'Bella' took an interesting path to the screen

In the world of independent movies, the road from script to screen is paved with land mines. There are budget issues, talent issues, production problems, and if the film ever gets completed, there's the biggest roadblock of all: How do you get people to see it?

Every low-budget film has a crazy story behind it and "Bella," (opening today, review on Page 61) is no exception.

Eustace Wolfington looks more like a CEO than a Hollywood slickster. A stately senior, he wears conservative suits, and made his money in the car business - first as a Chevy dealer in Roxborough and later as the pioneer of auto leasing.

A couple of years ago, his nephew Sean, who was interested in the movie business, came to him with some Mexican filmmakers - including director Alejandro Gomez Monteverde and actor Eduardo Verástegui - an idea and a dream.

"They hadn't even finished the script yet," Eustace Wolfington said in the Daily News office Wednesday. "But they put a screen up, I looked at their short films and they blew my mind.

"Before they left that night, we had a deal for $3 million on a handshake. We never had a contract."

"Bella" was shot on location in New York City in 35 mm, a speedy 24-day shoot. When filming finished, there was only $250,000 left in the budget for color correcting, sound and music, but industry veterans fell in love with the film and waived their usual fees.

"One of the guys cried his eyes out and said 'I'll do it,' " Wolfington said.

"We had to get rid of a lot of the songs," because of budget constraints, Wolfington said, but then Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz saw the movie and donated two his songs.

Tammy Blanchard, "Bella's" female star, had a scheduling conflict with a role in Robert De Niro's "The Good Shepherd," and according to Wolfington, De Niro, and Blanchard's own agent, tried to get her to pull out of the indie film.

"Tammy said, 'If I can't do "Bella," I won't do "Good Shepherd," ' " Wolfington said.

"Bella" got accepted to the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival when festival staffers ganged up on the fest director, who wanted to pass on the film.

"No one was paying any attention to us," Wolfington said, "and we win the whole thing." "Bella" left Toronto with the People's Choice Award, previously won by films such as "American Beauty" and "Hotel Rwanda."

Distribution seemed a sure thing.

"We were right at the top," Wolfington said. "Everyone wanted the film. Then they all backed out because no one knew how to market it."

Roadside Attractions and Lionsgate came on board with distribution support only a month ago, and "Bella" recently won the $100,000 first prize at the Heartland Film Festival held in Indianapolis.

"It's the first money the movie's made," Wolfington joked.

The first-time film financier said "Anyone who's sensitive will love this movie."

It's a good thing filmgoers tend to be more sensitive than film critics because "Bella" has been taking some knocks. The movie, however, got a spiritual thumbs-up Tuesday when it was endorsed by Cardinal Justin Rigali, archbishop of Philadelphia.

"["Bella"] has a message that is so connected to life, to the problems of life, the challenges of life, the value of life," Rigali said. "This film, I believe, is destined to have an extraordinary impact on people's lives." *

"Bella" is playing in selected area theaters. It premiered locally last night at the UA King of Prussia.