Emerging Filmmakers: Men of Law with Karl Lentini

On this episode of Indie Film Weekly, Glen Reynolds and Jason Connell speak with filmmaker Karl Lentini about his indie thriller Men of Law, releasing September 29 on Amazon and other transactional VOD platforms through X4 Pictures. Lentini explains the film’s origin as a self-financeable concept he developed with Charles Gorgano, the New York–Texas character setup and Smithville, Texas locations, and inspirations such as the structure of The Untouchables. 

He discusses taking on multiple roles (co-writer, director, producer, composer, and lead actor), the challenges of run-and-gun chase scenes, editing with Sarah Radle, and directing himself. Lentini describes losing Gorgano in 2021 and the actor who played Vito in 2024, and how the film led to a Men of Law podcast exploring child trafficking with real-world guests. 

The episode also covers distribution strategy, meeting Reynolds via an Austin DVD connection, and quick-fire moviegoing questions.

00:00 Welcome and Film Setup
01:14 Origins of Men of Law
01:40 Writing Partners and Influences
04:49 Early Filmmaking Roots
05:32 Texas Locations and Casting Changes
07:21 Action Scenes and Production Challenges
08:53 Heroes or Vigilantes
09:58 Editing Choices and End Tease
12:36 Character Chemistry and Directing Yourself
14:36 Lessons Learned and Men of Law Podcast
16:33 Distribution Deal and Release Plans
20:43 Quick Cuts Theater Questions
23:10 Final Cut and Where to Watch

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Transcript

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SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to Indie Film Weekly Emerging Filmmakers, where we talk with independent filmmakers bringing new work to audiences through festivals and digital releases. I'm Glenn Reynolds.

SPEAKER_02 0:10

And I'm Jason Connell. Today we're joined by filmmaker Carl Lentini. His new film, Men of Law, follows a retired New York City detective whose teenage daughter is kidnapped while they are visiting his cousin in rural Texas. When the authorities fail to bring her home, the two men launch their own investigation.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

So Carl's been making movies since he was 14 when he was shooting with his dad's Super Eight camera. And on this one, he co-wrote the script, directed it, produced it, composed the music, and he also plays the lead Anthony. So when we say this is Carl's film, we really mean it's Carl's film. And then as if that wasn't enough, his research led him to start the Men of Law podcast, which we'll get into a little bit. And Men of Law comes out September 29th on Amazon and other transactional video on demand platforms through X4 Pictures. So go rent it.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

So let's meet emerging filmmaker Carl Lantini.

SPEAKER_01 1:14

Well, Carl, welcome and welcome to the first episode of Emerging Filmmakers. Since you already host your own podcast, you kind of know what it's like to be on that side of the microphone. But today you get to relax and let us ask the questions. So thanks for coming. So first question, just to kick us off, is every film starts somewhere. Where did Men of Law start for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:40

Men of Law began with my friend Charles Gorgano and I coming up with ideas for films that we could go out and shoot ourselves and finance ourselves. We actually wrote three screenplays, but each one was too costly. So we're like, okay, this third one, this is the one we're gonna be able to write and finance. Let's make it just out in the woods, maybe a girl's kidnapped or something, and some guys go after her, something like that.

SPEAKER_01 2:05

Affordability is key. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_01 2:09

And how did you hook up with Charles? How was that? How did you guys meet?

SPEAKER_00 2:14

Through a mutual friend of ours who's an actor and a filmmaker in Los Angeles, and Charles and I were already friends for many years. And then he has a friend who's an indie filmmaker who asked him to write a song, like to be the background band in a movie. And so Charles asked me, hey, let's write a song together and we could play it in this film. So that began our writing partnership, which blossomed into writing screenplays.

SPEAKER_01 2:40

Awesome. And you made a film before, though. Was that with Charles as well, or was that solo?

SPEAKER_00 2:45

It was solo that I wrote and directed by myself. It was not with Charles.

SPEAKER_02 2:49

Okay. Well, so this film, just to be clear, I'm new to it. Glenn already knew of the film, but Men of Law, and this is what I'm going to read about it, so you tell me if this is accurate, but follows a retired New York City detective whose teenage daughter is kidnapped while they are visiting his cousin in rural Texas. When the authorities fail to bring her home, the two men launch their own investigation. It's a good hook there.

SPEAKER_00 3:11

Yeah, as far as screenwriting, it's simple. There's urgency. It gives you a strong, clear narrative. Having said that, it's writing is never easy. You know, make it interesting and captivating and was it the subject first or the characters first?

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Like you was it like this is a subject matter you wanted to handle, or was it like the you had some characters brewing that you had to bring out?

SPEAKER_00 3:36

It was the subject first. That kind of motivated everything to say, okay, what could we do to create roles that Charles and I could play? Well, maybe a girl's kidnapped and we're the family members. So yeah, that can work. It just kind of grew from there.

SPEAKER_02 3:54

Were you inspired from like other movies, as all of as filmmakers are? But and if you are, what what comes to mind? What movies get you leaned into? Is there structure and such?

SPEAKER_00 4:04

That's a good question because whenever I write something, I like to find a movie, a favorite movie of mine that I know works. Yeah. And so I was thinking actually of the untouchables, not in terms of genre or storyline, but just structure of how it's laid out. When I'm assuming people are familiar with the opening scene, you see Al Capone, and then the bad guys blow up a bar. So you see the bad guys do some bad stuff. Yeah. That's one way to do it. You don't have to set up your story that way. You could have that happen later.

SPEAKER_02 4:39

Hey, you're using a masterpiece as inspiration. So well, why not go for the best, right? That's right. LeBron De Palma is one of his finest. That's a great film.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

I also was looking at your bio. I guess you've been making films since you were 14. This is a lifelong passion.

SPEAKER_00 4:55

Yes. Back in the old days when films were shot on film. My friend and I, my neighbor across the street, were interested in James Bond and Monty Python, kind of embodied characteristics of both. That's a great mashup.

SPEAKER_02 5:10

You might want to revisit that.

SPEAKER_00 5:12

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 5:13

A bit of an anglophile, maybe mixing the British satire and British thrillers. Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_00 5:20

That's interesting because I was also getting into the Beatles at that time, you know, at age 14, 15. So Beatles, Money Python, James Bond, it's a good combination.

SPEAKER_01 5:30

Yeah, that's perfect.

SPEAKER_02 5:32

Now, as far as Texas goes, I'm from Oklahoma, and I know when I was coming up as a filmmaker, just doing things in your own neighborhood was great, your own backyard. So are you from Texas? Was that the choice? And then you knew the terrain, or how did the film get chosen for that location?

SPEAKER_00 5:47

That's another good question. I'm originally from New York. Naturally. My whole family is New York Italian. Charles, however, is from a small town in Texas, very Texan guy. If you had met him, he'd be total good old boy. And so we're like, yeah, let's write something that we could go to Texas. At the time, he was living in Los Angeles and I was here. And I knew about Smithville through a producer friend of mine. Smithville is just outside of Austin. So that's where we ended up shooting it.

SPEAKER_01 6:17

Nice. The main characters are New York Cock and his country cousin. And Carl, you play Anthony, and Charles plays the other character. And so that again, indie filmmaking, like you're wearing a lot of hats here, right?

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Yes. Charles sadly passed away in March of 21. And so I had to, and this was difficult, find another actor to play the role that he was going to. And all I saw was Charles in that role, of course. My friend, my buddy, my partner. But we did find an actor who uh filled those shoes very well. And I also want to mention that I am lucky to have a cousin who is a retired NYPD detective first grade. Oh my gosh. So I actually credit him in the movie as consultants. Read the scripts. Yeah, he gave me a lot of good feedback.

SPEAKER_01 7:08

Did you have him on set with you, making sure everything was going right or from a few?

SPEAKER_00 7:13

No, no. Trying to get him out of the state of New York is very difficult. For whatever reason, he's just like he's stuck there.

SPEAKER_02 7:20

Wow. So what were some of the hardest things to shoot? Because you know, watching the movie and I really absorbed the trailer and was reading all about it. But as a filmmaker, it can be challenging. Hey, you're in it, but what was the hardest like action sequence to do? Because that's so easy to probably mess up. It's just so challenging with your budget constraints. I'm assuming you weren't using like CGI or AI, but how did you tackle that?

SPEAKER_00 7:44

The hardest thing I would say is shooting run and gun and chase scenes where I'm chasing guys and guys are chasing me, and you're just kind of running through the woods, and the the DP is holding the camera and he's following you. I pick this tree. It's just very improvisatory and very spontaneous. And we shot a lot of that, did a lot of coverage of that, and hoped it would work out in the editing. Evidently it did, I think, along with music.

SPEAKER_01 8:13

Where in Texas did you shoot? Smithville.

SPEAKER_00 8:15

It's like east of the airport. You take 71, go east, Bastrop County.

SPEAKER_01 8:20

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 8:20

It's near Bastrop. They've done a lot of films there. They actually have a film commission for a town of 4,000 people.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Wow. Yeah, the whole Austin area has become a pretty big hub for making movies over the last couple of decades. So not surprising. That's awesome. And is that where you're living now, Carl?

SPEAKER_00 8:37

I'm in Austin. Okay. But we shot mostly on a guy's ranch. And so I stayed there. I didn't want to commute an hour and a half every day to Austin. Even people who lived in Austin, we put them up in hotels or places on the ranch, that guy's ranch.

SPEAKER_01 8:53

Gotcha. Well, getting to the story a little bit. Do you view, and obviously lots of people who are listening to this haven't seen the film yet, but want to get into the story a little bit with you for those who have. Anthony and Vito, do you see them as heroes in this movie or vigilantes or something in between? What's your take on those characters?

SPEAKER_00 9:13

I see them as they're heroes for the family member, for their own family. I don't think they see themselves as heroes, but I think for the daughter that they become the hero for her. And that's all that matters. I know people have opinions and viewpoints on vigilanteism. And I didn't want to get into that, get philosophical. It's just these guys are desperate to do whatever it takes to get the daughter back. And frankly, if law enforcement was, you know, doing a great job, found the girl, then I wouldn't have a story.

SPEAKER_02 9:51

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:52

You have to kind of mess things up a little bit in the world of the characters to get them off their butt to do something.

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Well, so much of filmmaking happens in editing. And so maybe talk about that process. Were you the main editor? I hadn't looked at that part of the credits, or obviously you're very involved if you're not, but like what came out of the editing that changed in your mind? Did you go back and shoot things? But that whole process is just fascinating to me.

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Yeah, Sarah Radel did most of the editing. I'd say like 85% of it. I did a little bit here and there. And I thought she did a great job. So like some of the scenes that she edited, I never touched. I just left them that way. And she also writes music. So I think having a sense of music and timing and rhythm is great for editing. And the more films I make, the deeper I get into it, the more I think that's the most important thing. Is that because you could edit a film a hundred different ways. Yeah. But if you can hold them and capture them, and you have to be merciless in cutting stuff out, you know, stuff that you liked, stuff that you spent money on. If it's not advancing things and moving things forward, you have to lose it.

SPEAKER_02 11:03

That's what the DVD specials used to be all about, right? Put them on the DVD. Right. Bonus material. Now it's you can just put it online, I guess.

SPEAKER_00 11:11

And for people, when after they watch the film, they'll see that without giving anything away, I want to make you watch the whole film. I don't want to do anything typical. Like when the credits come up, okay, you leave, you go home. There's stuff that that happens or may happen, you know, towards the very, very end of the film. So I I want I want to get people in that state of expectation.

SPEAKER_02 11:34

Yeah, it's good. Keep them hooked.

SPEAKER_00 11:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Yeah, I think you really hooked them pretty well in the very beginning where there's that early drive with Anthony and his daughter before she's obviously kidnapped, and they have that exchange about the car guy. It's really funny and relaxing between them, kind of establishes their affection before you know things start happening to her. What do you talk about that dynamic a little bit?

SPEAKER_00 11:55

I'm so glad you asked that because we actually shot that on the very first day of shooting. And I'd met the actress the day before. And so, you know, she's was 21. I'm the director and the actor. A little bit awkward. And you just as actors, you have to relax and do the best you can. But she actually requested that we reshoot that scene at the end of the shoot when we were like buddies by that point.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

Oh interesting. That's cool.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

That was a great call on her part. And so that that rapport, that banter was very natural.

SPEAKER_02 12:28

And so that wound up in the movie, the second take months later, however many days later. Oh, that's great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:36

Yeah. Another moment I really liked was when Anthony and Vito are going through the hacked files. Vito gets distracted and compares Anthony to the captain of the Titanic. And then he finally asks, So when do we start killing people? I think is kind of the clearest expression of the kind of oddball chemistry between these two guys. Maybe if you could tell us a little bit more about working with the actor playing Vito and the dynamic between the two of you.

SPEAKER_00 13:04

Well, he was great. He was very friendly, very avuncular, very kind, kind of a good old boy in his own way. But he had this side to him, this toughness, and this beautiful baritone voice that really would come out in certain parts. And actually, I have to say, sadly, he passed away as well. Oh my gosh.

unknown 13:24

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

So so in November of 24. Yeah. So I'm glad we got him captured on film forever.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

Yeah, he's really good. Wow.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

But those those two characters, Anthony and Vito, I wanted to show how Vita was more the heart, more of like, we gotta do this now. It's Emily, you know, bust some heads, knock some doors down. And Anthony's more cerebral, more the detective saying, Well, we have to plan carefully. If we act too soon, we'll blow our cover and be arrested, and that's it. We'll never see her again. So kind of that tug of war between them.

SPEAKER_01 13:58

Totally. And what was it like directing yourself? Maybe you did it when you were 14 as well, but a little different when you've got other people around. How did you manage that?

SPEAKER_00 14:07

You just have to see the character very clearly in your own head as the actor and director. And as an actor, you you have your plan, your lines, and so forth, and you just kind of execute that. So I knew as director, I could rely on myself as actor to execute the scene. And then a lot of it is gut, your gut feeling. Okay, that felt right. I don't need to watch playback every single time. It takes too long.

SPEAKER_02 14:36

And just hearing that you unfortunately lost two people, friends with colleagues through the making of this movie and after the movie, but which just fascinating to learn, but it's just a lot more emotion for you. But as a director, writer, actor, everything on this movie, what did you walk away learning that will prepare you for the next movie? Because we all learn things with these types of projects that just take so much out of us. What will you take into the next thing and what be more ambitious, etc.?

SPEAKER_00 15:04

Take just a total commitment that I mean, it's not like making a movie, it's not like a marriage or raising children. However, once you get into it, you're committed to it.

SPEAKER_01 15:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:18

No, that no matter what happens, you've got to finish this. It's that kind of if it takes years, if it takes money, you know, no matter what happens, because there's gonna be some heartache. And I don't wish heartache on you know the type that I've endured for this film with losing two people, but it's it's just committing to it. And if I can if I can make a film under these circumstances, I think I can do pretty much anything.

SPEAKER_01 15:45

Yeah. And how did all this evolve into the podcasts that you're doing as podcasters? We're always interested in how people get into this business.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Well, the widow of the actor who played veto suggested to me, hey, your movie's about child trafficking. Why don't you start a podcast about that? Explore the real issue of it. You could talk about the movie, promote that, but bring in real people therapists and law enforcement. So I wish I could say it was my idea, but she gave me that idea, and totally a great thing. I've learned so much. And I've since, you know, honestly, I kind of ran out of certain people to talk to, like law enforcement are hard to nail down. So I've expanded it into other topics too. It turned out to be a good thing.

SPEAKER_02 16:32

That's fantastic. I didn't know that. That's really a great thing. And what a calling this movie has become with you know, segueing into a podcast that's really making a difference. So you finish the movie after all the trials and tribulations, but then like the next chapter, selling the movie, getting people to see the movie, which is I know how you linked up with Glenn, but maybe talk about that process. Was it the festival circuit initially, or kind of what was your distribution strategy?

SPEAKER_00 17:00

Well, the producer who I hired on the movie, Leia Weinberger, who's fantastic, from the beginning, she was like, let's not go to festivals, let's go straight to market. This movie can sell. She's like, every movie I've ever worked on, I've sold. She was very confident in the movie and its sale ability from the beginning. I was like, okay, you know more than I do, I'll follow your lead. I had looked online for a bunch of sales agents, reached out to them, didn't hear from any of them. And how I met Glenn is I had wanted to make some DVDs of the film for my own use to show family or whatever. And I used to be able to burn DVDs, like the DVD drive used to be in the computer, and you could easily do it the file. And I was like, I can't, I can't figure this out. I'm getting really pissed off about it and annoyed. You know, I was like, all right, fine, I'll go pay somebody for crying out loud. And the guy who I paid here in Austin to make DVDs, he is a filmmaker, uh, Jeff Stalin. And he told me about Glenn. It's like, yeah, he's from Austin. So check him out and you know, send your film to him. And the rest is history. Here we are.

SPEAKER_02 18:12

Yeah, here we are. This should almost be a talking point on the show, how I met Glenn. And everyone just tells their origin story. Right.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

The origin story, yes. One out of ten, there's an Austin connection. That always seems they like some either they're from Austin or used to be in order, or they know someone in Austin, or like sometimes people think I'm from Austin because that happened so much. So the film comes out pretty soon, and well, as of this podcast, it's going to be coming out, I think, September 29th. And X4 Pictures is the company releasing the film. How's it been working with X4?

SPEAKER_00 18:46

It's been great so far. And without getting into details, we were able to how do I say make the deal better for both of us? This is a new process for me. And so I was fortunate to be working with Glenn and the lawyer and with them. And I've never done this before, signing a deal with the distributor. And at certain points it was like, is this really happening? What is this? Is this really happening? And at other points, I'm like, oh, we asked them something, but they're not gonna go for that. It's all over, I'm back to square one, you know. But fortunately, it all worked out in yeah, September 29.

SPEAKER_02 19:26

And how is it being distributed?

SPEAKER_00 19:27

It'll be online and it'll be Amazon Prime and Google Play and YouTube movies and those. And then they're gonna pitch it to other platforms, and then they're also gonna pitch internationally. Nice, which is exciting to me. I think people in other countries would like to film too.

SPEAKER_02 19:47

Yeah. Well, you said we're not gonna get into details, but come on, Carl, just a few details. No, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. We don't need to divulge numbers or anything, but it's been a good process, it sounds like you have a great team, you're working with Glenn, you have a great producer, you signed a deal. A lot of filmmakers, that's understating it. Most filmmakers don't get a deal. So this is a great place to be at.

SPEAKER_00 20:08

It is, it is, and I recognize that, and I'm very appreciative of that. And so many things along the way, and maybe this is true for all indie films, so many things along the way could have made this film never happen. What if I was able to burn a DVD on my computer and then I never would have met Glenn? Done. And then I never would have got a sales agent, and then never got a deal, and then I put it up on you know Amazon and beg people to watch it. I mean, you know.

SPEAKER_02 20:40

That's right. Serendipity.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 20:43

All right. So, Carl, you are the first person, like we as we talked about in the beginning. So you're the first person that gets our quick cuts. And it's some questions that we put together, rapid fire, 10 questions. And it's just there's no right or wrong answer. And I'll let Glenn expound further on this.

SPEAKER_01 21:00

Yeah, so we're borrowing this idea shamelessly from other podcasts, including one British cooking podcast. We're just like, you know, like let's fire out some fun questions just to see what this reveals about your soul, Carl, through these little 10 questions. The theme of the questions really is all about kind of the theater going experience. So that's kind of ties into Indy Film Weekly in that way. The mission of Indie Film Winkley is to get people to go to the theaters to see movies. You're our first guest, so whatever you say becomes the standard for everyone else who follows. So we'll kick it off. Jason will give the first question, we'll go back and forth and ask our questions.

SPEAKER_02 21:34

And Carl, you can or cannot use a British accent because this, if you want to, I'm kidding. Your background in England's getting inspiration from. Okay, here we go. Popcorn or candy?

SPEAKER_00 21:45

Popcorn.

SPEAKER_01 21:47

Butter or no butter?

SPEAKER_00 21:48

No butter.

SPEAKER_01 21:49

Isle seat or center seat?

SPEAKER_00 21:52

Isle seat.

SPEAKER_01 21:53

What's the ideal number of trailers before a movie?

SPEAKER_00 21:56

Five.

SPEAKER_02 21:57

I wish. That would be great. Matinee or late night screening?

SPEAKER_00 22:03

Matinee.

SPEAKER_01 22:04

What's your favorite movie theater either now or growing up?

SPEAKER_00 22:08

The Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles.

SPEAKER_02 22:10

Good one. Nice choice. So, Carl, what's the first movie you remember seeing in a theater?

SPEAKER_00 22:16

Star Wars, 1977. Wow.

SPEAKER_01 22:19

A great one. You chose a great one there, Carl. So, Carl, name a movie you saw more than once in a theater. Star Wars.

SPEAKER_02 22:27

Of course. How many times did you see that in a theater, Carl?

SPEAKER_00 22:31

As a kid, probably five times as an adult, more than that.

SPEAKER_02 22:36

Nice. And what's the last movie you saw in a theater?

SPEAKER_00 22:42

The Odyssey.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

And so, final question: The Odyssey? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

SPEAKER_00 22:47

Thumbs down.

SPEAKER_01 22:48

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_02 22:49

Breaking news. Going against the trends. I haven't seen the Odyssey yet. So I haven't either. So that's interesting. That was a lot of fun. It was fun to do that and just kind of be in your headspace. And yeah, I agree with you on almost all of those. But we lied. There is one more question, and that is the final cut.

SPEAKER_01 23:07

And I'll let Glenn take it away. So, Carl, you started making movies at 14 with your dad's super eight camera. If that 14-year-old could sit down and watch Men of Law today, what do you think he would make of it?

SPEAKER_00 23:21

I think it would he would think it was awesome, that it was terrific, and they'd be real excited by it.

SPEAKER_01 23:29

That's awesome. Awesome. Well, Carl, before we let you go, let's again, just because it's good to drill this into people's brains, let's remind everyone where Men of Law can be seen on uh September 29th, and also where everybody can follow up with you and the film online.

SPEAKER_00 23:45

People can go to menoflaw.com. We'll post updates there, a link to watch the movie. You can also go to the X4 website. The page isn't up yet, but X4 will have a page for Men of Law, and then it'll be on Amazon Prime and YouTube Movies, Google Play, Fendango, and Comcast. That's what they said.

SPEAKER_02 24:07

That's awesome. Well, congratulations for finishing it, Carl, for getting it distributed, for becoming even a more prolific filmmaker. It's been a pleasure getting to know you and spending this time together.

SPEAKER_00 24:18

Same here, Jason and Glenn. I appreciate it. I look forward to seeing it. Awesome.

SPEAKER_01 24:23

Thanks, Carl. Have a good one.

SPEAKER_02 24:24

And thank you everyone for watching and listening. This has been Indie Film Weekly Emerging Filmmakers.