Turning tragedy into inspiration

Robert Nuzzie (l-r), Nick Scott, Justin LaDeau and Aubree Marchione enjoy the festival. PHOTOS BY CAMPUS MOVIE FEST SOUTH AMBOY — Two local filmmakers are using their creative talents to tell an inspirational story about a paraplegic who became a wheelchair bodybuilding champion.

“Perspective: The Nick Scott Story” is a short film directed by Robert Nuzzie and produced by Aubree Marchione. Both are city residents.

Scott, who is from Kansas, was injured about 15 years ago at the age of 16 in a car accident, and after struggling with his weight decided to take action. He went on to become an award-winning wheelchair bodybuilder, an advocate for the wheelchair bodybuilding community, an author and a motivational speaker.

Nuzzie and Marchione met Scott at the 2009 Arnold Sports Festival, the world’s largest multi-sport event. Founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger, the festival launched in 1989 as The Arnold Classic. After meeting Scott, Marchione told him that she wanted to introduce him to wheelchair ballroom dancing.

Arnold Schwarzenegger presents Nick Scott with the crystal “Arny” during the 2011 Arnold Sports Festival in March. The movie “Perspective: The Nick Scott Story,” produced by Aubree Marchione and directed by Robert Nuzzie, won the Best Overall award during the festival’s film showcase. “I teach ballroom dancing and specialize in wheelchair ballroom dancing,” Marchione said, adding that in wheelchair ballroom dancing, only one of the dancers is in a wheelchair.

“He’s really game for anything,” Marchione said.

Scott came to New Jersey to give it a try, and he was glad he did. The two went on to compete as a U.S. team at the 2010 International Paralympic Committee Wheelchair Dance Sport World Championships in Hannover, Germany.

Nuzzie and Marchione, as 2B Entertainment LLC, originally created their film to help raise funds for Scott’s nonprofit Wheelchair Athletics Inc., which helps disabled athletes all over the world. But in the process, Marchione said, “We all became friends.” The film was shot entirely in New Jersey.

“His story is very motivational,” Marchione said. “He really wanted it to be told.”

The 16-minute film premiered at the inaugural Arnold Sports Film Festival in Columbus, Ohio, earlier this year, winning “Best Overall Film” out of 160 that were submitted.

“We originally created it for that festival,” Nuzzie explained, adding that due to its initial success, he and Marchione have decided to pursue its entry into other film festivals. The strategy is working — the film was among 29 out of 371 films selected to be screened at the New Jersey International Film Festival.

Those interested in checking out the film at the festival can see it at Voorhees Hall on the New Brunswick campus of Rutgers University at 7 p.m. on June 11.

Nuzzie, who is a Rutgers graduate, left the corporate world to pursue the entertainment industry. In addition to his work behind the camera, he has also had modeling and acting opportunities. Marchione is a professional ballroom and Latin dance instructor and performer. She is also a choreographer and actress. The two met while in an acting class in New York.

“We really just liked the business and the creative process,” Nuzzie said of why the pair works well together.

To learn more about Scott, visit nickfitness.com. “Perspective: The Nick Scott Story” also has a Facebook page with updates.