The Men Behind Atlantis Down The Movie

When I first heard about the movie 'Atlantis Down' and the amazing story behind it, I was eager to know more about the movie and, in particular, the people behind it.  Here's the story of two men.  One vision.  One passion.  One great opportunity for Virginia, Hampton Roads and, in particular, Portsmouth.

Max Bartoli and Ethan Marten first met in 2006 at the New York International Film Festival, where both men had entered short films in the competition.  They got to know each other because their respective films were scheduled back-to-back in the same theater.

In the end, they each achieved individual success.  Their respective films ended up winning in their respective categories. 

Together, they started a friendship.  Bartoli and Marten became fast friends and eventually partners.

Inside Studio 463 (above Brutti's restaurant at 467 Court Street) shown right are Producer and Executive Producer Ethan Marten and Director and Producer Max Bartoli with Actor Kalen McNatt, a Hampton Roads resident (center) who played young Travis.

 

While Bartoli and Marten met by accident, their decision to film in Virginia was by no means an accident.

New York transplant and Hampton Roads resident Ethan Marten and Italian Max Bartoli put together the motion picture 'Atlantis Down' in Virginia Beach and Portsmouth.  This project could have taken place anywhere - Italy, Spain, Los Angeles.  And, I mean anywhere.  But Marten believed that Virginia, and in particular Hampton Roads, had everything they needed to produce the film.

Originally scheduled to be shot in Los Angeles, Marten suggested Bartoli to come to Virginia Beach to shoot the movie.  Bartoli listened to his friend and partner.  What Bartoli saw at First Landing in Virginia Beach was that one location - offered a variety of looks - including woods, beach, sand dunes and wetlands.  Bartoli decided to move the production here.

After visiting Hampton Roads, Bartoli also saw what Marten had in mind – they could produce the movie right here in Hampton Roads for a lot less money with the same production quality.  They achieved what others said was impossible.  They were scheduled to shoot the entire picture in 14 days.  They actually completed it in just 13 days - a day ahead of schedule.

Their partnership, like their friendship, was based on trust.  "When Ethan said we could produce this movie in Virginia, I trusted him, and he has been absolutely right," Bartoli said.  The two have never looked back towards Hollywood.

Sixty percent of the movie was filmed in Portsmouth.  The producers decided to make their studio home at Studio 463.  Local residents may be surprised to learn that Studio 463 actually housed six movie sets and the interior of the space shuttle.  The Atlantis Shuttle is shown above.

 

World Premiere Set for October 1 at the Commodore Theatre

The same way the movie could have been filmed anywhere, the World Premiere movie could have been shown anywhere.  However, the producers chose the Commodore Theatre for the screening and the World Premiere.

Although the World Premiere on October 1st is sold out, there are nine (9) more screenings available to the public between October 2 - 7, 2010. 

The cast, crew, director and producer will be at each of these screenings.  Tickets are $8.00.

From October 2 to 7, 2010, you can see the movie beginning at 7 p.m.  There will also be three matinees - Saturday October 2, Sunday October 3 and Wednesday October 6.  The matinees begin at 2 p.m.

You can only buy advance tickets online at www.atlantisdown.com.  Click here, to purchase only advance tickets online.

Inside The Commodore Theatre shown right are Director and Producer Max Bartoli and Producer and Executive Producer Ethan Marten with Commodore Theatre Owner Fred Schoenfeld discussing the World Premiere.

Every film at the Commodore Theatre is presented as it is meant to be seen, in a luxurious, state-of-the-art theatre.  The Commodore features a 41-foot screen and THX and DOLBY DIGITAL sound.  This luxuriously restored 1945 Art Deco-style motion picture theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Register.

Show information is available 24-hours: 757.393.6962. or visit, www.commodoretheatre.com.  The Commodore Theatre is located at 421 High Street, Portsmouth, Virginia  23704.

Want more information on 'Atlantis Down,' The Movie?  Click here, to be part of their International group of fans on Facebook.  Click here, to follow 'Atlantis Down' on Twitter.

 

Let’s take a look at the background of the two partners of MaXaM Productions.

 

MAX BARTOLI

Bartoli, 40, is currently the CEO and founder of MaXaM Productions, which has offices in Rome, London, Los Angeles and Virginia Beach.  Currently, He is the director of 'Atlantis Down' The Movie.  Bartoli is shown below on location directing the 90-minute sci-fi thriller.

Bartoli produced and directed his first short film, 'Ignotus', which has accumulated a total of 25 awards at International Film Festivals in 19 months.

Among the awards for 'Ignotus' are: “Best International Short Film” at the New York, Int’l Film Festival, “Best Foreign Language Short” at the San Fernando Valley International Film Fest in Hollywood, two “Silver Pelican Awards” at the Taormina Film Festival, a “Bronze Remi Award” at the World Fest in Houston.

Bartoli received the prestigious “Cisterna d’Argento” for his outstanding achievement in the arts.  The “Cisterna d’Argento” is awarded annually for outstanding achievement in the arts, peace, economics, and science and has been previously given to Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela, Mikhail Gorbachev and former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi.

Bartoli’s film 'Ignotus' is the only short film to have been watched and also praised by Pope Benedectus XVI, the former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Bartoli has worked as a director and executive producer for various advertising agencies in Italy and England since 1998, directing and producing sports videos, corporate and institutional videos, as well as TV commercials and documentaries.

In 2004 Bartoli wrote, produced and directed two documentaries: 'Postcards From The Past' and 'Time Travelers'.

From 2002 to 2004, he worked as a director and executive producer for one of Italy’s largest advertising companies, Rotella and Partners.  For them he has directed, co-directed and/or produced several videos and two documentaries: one on the Coliseum (which won Italy’s “Media Star Award”) and one on Tunisia.

Born in Italy, and having earned a degree in Media Law, Max Bartoli has spent several years traveling and working in England and the US, where his family currently lives.

He is the author of two books published in 1989 and 1991 that won him the title of “Youngest European Fiction Writer.”

In 2007, he moved to Los Angeles where he currently makes permanent residence.

 

ETHAN MARTEN

Transplanted New Yorker and Virginia Beach resident Ethan Marten took over as MaXaM Productions Director of Development in 2009.  He proceeded to become the executive producer and producer of the sci-fi thriller movie ‘Atlantis Down’.  Marten is shown below (left) on location with actor Dean Haglund (right) of 'The X-Files', 'The Lone Gunman' and 'Spectres'.

He also stars in and produces 'Atlantis Rising: The Making of Atlantis Down' with Producer/Director and MaXaM Partner Max Bartoli.

Marten co-created, produced, and was second unit director of "Tanners Point", a reality-based television series shot in Virginia.  Marten hosted a panel discussion on marketing and motion pictures during the New York International Independent Film Festival while bringing home three awards: Best Reality Show, Best Ensemble, and Best Soundtrack.

As producer and co-founder of Star Circle Pictures, Marten made 'Samaritan', 'Player's Joy', and 'Revolver'.  Samaritan was credited by Panasonic as being the first motion picture completed with the AG HVX-200 using all digital technology.  Star Circle edited on set and wrapped with a rough cut of the movie.  Marten also brought home 'Best Actor' accolades in Rome and Los Angeles festivals for 'Revolver'.

Marten was vice president of marketing for Atlantic Film Studios, Virginia's first full-service motion picture studio.  He has been in show business most of his life.  As an actor, Marten has worked with Harry Dean Stanton, Frank Langella, Academy Award winners Jason Robards, Piper Laurie, Jose Ferrer and Whoopi Goldberg.  He has also been featured as John Todd, Jr. in the PBS episode of Dolley Madison on The American Experience; John Taylor in First Landing for ABC Family; and in the Hollywood Pictures film Eddie.  Marten played Irving Berlin in George Lucas's Young Indiana Jones Chronicles for ABC Television.

Marten’s stage credits span more than thirty years and have seen him in Festival Productions of ‘Shakespeare's Tempest’, Equity Productions of ‘Hamlet’, and New York's Emelin Theatre Productions of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as Oberon and Bottom.

Marten first started working behind the camera in 1988 with Mark and Craig Fincannon, CSA on Buzz Kulick's ‘Too Young the Hero.’

He has since worked in front of or behind the camera with Lucas Films, Hollywood Pictures, Discovery Channel, Family Channel, New Dominion Pictures, and NASA.

As vice president of Atlantic Entertainment Inc., Marten was distributor of such films as 'What Ever Happened To..?' starring Lynn and Vanessa Redgrave,  'In The Deep Woods', starring Anthony Perkins, and 'Our Sons', starring Hugh Grant, Julie Andrews and Ann-Margaret.

 

The film 'Atlantis Down' provides the same qualitative and quantitative benefits of film-induced tourism for Portsmouth that a film destination like Wilmington, NC has received for over 35 years. 

Portsmouth needs to take advantage of this opportunity and work more with The Virginia Film Office.

The Virginia Film Office, founded in 1980, has a mission of increasing revenue to the state through the production of filmed product including television shows, feature films, videos, documentaries, and commercials.

The Film Office is primarily a marketing organization with a goal of promoting Virginia as an exceptional location for film and video production. Staff members work with producers to help find locations and crew members for their projects, and assist them throughout production to ensure their experiences in Virginia are positive ones.

 

The World Premiere of ‘Atlantis Down’ is more than a movie.  MaXaM Productions has paved the way for hopefully many more large scale feature motion pictures to be produced in Virginia. 

So when the curtain closes on the final screening October 7, 2010, after seven days and ten screenings of the movie, it's not really the end.  It’s a new beginning. 

A beginning for Virginia, Hampton Roads and, in particular, Portsmouth to have more films filmed now that MaXam Productions has opened the door.

On closing night we should say BRAVO to Max and Ethan.  Thanks for making Portsmouth a part of your dream.  The movie 'Atlantis Down' will soon be a reality.

Here's the twist.  In their case, the reality starts long before their dream comes true.  

Bartoli and Marten filmed a Reality Show.  That's right.  They filmed a show about them filming, well, themselves. 

Eight episodes of 'Atlantis Rising: The Making of Atlantis Down' are still being shown locally on Cox Cable 11.  Learn more in the next article.

 

Editor's note:  This is the second article of a three-part series on ‘Atlantis Down’ The Movie.

 

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Behind the Screen with Actress Darla Grese 

 

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Thanks for reading and sharing...'A New Day in Olde Towne'.

Have a great day!

David Cartier

Atlantis Down photos courtesy of MaXaM Productions Ltd. and Sean Holder.

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