Providence to host premiere of ‘The Last Shot’

Providence will host the world premiere of “The Last Shot,” an Alec Baldwin
movie that was filmed in the capital city, on Wednesday, Sept. 22.




The movie is opening on Friday, Sept. 24, in a “platform release,” hoping to capitalize on word-of-mouth by initially showing in just seven selected cities. The film was also part of the Toronto Film Festival, where it received some positive critical attention.



Disney-owned Touchstone Pictures came to Providence in April 2003 to shoot several exterior shoots, including scenes by the State House and the Providence River. Bob Burke, owner of The Federal Reserve restaurant, said filmmakers who were in search of an “elegant location” for some scenes approached him.



More than a thousand people responded to the initial casting call and many more locals were hired to work on the crew as filming drew thousands of spectators. The black comedy was inspired by the true story of a sting operation in Providence and follows a first-time director, played by Matthew Broderick, who is given millions of dollars by a mysterious benefactor, Alec Baldwin, on the condition that he shoot his movie in Providence.



Calista Flockhart, who plays a has-been actress, tries to convince Broderick and Baldwin to cast her in a crucial scene set in the local restaurant.



“It’ll be exciting,” said Burke, whose two children, Emma and Olivia, and wife were among the local extras. “Nobody knows whether they’ve made it onto the silver screen or ended up on the cutting room floor.”



Burke, who also owns the Pot au Feu restaurant, said the plan had been for a Providence premiere all along, but after the studio finished editing the movie, he was told there would be no local premiere. He made a few calls to Disney, without any luck.



A few weeks ago, Aaron Gukian, an aide to Gov. Don Carcieri, was at The Federal Reserve for an event and heard about Burke’s disappointment about the premiere.



Steven Feinberg, the director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, started to make calls. He finally made a call to the president of marketing at Disney and received a call back within 15 minutes. Within two days, all of the details had been ironed out.



“I just made the case that Rhode Island had really laid out the red carpet for the film cast and crew and we expected for Hollywood to reciprocate,” Feinberg said. “I’m just glad it’s been able to all come together.”



The movie’s official Web site can be found at http://lastshot.movies.go.com. Burke said the easiest way to get tickets to the reception and screening is by e-mailing him directly at bob@federalreserveri.com or leaving him a voicemail at (401) 621-5700.



The reception will get under way at The Federal Reserve at 5 p.m., before moving to a screening at Providence Place. The movie is rated “R” for language and some sexual content. Feinberg said invitations are being sent out to all of the film’s stars.

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