Johnny Montana, in his mid-20s, from Brooklyn, tries to grow beyond his provincial background in his quest for self-discovery but falls into a dark underworld that brings him everything he thinks he wants – but he learns that EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE!
Johnny Montana is frustrated, trapped at home in blue-collar Brooklyn with his aging parents, unemployed brother … and no get-out plan. The one bright star in his sky is Laura, who believes in him. Her disapproving brother keeps them apart. Johnny wants to be a “somebody,” even appropriating the last name of his hero, Joe Montana.
Luck lands Johnny a concierge job at an upscale Manhattan apartment building. But soon Johnny finds he is selling his soul to a world where money trumps all. Johnny Montana takes the viewer on a journey of the quintessential “American Dream” against the backdrop of Freedom and Liberty for all. There is something in this expertly woven story that will resonate with anyone who watches it – and it will remind them that EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE!
Filmed over 360 days in 60 New York locations, entirely “guerilla-style,” Johnny Montana captures New York’s vibrant grittiness un-sanitized. From subway cars to penthouses, Times Square to Rockefeller Center, New York isn’t just the backdrop to Johnny Montana – It’s a character in itself. You can taste the city’s vibrancy.
“Gavin demonstrates both an ease in front of the camera and an ability to capture locations…one wonders what Gavin could do if he had a little money to work with..” – Hap Erstein, Palm Beach Post Film Writer.
“Irresistible…” -San Francisco Chronicle.
“…Epitomizes the perfect indie flick… It gets no better than Johnny Montana…” -Mike Skurko, San Francisco Indiefest
“The new high watermark in no-budget feature filmmaking.” -Paul Rogers, LA Critic