Your new movie American
Western - in a few words, what is it about?
It’s essentially a revenge story. The lead character that I play, Nico Raines, is double-crossed by his friend
and sent to prison. He escapes 5 years later and returns for revenge.
So
how did the project fall together in the first place? I always watched old school westerns like Rio Bravo, They Call Me Trinity, the Man With No Name trilogy, The Magnificent Seven, and One
Eyed Jacks with my father growing up. For the last two years, I have been working with director/executive producer/distributor
Gregory Hatanaka in making films. Greg had always wanted to film a western. I told him I could write one, and we took it from there. With
American Western
being - as the title might suggest - a western, is that a genre especially
dear to you, and some of your genre favourites? Yes, very much to me. My Italian father Vincenzo passed away
back in 2014, and I have great memories watching old westerns with him when I was growing up, both American and
spaghetti westerns.
I wish he could have seen this one, I’m sure he would have got a kick out of it. Besides westerns, I grew up watching those old
sword-and-sandal films, plus I love mafia movies, science fiction, swashbucklers, action and adventure films, I think it’s a good mix. (Other)
sources of inspiration when writing American
Western? I told a lot of the actors working in this that the whole imprisoned, escaping, and returning for
revenge was also greatly inspired by The Count of Monte Cristo,
The Mask of Zorro, Ben-Hur and Gladiator.
All classics. What were the challenges of bringing American Western to the screen from a producer's point of view? Well,
we didn’t have a big studio budget. So we had to learn to shoot quick and utilize our time. It was January, in an area about a hour outside of
Los Angeles, so the weather was very cold too. But we pulled together and made it happen. Our production team has worked together for
2 years now, we’ve developed a very efficient film family, so I was confident that we were up to the challenge.
You
also play the lead in American
Western - so what can you tell us about your character, and what
did you draw upon to bring him to life? Nico Raines, is a throwback to those old Hollywood anti-hero movies. Yes, the movie starts
off with him as a robber, but throughout the film, he challenges the corrupt people that have taken over the town. I definitely drew my inspiration from
those characters in those 50s, 60s, 70s films. A charming and
likable anti-hero. Do talk about the rest of your cast, and why exactly these people? And as executive
producer, how much of a hand did you have/demand in the casting process? Anything I produce, I’m very hands on, from casting, to making
shooting schedules, call sheets, prop lists, etc. Especially with the scripts also being written by me, I like to be involved with every aspect of the filmmaking
process. The majority of the cast, I have worked with many times. We’ve built our film family, and I wrote with the specific actors in
mind, knowing who could execute what specific character. We’re also all friends too, so there’s a lot of laughs on set, we have too much fun
sometimes. It’s very much an environment
like what the Rat-Pack had going on during their film shoots. We go to each other’s birthdays, karaoke parties, all that fun stuff. What
can you tell us about American
Western's director Gregory Hatanaka, and what was your
collaboration like?
Greg and I like the same type of films, we can have conversations about old movies for hours. So it’s always been an
enjoyable working relationship. He also operates one of the cameras, he knows the angles that he needs to cut together, it’s inspiring to watch him
cut the picture in his head as he shoots it. He gives the actors lots of room for improvisation, which helps the scenes find a sense of realism. He
is always very open to try different things for each take, which is encouraging for an actor, knowing that the director is working with you. Beside Greg, I also have
to mention fellow producers Chris Spinelli [Chris
Spinelli interview - click here] and Nicole D’Angelo. They both really do so much on our productions, both in front of and behind the camera, I
truly appreciate them. I feel with Nicole, Chris, Greg and myself, we’ve created the dream team in making films, our projects wouldn’t get done,
without everyone’s contributions. American
Western isn't the first time you've worked with Gregory Hatanaka - so do talk about your previous collaborations, and how did the two of you
first meet even? We’ve become very good friends over the last two years. As I said, same taste in old films, old music, and
we both have the passion to keep filming movies. I’ve made 8 films with Greg in the last two years, each has been a pleasure. We balance each
other very well in regards to executive producing, it’s been a great partnership and a pleasure to work with him.
I made the first American Mobster back in 2010, Greg distributed the film. We happened to touch base after years, and discussed making a
sequel, that he would executive produce, direct and distribute. Since then, we just kept working together.
I value our friendship
among everything else. We might randomly meet for lunch, or his wife and him will have dinner at my home, cooked by my Italian
mother Angela. Like I said, he’s a good friend.
Back to American
Western: A few words about the shoot as such, and the on-set
atmosphere? Besides the cold weather, it was a lot of fun. The cast and crew were all excited to make a western, so it was
like a bunch of kids playing with those toys. We always have fun on set, lots of laughs. The $64-question of course, where can your
movie be seen? Streaming sites Amazon Prime and Tubi. Anything you can tell us about audience
and critical reception of American
Western? So far, we have been getting good feedback. For the small budget that we shot a period piece movie, it’s
always nice to be appreciated. As of now, it’s one of our top streaming films, so that’s also very
encouraging to know. Any future projects you'd like to share? Greg and I have three films in post
production: Night Cops, which is a loveletter to the old action movies of the 80s and early
90s. The DeMarco Crew, which is a heist film in the vein of the Rat Pack movies. I cast all my buddies as the DeMarco
Crew, and cast Nicole D’Angelo as the lead female. I think we had a good chemistry on screen that played well
for the story. And finally
Crack, an urban drama with some great acting performances. I play a
supporting but pivotal part in this film, the lead actors and actresses are very
talented and I’m excited to watch as their careers grow. All will release later this year on streaming.
I always write, I love to pass the time writing, so I have a few scripts ready for when we decide what to shoot next.
What got you into the filmworld in the first
place, and did you receive any formal education on the subject?
I grew up in the Chicago area, working at my Italian Immigrant parents’ restaurant with my siblings, Rose, Pia, Nick, Giuseppe, and
Giorgina. I know, a very typical Italian family, lol. From childhood, I always knew I wanted to make films. So I moved to Los Angeles when I was 21,
and have lived here for 22 years now. I trained for two years under Piero Dusa at the Promenade Playhouse,
located in the Santa Monica Promenade. Going through your filmography, it seems you're equally comfortable in front of
the camera as behind it - so which kinds of film jobs do you prefer, what
could you do without? It actually all goes hand in hand for me. I’m not a director, I like to write and produce material that
I can act in. That gives me control over my projects and allows me an opportunity to play different types of characters and
stories. What can you tell us about your filmwork prior to American
Western, in whatever position? We made the American Mobster sequel, which
is always fun playing mobsters. The character Nick Romano is a complex character that I enjoy playing. I first
played him in my twenties, and I’d like to play him at least one more time to complete the trilogy. After American
Mobster we made the Christmas comedy A Wiseguy Christmas, which was
nominated at the Santa Clarita International Film Festival for Best Picture Comedy. That was a lot of fun. I played Tony Pantera over
the top, as I thought it would add to the fun comedy atmosphere of the film. It was great working with my co-stars Chris Spinelli and Jaclyn Marfuggi-Caprio
on that picture. I think the chemistry between all of us came off well, and it was another fun shoot. Lastly, we shot Bad
Timing, which was an idea Greg and I had to shoot a film that takes place in mainly
one location with a handful of cast members. It’s
a very drama-character-based film, and I am proud of my performance in that film.
How would you describe yourself as an actor, and how as a writer? I studied Mariner and
Stella Adler for two years, so I try to incorporate method acting when I approach each character. I write a lot of notes on my script and rehearse
with my cast, although I don’t believe in over-rehearsing, as I like the scene to come off fresh and natural. I do enjoy meeting my castmembers for
coffee and just discussing the script and our characters. I also get to know more about them, which helps with on-screen
chemistry. As a writer I don’t believe in writing long scenes. I don’t like the script to drag on, I like to keep the pace moving. I
won’t write a scene longer than three pages, I feel it should be tight
and concise. Writers, actors, filmmakers, whoever else who inspire you? To me, I feel Marlon Brando is the
greatest actor of all time, his realism on screen was amazing. Also, I a huge fan of Al Pacino, (who I happened to meet the very
first day that I moved to Los Angeles), and Robert DeNiro. Their films inspired me growing up and still do today.
Besides them, I love the work of Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep, Daniel Day Lewis, Jack Nicholson, Denzel Washington,
Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Charlton Heston, Andy Garcia, Antonio Banderas, James Caan, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, and way too
many more to mention.
Directors, Scorsese and Coppola are at the top for sure. But I also love the work of George Lucas, Steven
Spielberg, Brian DePalma, Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Christopher Nolan, and Cecil B DeMille.
Your
favourite movies? The Godfather
Trilogy, the Star Wars Saga,
the Rocky films, fhe Indiana Jones films,
the Lord Of The Rings films, Goodfellas, Carlito’s Way, Saturday Night Fever,
the Dark Knight Trilogy,
The Ten Commandments, Samson and Delilah, The Mask of Zorro,
The Mark of Zorro, Heat, Raging Bull, and way too
many more.
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... and of course, films you really
deplore? I deplore any film that doesn’t live up to its potential. Your/your movie's website, social media,
whatever else?
Nino Cimino on Facebook, nino__cimino on Instagram. Anything else you're dying to mention and
I have merely forgotten to ask? I have a 7 year old daughter named Marley. She lives part time in LA with me, and part time in Florida with her mother. I think
Marley is a natural performer and my dream one day is to make a movie with her, she’s the light of my life. Thanks for the
interview! My pleasure, thank you.
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