While major Hollywood movies position themselves to open on thousands of screens, Robert E. Bupp is happy "The Bread, My Sweet" is opening next month in Chicago on three.

"The three screens are a big deal for us," said Bupp, a Farrell native who has been involved in the making and marketing of the independent film since its inception.

With limited promotional funds and a small number of actual prints of the film, Bupp and his partners will take whatever screenings they can get.

"The Bread, My Sweet" opened last year in Pittsburgh and has been rolling from one city to another. It opens Friday at Westgate Cinemas in New Castle.

To a certain extent, any money made from showings in one city pay for promoting it in another, said Bupp, who was design director, still photographer and co-editor.

"Your competition is massive," he said, noting that so-called independent films with Hollywood backing have promotional budgets in the millions of dollars, while true independents spend in the tens of thousands.

"It's David and Goliath," he said. "The trick is to get out there, get reviewed and make noise."

The film stars television star Scott Baio -- of "Happy Days," "Charles in Charge" and "Diagnosis: Murder" fame -- as Dom, a second-generation Italian, corporate raider who is the caretaker for his mentally handicapped brother. Dom is also the surrogate son of an Italian immigrant woman, Bella, (Rosemary Prinz, whose credits include the soap opera "As the World Turns," off Broadway in "Steel Magnolias" and the touring version of "Driving Miss Daisy") who lives above his bakery.

When Dom learns that Bella is dying, he proposes to her daughter, Lucca (Kristin Minter, who plays Randi in "ER"). Bella has been saving for Lucca's wedding since the day the girl was born.

The story is partially based on a couple who lived in the Strip District of Pittsburgh, where it was shot.

Bupp, of Pittsburgh, said he liked the story because it deals with "real human emotions" and not stock characters.

"It's about the things in life that really matter," said Bupp, who came to film through the advertising industry.

The 1985 Kennedy Catholic High School, Hermitage, graduate received a bachelor's degree in advertising at Youngstown State University. With Ketchum Communications of Pittsburgh, he started working on commercials as an art director, and then as a director on spots for Children's Hospital, Erie Arts Council and other clients.

He was graphic designer for "The Mothman Prophecies" and still photographer for "Mary and Joe."

Melissa Martin wrote and directed "The Bread, My Sweet" and brought in her friend, Adrienne Wehr, who is now Bupp's wife, to produce.

"We met and started working on this movie almost simultaneously," Bupp said of Ms. Wehr, who also acted in the film and has appeared in "Dogma" and "Inspector Gadget" and was associate producer for "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Bupp's initial role was in marketing the film for potential investors.

The trio started working on the film in 1998, and finished in 2000.

The film debuted in Pittsburgh a year ago and played nine months at the Denis in Mount Lebanon, six months at the Manor in Squirrel Hill, and two other theaters.

Bupp said he's met people who have seen the film five to 10 times.

"God bless them," he said. "We don't have nine months' worth of friends to go to the theater. It's built on its own."

The film, distributed domestically by Panorama Entertainment, has been screened in 17 film festivals and won for best dramatic feature at the Santa Monica International Film Festival. It also won two prizes, including the Grand Jury Prize, at Worldfest in Houston, and an acting award for Baio at the Atlantic City Film Festival.

Bupp said he hopes the ethnic population of Chicago will come out in force to see the film, and the notoriety will help it get a shot at New York City.

The filmmakers are working with Artist View Entertainment to look for foreign distribution.

Financially, the film is starting to make back the money invested in it.

"No one has received any cash or any dividends for their investment, yet," Bupp said. "We will return a dividend."

Ms. Martin has adapted a screenplay from a play she wrote, "The Shriveled Arm of Uma Kimball," for a new film. Bupp called the story a "modern-day fairy tale."

"The Bread, My Sweet" should make it easier to find investors for the next film, he said.

"It's an excellent calling card," he said. "When you've made something, people look at you differently."

"The Bread, My Sweet" will open at 7 p.m. Friday and Bupp, Ms. Martin and Ms. Wehr will participate in a discussion and answer questions following the screening. Showtimes will be noon and 2, 4, 7, 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. Saturday and noon and 2, 4 and 7 p.m. weekdays. The theater is at 2000 W. State St. Theater information: (724) 652-9063 and (724) 652-9072. Film information: www.whoknewproductions.
com

You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot att jpinchot@sharonherald.com