An Ex-cop-turned-movie-star brings Staten Island to the big screen in the romantic comedy The Networker

By Catie Curatolo

When Harry Met Sally. How to Lose A Guy in 10 Days. Annie Hall: all romantic comedies, and all set in New York.

Now, another one will be added to the roster.

The Networker, which stars and is produced by Steve Stanulis, pays homage to the city—specifically the actor’s hometown of Staten Island.

“Usually when people think of doing a film in New York, it’s always Manhattan or Brooklyn,” he said. “It’s good to do something kind of original, and there’s so many great locations [on Staten Island] that have not been used, so I always feel, every time I do a movie, I have to integrate them.”

Stanulis is a retired New York City police officer who took a job working security for celebrities before he got into filmmaking. The Networker, his seventh movie, was filmed this past summer on location in Staten Island, as well as in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens.

“I have a lot of friends in the industry and the only time they’ve been on the island is going on the Expressway to go through, but nobody’s ever really ventured into it,” Stanulis said. “Being from the borough, there are a lot of great places here that nobody knows about it.”

Fellow islanders will notice many familiar locations in the film, including the Surv Restaurant in Prince’s Bay. With The Networker, Stanulis is trying to reverse the idea of the community as the “forgotten borough,” known principally through reality shows like Mob Wives.

“People think all of the area is like that, and it’s not, of course—there are tons of professionals who live and work here…a lot of well-educated people. Just a great place to raise kids and to have a family,” he said.

In addition to producing, Stanulis plays the main character in the film: John Mangano is a 40-year-old womanizer skating through life working at his father’s printing company. When his father gives him an ultimatum (come up with a business plan in three months or lose the company), Mangano jumps into the world of networking, and winds up meeting some interesting characters and a possible love interest along the way.

The movie, directed by the award-winning John Gallagher, also cast notable actors in Stephen Baldwin, William Forsythe, Sean Young, and Alysia Reiner. Stanulis credits his reputation and relationships within the industry for getting what he calls a “pretty unbelievable cast.”

“I went for a recognizable group,” he said. “With the budget I had, I went after people I knew would be great and super recognizable, so with my relationships and a good script, I started to put together a stunning cast considering the budget for the film.”