Masquers alum shines as new director

Greg Contaldi ’15 (second from right) on the set of his YouTube TV miniseries “Bromance Boys.”

West Essex alumnus Greg Contaldi can honestly say he’s well on his way to achieving one of his life’s dreams only two years after graduating high school. A film and television major, Contaldi’s meeting with fellow NYU student Alain Polanco in 2013 led to a partnership in film neither of them expected. But before producing their dream series, the two created Art City, their production company.

In the eight months since Art City’s launch, there’s been a total of over 12,000 views on the channel. Their quick rise to Internet fame finally led Contaldi and Polanco to release the miniseries that started it all: “Bromance Boys,” an “Entourage” meets “30 Rock” comedy focusing on three guys who form an unlikely friendship while on set of a remake for Saturday Night Fever. The show explores themes such as male friendships and the quest to make it in modern-day New York City TV.

“A pilot episode for ‘Bromance Boys’ was drafted almost immediately, but quickly shelved in order for us to focus on other projects,” Contaldi said. “It wasn’t until this past January where we dusted off that original pilot script and moved forward with writing the rest of the first season.” “Bromance Boys” was released May 15 on the Art City YouTube channel and has accumulated over 5,000 views in the first week it went up.

The production starred a number of extras from West Essex’s surrounding towns as well as students from NYU. It was written, filmed and edited at various locations around New York and New Jersey, including Nightstand Studios in Fairfield, over the course of only five months.

A big time film career has been something Contaldi and Polanco dreamt of creating since before their NYU days. Nothing could have stopped the duo from creating their series and having it run online. “Luckily Greg and I both have the same passion for this project that whenever a challenge did arise we took it head on and figured it out,” Polanco said.

The partners have been working to their best abilities to create a loyal fanbase to showcase “Bromance Boys” too. “We hope that it gets in front of the right person and hopefully strikes up some deals,” Contaldi said. “Hi Netflix!”

Contaldi’s journey from a hopeful 16 year old student in awe watching filmmaker Andrew Jenks to a successful 20 year old producing his own films wasn’t a quick and easy one. “It was Andrew Jenks who ultimately influenced me to create a film festival at West Essex,” Contaldi said. “With much help from the school administration and my independent study adviser, Mr. McGlynn, we were able to pull it off.”

After years of working towards “Bromance Boys,” Contaldi and Polanco finally saw their dreams come alive. They’re only going up from here, and prove to be an inspiration to not only West Essex students, but also any other young filmmakers doubting what they’re worth. “Bromance Boys” is proof that perseverance pays off.