Imagine growing up as a kid. Idolizing 12 time all-star and baseball hall of famer Mike Piazza. Wanting to emulate his game. And yet, the kid takes a different path while still carrying out similar duties as Piazza once did as a catcher.
Catchers provide directions, signals, and instructions to pitchers when facing hitters. Putting them in scenarios to potentially succeed and ultimately help the team inch closing to their objective. The kid that took a different path? He now provides directions, signals, and instructions to his entire crew involved with creating films.
That kid grew up to be Mario Cerrito.
With two films under his belt, the Audubon native is currently in the process of finishing up production for his third film, 'Human Hibachi' which is being mainly shot in Riverside -- specifically, at a diner spot thanks to his friend Anthony Cicali an officer in town. He's also filming in Haddonfield and his own house in Mantua.
With a $20,000 budget and an iPhone 8 shooting in 4K, Cerrito wants to impress with unique tactics and gauge the interest of horror film fans.
"The new film is being shot on an iPhone for certain purposes." Said Cerrito "There will be a lot of blood! Let's just put it this way, it's totally original and will really be right up horror film lovers alley."
The main talent to be featured in the film are Elizabeth Gaynor, Sopheaktra Theng, Carmine Giordano and Carley Harper. All who have been "awesome" to work with so far according to Cerrito.
Horror and thriller films are considered Cerrit
Mario Cerrito directing a previous film.
o's personal favorite and professional specialty. He draws creative inspiration from a few classics. Such as Halloween, The Blair Witch Project, Hostel, SAW, and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
So how did Cerrito get started as a filmmaker? The path to this point was not easy yet it is the result of a proper support system.
"I wrote a screenplay in 2007 titled 'The Cornfield Massacre,'" said Cerrito. "I had no clue what to do with it and ended up shelving it. When I met my girlfriend in 2011 and now wife, she found it, read it and said, 'This is really good, you should try and get it made.'"
After searching for connections, Cerrito came across an actress who then introduced him to a producer who took him under his wing. Then helped raise money for the production of the film. However, its didn't take off.
He went on to write 'Deadly Gamble' to fit a $10,000 budget, it was picked up by investors, filmed, signed to worldwide distribution, and released in 2015.
Cerrito says that after writing the first script in 2007, he still didn't want to be a filmmaker. However, seeing his work in real-time changed things.
"It all started clicking in 2015 when I saw my movie on cable television. I was like, 'Hey, I might be on to something here.'"
Often praised for his original ideas and concepts, Cerrito says that his family is what keeps him going.
"My mother and father are my main influences from a confidence standpoint," said Cerrito. "They have always told me to be the best you can be in life and to go after your dreams. If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I am today. Also, my wife is a major supporter in this whole journey. She is right behind me in every step of the way."
Perhaps his favorite part on shooting 'Human Hibachi' is working with his crew and using a valuable piece of everyday technology to his advantage.
"Working with my film crew Joe Bottino, Nick Stonehouse, Anthony Ronketty, and my brother in law Claudio Ricciardi, who is helping produce the film, has been seamless," said Cerrito. "I also like the ease of shooting with the iPhone. It brings a great element to the horror genre -- realism -- which I find to be the most intriguing."
With 'Deadly Game' released and his second film 'The Listing' to be released worldwide in 2019, Cerrito looks to keep growing and add to his resume as a director, producer, and writer -- a resume that's already good enough for people wanting to be involved.
"It's not every day you hear of someone from South Jersey embarking in the film business," said Cerrito. "People are really intrigued by it and it's really awesome. My family has always known that I'm a storyteller, so they know I'm just doing what I'm destined to do."
'Human Hibachi' wraps up filming in late August. Cerrito can be reached at cerritoproductions@gmail.com.