Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Long Beach resident Mike Coppola premiered his debut film, “That Creep From the Bar Last Night,” in Bellmore last Friday. A crowd of around 200 attended the screening of the independent film, which explores the struggles of a man grappling with addiction and strained family ties.
“It really could not have gone any better,” Coppola said of the premiere. “We had a whole bunch of people there. We did a whole red carpet, took some really great pictures, we gave some speeches beforehand and we watched the movie. We got blown away by the reception from everybody — standing ovation.”
Coppola, who has 15 years of experience in the industry and starred in the film, was inspired to create it after a brief but memorable encounter while living in Brooklyn. He saw an apparently unstable man talking loudly near a school playground, which sparked his imagination.
“I didn’t really stick around to see what played out, but it just got me thinking,” Coppola recalled. “And then I kind of got inspired with this idea of, like, who we see, these people in life, sometimes at their worst, and that’s the only moment that you see, that we never see them again. And . . . that’s just the only way you’ll ever know them.”
“That Creep From the Bar Last Night” follows an alcohol- and cocaine-addicted reggae band manager who wants to see his young daughter on her birthday while facing his own personal difficulties. The film offers an intimate look at how addiction and personal struggles can disrupt family bonds and lead to isolation.
Coppola’s wife, Rachel, also produced the film, which gave them the chance to add a personal touch and local connection to the project. Filming took place in several local spots, including Bright Eye Beer Company, as well as New York City locations like Central Park and P.S. 11 in Brooklyn.
From initial planning to the premiere, the project took 11 months, with Coppola and his team working up to eight hours a day. The film was produced without external funding or traditional crowdfunding — the Coppolas financed it on their own.
“Crowdfunding has never been something that I’ve really connected with,” Coppola said. “I just feel like there’s so many things in this world that could use that money, donation-wise, charities and stuff like that. I personally felt bad about asking people to give money to my job, so I was pretty proud to say that we funded this ourselves.”
The Coppolas initially identified a half-dozen actors they’ve met who they wanted to collaborate with, and invited them to audition. Additionally, they posted casting notices and conducted 126 open auditions. Thanks to this thorough process, they hired actors who could best bring their gritty New York drama to life.
“We could not have truly assembled a better team of cast and crew,” Rachel said. “This project has been really, really special all around for us. Just while shooting, everything just went so seamlessly, and everyone worked together so well. I think that shows up until the premiere night. The support we received was just incredible — to have 200 people come out and have the film so well received.”
“That Creep From the Bar Last Night” has been submitted to 41 film festivals, including Sundance and Tribeca, where Coppola and his team hope for further recognition. The team is also targeting other festivals in the New York area and beyond, aiming to reach a broader audience and attract more support for future projects.
Coppola hopes to create more films, has several scripts already written, and said he is open to potential collaborations with producers interested in supporting new projects. For now, his focus remains on building momentum for “That Creep From the Bar Last Night” as it makes its way through the festival circuit.
For updates on the film, follow @thatcreepfromthebarlastnight on Instagram.
