June 6, 2002 - Bayport, NY
"SOME TROUBLE" WINS FINISHING GRANT

Long Island Film/TV Foundation Honors Tucci

Some Trouble of A SeRRious Nature, the directorial debut of comics creator and publisher Billy Tucci, has been selected as the winner of the prestigious Long Island Film/TV Foundation Finishing Fund Grant.

The film, presently in post-production, is a comedy based on the legendary 1947 hoax letter written to Chance Vought Aviation detailing the disposition of one unfortunate Vought F4U Corsair fighter plane and the hillbillies who were determined to fly it. Thousands of copies of the letter have been distributed throughout aviation circles in the years since, but Some Trouble of A SeRRious Nature represents its first filmic incarnation and stars Brian Finney (The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle).

Tucci first rose to fame within the comic book industry with his self published series Shi: The Way of the Warrior. Through Tucci’s publishing company Crusade Fine Arts Ltd., Shi is published in four languages, has sold over 4 million comic books and grossed over 25 million dollars worldwide. Additionally he has created properties for comics and film such as Atomik ANGELS, The Burning Blue, Diosa, Victoria Cross and The Undaunted. Tucci, along with screenwriter Kevin Bernhardt (Art of War, Black Friday) is currently writing the screenplay for the feature film version of Shi.

The Long Island Film & TV Foundation is established to stimulate and encourage film and TV production on Long Island, New York. Since film and activities on the Island account for over 40 million dollars in revenues per year, the foundation invites future projects to the area by working closely with industry executives, financiers, film producers, TV/Cable operators and government officials.

"I’m really honored to receive this Finishing Fund Grant from the Foundation. Their efforts to bolster the film community in this part of New York played a significant role in our ability to make this film a reality," Tucci said. "In addition to the prestige of winning this award, it’s contributions like this that really make independent filmmaking the positive adventure that it is."

"We are proud to present Billy Tucci and Crusade Fine Arts with the 2002 Long Island Film/TV Foundation and the Nassau County Film Commission Finishing Fund Grant." L.I. Film/TV Director Debra Markowitz continued, "Billy's first film, Some Trouble of a SeRRious Nature, shows that he has a brilliant career ahead of him in the movie industry."

Details on the release of Some Trouble of a SeRRious Nature will be forthcoming.

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About Crusade Fine Arts

Media Contacts:
Debbie Markowitz
Director, Long Island Film/TV Foundation
E-Mail: debfilm@aol.com

Deborah Tucci
Crusade Fine Arts Ltd.