Film producer from Oceanside helps homeless

Homeless people are people first and homeless second, and each has a story to tell. That is the message Oceanside Film and TV producer Danny Costanzo wants people to know. It’s not the story of being homeless Costanzo wants to film and present, but the story within, the story the homeless person wants to tell. He calls it is “a beautiful exploration between selfless charity and art.”

His “We Are The Streets” film festival wants to combine the art of film making with help for the homeless.

“Our film festival encourages filmmakers to go out into their communities to create relationships with the homeless,” Costanzo said. “They then team up together to develop a short film in any genre – ranging from comedy to horror, and anything in between. They take that creative journey together – writing, producing, acting and directing. Once the film is done, it is entered into our film festival. Not only are there amazing awards for the winning filmmakers, but the film also seconds as a fundraising platform for the homeless that helped create the film.”

Costanzo said the project gives aspiring filmmakers a way to have their work seen by millions, while raising awareness and money to help the homeless get drug rehabilitation, job training and placement, schooling and housing.

There will be two on line film festivals Nov. 15, 2016 and May 15, 2017, with a maximum of 500 short films per festival.

The winners will have their short films distributed, given pitch opportunities with major film companies, and will receive credit for filmmaking equipment.

Costanzo is proud of his not so perfect background. He was kicked out of Oceanside High School in 1991. Went on to get his GED equivalency diploma, attended Nassau Community College, worked as a stock broker, moved to North Carolina and attended film school in Raleigh.

After that he packed up his car, and drove to California. He managed to raise some money, and after a few smaller projects produced the film “Lost in Austin”, starring Linda Cardellini, Jaime Pressly, Kristen Schaal and Patrick Warburton.

It was that experience that convinced Costanzo start Costanzo Media and to work with aspiring filmmakers and the homeless.