It’s a Philly thing
The Philadelphia
Cheesesteak
The cheesesteak represents a symbol of community and pride for Philadelphians.
Why don't we have a documentary about it?
CONCEPT
From The City Of Brotherly Love, discover the history and culture behind one of America's most iconic sandwiches, the Philadelphia cheesesteak, and the people and places that make it special.
We will tell the story and everything you need to know through the eyes of restaurant owners, food critics, and regular and real Philadelphians.
WHY
CHEESESTEAKS?
As a documentary filmmaker, I have traveled to dozens of countries in almost every continent. I have seen signs and menus advertising the "Philadelphia Cheesesteak" around the world, and I can not help to wonder, do all these around the planet know what a cheesesteak is, where it came from, what's a legit Philly Cheesesteak like? Do they know how much they mean to us Philadelphians
We want the world to know how a hotdog stand from 1930 in the streets of Philly became the first establishment to commercialize this billion-dollar idea. We want to tell the story of the eternal feud between the two iconic cheesesteak restaurants, Geno's and Pat's. We will investigate where actual Philadelphians eat their cheesesteaks. You will quickly discover that in the city of Brotherly Love, there is fierce competition, and everyone has divided opinions about who's the best. We promise you new and strong contenders will join the battle.
A CELEBRATION OF
PHILLY
This documentary will be a celebration of Philadelphia, its food, and its people.
Food is a direct avenue to the heart and the best conversation starter. Within this premise, we'll showcase (sometimes in humorous ways) various aspects of Philadelphia's culture and history, such as its famous landmarks, passionate sports fans, and the silly protocol to order a cheesesteak when in Philly, "One Whiz, wit (or without)." their pronunciation or "water" and other sayings such as " That's what's up" or the plethora usages for the name "Jawn"
The
and
look
feel
We are writing a visual love letter to Philadelphia and its food. Therefore we will shoot high-key and vibrant images. We will add a cinematic touch to make the food and its creators their best. We are going to shoot a cinematic documentary film with high-end cinema cameras and lenses.
We want to share intimate moments about the restaurant owners and their enthusiasm. This film needs to be equally attractive from the cinematic perspective. Warm colors and outdoor images always shoot at sunrise and sunset. Soft lighting for main interviews.
This will be a gorgeous and polished documentary film.
POSSIBILITIES
From here on, we talk about potential escalations of how to potentially expand this idea.
CAMEOS
Dreaming is free; what if we could have some cameos by Mega-Popular Philadelphians popping in to talk about their favorite cheesesteak spots?
I am personal friends with M Night Shyamalan and will take the shot to ask him to appear, not only that, to ask his basketball and actors celebrity friends to be a part of this. We have connections to bring highly influential people from Philadelphia, from well-known sports celebrities to the current governor of Philadelphia. There is no guarantee, but we will certainly try.
FOOD CAPITAL
DOCUSERIES
Just like Philadelphia is the cheesesteak capital of the world. Every major city and State in the country has a signature dish. This documentary is a template that can be turned into a full-blown series about American street food.
Baltimore: Crab cakes
Main: Whoopie pies and lobster rolls
Arizona: Chimichangas
Connecticut: New Haven Pizza
Boston: Clam Chowder
Texas: Chicken Fried Steak
Kansas: BBQ
And more!
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
AND CINEMATOGRAPHER
I am a documentary and commercial filmmaker and CEO of Front Seat Films.I have directed commercial films for almost every major advertising agency in Philadelphia and created branded content and documentary films for Universal Pictures and many renowned brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, Google, Carnival, and Jeep.
I have a passion for telling stories. I have interviewed and produced films focused on a wide array of personalities from every walk of life. This includes incarcerated serial killers, US governors, world-class actors, movie directors, world-renowned social activists, and scientists.
I have been the set documentarian for six of M. Night Shyamalan's films, where he sheds light on what goes into the making of the movie and gets a unique perspective from the actors and crew.
I LOVE TELLING STORIES, and I have dedicated over a decade of my life to improving my craft. I love being a documentary filmmaker because it allows me to give a voice to many that otherwise would not be heard.
THANK YOU!
Whether you are reading this treatment because we want you to be a talent or because we need your support, I want to thank you for your time and consideration. Please join us to tell this story that has been patiently waiting to be told.