“Sometimes the quietest voice shatters the silence”

Short film Laurina captures the courage, resilience – and pain – of beloved Ecobelli matriarch who was abused and exploited as a teen in early 1900s

MULTI-TIERED FEATURE  BY ANN HAUPRICH

Shortly before Laurina Inzinna Ecobelli passed away in 1981, she entrusted the preservation of a priceless family heirloom to the care of grandchildren Lora Lee and Tom, then ages 23 and 17.

The keepsake bequeathed to the Ballston Spa sibling pair by their cherished 75-year-old grandmother was more precious than gold for it told in her own words — and handwriting — the story of an epic chapter in her young life that ultimately culminated in a valiant quest for justice and triumph of the human spirit.

Born to Italian immigrant parents, “Nona” Laurina asked Lora Lee and Tom to one day find a way to share what she had secretly penned in her diary in order to help educate and empower others.

They vowed they would. To say they have kept their promise would be an understatement.

The journal in which Laurina detailed the physical and sexual abuse she had endured at the hands of her stepfather who impregnated her at age 13 a century ago is now an award-winning short film that captures her courage, fortitude and resilience as well as her pain. “We didn’t want to focus on the brutality of her situation, but rather the inner strength that saw her through those dark days,” reflects Lora Lee. “She wanted my brother and me to share her story in a manner that would bring hope and healing to future generations. It was important to her that the story of what led her to be at the center of a controversial upstate New York trial in 1923 be told in a way that would encourage victims of abuse and exploitation to speak up – to put an end to the kind of suffering that had in so many ways robbed her of her youth.”

Longtime Saratoga County residents and tourists may remember Laurina for her matronly hospitality at the former family-owned and operated Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter Restaurant on Route 50 in Ballston Spa. Although Laurina kept the saga of her traumatic adolescent ordeal a closely guarded secret throughout her lengthy tenure at the popular dining establishment, Lora Lee and Tom say she quietly helped other women who were victims of domestic violence. After decades of toiling (prior to the MeToo movement) to get the script they had co-authored produced as a motion picture, Emmy-winning director Sylvia Caminer ultimately signed on to the film-making project along with Executive Producers and Producers Michalina Scorzelli and Chris Gaunt. The latter pair also had acting roles in the production.

Filmed entirely in the Capital Region in the autumn of 2022, with some scenes shot in the actual locations where the events had unfolded, Laurina features rising star Adriana Camposano in the title role along with Jenna Kurmemaj as the heroine’s sister Minnie and Sal Cacciato portraying their step-father Pietro. The role of Doctor Porter was performed by Steven Schnetzer. In addition to their roles as screenwriters, Lora Lee and Tom (both of whom forged professional acting careers after their graduations from Ballston Spa High School in 1975 and 1982, respectively) were among the talented actors, extras and crew members whose contributions enhanced the film-making experience.

It is note-worthy that legendary composer David Amram, who crafted the exquisite score, was the only person involved in the film’s creation other than Lora Lee and Tom, who had known the real Laurina. According to the siblings, Amram was inspired to write the score “to script” meaning he composed the music while watching scenes from the film. Among the world-renowned composer’s other stellar scores are those he wrote for the now classic movies Splendor in the Grass (Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty) and The Manchurian Candidate (Angela Lansbury and Frank Sinatra.) Talk about a hard act to follow!

The following Q & A between writer Ann Hauprich and film-makers Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli shines the spotlight on much more of what transpired behind-the-scenes in conjunction with the filming of Laurina – which earned much applause at short film festivals in Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Florida before garnering Best Short Film and Best Picture awards at the 2023 Albany Film Festival.

ANN: How — and why — were the various Capital Region filming locations chosen?

TOM: The farm scenes were filmed at the Garrison farm on Goode Street in Ballston Spa. Frieda Vorhinger-Garrison is an old family friend. Lora Lee and Frieda rode horses and showed them at the Saratoga County Fair together. Frieda worked her way through pharmaceutical school by working as a waitress at our family’s Ecobelli’s Restaurant. The mill scenes were filmed at the Stanford Carpet Mill in Amsterdam. This was the actual mill where Laurina and her sister Minnie worked as children with their mother Carmella. Terry Barker, who owns the clock tower mill in Amsterdam, supplied authentic props and furniture for the mill scenes. The Walter Elwood Museum in Amsterdam was also very generous in supplying many actual items for us to use in the mill scenes. The orphanage scenes were important because Laurina and Minnie had been temporarily placed in an orphanage before their young widowed mother married their step-father. Those scenes were filmed at a historic 1700s farmhouse in Feura Bush. The location was provided at no cost, very generously by the owners Wendy, and John Meehan. The interior farmhouse scenes were filmed in Delmar at an historic old barn/meeting house owned by Executive Producer and Producer Michalena Scorzelli. She is transforming the barn into an arts center to provide rehearsal and performance space for area artists.

ANN: What was involved in securing permissions to film in these particular places? How long did the filming take? Were any extras hired? Where did those involved in the filming dine and lodge?

TOM: We contacted Amsterdam city officials who allowed us to use the mills and the surrounding streets. They were very welcoming and made filming there a pleasure. The other locations were donated by friends and people who wanted to support the film. We filmed the entire movie in one week. The extras were mostly friends, family, and students from Lora Lee’s acting school The Blue Horse Repertory Company Acting School. Costumes were designed and created by Jenn Dugan. Props were provided by Terry Barker who owns the clock tower mill in Amsterdam. Art direction was by Deidra Catero and Austin Cleverley. The catering was done by Laurina’s Kitchen (Lora Lee and Tom).

ANN: Adriana Camposano, who portrays the film title’s namesake, has been described as a rising star. I’d love to include a quote about the reasons the two of you selected her to portray your grandmother as a young woman. Are there any scenes in particular in which Adriana especially captured your beloved grandma’s spirit?

LORA LEE: We chose Adriana because she captured the innocence and generosity of Laurina. Jenna had Minnies sensitivities and spunk.

TOM: I agree. I’d add Adriana also had a strong resemblance to the real Laurina when she was young. Adriana also had a very calm, steady aura about her. Jenna also showed a lot of intelligence and compassion at her audition.

ANN: What would you most like readers to know about co-stars Jenna Kurmemaj and Stephen Schnetzer?

TOM: Jenna was dedicated and an excellent listener. She completely understood the scenes she was a part of and was very supportive to her castmates. The camera catches every emotion that crosses her expressive face. Stephen Schnetzer was a pro. He shot his scenes in one day under some very difficult conditions. The mill was very cold the day of his scenes and there was no heat. There was also a lot of street noise that kept interrupting the scenes. He took it all in stride, (as did Adriana and Jenna) and they never complained, just patiently completed their scenes.

ANN: What was the cost of producing the film? How was it financed?

TOM: We can’t say what the total cost of making the film was to protect some very generous benefactors, but we had a successful Go-FundMe campaign that raised a good part of it, however the majority of funds were from our Executive Producers Michalina Scorzelli and Chris Gaunt. They were also producers and actors in the film. Their generosity, expertise and passion are what got the project off the ground.

ANN: Could you please elaborate on awards and citations your short film has received thus far and plans for future showings?

TOM: The film is still making the festival rounds. So far, it’s been to the Orlando and Fort Lauderdale film festivals and recently won Best Short Film and Best Picture at the Albany Film Festival. It was accepted into the Syracuse Film Festival for this September. Hopefully the Adirondack film festival will be next.

ANN: What were your “most memorable moments” of this experience?

LORA LEE: For me the most memorable scenes were filmed at the old Mill in Amsterdam. You could feel the ghosts of all the immigrants who toiled their lives away there. Also filming at the Garrison Farm in Ballston Spa. Wondering how my grandmother must have felt as she watched her new life after the orphanage unfold.

TOM: For me it was the scene where Laurina confesses Pietro’s abuse to Minnie after trying to protect her and the family by keeping it a secret. We filmed this on the first day and it was the first time I really saw the vision Lora Lee and I had pull together in a real way. It was shot outside, and the beautiful surroundings contrasted with the gravity of the scene. The two actresses showed the love and loyalty the two sisters shared in a beautiful, genuine way. That moment is burned into my memory.

ANN: Nona Ecobelli is surely smiling down from above with love, pride and gratitude as you persevere in your noble quest to educate and empower – as well as to entertain – film audiences.

Laurina’s Kitchen a perfect blend of old
Ecobelli family recipes … and memories

BY ANN HAUPRICH

While the film titled Laurina captures a portion of the saga of a former restaurant’s beloved matriarch’s tragic youth, a cookbook co-authored by grandchildren Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli is a light-hearted and heart-warming collection of what had once been secret family recipes as well as a treasure trove of memories.

Published by Square Circle Press, Laurina’s Kitchen is described by publisher Richard Vang as “a colorful and eclectic mix of ephemera, such as menus, postcards and newspaper articles which combine to bring this Upstate New York institution back to life. Peppered throughout are images of the Ecobellis and their extended ‘family’ around the restaurant and at home as well as special memories contributed by staff, patrons and friends who were all a part of the restaurant’s devoted community.”

Although Laurina’s Kitchen was first published in 2012, Tom and Lora Lee continue to meet folks who are interested in learning how to secure copies of the richly illustrated 8.5” x 11” literary keepsake. “It’s amazing — and touching — how many people from near and far remember meeting our grandmother (Laurina) while dining at Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter on Route 50 in Ballston Spa,” says Tom. “At the time, of course, none of them knew the story of her tragic childhood which has now been brought to life in the film titled Laurina.”

The good news for those wishing to purchase copies is that a direct link to its customer-friendly publishing house exists. Simply CLICK HERE or contact Richard Vang at www.squarecirclepress.com.

Noteworthy is that those who turn the pages of Laurina’s Kitchen will discover it contains references to plans for a major motion picture titled Chickadee, however, no mention of the recently released short film Laurina. The reason is that at the time of the cookbook’s publication just over a decade ago, Lora Lee and Tom Ecobelli had not yet co-authored the script for the masterpiece that is now making film festival rounds. The siblings decided to call the latter creation Laurina because they wanted it to stand alone from Chickadee.

“The short explores the beginning of Laurina’s story and ends with her courageous decision to have stepfather Pietro arrested. We wanted it to tell this portion of her life fully, not just have it be a promo for the future feature. This was very difficult to do in under 20 minutes, but we feel we accomplished most of what we wanted to do,” explains Tom. “The script for Chickadee, on the other hand, is the complete story of Laurina’s saga taking the viewer through Laurina’s journey from leaving the orphanage, the tragedy with Pietro, the difficult, landmark trial, the birth of the baby and eventually Laurina’s acceptance and healing.”.

BOTTOM LINE: While the short film titled Laurina has been completed and is earning rave reviews, Chickadee has not yet taken flight. Tom and Lora Lee remain interested in meeting with benefactors and investors who might want to help them bring a full-length feature version of their cherished grandmother’s inspiring and empowering story to the big screen. “We would love to hear from anyone who can help make that happen,” says Tom. For more information, kindly message Tom and Laura Lee Ecobelli through their film’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LaurinaFilmPartners/.

The video posted below contains footage and images from Laurina’s Kitchen book release party that was held on August 4, 2012 at Ecobelli’s Tam O’Shanter Inn on Route 50 in Ballston Spa, NY. The video was captured and edited by Mary Hauprich Reilly.