Uncle Louie Hits Buffalo

The day before the premier, the cast and crew straggled into the downtown Buffalo Hyatt. It was a long day after the flight, but as soon as we were all checked in, we were off to find New York style pizza and Buffalo chicken wings. There's that Uncle Louie food theme again... And it wasn't hard to find lots of great pizza and wings in Buffalo just right around every corner.

Following a feast of thin crust pizza and red hot chicken wings, we hailed a cab to go back to the airport to pick up Monsignor Leiker who arrived fashionably late around midnight. It took a while to find him, but we finally connected and he honored us with a lively round of 'Enjoy Yourself' right in the middle of the baggage claim area.



Our cab driver, as it turned out, used to live in Joe Izzo's father's neighborhood on Swan Street. After we dropped Chad off at his hotel, he turned off his meter and gave us a tour of the Swan Street neighbor including the now defunct bar that Joe's father started back in the 30's. There was a strange charm about sighting in Buffalo at 2am.

Uncle Louie In Buffalo

It was really great to see "Uncle Louie", the movie, on the big screen! Sadly, your Uncle Louie (Nick D'Arpino) became ill on the trip, (must have been those friggen hot dogs at the airport!) , so I been held up in my hotel room most of the time, but I was at the premier, and was able to sign autographs at the premier party. It was a pleasure meeting everyone in Buffalo, and thank you for all your positive comments about the film.
Tomorrow (April 17) is the awards ceremony, so I have to be better for that- let's all keep a good thought that "Uncle Louie" picks up an award or two!

Going to BUFFALO NIAGARA FILM FESTIVALHh

It's happening. It's really happening. We're in flight and heading fast to Buffalo New York. I never thought this day would come. I never thought we'd be selected to a film festival. What a crazy gift. Making the film was crazy enough, but having it shown on the big screen in Buffalo is beyond comprehension. Life's a comic book reality. As the mysterious cowboy in The Big Lebowski said, sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you.

A Message from Your Uncle

Hey stunod it's me ! That's right it's Uncle Louie here, so listen up! Put down the cannoli or whatever you're eating, 'cause what I'm about to say is important.

The movie is done and now it's gonna show in Buffalo. That's right Buffalo- my old stompin' grounds. The last time I came back from the beyond my friggen nephew Benny was livin' in California and it's a beautiful place, don't get me wrong, but I'm longing for my old home town. Yeah, I spent some time in Jersey too, but there's nothin' like the place you were born and raised. You know what? I can't wait. I get to eat a lot of great food, especially a real East Coast Pizza; not that West Coast pineapple and ham stuff. What was that? A friggen fruit salad? I can also visit some broads, and see my old pals. They're gonna crap a braciole when they see me back !

You know what though? I want you with me. Yeah you! Pay attention now, 'cause you're startin' to aggravate me! Yep, you gotta get to Buffalo. Take a plane, a train, or hitch a ride with my Cousin Vinny (not the guy in that movie you mortadella head!), but just get there. Tell your friends, your relatives, call anyone and bring 'em all! I'll be alive for at least five days this time, eating, smoking my cigars, and getting upset at who knows what, and who would want to miss it. Don't let me down. Actually don't let yourself down, because I gotta lot to say about what comes after you leave this life. You'll see what I mean when you get there, but a little heads up would be nice, wouldn't it? That's why you gotta see my movie.

This is your Uncle Louie, speaking from the beyond and waiting to come back on April 14th in Buffalo. I love you guys. I even liked that little piss-ant of a dog, Papa Doc or Castro, or whatever his stinkin' name was. It was the best time I ever had makin that little film. The best. See you soon.

THE MAKING OF UNCLE LOUIE: entry 37

We’ve been talking a lot about the weather conditions in Buffalo, New York. We’re leaving on Wednesday and wondering what to pack. The temperature has been fluctuating from a low 38 to a fluke high of 70. All I can say from memory is expect any type of weather in Buffalo. I was there during Easter week many years ago when it snowed heavy one night and laid a blanket of white all over the grounds of the city zoo clearly visible from my grandfather’s front window. I wondered about the animals and where they were being kept. The black iron picket fence surrounding the zoo with all the snow on the ground turned my eyeballs to ice. It was April in Buffalo and freezing outside.

Buffalo Spree - Buffalo Niagara Film Festival Article

Buffalo natives have many ties to BNFF 2011 - Talk about Arts - Annual 2011 - Buffalo, NY

...And interestingly, many of the films have ties to Western New York....Meanwhile, Joseph Izzo, one of the writers and producers of the feature film Uncle Louie, has extended family in Buffalo, and even made the title character from his film from Buffalo. “It could not have been made without Buffalo running through our blood,” Izzo says.

Buffalo News - Buffalo Kicks Off the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival

Buffalo News - Updated: April 8, 2011, 9:19 AM

The fifth annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival kicks off today with the first of its 30 documentaries, 28 short films, 20 features and nine music videos.....

.... The main event, though, is the opportunity for emerging filmmakers to have their films — which run the gamut from dark comedies and musicals, to thrillers and human interest stories — projected onto a theater screen with a live audience.

The frosting on the cake for some will be having friends and family there to share the moment.

“I’m excited and I’m nervous,” said Joe Izzo, who cowrote and produced “Uncle Louie,” a feature about a gangster summoned back from the dead through a voodoo witch doctor to deal with a loan shark. “This is our first film festival, and it happens to be the birthplace of my mother and father. My family will all be there. I think it is extraordinary synchronicity.”