The renovated Lamp Theatre, which was showing movies in downtown Irwin for more than six decades before it closed in 2004, is the set for a movie production this summer.
Independent movie director and producer Mark Cantu, 45, of McKeesport said he will return to the theater in downtown Irwin on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to resume shooting scenes for his upcoming horror film, “Grind,” which is described as a cosmic horror comedy.
Cantu said he plans to shoot interior shots at The Lamp on Aug. 19, along with late-night outdoor filming on Main Street. He has set aside Aug. 20 and 21 for additional interior filming at The Lamp.
Irwin Borough this spring approved an agreement with the company to provide police officers for security during the filming and approved filming outside the theater.
The Lamp serves as the site of what is described as the movie’s Grindhouse Film Festival produced by a group of college students who uncover an enigmatic arthouse horror film titled, “The Creeping Chaos.” The students screen the film and unwittingly release a series of horrific and supernatural events that wreak havoc on their lives and the festival.
“I’ve been in the Lamp Theatre a couple of times. It looks great,” Cantu said of his selection for part of what he intends to be an 80-minute movie.
In selecting The Lamp for scenes for “Grind,” Cantu is returning to where one of his earlier horror films, “Massacre Academy,” had its world premiere in 2021.
Scenes also will be shot in the McKeesport and Pittsburgh, said Cantu, who also is one of the writers of the movie.
Bill Elder, Lamp Theatre manager, said he was not certain what preparations might be necessary for the movie production.
One of the fun things to watch for when the movie is completed will be spotting where the filming took place within the theater, said Elder, who noted that Cantu had done some filming at The Lamp about three weeks ago.
The Lamp will benefit from the exposure in the movie, he said. It also helps the local art scene.
“This is a great way to help local actors,” Elder said of the cast that Cantu has put together for the production. “He wants to make an honestly good movie.”
To undertake any movie project — independent or coming out of Hollywood — takes money. Cantu has raised about $53,400 through a social media fundraising page, IndieGoGo, from the support of about 210 backers. His “stretch goal” is $100,000 for the movie produced under the corporate umbrella of Cineworx.
Cantu said he hopes to have the film ready to premiere early next year.
Joe Napsha is a TribLive reporter covering Irwin, North Huntingdon and the Norwin School District. He also writes about business issues. He grew up on Neville Island and has worked at the Trib since the early 1980s. He can be reached at jnapsha@triblive.com.