Eric Adams’ son made a zombie rap film with Argento son

Editor’s note: This story was updated Aug. 21 to reflect details of the Manhattan district attorney’s indictment against Tony and Gina Argento and Ingrid Lewis-Martin. The indictment was unsealed after this story was originally published on Aug. 20.

The son of Broadway Stages co-owner Tony Argento – who was charged Thursday in connection with a corruption scandal involving the Adams administration – produced a vanity film project written, directed by and starring Mayor Eric Adams’ son Jordan Coleman, City & State has found.

Coleman’s “Striking Back,” billed as a “zombie thriller” was produced by Rollin Studios, a firm owned by Anthony Argento, son of Tony and nephew of Broadway Stages CEO Gina Argento, both indicted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Business records show Rollin Studios operates out of Broadway Stages’ Green Street address in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

The two scions’ ties are not part of the Manhattan district attorney’s case against Tony and Gina Argento, nor is there at present any evidence or allegation of wrongdoing by Anthony Argento or Coleman. 

The indictment pertained to the family’s push to stop a bike-friendly redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. Tony and Gina Argento are accused of bribing Chief Adviser to the Mayor Ingrid Lewis-Martin to stop the project. The City reported in 2023 that Anthony Argento contributed to the clan’s “Keep McGuinness Moving” campaign, which briefly succeeded in obstructing the proposal with the help of Lewis-Martin, indicted in December and now facing additional charges. Lewis-Martin and Tony and Gina Argento have pleaded “not guilty.” 

The Times reported last year that Bragg’s investigators seized Gina Argento’s phone and noted she had held multiple meetings with Lewis-Martin.

In 2022, Adams appointed Gina Argento to his newly created Film and Television Production Industry Council, intended to provide recommendations regarding city support for the movie and TV industry. Records also show Broadway Stages has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars lobbying city government during Adams’ tenure.

Attempts to reach Coleman by phone proved unsuccessful, and he did not immediately respond to an email. A person who answered the phone at a number listed for Anthony Argento hung up, and emails sent to inboxes at Rollin Studios received no reply as of publishing.

Rollin Studios, which specializes in bringing Asian films into the American market, does not feature “Striking Back” on its website. However, the director of photography on the project listed Rollin Studios as its producer, as did co-star and film composer Kenneth Wilson, on a social media post showing himself posing in front of a backdrop featuring the Rollin Studios and Broadway Stages logos.

A clip of the film Coleman, who also raps under the moniker “Jayoo,” posted to YouTube shows it also co-stars his uncle Bernard Adams, Eric Adams’ brother who formerly served as the mayor’s head of security.

The New York Post reported on the project in 2023, and the tabloid credited Rollin Studios for stills featured in the article. The Post did not report Rollin Studios’ ownership nor its connection to Broadway Stages or the Argento family.

It did, however, say that the film cost $10,000 that Coleman “scraped together” and shot on Staten Island. Rollin Studios’ website does not list any Staten Island locations, but Broadway Stages controls the former Arthur Kill Correctional facility in the borough and rents it as a filming location.

New York City Campaign Finance Board records show Anthony Argento donated $2,000 to Adams’ campaign in late 2022 amid the McGuinness Boulevard fight.

Coleman is not the only one in Adams’ orbit who has a theatrical interest. Lewis-Martin is accused of trading a cameo on the show “Godfather of Harlem,” which was shot at Broadway Stages, for favors for the Argentos. She also allegedly accepted $2500 and free catering for a Gracie Mansion event.