A film drama about the competitive world of women's professional billiards filmed partially in Pottsville will premiere Tuesday in Baltimore, Md., Samantha Lathrop, an associate producer with Main Street Productions, Philadelphia, said this week.
"I'd be happy to have a Pottsville screening. I didn't know the film was done," Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of Pottsville Area Development Corp., said Nov. 13.
PADCO manages the Sovereign Majestic Theater, a nonprofit performing arts 224-seat venue at 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville.
Burkhart said she will make an effort to get in touch with Main Street Production to discuss the possibility of a screening of "9-Ball" in Pottsville.
"Yes, we are working with your local theater for a date, possibly in the beginning of December. We will let you know when we have a firm date," Anthony Palma, the film's writer, director and executive producer, said Tuesday.
The film's premiere will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Charles Theater, 1711 N. Charles St., Baltimore, Md. Tickets at the door will be $9 each, Lathrop said.
People from Pottsville who aren't able to make the three-hour drive to Baltimore that day can order the DVD. It will be available Tuesday from www.mainstreetproductions.com, Lathrop said.
The film's crew started scouting locations in Pottsville in July 2010.
In May 2011, the crew filmed scenes in the city. Locations included the 700 block of North Centre Street. In June, the crew wrapped up production by filming scenes in city at locations which included Club 18, 110 N. 18th St.
"'9-Ball' was filmed primarily in Pottsville, Pa., and Glen Burnie, Md., locations due to the concentrated billiards community and local support of the film's production," Lathrop said.
The movie stars a few international pool champions, including Jennifer Barretta who plays as "Gail," a young woman striving to become a pro.
A Norristown native, Barretta has resided in Manhattan for more than 20 years. A champion 9-ball player, she achieved "touring pro" status with the Women's Professional Billiards Association in October 2003. In December 2004, she defeated the top-ranked player during an ESPN-televised match. She said she won her first international title in 2006, the Empress Cup in Korea.
Known for her movie-star looks, Barretta was voted into ESPN's "25 Sexiest Female Athletes of 2005" and the top 16 "Sexiest Female Athletes of 2008."