Rhode Island Filmmakers Releasing 2nd Movie, Shot In Ocean State

EAST GREENWICH, RI — A group of Rhode Island filmmakers will once again bring Hollywood to the Ocean State with the release of "Broadcast."

"Broadcast," a science fiction thriller, stars Oscar nominee Eric Roberts ("Runaway Train," "The Dark Knight," "The Expendables") and was filmed entirely in Rhode Island, said producer Chad Verdi Jr. of East Greenwich, who worked on the film with producers Paul Luba, of Warwick, and Rhode Island-based directors Matthew Luke Tucci and Cole Davidson.

Hyperborea Films produced the film in association with LaSalle Productions and Matthew Luke Tucci Productions. It explores a future in which death no longer exists and tells the story of an eccentric billionaire who creates a drug called INOC that stops the aging process.

"Broadcast"will be released on video-on-demand platforms worldwide on Feb. 22.

"It's not often that an independent film receives a worldwide release like this," Luba said. "We are all very grateful for the film's success."

"Broadcast" was the Rhode Island filmmakers' second time working with Roberts in the last year. They previously collaborated on the group's first film, "Mr. Birthday," a comedy that premiered in Warwick last December.

"I can't say enough nice things about [Roberts and] his wife," Verdi said. "He's so fantastic on camera. I worked with him about 10 years ago on 'Self Storage,' a film my father put together. I was a PA on that movie. To be able to watch him when I was in high school acting and seeing him 10 years later, there's no drop off in talent."

It was also fun to be able to make his second film in an entirely different genre from "Mr. Birthday" and to learn more under the guidance of his father, Verdi said. The elder Chad Verdi is a longtime producer who worked with director Martin Scorsese on four films, including "Silence" and "The Irishman."

"For Paul and I, we're being mentored by my father and learning as much as we can, then branching out to make names on our own," the younger Verdi said.

After the film is released, the younger Verdi and Luba will stay busy. They recently produced the Megan Fox thriller "Johnny and Clyde," which will hit theaters in late 2022.

Watch the trailer for "Broadcast" below.