Andrew Garroni has worked as a film producer in Los Angeles for over 40 years. Originally from New Jersey, he moved to LA to launch his career in his early 20s. Garroni released the 1980 cult horror classic “Maniac” which became a global hit. Throughout the 80s and 90s, he released a series of suspense, thriller, and cult horror classics like “Vigilante”, “Night Rhythms”, and “Body of Influence.” Today, Garroni owns Master Licensing Inc., a film production and distribution company, as well as the digital marketing firm Eureka Multimedia. At Master Licensing, Garroni specializes in revitalizing classic IPs, and his latest project is the comeback of the 1948 film classic “Naked City”.
Q: What made you want to recreate the original “Naked City” film into a TV series almost 80 years later?
ANDREW GARRONI: Naked City has been a classic ever since it was related in 1948. It was a brand new kind of film back then, shot on location in New York, gritty, authentic, with a documentary-style realism that still feels fresh. Aside from it being an interesting crime-related story, I always appreciated the way it captured the little moments of daily life in New York. When I would watch it, I would start thinking about what the film would look like today and how we could tell the story in the modern world. That sparked my idea to recreate a modern TV series that still honors the original version.
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced during revitalization?
ANDREW GARRONI: There were a lot. The biggest challenge was trying to figure out how to capture the feel of the original film without being stuck in it. We didn’t want to copy every shot, but we also didn’t want to lose what made it special. Balancing nostalgia and relevance took a lot of time. Plus, with a title like this, people have expectations. You have to respect the legacy. OG fans will appreciate it if you can modernize certain aspects of the film without taking away its original meaning.
Q: How have you changed the style to suit modern audiences?
ANDREW GARRONI: We’re borrowing a lot of visual aspects from the original version, including the location and high-contrast lighting. But we’re combining those features with new technology. The features in the series are still familiar to those seen in the film, but we’re going to show the noise and chaos of modern urban life. Obviously, New York has changed a lot over the last several decades and we plan to showcase the transformation of New York’s historic neighborhoods into modern cities and how these changes have affected New Yorkers.
Q: Are the characters staying the same, or have you made some changes?
ANDREW GARRONI: We have made some changes. The detective is still a primary character, but his backstory and worldview are rooted in today’s reality. The supporting cast represents a more diverse and connected city. Social topics that weren’t a concern in 1948 are now a major part of the story. We wanted our characters to feel like real people dealing with said challenges. There is still a strong human aspect in the new series.
Q: What does the revitalization mean to you, and what do you hope viewers take away from it?
ANDREW GARRONI: Naked City is rooted in the stories of everyday people going about their daily lives in a crowded, tough, exciting city. That hasn’t changed. I hope audiences will see it and get a better understanding of how cities are still full of life, struggle, hope, and mystery. There are eight million stories in the Naked City, as the original film said, and we think it’s time to tell a few more.
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