FILM RELEASE FULFILLS DREAM OF PROFESSOR.

Byline: Jason Kandel and Robert Monroe Staff Writers

It took Nate Thomas $100,000, 17 days of shooting and three years of waiting to see the release of his film ``East of Hope Street.''

The California State University, Northridge, film studies professor and his longtime friend and collaborator, actor Tim Russ, premiered their movie about life in the underbelly of Los Angeles on Friday night at the Charlie Chaplin Theater in Hollywood.

``The movie was true to life,'' declared James L. Skinner, a counselor at Zenith Youth Homes in Inglewood who came to be part of the opening night crowd.

After the curtain came down, he said, he walked out of the theater inspired ``to continue taking care of the youth of tomorrow.''

Russ said the film, about the odyssey of a young Salvadoran immigrant through the child protection system, shows ``a Los Angeles people rarely see.''

``We see the gang thing every night,'' said the 42-year-old who drew from his experiences as a counselor at a residential treatment center for girls. ``I started thinking maybe this would be something people would want to see.''

Thomas used CSUN film and acting students in the production, which was shot on campus and at various Los Angeles locations. Russ co-wrote, co-produced and financed the movie.

Many of those who played a part in the film attended the premiere, helping pack the small theater.

``This is an important movie that raises a lot of important issues,'' said Roxanne Coyne, who plays a social worker in the film. ``Oftentimes what is best for the children is not what the law says you have to do.''

Since its completion, the film has played at several small festivals. Russ, who plays the character Tuvok on the television series ``Star Trek: Voyager,'' said it took the showings for word of mouth to finally reach executives at Cinema Guild Releases, the movie's distributor.

In an industry where hundreds of independent films are made that never see theatrical release, Russ is still surprised ``Hope Street'' made it.

``Once it gets rolling, it's so typical of this business that if one person says it's interesting, it must be interesting,'' Russ said.

The movie begins a run in selected theaters nationwide Nov. 5. It will open in Los Angeles at Laemmle's Grand 4-PLEX.

Part of the take from Friday's premiere will benefit the youth home in Inglewood and CSUN's Department of Radio, Television and Film.

Though most of the students worked behind the camera, then-CSUN acting student Asanio Larais the co-star. Thomas predicts the movie could do big things for his former ensemble member.

``I see him as the next Antonio Banderas,'' Thomas said.

CSUN film student Moacyr Orozco, 26, who had already seen the film, was helping park cars at the premiere. His aunt worked in a children's home, he said, so he ``understood where the director was coming from.''

``This film touches a lot of issues that people don't see every day,'' he said.

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Photo

Photo: Film professor Nate Thomas, left, and actor Tim Russ co-produced ``East of Hope Street.''

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer