIA+ Series from the Love Wins International Film Festival in Patchogue and Directors Choice for Best Series from the Austin Revolution Film Festival in Texas, as well as many other awards and nominations over the last year, the writer/director of the TV Series Couple of Guys is already looking ahead.
Former Nassau County Film Commissioner turned full-time writer and director, Debra Markowitz, is poised to begin fundraising to film the fourth installment of the ten-episode limited series. The first fundraiser will be held on September 19, 2022, at the historic Bellmore Movies & The Showplace, 222 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore, NY, from 7:30 PM–9:30 PM.
“Besides showing the first two episodes of Couple of Guys, the second episode being a world premiere, we’re going to have several of our actors in attendance for the fundraiser. Lukas Hassel from The Blacklist, Sal Rendino from Billions, Abigail Hawk from Blue Bloods and former Broadway Phantom of the Opera, Ciarán Sheehan, will be there,” stated Director Debra Markowitz. The $20 ticket for the fundraiser gets you the two episodes, the second episode being the world premiere, a taste of the characters’ favorite wine, a song from Sheehan and a chance to meet the stars.
Michael Gamilla, the Festival Director of the prestigious ImageOut Film Festival in Rochester, has this to say: “The pilot episode of Couple of Guys is a breath of fresh air for the LGBTQ+ romantic and coming-out genres because the narrative shifts from the usual younger protagonists to men that most gay men can relate to—a little more mature, more established but not necessarily more experienced. The lack of representation for older gay men onscreen and in the film festival circuit makes the promise of a whole series about them an exciting proposition. Our ImageOut audience here in Rochester loved the story of Jon and Richard and we cannot wait to see how their story plays out. Bring it on!”
It took a village to film the first three episodes of Couple of Guys, using all Long Island locations, and some local cast and crew.
Debra Markowitz and her business partner (and husband) in Intention Films and Media, John Marean, live in Merrick. Trish Appello of Merrick and Diane Yatauro of Glen Cove are co-producers. Trish also plays Nan, owner of the CD store where Jon and Richard meet. Marc Riou, originally of Huntington, is the Director of Photography, editor and colorist as well as a co-producer, and Mara Bush, an Adelphi graduate, is the Assistant Director and co-producer. Actress Noelle Diane from Glen Cove plays Richard’s daughter. Regina Hardy, originally of Hempstead, plays Lanie Randall, Richard’s business partner. Nassau County resident Abigail Hawk, of Blue Bloods fame, plays Jon’s half-sister. E. J. Acosta of Central Islip is the sound recordist, and Josh Graydon of West Hempstead and Peter Ingenito of Bethpage were the hardworking grips. Martha Trachtenberg of Huntington Station plays Evie.
The music and scoring of the first episodes were composed by the talented Tom Griffith of Huntington Station.
Filming locations include the Turn of the Corkscrew Bookstore in Valley Steam, now closed, and the Long Island Puppet Theater in Hicksville. Scenes were also filmed at private homes in Merrick and Massapequa and at Chris Cardona’s The Actors Workshop in Levittown.
In addition to the $20 tickets for the live fundraiser on September 19, all levels of sponsorship and donations are available through the fundraising page and include great perks like walk-on parts, naming a character after yourself, dedicating an episode to a loved one, Zoom meetings with the stars, dinner with the actors and director, and so much more! Take a look at https://bit.ly/3A0eTdQ or www.intentionfilmsandmedia.com and scroll down the About Our Films page to the fundraising page.
*Although currently confirmed, actors appear schedule permitting.
For more information, go to www.IntentionFilmsandMedia.com or email debra.markowitz@gmail.com.