A group of Ocean State filmmakers used their home state as the backdrop for the feature-length comedy Lumberjacking, which premiered exclusively for Rhode Islanders Saturday at the newly refurbished Park Theater in Cranston.

“This is what we’ve dreamed about since we were kids. I can’t believe that we’re here,” said writer and director Rich Camp, who was joined by friends Frank Iacobucci, Joe Agresti and Matt Zuena, all of whom acted in the film.

Billed as “The Epic Tale of Man vs. Nature” and made on a shoestring budget, the story follows lumberjack Elwood Gordon in the 1960s as he refuses to make the switch from axe to chainsaw.

The 22-year-old Camp recently graduated from New York University’s film school and returned to Rhode Island to start a production company, Rich Camp Entertainment.

Many members of the Campopiano family (he shortened his name for the production company) dressed in flannel “lumberjacking” shirts, helped out at the event and took tickets at the door.

“We’ll be able to say, ‘We knew them when,’” said one relative.

The show was a sellout, thanks in part to media attention from Fox’s “Rhode Show,” WPRO radio and Channel10 News, who all promoted the local film.

Camp and Iacobucci, 23, both of Cranston, have been friends since elementary school but became even closer in high school.

“That’s when we started making movies,” said Camp during the VIP Meet and Greet held at 848 before the start of the film.

The friends became more serious after entering college in 2005.

“This guy does everything – he directs, he writes, he acts,” Iaccobucci said of Camp.

When Camp came home from NYU, the duo decided it was time to make their first full-length film. They elicited the help of Camp’s brother-in-law, 25-year-old Joe Agresti, who portrays Hank in the movie.

“I saw his passion, so I jumped on board,” said Agresti, who also did the graphic design work on the film.

“Joe was a huge part of making this movie, he not only played Hank but helped produce and make everything happen,” Camp said.

The extra effort went a long way, since the film’s budget was set at the $1,000 the group was able to raise. Camp’s father, Richard, provided the use of several period vehicles, his mother Debbie provided many props and several businesses donated equipment.

“The film only cost $1,000 because we got lucky and were able to get food, antique props and so forth donated,” Camp said.

The third floor of an empty building owned by Iacobucci’s grandfather was used to film some interior scenes.

“We had an antique refrigerator that we had to lug up to the third floor on the hottest day,” Camp recalled. “Frank was walking around in his boxers when he wasn’t filming.”

A far cry from their days of hard labor, Saturday’s event featured a red carpet where cast and crew greeted guests.

Utilizing the talents of a local celebrity, radio announcer John DePetro of WPRO served as the narrator. DePetro also portrays Marty the bartender in his first acting role.

His 12-year-old son Daniel DePetro, a student at Cole Middle School in East Greenwich and the youngest actor in the film, also made his film debut.

The elder DePetro said he had tried out for films in the past and was pleased for this opportunity. He featured Camp and Iacobucci on his radio talk show on Friday, Nov. 27.

Filming started on July 26 in various locations statewide. The crowd cheered as recognizable spots or items appeared on screen, including Narragansett Beer.

The film was originally set to premiere at the Columbus Theatre, which was closed due to fire code violations. Iacobucci said having the film premiere in their hometown worked out even better.

“We went to see Beverly Hills Ninja here together back in ’96 or ‘97,” he said.

Most of the cast is from the area. Matt Zuena of Cranston and John DeCorpo of Johnston have appeared in other Rich Camp productions, as well. Cinematographers Chris Loens and Jeff Vilardo are from Cranston and Justin McCormick is from Kingston. Coventry’s Anthony Silva did editing and lighting work.

Actor Harold Ashton joined the group in an unexpected way. The original actor set to play the hermit Horst pulled out at the last minute, necessitating a casting call on Craigslist.

Camp received an e-mail that said, "My name's Harold, I'm 74, I have a large beard and am kind of a hermit myself. I would love to be in your movie."

“I called him immediately and we met an hour later and he was perfect for the part,” Camp said.

Speaking to the audience during the screening event, Camp and Iacobucci thanked those involved, especially Iacobucci’s wife, Janet O’Malley, who was pregnant through most of the filming but still helped out. She gave birth to the couple’s first child on Nov. 4, a boy named Roman.

“Everybody’s been so involved. This group has been so committed to this project,” Camp said.

The group had to sell at least 250 tickets to break even but broke that milestone with ease, selling out the 1,150-seat theater.

Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film and Television Office, and Mayor Allan Fung were both on hand to congratulate the group.

"These guys are terrific and have persevered against all obstacles to follow their dream. This is just the beginning of their journey; this is what it’s all about,” said Feinberg. “We are proud of the amount of quality entertainment being produced by the very talented residents of our Ocean State.”

Feinberg applauded Camp’s dedication to the project, recalling a story of the director selling his original camera in order to buy less expensive models that made filming easier.

“He had to beg, borrow – I don’t think he had to steal – but he had to get creative,” Feinberg said with a laugh.

Looking back at the experience, Iacobucci said the filmmakers are just doing what they love.

“We didn’t do this to become huge and famous,” he said. “We just want to support our families.”

Both have day jobs. Iacobucci delivers pizza and works at Fine Line Graphics, while Camp works at R&D Tool Engineering. Ultimately, though, they’ve got their eyes on the big screen.

“When we were deciding what to do with our lives, nothing else even came close,” Camp said.

For more information, visit www.lumberjackingmovie.com.