Derick and Steven Martini, two brothers who grew up in Syosset, recently co-wrote and produced a film together with director, longtime friend and Long Island native Kevin Jordan entitled Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire.

The Martini brothers met Jordan when Steven and Kevin attended Professional Children's School in New York together. All three were actors and often went on the same auditions and when Jordan began his directing career, Steven worked with him on his student films. When the Martini brothers, fueled by their desire to do a film together, completed the first draft of Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire it seemed only natural to call Jordan and enlist him as the film's director.

In the film, the Martini brothers star as Chris and Tony Remi, two brothers searching for love in a sea of Los Angeles singles. Their mutual quest for love and the confusion it brings is all they have in common. Chris, whose stern, serious demeanor earned him the nickname "Goat on Fire" from his Native American grandmother, is a cautious accountant desperately trying to make his dying three-year-old relationship work. On the other hand, Tony, known as "Smiling Fish" is a happy-go-lucky, out-of-work actor with a light-hearted approach to love and everything else. He then meets a down-to-earth, single mom and is forced to reevaluate his carefree lifestyle.

Jordan understood the closeness between the fictional Remi brothers, which mirrors that of the Martinis - and the Jordans. Jordan has two brothers as well. The three drew upon their own personal knowledge and family experience as they wrote.

Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire was shot in 12 days on a micro-budget of $40,000. The Martini brothers and Kevin Jordan called in favors to make that minimal amount stretch as far as it could and supplemented the budget with presents of live lobsters courtesy of "The Lobster Dock," the Long Beach restaurant owned by Jordan's father.

The film premiered in North America at the 1999 Toronto Film Festival and was chosen by the 700 critics in attendance as the winner of the festival's Discovery Award.

This film is Derick Martini's first feature film debut as star, writer and producer. Martini, who plays Chris Remi in the film, began his acting career as a teenager and has acted in numerous off-Broadway productions. He has also appeared on the NBC hit show Law and Order.

Steven Martini, who plays Tony Remi in Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire, had a leading role opposite Damon Wayans in the box office hit Major Payne. Acting since he was a teenager, Martini starred in the 1997 NBC television series Prince Street. Among his other television credits are the Fox television film, The Prince of Love and NBC's Law and Order. Smiling Fish and Goat on Fire marks Martini's first feature film as screenwriter, producer and composer.

Christa Miller also stars in this film with the Martini brothers. She currently stars on the ABC comedy series The Drew Carey Show.

This 90 minute film was rated R by the MPAA and opens in New York on Aug. 25, followed by a national release through Stratosphere Entertainment.