Ante Up

Summary of the film:

Frank likes to tell tall tales. The only problem is he never has any proof to back them up. So when he finds a mysterious light switch in his new house that he believes controls the sex drive of his virgin girlfriend, his best friends call his bluff via a bet. Their wager will prove once and for all if Frank is telling the truth in Ante Up, a fun romantic comedy that will leave you guessing all the way to the end.

How the film was made:

Ante Up was written, produced, and directed by Boston native Jonathan Salemi. The idea to make a movie was conceived when Jonathan only had $23 to his name and a desire to open doors in Hollywood. His initial ambition was to create a digital short, but this soon evolved to a full-length feature comedy shot entirely on film. To achieve this task Jonathan slept on friends’ sofas by night, delivered shrimp by day, and later sold the car that delivered the shrimp. These and other sacrifices became worth it when, what began as a $23 desire, finally reached fruition.

The movie was aided through the efforts of a dedicated cast and crew that, over an 18-month production period, would take 1 to 4 month breaks while funds were raised for additional shoot days. This resulted in grants from Panavision and Kodak, as well as generous donations from Jonathan’s parents and grandfather.

Ante Up premiered at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA, and can now be seen in limited release.