Arrow Puts "Day at the Beach" in its Quiver

by Mark Rabinowitz

Arrow Releasing, the five year-old company founded by Dennis Friedland, has
picked up international theatrical, television and video rights to
first-timer Nick Veronis' "Day at the Beach". The pic stars Veronis as a
hapless New York ravioli factory worker who, with his friends, accidentally
cause the death of a passing fisherman while they are goofing off on a
bridge. In addition, he discovers that his job is a front for the mob and
that he's fallen for his boss' daughter. The production of "Day" started
out on a shaky note when director Veronis severed 4 tendons in his hand on
the third day of shooting. He underwent surgery with a local anesthetic,
created a back story as to why the character was in a splint, and returned
to shooting.

In an interview with indieWIRE on Monday, Veronis was very happy with Arrow
and the deal they offered him for the rights. "One thing that got me was
their willingness to provide finishing funds....I shot this in Super-16 and
couldn't afford the proper blow up, the interpositive and internegative."
He added that he was "very impressed with what (Arrow) did with Ponette."
The French film has grossed over $1,275,000 to date in the U.S.

Arrow ("Breathing Room", "Combination Platter") intends to release "Day" in
the first half of 1998, beginning in New York, and are in negotiations to
acquire several other films.