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When Phil Bradshaw opened a newspaper in spring 2007, a chain of events was set in motion. The culmination came in October when his film, "Philadelphia: Hopes and Fears," was screened at the 11th annual Philadelphia FirstGlance Film Festival and took top honors in the Best Local Subject Documentary category.
But the 28-year-old from 12th and Mercy streets couldn’t have made it without a little help from his friends.
Sean Maher, of Broad and Kater streets, and Wayne Forchic, of Second and Mifflin streets, completed the trio behind the eight-minute flick that focused on locals’ opinions of the current state of Philadelphia.
"It was right before the mayoral election and it was a time when everyone was down on this city. The murder rate was extremely high and it was the only thing that was in the news," Bradshaw said of when he saw the newspaper ad touting a call for submissions to the local film contest Great Expectations. "Maybe we can make a film that people will watch. Maybe they’ll think differently about the city and maybe it’ll make a difference."
The freelance director of photography recruited his two long-time friends — and fellow freelancers in the film industry — to break out their respective skills and "hear from the different people in the neighborhood," Maher said.
"It definitely shows some different perspectives of the city. Those people who did share, they really shared their heart. They didn’t sugarcoat it. They gave what they felt," Maher, a 32-year-old director and editor, said. "We wanted to go into the neighborhoods and we really just got the tip of it."
The film did well at Great Expectations, which prompted the South Philly boys to enter it in FirstGlance. At the Oct. 19 screening, Bradshaw said he got an overwhelmingly positive response.
"They enjoyed the honesty of Philadelphia citizens. All of the people kept saying, ‘This is something we really relate to,’" he said.
The three met seven years ago when they were paying their dues as production assistants. Playing ideas off each other, Bradshaw — a recent graduate of Rowan University with a bachelor’s in radio, TV and film — and Maher — a Penn State alum who majored in communications — found their personalities an easy match.
"This is a dude I want to work with," Maher recalled of his first impression of Bradshaw. "He’s resourceful, fun, deals with the long hours — it’s just a good vibe. We knew even six, seven years ago, this was a good vibe and we want to keep that going."
They soon collaborated on a music video that set the foundation — and helped generate some buzz — for a working relationship that’s still going strong.
Opening its doors in April, the duo made its partnership official by joining forces behind Fresh Fly, a production company at 1150 S. Ninth St.; the Italian Market office has proved an ideal locale.
"I can walk down here and grab something to eat and I can sit outside and the environment is pleasant. On Passyunk Avenue that’s happening more and more," Maher said.
Bradshaw added, "It’s a nice neighborhood and there are local businesses and we like to support them. We wanted to become part of the business community."
Keeping things local is something their production company will try to do, as well.
"Being in Philadelphia, we want to try to give back to the community in some way," Bradshaw, who moved from Palmyra, N.J., in 2004, said. "We like to do stories about local businesses and focus on local stories and people. Focusing on local stories and events — it makes the city smaller."
Like Bradshaw, Maher and Forchic are transplants — the former calling South of South home for seven years, the latter for three — but they’ve taken to its "gritty" appeal and are staying put.
"I plan on staying in South Philly," Forchic, 34, said. "I have no plans of leaving Philadelphia. Right now, I just feel it seems like a place where I would want to stay at.
"It’s a bunch of neighborhoods all nestled together, there are lots of great restaurants and the people are genuine."
Added Maher, "Many people told me, ‘If this is what you want to do, you have to move to New York or L.A.’ There is no reason why I can’t do this in Philly. I can do this here and I don’t need to go anywhere to chase any kind of dream.
"Right on Ninth there are a lot of young people. And all on Passyunk there is a new vibe and new businesses coming in. It’s a cool place to be at this time. Things are getting better. There is reason to have hope."
Being a part of that positive change is a mission the men look to do on a personal level as well as through their work.
"I’d like our company to go in the documentary direction and telling stories that people need to hear," Bradshaw said. "It’s about getting back to the art of filmmaking. We’d really like to push to do documentary work and nonprofit work and that’s what we get pleasure out of doing."
Despite many points in common, the married Bradshaw, engaged Maher and single Forchic are hardly cookie-cutters. Instead, the group has embraced each other’s differences and used them as an integral part of their creative process.
"They both are great guys," Forchic, who transferred from West Chester University to the Art Institute of Philadelphia to study film and video before becoming a producer, said. "I’m glad I can call them friends. They are both creative, intelligent and interesting."
Obviously, the combination equaled success for their latest collaboration. However, true to form, each thinks there is more work to be done.
"Every time I watch it, I almost feel like it’s a trailer for something bigger, like a bigger story that needs to be told," Bradshaw said of "Hopes and Fears." "There needs to be more. There’s so much more to say. You can’t squeeze that into eight minutes."
Maher, who appears in the film on his stoop sporting a red shirt that says "Philly," agreed, adding he hopes he and his friends can bring about some of the positive changes the documentary discusses.
"There is something to be said that it’s not superpolished, all brand-new," Maher said of South Philly. "It’s kind of lived-in and it has character, and yet room for growth.
"We can make an impact here, just by being here."
