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CLICK HERE TO SEE PHOTOS FROM THE SET!

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Buffalo Actors Cast in Independent Movie
"Waiting on Alphie" Worth Waiting For

[ITHACA, NY] When James K. Fulater went to Ithaca to audition for the role of Alphie in an upcoming independent feature he had two things in his hand: the script for the film written by Kevin Hicks, based Eric C Lindstrom's story; and a copy of a DVD of his actor-friend Lance Zurek.

James prepared his lines and waited patiently at Max's Bar and Grill among the other actors for his name to be called. Once called, James entered the audition room, told a few anecdotes about his job being a train engineer, sat down, and started in on the monologue.

"James sat at a table and read his lines and Alphie came alive," said Eric C Lindstrom, the film's producer. "The minute James started, he looked and sounded just like we envisioned Alphie. We saw many other actors audition for that role that day but none came close to James' interpretation of Alphie."

"Waiting on Alphie" features two main characters, Gus and Alphie. Gus, flown in from Chicago to Buffalo, meets Alphie at an underground café and awaits the order - which will come via the café's payphone - on whether to kill Alphie or let him go. The two spend the night in a classic stand-off and share barbs, appetizers and stories about "the life." The original screenplay was written by the film's director, Kevin Hicks who has numerous other screenplays to his name.

Later that day after much discussion, James' rendition of Alphie landed him the role but who was going to be cast as the hitman, Gus? With over twenty actors to choose from during the day-long audition at the Holiday Inn Downtown Ithaca it would only seem right that one of the actors who actually showed up would get this coveted role. With the day ended and pages of notes to go over, Kevin Hicks and Eric C Lindstrom stared at each other and didn't quite agree on anyone who captured the essence of Gus. Short of calling back more actors, the two decided to watch the DVD James brought of Lance Zurek.

"The instant I saw Lance on the DVD I knew we found Gus," said Kevin Hicks, Director. "His look and personality fit right into the character and it didn't hurt he was sitting across from James … the man we cast as Alphie. It was like watching a scene from our movie."

Then, after numerous callbacks for the final pivotal character in the film, a young Matthew Landon's audition of the laid back waiter convinced Kevin Hicks and Eric Lindstrom that the final actor would also hail from Buffalo.

Shooting for this film commenced in early April on a sound stage in Ithaca and also features Kendall McAdams (café robber) and Keri Szymanski (Brenda), both from Ithaca.

For more information on "Waiting on Alphie," contact Eric C Lindstrom at 800-870-6336 or visit the official movie website at www.waitingonalphiemovie.com. An Ithaca premier has been scheduled for Sunday, August 14, 2005.

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Waiting on Alphis also features: Lou Sposito, Tim Murphy, Ed Darrow, J. Gregory Shwaryk , Susan Johnston, Brian Warren, and Douglas Womak.