Check out these quotes about Mike and his work...
Local Short Film ‘Gala’ Reflects On Unrealized Ambition (December, 2014)
Smith recently launched a Kickstarter for Gala, a short film that centers around a lonely writer on the night of his high school reunion. Though so far unsuccessful at getting his big break, his ex-girlfriend Faye has become an up-and-coming actress in Los Angeles. After being apart for two years, the writer imagines what it will be like to face his former love, realizing that their aspirations for fame and popularity have left one of them behind. Ultimately a story about image and perception, Gala mixes dreams with reality to create a surreal film that centers on the boundaries of the imagination.
Smith will write and direct Gala, which will star Samantha Strelitz, whose credits include theater, film, and an upcoming pilot for Martin Scorsese’s untitled HBO series, and film/TV actor Amadeo Fusca, who will soon appear in the Netflix Marvel series,Daredevil.
Smith recently launched a Kickstarter for Gala, a short film that centers around a lonely writer on the night of his high school reunion. Though so far unsuccessful at getting his big break, his ex-girlfriend Faye has become an up-and-coming actress in Los Angeles. After being apart for two years, the writer imagines what it will be like to face his former love, realizing that their aspirations for fame and popularity have left one of them behind. Ultimately a story about image and perception, Gala mixes dreams with reality to create a surreal film that centers on the boundaries of the imagination.
Smith will write and direct Gala, which will star Samantha Strelitz, whose credits include theater, film, and an upcoming pilot for Martin Scorsese’s untitled HBO series, and film/TV actor Amadeo Fusca, who will soon appear in the Netflix Marvel series,Daredevil.
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IndieReader (4.5 out of 5 Stars) (June 2014)
"Smith’s writing is good enough to let readers take the story further in their imaginations as they see fit, and he may prefer to leave it there – but a sequel, if well done, might just be an enhancement rather than a cheapening of the original story. Miss Mezzanine is a lovely little book about the potential of turning points, romantic whims, and the willingness to be open to change and new experiences." |
Story Behind The Story (June 2014)
"...College is tough, and often times we forget about the people who may have
unwittingly pushed us in the right direction. My ultimate hope with Miss
Mezzanine is to show that sometimes ‘the one that got away’ never really
left in the first place." -Mike Smith
"...College is tough, and often times we forget about the people who may have
unwittingly pushed us in the right direction. My ultimate hope with Miss
Mezzanine is to show that sometimes ‘the one that got away’ never really
left in the first place." -Mike Smith
The Selfie Review (4 out of 5 Stars) (June 2014)
"...[Miss Mezzanine] is a great read for all, but especially for students, whatever the
major. The writing was clear and easy to read and the characters were developed
wonderfully. I loved that each of them, even the minor ones, had believable
personalities that were easy to differentiate from the rest."
"...[Miss Mezzanine] is a great read for all, but especially for students, whatever the
major. The writing was clear and easy to read and the characters were developed
wonderfully. I loved that each of them, even the minor ones, had believable
personalities that were easy to differentiate from the rest."
Roast of New Jersey Governor Brendan Byrne (April 2014)
The age quips were many, of course. The middle-age Behar cracked that “to him, I’m jailbait.” Comedian Reese Waters told Byrne, “I don’t mind that when you took the oath of office the Bible wasn’t completed yet.” Former Gov. Jim McGreevey joked that there’s no truth to the rumor that Byrne’s co-pilot during his wartime flight missions was Wilbur Wright.
The above article was originally published by the Associated Press, and repurposed in several outlets, including the Washington Times, CBS Local, SF Gate.com, and others.
The age quips were many, of course. The middle-age Behar cracked that “to him, I’m jailbait.” Comedian Reese Waters told Byrne, “I don’t mind that when you took the oath of office the Bible wasn’t completed yet.” Former Gov. Jim McGreevey joked that there’s no truth to the rumor that Byrne’s co-pilot during his wartime flight missions was Wilbur Wright.
The above article was originally published by the Associated Press, and repurposed in several outlets, including the Washington Times, CBS Local, SF Gate.com, and others.
Indie Fest in McKees Rocks (June 2013)
"...It should not be confused with the Three Rivers Film Festival, which will celebrate its 32nd year in November and is the oldest such event in the region. However, it boasts some movies with Pittsburgh connections. ... Pittsburgh-based filmmakers are responsible for "The Gate Agent," a 17-minute short by director Damiano Fusca ("Deference") and writer Mike Smith. It stars Churchill native and Point Park University graduate Amadeo Fusca, who won the "So You Think You Can Roast" national online talent contest, allowing him to help roast Jack Black at the Friars Club in New York.
"...It should not be confused with the Three Rivers Film Festival, which will celebrate its 32nd year in November and is the oldest such event in the region. However, it boasts some movies with Pittsburgh connections. ... Pittsburgh-based filmmakers are responsible for "The Gate Agent," a 17-minute short by director Damiano Fusca ("Deference") and writer Mike Smith. It stars Churchill native and Point Park University graduate Amadeo Fusca, who won the "So You Think You Can Roast" national online talent contest, allowing him to help roast Jack Black at the Friars Club in New York.
WDVE 102.5 Interview with Amadeo Fusca and Mike Smith (April 2013)
"So Mike, when you're writing the jokes, is it more about being as cruel as possible, or being funny?" Randy Baumann asks. "I say a little bit of both," Mike responded,"It's basically taking every boundary about that person and figuring out how you can take that boundary to the max."
"So Mike, when you're writing the jokes, is it more about being as cruel as possible, or being funny?" Randy Baumann asks. "I say a little bit of both," Mike responded,"It's basically taking every boundary about that person and figuring out how you can take that boundary to the max."
Pittsburgh Native Wins Friars Club Contest (March 2013)
"[Amadeo Fusca] is quick to credit his longtime friend, writer Mike Smith of Wilkins, who was in Fusca's graduating class at Woodland Hills, for the current opportunity. “I say ‘We won,' because he truly is my partner in crime when it comes to all of this,” Fusca says. Smith, a 2008 University of Pittsburgh graduate, is not being honored in this contest, because the focus is on the performance and delivery of material. “But, to be honest, the only reason I have made it this far is because the material Mike has written has just been so stellar,” Fusca says. “He's a genius.”
"[Amadeo Fusca] is quick to credit his longtime friend, writer Mike Smith of Wilkins, who was in Fusca's graduating class at Woodland Hills, for the current opportunity. “I say ‘We won,' because he truly is my partner in crime when it comes to all of this,” Fusca says. Smith, a 2008 University of Pittsburgh graduate, is not being honored in this contest, because the focus is on the performance and delivery of material. “But, to be honest, the only reason I have made it this far is because the material Mike has written has just been so stellar,” Fusca says. “He's a genius.”
Churchill Comedian Fusca is Ready for Big Time (March 2013)
"At the moment, he's collaborating on producing short films with longtime friend Mike Smith, who helped him work on his roast material. Mr. Smith wrote and produced the latest one, "The Gate Agent," in which Mr. Fusca acted. The team plans to submit the finished work to the film festival circuit starting at the end of March."
Read more:
"At the moment, he's collaborating on producing short films with longtime friend Mike Smith, who helped him work on his roast material. Mr. Smith wrote and produced the latest one, "The Gate Agent," in which Mr. Fusca acted. The team plans to submit the finished work to the film festival circuit starting at the end of March."
Read more:
Jack Black gets roasted: Here are the top 15 zingers of the night (April 2013)
“I was so nervous for the roast today I wanted to go over my lines. Bob Saget snorted them all.” -Amadeo Fusca
“I was so nervous for the roast today I wanted to go over my lines. Bob Saget snorted them all.” -Amadeo Fusca
The Friars Roast of Jack Black: Cinema Retro's Eddy Friedfeld Gives You An Inside Report (April 2013)
Roast-contest winner and newcomer Amadeo Fusca did an impressive job, starting by telling Saget “Thank you, Uncle Jesse.” To [Jeffrey] Katzenberg he said, “I’ve seen your movies. Your dreams don’t work… Jeff Ross is a veteran of these roasts- he shows up once a year and will probably be homeless.”
Roast-contest winner and newcomer Amadeo Fusca did an impressive job, starting by telling Saget “Thank you, Uncle Jesse.” To [Jeffrey] Katzenberg he said, “I’ve seen your movies. Your dreams don’t work… Jeff Ross is a veteran of these roasts- he shows up once a year and will probably be homeless.”