Lone Star discovery Gabriel Casseus is an innocent abroad in William Jennings’ Harlem Aria, an adventurous coming-of-age tale that takes its opera-obsessed hero from a Harlem laundry to a solo singing debut under the stars at Central Park’s Summerstage. Casseus is Anton, a slow-witted 27-year-old blessed with a spectacular tenor voice. When he runs away from his caretaker aunt, Anton meets Matthew, an alcoholic classical pianist who plays pop tunes in the park for tips. Matthew plays an aria, Anton sings along, and the crowd they draw includes a crafty panhandler, Wes (Damon Wayans), who hears gold in Anton’s voice. When Anton takes the rap for a crime they commit, Wes and Matthew are forced to redeem themselves and make Anton’s dreams come true. The thrilling climax features Paul Sorvino as a famous opera singer.

Since graduating from the SUNY Purchase film program in 1986 Jennings has racked up a.d. credits on 14 features directed by the likes of Michael Lehmann, Peter Bogdanovich and David Lynch. He also produced the independent films Irreversible Year and A Sidewalk in the Fall and directed workshop productions of Joe Orton’s "Entertaining Mr. Sloane" and Leonard Melfi’s "Lunchtime". Jennings and L.A. co-producer Darryl Pryor spent two years trying to assemble financing for the offbeat Harlem with fellow producers Linda Moran and Rene Bastian. Finally, producer Deepak Nayar, whose films include Lost Highway and Wim Wenders’ last two features brought in the financing needed to assemble the 35mm production.

Harlem shot in New York from September 2 through October 6. The Shooting Gallery snapped up all foreign rights to the film in November; at press time domestic rights remained available.

Cast: Gabriel Casseus, Christian Camargo, Damon Wayans, Edye Byrde, Nicole Parker, Paul Sorvino, Malik Yoba, Kristen Wilson. Cast: Producers, Philip von Alvensleben, Deepak Nayar; Co-Producers, Darryl Pryor, Linda Moran, Annice Parker; Executive Producers, Damon Wayans, Isabel von Alvensleben, Hale Coughlin; Line Producer, Rene Bastian; Screenwriter/Director, William Jennings; Cinematographer, Keith L. Smith; Production Designer, Cecil L. Gentry; Casting, Denise Fitzgerald; Editor, Sabine Hoffman. Contact: Deepak Nayar, Kintop Pictures, 8490 Sunset Blvd., Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA 90069. Tel: (310) 360-8740, Fax: (310) 360-8745.

Cement - Adrian Pasdar
Daughter of Suicide - Dempsey Rice
The Dream Catcher - Ed Radtke
The Five Senses - Jeremy Podeswa
Harlem Aria - William Jennings
Jump - Justin McCarthy
The Opportunists - Tim Perell
Smut - David Wendell
Why Love Doesn’t Work - Julie Davis