HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) - Hollywood or Hartford?
A local filmmaker is putting the capitol city on the map.
“Midas” is playing at Real Art Ways, and the entire movie was filmed in Hartford.
Writer and Director TJ Noel-Sullivan is no stranger to the city.
“I actually learned filmmaking here at real art ways, they have a summer filmmaking apprenticeship program for high school students where I got my first exposure to filmmaking and caught the bug,” he said.
The Hartford Public Schools graduate went on to study at Yale University before taking a job in Hollywood.
“I got a job opportunity to go work out in LA at Mattel films, working on really cool projects like Barbie and Hot Wheels and really enjoyed my time out there,” he continued.
But with that newfound knowledge, Noel-Sullivan was eager to get home and start the Hartford Film Company.
“I thought Hartford was long overdue for a story of its own. I had the idea for a heist film that kind of takes a twist,” he said. “I realized oh, if it’s gonna be a heist film set at Hartford, the mark should be health insurance company.”
The movie follows a college dropout and his two best friends that set out to rob the health insurance company that denied his mother’s coverage. Along the way, the three make some discoveries.
While you watch the film, you may also make some discoveries yourself.
“I like to say that the film highlights some of my favorite businesses throughout the city and so we have everything from Dunkin Donuts Park to Scotts Jamaican Bakery on Albany Ave. You know it’s a really from north into South and West End to downtown,” said Noel-Sullivan.
The climax of the movie takes place at Riverside Park.
“Its really one of my favorite shots of the movie, them over there, the city looks beautiful but also it works so perfectly for that moment in the film,” he continued.
“Midas” premiered on June 28th at Real Art Ways, where his love for filmmaking began.
“Opening night was so much fun, because having a theatre full of people, to experience the film with, hear the gasps, the laughs, that’s what we miss,” he said.
You can find tickets to Midas online or in-person at Real Art Ways in Hartford.
The film will play everyday at 3:00 P.M. starting on July 29th. The movie also will be available to stream later in the fall.