Local Color Blog

George Gallo on Plein Air Painting

My name is George Gallo and I have been writing and directing movies (Midnight Run, Bad Boys, 29th Street, Trapped in Paradise to name a few) for over twenty years. But I began my creative journey as a plein aire painter. By the time I was thirty, I’d had two one man shows at Grand Central Art Galleries in New York City.

A few years later I won the Arts for the Parks Top 100 award. In between films I kept painting and it has been an integral part of my life. Most of the films that I had seen over the years that were about the subject of painting or artists never rang completely true to me. A few years ago I wrote a screenplay entitled Local Color based on my early experiences as a young artist. I had the privilege of studying with an old master when I was eighteen, and that time truly changed my life for the better. Even though I have made many successful films, Hollywood didn’t seem all that interested in financing a coming of age film that involved mentorship, painting, and frankly a story that resonated with a positive message.

One particular financer said he thought the script was “too uplifting for American audiences.” I laughed to myself because I have yet to hear a ticket buyer say that they can’t wait to drop ten dollars to be depressed. I then did something a bit radical for a man at the age of fifty. I decided to finance the film myself.

My wife Julie and I put up our house, and my life long friend James Evangelatos did the same. With ample funds to make the film I then used my twenty plus years of relationships and put together an amazing cast and crew, many of whom worked for nearly nothing. Local Color is the result of a group of talented and deeply committed artists who shared in my vision and wanted to put something good into the world. The film has won many awards at several film festivals and will be released nationally on October 17th by Empire Film Group.

I am happy to say that the film has gotten some of the best reviews of my career and I’ve watched the overwhelmingly positive response that audiences have to this film. I’ve also shown the film to several well known artists and all of them have agreed that it is the first film to truly capture the essence of what it means to be a plein aire artist. I promise you that you will not see any finer performances in another film this year. Armin Mueller Stahl gives the performance of his career as Nikoli Seroff, the old Russian master. And young Trevor Morgan matches Armin step for step as John Talia, the young painter eager to begin his journey into the world of art.
They are supported by a wonderful cast that includes Ray Liotta, Ron Perlman, Diana Scarwid, Charles Durning and Samantha Mathis. Michael Negrin shot the film with breathtaking imagery, and Chris Boardman’s score is sheer musical poetry. If the subject matter and story line of this film interest you at all, I ask you to please come celebrate with us on November 7th when Local Color is released nationally.

Thank you,

George Gallo

Local Color Scores in Variety

Indie film outperforms box office expectations

When George Gallo’s “Local Color” was released on one screen at the Camelview 5 in Scottsdale, Arizona, box office expectations were modest, to put it mildly. But the independent film starring Armin Mueller-Stahl, Ray Liotta and Trevor Morgan has performed very well for a movie that has relied on small ads in local papers to build awareness.

In its third week of release, pic saw a 57% jump in attendance, a theater record that writer-director Gallo attributes to strong word-of-mouth. Figure is even more startling considering its competition at the time included higher profile arthouse films such as “The Darjeeling Limited,” “Into the Wild,” “Lust, Caution” and “My Kid Could Paint That.”

Gallo, who is best known for writing “Midnight Run” and “Bad Boys,” based the story on his apprenticeship with a Russian painter as a young boy.

“It’s about how one person can make a difference in another person’s life. It’s an uplifting picture and the response has been overwhelming,” said Gallo, who has been present on weekends for post-screening Q+A sessions.

“I’ve had people tell me that it’s inspirational, that it’s life-changing. I’ve had Big Brother organizations tell me they want kids to see it. People are going crazy for this movie and it makes me choke up because its autobiographic.”

Since making its debut at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2006, “Local Color” has won awards at the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival for Best Screenplay and Cinematography, as well as the Discovery Award and Best Director at the Sedona International Film Festival.

“Now the theater wants to hold it over until January,” Gallo boasted. “They’ve gotten emails demanding the movie be kept in theaters so patrons can return with friends.”

“Local Color” has taken in just over $22,000 since opening October 19.