By EMILY PAOLICELLI
Co-Executive Editor
The Madison Theatre’s flashing lights welcomed the community into its doors again shortly after winter break began. Now, some Saint Rose students can see themselves on the big screen as a warm welcome back to campus this spring.
A small cast and crew finished filming “Last Ditch,” a three-episode comedy series, in early December 2019. Those involved were expecting the series to be released on YouTube sometime in January. However, Joyce Hills, the writer and director of the series, had other plans.
“My [executive board] was aware of what was going on, but…for the most part, we just dropped it on Facebook,” said Hills. “I kind of wanted to surprise as many people as possible.”
Hills discreetly announced a screening of the pilot by creating a Facebook event, which quickly worked its way through the cast and crew. The Facebook event revealed that the pilot of the series would premiere at the local Madison Theatre, which only recently reopened its doors after being closed for renovations for roughly two years.
The Madison Theatre has worked with Saint Rose in the past, having screened student works for a number of years before renovating.
“15 Minutes Max, which is the Saint Rose Film Festival, always used to be at the Madison when it was open,” said Hills. “So the whole time we were in pre-production, and then principal photography, I was thinking, ‘if it were actually open, how cool would that be?’” Hills said that the timing was just short of miraculous, and seized the opportunity to screen her work at the Madison when she realized that her goal was attainable.
“They’re really interested in giving back to the community and helping local filmmakers and students and independent people and other content creators,” said Hills. “They’re trying to obviously bring mainstream entertainment, because they’re a movie theater, but they’re also really interested in getting new stuff out there, and they understand that there is an audience for that here.”
The cast and crew of the series responded well to Hills’ surprise, expressing excitement for not only the school, but for the theater, as well.
“I am so excited to be at the Madison, and for our show to be part of that history,” said Aileen Burke, a cast member of “Last Ditch.” “It’s something different from how the school used to show 15 Minutes Max there.”
For Burke, who graduated from the college in December 2019, “Last Ditch” isn’t her first collaboration with Hills that made it to the big screen. Burke starred in “Take a Picture,” a short dramatic film also written and directed by Hills, which was entered into the New York State International Film Festival in October 2019.
“Working with Joyce again was the best,” said Burke. “I’m glad she keeps trusting me with her stellar content.”
Another cast member, Jaysalee Salcedo, said that “Last Ditch” was the most serious film project she has been involved in thus far.
“It means so much to me, the cast, and especially Joyce to know that this project is moving on to the next level,” said Jaysalee Salcedo, another cast member, in a Facebook message. “I think that this series has the potential to go far.” Hills cited Salcedo as an instrumental force in the planning of many “Last Ditch” events, including the pilot party.
Though this particular screening only includes the pilot of the series, Hills has expressed plans to collaborate with the theater again in the future.
“I’m hoping to maybe screen the other two [episodes] with them,” said Hills. “I haven’t fully discussed this with them yet, though.”
In addition to screening the pilot, the theater has agreed to play promotional materials from Saint Rose Television, including a trailer for “Last Ditch,” in their pre-show reel.
“So it’s playing before the previews that play before, like, ‘Star Wars,’” said Hills.
The pilot will premiere on Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. The screening is free and open to the public.
