Today marks the first day of principal photography for the upcoming indie feature Money, so reports Variety. The directorial debut from veteran of shorts and commercials Martin Rosete, Money launched production in Woodbury, Long Island today. A Spaniard, Rosete first drew critical attentions with his sci-fi short “Voice Over,” which emerged from the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival handsomely decorated with awards. Rosete has elected to collaborate with his brother Jose as a cinematographer and his Spanish countryman Josep Ciutat as Money’s scriptwriter. But the small-scale project has drawn a wave of new buzz for assembling a cast of curious talents.

The high-concept thriller centers on a charismatic con artist who holds two affluent couples hostage by posing as their similarly bourgeois neighbor. As Variety puts it, “Ensnared in a web of lies and embezzlement, their loyalties are severed and love destroyed for two suitcases full of cash.” Taking on this actorly piece is a quartet of unexpected young performers. Perhaps the most high-profile name among them belongs to Kellan Lutz, star of last year’s thoroughly disappointing The Legend of Hercules and rumored nephew of Girlie Show staffer John Lutz. He’s joined by Jess Weixler, award-winning star of delicious ludicrous horror curio Teeth, seen more recently in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby two-parter and TV’s The Good Wife. Other additions to the cast include Battlestar Galactica’s Jamie Bamber and Grey’s Anatomy alum Jesse Williams.

Rosete’s no ordinary indie director making a go in North America’s industry. He’s one of a small movement of Spanish filmmakers that have expatriated themselves due to a lack of financing for small-time filmmakers in economically turbulent Spain. He brings an exciting international presence to English-language film. Money will likely see a quiet release sometime in the future, so keep an eye out for this one.