Hollywood homecoming: Syracuse native premieres debut film at local theater

Posing under “Welcome Home Carmen Emmi” written in bold black letters, Carmen Emmi smiled as friends and family snapped photos of him in front of the glowing Manlius Cinema marquee. Emmi, a Syracuse native, celebrated a dream come true with a sold-out audience, premiering a film shot entirely in his hometown. 

Locals packed into The Manlius Cinema for the premiere of “Plainclothes,” written and directed by Emmi, on Friday, Sept. 26. 

“Plainclothes” is a psychological thriller set in Syracuse in the late 1990s where Lucas (Tom Blyth), an undercover police officer, struggles with anxiety as he suppresses his secret attraction to men. Viewers join Lucas in his sexual discovery journey full of paranoia through hazy VHS shots and ear-ringing sound effects. Emotional turmoil unfolds as Lucas begins to question his role in the straight-centric police force after meeting Andrew (Russel Tovey) during one of his routine sting operations. Lucas struggles to hide behind his plainclothes as his feelings for Andrew and family drama intensifies. 

Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey in “Plainclothes.”

Following the screening, Emmi hosted a Q&A where he shared insider directorial details. 

Emmi said he wanted to capture Lucas’ anxiety in the film, but the first short he shot for potential investors lacked grainy imaging that makes your skin crawl. He knew he needed to make more shorts, but all he had was his childhood Hi8 camcorder and his iPhone.

“So I went to the [NYS] Fair and broke into the fairgrounds,” Emmi said. The audience burst into laughter. “I realized this is a really cool way to just place you in the 90s. Just by the way it was shot.”

Lucas’s perspectives were captured with intentional dizziness, bringing audience members along as he navigates societal and familial pressure regarding sexual identity, and anxiety creeps in tighter. 

Courtesy of Magnolia Productions

Tom Blyth and Russell Tovey lying down in “Plainclothes.”

Audience members offered many compliments on Emmi’s artistic choices, like the use of real VHS footage from his childhood. Others thanked Emmi for sharing his work, relating to fellow members of the queer community with similar experiences to Lucas. 

Emmi said hearing people open up and talk about their own personal experiences was not something he fully expected. 

“The fact that [those kinds of conversations] are happening in my hometown, I feel so lucky,” Emmi said. “It’s been such a therapeutic experience for my younger self.”

The crowd consisted of friends who helped work on the film and Emmi’s family members, including his father. 

During the Q&A, an audience member thanked Emmi for how authentic and resonant the film was, “as someone who came out in 1997.” 

Emmi said he intended to make this film very personal and realistic, as it reflects some of his own experiences with his coming-out journey. 

The director’s first memory of anxiety over his sexuality happened when he was seven, while shopping in Wegman’s. A woman flipped through a magazine and announced Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out, Emmi recalled.

“I remember reading the word ‘gay’ and realizing that gay was bad,” Emmi said. “I got to go back and heal that moment in my life by making and writing this film.” 

He shot the entire film in Syracuse in 18 days. Emmi made multiple nods to Syracuse jargon in the script, such as mentioning his alma mater, Bishop Grimes High School. 

Melanie Stevens sat outside the Manlius Cinema while audience members trickled in. Stevens said Emmi used to shoot his high school film projects in her basement with her daughter, Lauren Stanton, who had a small cameo in ‘Plainclothes.’ 

“I’m so proud of them,” Stevens said. “You just knew they had a talent. You just knew it.”

‘Plainclothes’ went on to win the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Ensemble Cast at the Sundance Film Festival this past year. 

‘Plainclothes’ is no longer screening locally, but will be available on streaming platforms in November. 

Emmi said he hopes to film another movie in Syracuse following his positive experiences with local film crews. 

“[Syracuse] is such a beautiful place and I really love my hometown and I just want people to see how amazing it is,” Emmi said. “This was really my love letter to Syracuse.”