Chappetto Square Productions Releases New Short Film

Chappetto Square Productions has released on YouTube its latest short film in the Bench Project series: Lost and Found, an LGBT-themed comedy starring Elaine Barrow and Barbara Malley, directed by Oriana Oppice.

On a regular day in Queens, NY, senior citizen Barbara brings an old box she found in her dead husband's closet to her neighbor and friend, Trudy. Once unlocked, the ladies learn a decades-old secret about their husbands-and the close friendship they shared. Written by John W. Bateman, the film is a humorous reflection on gay love experienced by a generation that was not allowed to be as open as we are today.

The Bench Project-created by Steven Bidwell-is a passion project intended to give opportunities to up-and-coming artists. Inspired by runs through Astoria Park, the project has blossomed into a series of unique film experiences connected only by their setting. Writers were tasked with creating scripts that were no longer than five pages, limited to two characters, and set on a bench. Through the series, audience members see "couples, strangers, friends, and lovers explore the comedic, the sublime, the mysterious, and the bizarre," according to Bidwell. Each film was produced independently with different creative teams, allowing for distinct tones and aesthetic tastes.

Steven Bidwell is an actor, producer, and singer. He has produced cabaret, Off- Broadway, events, and short films.

Oriana Oppice is an actor, director, and producer. Her co-directed film "Camp Belvidere" has been selected at numerous festivals around the world, most recently the Amsterdam Gay & Lesbian Film Festival.

Learn more about The Bench Project on its website www.thebenchproject.tv, Facebook (www.facebook.com/thebenchproject) and Twitter (@bench_project).