SCRANTON — A New York City independent movie company plans to film a thriller at local spots in October, offering opportunities both on camera and off.
Cardinal Flix will film “Arachnophilia” at several landmarks, including a multi-day shoot at Keystone College in La Plume Twp. and scenes at Lackawanna College.
Those interested in offering shooting locations, appearing as secondary actors, background actors or working on the production in other ways, can fill out a form on the social media accounts for “Arachnophilia Film.”
Two area natives with name-brand industry credits have key positions. Lackawanna Trail High School graduate Adam Spott is the assistant to the director, and Anthony Bruno, a West Scranton High School graduate, is the production designer.
They plan to spend $1.3 million in the region.
The film company and business community figures spoke Tuesday at a news conference at the restaurant A’tera 519.
Co-founder and director of New York-basead film production company Cardinal Flix Sarah T. Schwab, center left, discusses her film’ Arachnophilia’ to be shot in locations around Northeastern Pennsylvania during a press conference in A’tera 519 in downtown Scranton Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Seated with Schwab are, from left, Leslie Collins, executive director at Scranton Tomorrow, Anthony Bruno, production designer, Adam Spott, assistant to the director, Brian Long, co-founder and exedutive director of Cardinal Flix, John Basalyga, real estate developer and owner of JBAS Realty, John Pullo, president of Keystone College, and Amy Luyster, vice president of business and workforce development at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Co-founder and Executive Director of New York-based film production company Cardinal Flix Brian Long speaks about the film ‘Arachnophilia’ during a press conference at A’tera 519 in downtown Scranton Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Co-founder and director of New York-basead film production company Cardinal Flix Sarah T. Schwab, center left, discusses her film’ Arachnophilia’ to be shot in locations around Northeastern Pennsylvania during a press conference in A’tera 519 in downtown Scranton Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Seated with Schwab are, from left, Leslie Collins, executive director at Scranton Tomorrow, Anthony Bruno, production designer, Adam Spott, assistant to the director, Brian Long, co-founder and exedutive director of Cardinal Flix, John Basalyga, real estate developer and owner of JBAS Realty, John Pullo, president of Keystone College, and Amy Luyster, vice president of business and workforce development at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The plot centers on a high school orchestra teacher who has multiple reasons to dislike spiders but later finds a way to use them to seek revenge.
Cardinal Flix will bring cast members from its earlier films to screenings and panel discussions at the Art Haus in Scranton in July.
The premiere of “Arachnophilia” will be held in New York City in fall 2027. It will come to Scranton soon after.
Local filmmaker Bob Savakinas is not involved with Cardinal Flix, but was at the news conference to welcome the company on behalf of Lackawanna County’s Film and Multimedia Commission.
“It gives our local talent a chance to get involved in a feature film project,” he said prior to the event. “In addition to the economic benefits that you can get from a feature film when it comes to our area — obviously the hotels, restaurants, local businesses.”
The horror and thriller genre is hot right now, Savakinas said.