Locations sought for Bensonhurst film

A native son of Bensonhurst is seeking neighborhood locations to shoot a film he wrote about some of the struggles of growing up in Southwest Brooklyn.

Joseph Somma penned the movie, “Yesterday’s Ticket,” which is about growing up with his father, who was addicted to gambling. As a result, Somma developed an addiction himself, blowing thousands of dollars on a race horse when he was just 12.

Somma said that the film – which already has a cast and script – aims to shine a light on the often overlooked issue, but will only work if it is shot on location, in Bay Ridge and Bensonhurst.

“I grew up here. I struggled with the disease in Brooklyn. There is no other place I would want to shoot it,” he told this paper. “If I can’t get it done in Brooklyn, I won’t do it anywhere else.”

The filmmaker is already in touch with Councilmember Vincent Gentile, New Utrecht High School, St. Finbar’s Church and the Chase Bank branch at 19^th Avenue and 86^th Street, but he said he needs more locations, preferably a courtroom, a bookstore and a scenic rooftop.

“There are a couple of scenes with a young man and me. I am trying not to let him go down the path I did,” Somma explained. “Every time we have these intimate conversations, it’s on top of a roof that that overlooks the Verrazano [Bridge]. It would be great to have someplace close on Third Avenue so the scenes will look beautiful with the bridge in the background.”

Somma said that he was approached by a production company which thought the film was “beautiful” but they wanted to put in their own locations and actors.

“We had to say no. I would have been selling my soul for the story,” he said.

In addition, Somma is looking for a three-bedroom apartment to house the Canadian cinematographer for about two weeks in mid-September.

“He is working for free because he loves the story, myself and another crew member,” Somma said. “If someone can work with us on that, it would be a big help.”

Somma said that the crew and cast will also be eating lunch at neighborhood places. Shooting is slated to begin just after Labor Day.

“It’s so good for the neighborhood, too. I want to do something homegrown here,” he explained. “I think it would be really good.”

Somma said that any leftover profit from the film will be donated to a compulsive disease fund.

For more information on the film or to contact Somma, visit www.YesterdaysTicket.com