‘Four Deadly Reasons’ hits festival circuit

By TOM KANE

NARROWSBURG — It came as a surprise to folks in Narrowsburg when it was learned last week that the movie “Four Deadly Reasons,” featuring Richard Castellano, was not only finished, but it had won an award at a recent film festival.

The movie was shot three years ago in Narrowsburg in conjunction with the first Narrowsburg International Independent Film Festival, hosted by Castellano and his wife.

The commonly held belief around town was that the film would never be finished. However, director Paul Borghese fulfilled a promise he made to the town when he announced three years ago, during the Tusten theatre “debut” of “Four Deadly Reasons,” that the film would someday be completed.

“Four Deadly Reasons” made its premiere at the Back East Picture Show in Hoboken, NJ on April 25, 2002 where it received the Back East Best Buzz Award. It appeared in another festival on the west coast and one more on the east coast. The film was also viewed in Tribeca on May 8, 2002, the same day the Tribeca Film Festival began, although it was not accepted in the festival.

“I’m a man of my word,” Borghese told TRR publisher, Laurie Stuart, “so please use what you’d like from the enclosed story pitch our production company and publicist put together.”

Stuart’s son Zachary, a senior at Honesdale High School, had a role in the movie, playing Castellano’s on-film son.

The story of how Borghese pulled it off is remarkable. Funding was an issue, as Castellano, who experienced legal and financial difficulties, couldn’t come up with money to pay the crew or postproduction costs.

Borghese, who played the role of Yogi Berra in the film “61” about the New York Yankees on HBO, got a Wall Street friend to agree to pay the lab bills and postproduction costs.

“In return, Castellano agreed to turn over the movie to me,” Borghese said.

When Borghese saw the footage, he realized he didn’t have a complete movie yet.

His star was out of circulation, confined to the county jail in Sullivan County. Borghese went to work using technical tricks and beefing up the role of a major character, Anthony Aciervo, who played Petie Ventuti, Castellano on-film brother.

“It was a remarkable feat,” said editor Sandra Consentino. “He couldn’t have been more insightful as to what the movie needed.”

Borghese said he is happy the project is over and the film is done. “I think some good has come out of the whole fiasco,” he said.