Every month Cindy Abbott Letro interviews the people in front of and behind the camera who are making the Buffalo Niagara Region a wonderful place to create Television and Film Production. Produced by All Services Western New York.

Great Point Capital’s Robert Halmi and Fehmi Zeko on Building a New Studio in Western New York

 

Buffalo Native – Actor/Producer/Sportscaster/Writer Nick Bakay

Cindy Abbott Letro interviews actor, comedian, writer, producer, sportscaster and Buffalo native Nick Bakay.

Actor/Director Bill Fichtner – Production in the time of Covid-19.

Cindy Abbott Letro interviews WNY native – Actor/Director William Fichtner for the latest on his film Cold Brook and production in the time of Covid-19.

Actor Joe Giambra and Producer Harry Lipsitz

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro sits down with the legendary Joe Giambra and his business partner Harry Lipsitz and discuss their latest project and the growth of the film industry in western New York.

AFCI Executive Director Jess Conoplia

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro discusses the Cineposium 2020 in Buffalo Niagara with AFCI President Jess Conoplia.

AKRON MAYOR CARL PATTERSON ON THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF “A QUIET PLACE 2”

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro discusses the filming of “Quiet Place 2” on Main Street in Akron New York with Mayor Carl Patterson.

NY STATE PARKS MARKETING COORDINATOR – ANGELA BERTI

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro discusses film making in the western region’s State Parks with Marketing Coordinator Angela Berti.

DIRECTOR GREG ROBBINS AND STUNT COORDINATOR GREGORY ROBBINS

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro is on location with Director Greg Robbins and his son Gregory Robbins, stunt coordinator for “Diary of a Lunatic” television series.

DIRECTOR ADAM STEIGERT AND ACTOR GREGORY BLAIR

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro sits with Director and Hamburg New York native Adam Steigert and actor Gregory Blair. The pair are in Western New York filming “The Horrific Evil Monsters”.

ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE MARK POLONCARZ

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro discusses the growth of the film industry in Erie County with County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

AARON DANIEL ANNAS – DIRECTOR OF BUFFALO STATE’S TELEVISION FILM ARTS PROGRAM

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro sits down with Aaron Daniel Annas, Director of the Buffalo State Television Film Arts Department. Annas discusses the history of the curriculum and the fifteen students enrolled in the program.

ACTOR/DIRECTOR ADDISON HENDERSON

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro visits with actor, Director and Buffalo native Addison Henderson in the historic Michigan Avenue Baptist Church. Henderson discusses his journey from Buffalo and back and a film he is about to produce in his hometown.

FILM COMMISSIONER TIM CLARK

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro sits down with Buffalo/Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark to discuss the growth of the industry in Buffalo the past five years and what to expect in 2019.

BILL FICHTNER’S “COLD BROOK” CAST AND CREW SCREENING

On this edition of Behind the Camera the reaction of cast and crew from the Buffalo premier of William Fichtner’s film “Cold Brook”. The premier took place December 9th at the North Park Theatre on Hertel Avenue in Buffalo.
EAST AURORA WITH DON VIDLER AND GARY GROTE

This edition of “Behind the Camera” with Cindy Abbott Letro goes to the historic Vidler’s 5 & 10 store in East Aurora and an interview with owner Don Vidler and East Aurora Chamber Executive Director Gary Grote. Cindy discusses how Vidler’s and East Aurora have become favorite locations for film makers.

DWELLING DIRECTOR KYLE MECCA

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro sits down with Buffalo State graduate and Kenmore NY native Kyle Mecca. Mecca’s first film “The Dwelling” was a successful debut and he addresses what’s next for this talented director.

W.N.Y. PRODUCTION LEADERS DAVID BUTLER AND MATT NARDONE

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro speaks with David Butler of Butler Designs and Matt Nardone from ND Studios about the growing film industry in Western New York. #BehindtheCamera #Buffalo/NiagaraFilmOffice

PRODUCERS CHRIS RAY AND GERALD WEBB

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro interviews Director/ Producer Chris Ray and Actor/Producer Gerald Webb. Ray and Webb have returned back to Buffalo yet again to film and produce another new film. #ChrisRay, #GeraldWebb

MARSHALL AND BASHIRA PRODUCER CHRIS BONGIRNE

Cindy Abbott Letro discusses the filming of Marshall in Buffalo with Executive Producer Chris Bongirne.

CROWN VIC PRODUCER ALYSON LATZ


Cindy Abbott Letro interviews producer Alyson Latz who brought “Crown Vic” to Buffalo, directed by Joel Souza and starring Thomas Jane, Luke Kleintank and Laurence Fishburne.

 

“CLOVER” DIRECTOR/ACTOR JON ABRAHAMS AND DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MATTHEW QUINN

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro interviews Actor/Director Jon Abrahams and Cinematographer Matthew Quinn about making the movies “Clover” and “All At Once” in Buffalo.

PETER JOHNSON AND DURAND McCLOUD OF THE BLACKNESS PROJECT

(April 2nd, 2018) On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Producer Peter Johnson and Director of Photography Durand McCloud talk about the production of “The Blackness Project”.

 

NEW YORK STATE SENATOR PATRICK GALLIVAN

(March 6th, 2018) On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan on the success of the New York state film tax credit program.

JOHN SCARDINO, JR


(February 1st, 2018) On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews John Scardino Jr. about the growing film industry in western New York. John Scardino Jr. is the Regional 3 Rep of the Local 52 Studio Mechanics Union.

2017 YEAR IN REVIEW

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” a look back at some of the segment highlights of 2017. Cindy Abbott Letro brings back interviews with actor Bill Fichtner who Directed Cold Brook, WNY native and Director Mac Cappuccino, Producer Kimber Eastwood and Producer Jonathan Sanger.

 

WILLIAM E. FICHTNER MARYVALE HIGH SCHOOL DEDICATION


On December 15th, 2017 Maryvale high school dedicated the school auditorium as the William E. Fichtner Performing Arts Center. Cindy Abbott Letro covered the event for the Buffalo/Niagara Film Office and interviewed Bill Fichtner on the great honor.

 

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT 101 – TRAINING

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews Buffalo/Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark and Buffalo/Niagara Film Office Operations Director Rich Wall about the Production Assistant 101 class offered by the Film Office at WNED-TV’s studios.

 

JOHN PERCY – NIAGARA FALLS U.S.A.

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews John Percy, President and CEO of Destination of Niagara USA on the set of “The True Adventures of Wolf Boy”. Percy discusses the benefits of films produced in the Niagara region and the positive role of the Buffalo/Niagara Film Office.

 

P.A. 101 KEYNOTE SPEAKER RUBEN SANTIAGO III

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro talks with long-time professional production assistant Ruben Santiago III. Santiago has worked on many film sets over his career and is the son of Lackawanna New York native Ruben Santiago Jr

 

PRODUCER KIMBER EASTWOOD

On this edition of “Behind The Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro sits down with Producer and Makeup Artist Kimber Eastwood. Eastwood, daughter of legendary screen actor and Director Clint Eastwood, was in Buffalo filming a new trailer entitled “Diary of a Lunatic”.

 

ACTRESS JORDAN LADD

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews Jordan Ladd, starring in the movie “Curtains” filmed in Western New York.

 

IATSE 52 REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE JOHN SCARDINO, JR

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” an interview with John Scardino Jr., the regional 3 representative of Local 52.

 

DIRECTOR GREG LAMBERSON

(August 30th, 2017) On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro talks with WNY Director and Producer Greg Lamberson about his career, becoming a Production Assistant and the Film industry in Buffalo.  Greg is currently in post production on his latest film “Johnny Gruesome” starring Anthony De La Torre.

 

DIRECTOR GREG ROBBINS

On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro speaks with Director, Producer and Actor Greg Robbins. Robbins moved to western New York from Los Angeles to take advantage of the growing film industry in the region

 

PRODUCER SARA SHAAK

On this edition of “Behind the Camera” Cindy Abbott Letro interviews Sara Shaak, a Producer on “Cold Brook” filmed in western and Central New York. “Cold Brook” is directed by western New York native and veteran film actor William Fichtner.

 

 

COLDBROOK NEWS CONFERENCE


On Tuesday June 27th a news conference was held at the Buffalo History Museum to unveil plans to film “Cold Brook” in Buffalo and East Aurora. “Cold Brook” was written by Cain Devore and William Fichtner, who will also star in the film, Direct and Produce.

 

MAC CAPPUCCINO

(May 30th, 2017) On this edition of Behind the Camera Cindy Abbott Letro discusses film making with Producer/Director/Actor and Buffalo native Mac Cappuccino. Mac Cappuccino was in Buffalo filming “Malaisia”, a dark indy comedy features a love triangle with a strange twist, stars Leonardo Santaiti (Allegiant, Sleepless) along with Sarah Baskin (Who Killed Chandra Levy?), and Josh Nuncio (Love Vampires).

 

BILL FICHTNER

Here Cindy interviews Western New York’s very own William Fichtner, who took time out to talk about his incredible acting career.

 

FRED AND CHRIS OLEN RAY


In this segment Cindy interviews Director/Producers Fred Olen Ray and son Chris Olen Ray on their experience shooting films in Buffalo and WNY.

 

PRODUCER JONATHAN SANGER



On this edition of Behind the Camera with Cindy Abbott Letro an interview with Jonathan Sanger, Producer of the movie “Marshall” which was filmed in Buffalo.

 

MARSHALL PRESS CONFERENCE

Cast, Director and Producer of the film “Marshall” met with the local media in the Dillon Court House to discuss their love for making the film in Buffalo.

 

 

 

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