The Umbrella Man Premieres

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2014
Point Park University-produced movie ‘The Umbrella Man’ to premiere at Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival

PITTSBURGH – The Point Park University-produced feature film, “The Umbrella Man,” will premiere next month at the Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival.

Directed by Michael Grasso, “The Umbrella Man” will be screened at 1:45 p.m., Sunday, June 22, in the Baverso Theater at the Father Ryan Arts Center in McKees Rocks.

 “The Umbrella Man” is the story of a father who becomes engrossed with Kennedy assassination

conspiracy theories after the death of his 8-year-old son. Set in Pittsburgh, the film deals with one couple’s love, loss, and the survival of their relationship. The film stars Carter Roy and Rachael Carpani as the married couple, as well as Abbie Cobb, Rich Williams, John Amplas and Kevin Crowley.

Point Park University was the driving force in developing the original material written by Michael and Joseph Grasso. The REP, Point Park University’s professional theatre company, mounted a staged production of “The Umbrella Man” in 2011 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. Directed by Robert A. Miller, who also is a producer on the movie, the stage play introduced audiences to the deep human drama in an unprecedented stage experience.

Much of the movie was filmed in the Pittsburgh area last year, providing dozens of Point Park University students a unique opportunity for on-the-job training.

"Michael and I are thrilled that 'The Umbrella Man' has been included in the 2014 Pittsburgh Independent Film Festival.  It was an amazing project with incredible performances and a super talented Pittsburgh crew. We are also proud to have teamed with Point Park University in order to provide their students, recent grads and alumni a chance to work on the production of 'The Umbrella Man' and gain valuable real-world experience on a feature film. It was a true Pittsburgh project, and we had a fantastic experience shooting this film in and around Pittsburgh,” said Joe Grasso, co-writer, co-producer and cinematographer.

The screening of “The Umbrella Man” in Pittsburgh follows the announcement last month that another Point Park University-produced film venture, the 10-episode documentary series, “The Chair,” will air this fall on STARZ as the channel’s first original unscripted series. The 10-episode series, filmed in Pittsburgh this year, follows two up-and-coming directors as they compete to make two separate feature films from the same script. More than 100 Point Park students and alumni supported the TV series and two feature films as interns, employees, and through class projects. Additionally, production offices were located on Point Park University’s campus in downtown Pittsburgh.

Point Park University’s involvement in these projects helps to expand its cinema and digital arts offerings to a wider array of students who have the desire to forge a career in the entertainment industry.
You can visit the film’s IMDB page at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2413958/

Posted on behalf of Dreamweaver Marketing Associates.  Joyce Kane is the owner of Cybertary Pittsburgh, a Virtual Administrative support company, providing virtual office support, personal and executive assistance, creative design services and light bookkeeping.  Cybertary works with businesses and busy individuals to help them work 'on' their business rather than 'in' their business.  www.Cybertary.com/Pittsburgh