Last year, the Niagara Falls Reporter took notice of two local men who produced a film called “Crimson, the Motion Picture," after they were approved for a Niagara Falls micro-incentive grant of $10,000. 

We noted that Niagara Falls has one of the highest property tax rates in America and, in large part, because of this, the city placed 700 properties on the tax foreclosure list last year. Some  owners lost their homes owing less than $5,000. 

Meantime, Niagara Falls had an extra $10,000 lying around, so let’s fund a movie? 

The Reporter recently contacted the filmmakers to see what happened to the people’s money. 

 Crimson, according to producer, James Ventry, was a $50,000 film,  low budget by most standards. It was filmed mainly at the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center on Pine Avenue. More than 100 locals wound up participating, many as actors. The plot of the 97 minute film revolves around a comic book artist who, after a brain injury, believes he is a superhero he once created for a comic book. 

Although approved for $10,000, Mr. Ventry said he accepted only $6,000, adding the grant was converted to a loan. He pledged his house on 9th and Ferry as collateral.

“Even if the movie never makes a dime, I’m going to pay back every dime with interest,” said Mr. Ventry, “That $6,000 isn’t our money. It belongs to the public.”

Both Mr. Ventry and director Ken Cosentino said they planned to veer  away from corporate welfare in the future. In this, they are unlike many developers in town who won’t do a project unless taxpayers fund them and take all the risk out of the project.

“I know people around here work hard,” said Mr. Cosentino, “I held a job since I was 16. If you have morals, you don’t go on welfare. I’d work at MacDonald’s first. We won’t take public money again.”

From a look at the trailer, Crimson has elements of karate, kick boxing, street fighting, gun play, good clean killing and forceful splattering of guts and blood. It’s an action film. 

Both Mr. Ventry and Mr. Cosentino appear in scenes.

“Don’t let its low budget fool you,” Mr. Cosentino said, “Crimson has a noir feel with character development.” 
Both men said they secured a “distribution deal” presently “non-disclosable” but could make the movie  available at Family Video, Netflix and eslewhere by year’s end.
 
Crimson was accepted for the Burbank Film festival, Mr. Cosentino said and featured in December’s issue of Sci-Fi Magazine. 

With its theme of a comic book artist gone mad, Crimson attracted the notice of Norm Breyfogle, who drew Batman for DC comics. He described Crimson as a “blood-colored violence fest, ala taxi driver, with a little super hero thrown in the mix.” 
Paul Gulacy, another well known artist for DC and Marvel Comics said, "Great offbeat story line. Really good camera movement and lighting. The fight at the end was sick. Awesome."

Unlike many modern Hollywood movies, Mr. Ventry said he made his movie where men are tough.

“I can’t stomach movies where they make the woman play the tough guy roles,” he said. “Crimson is a male dominated film.  It’s a man’s action film. No woman tells a man what to do in my movie. I’m an old school guy. ”

Its creators hope Crimson will attract a cult-like following that sometimes attach to well done,  low budget pictures. 

Who knows, Crimson might inspire some metrosexual, un-virile, coward dog Hollywood directors to man-up. And maybe some craven Niagara Falls developers too.