The Italian Tribune
Submitted by ItalianTribune on October 13, 2010 – 11:45 am

Like a proud father, newly minted script writer Gregory Principato is awaiting the “imminent” birth of his first film. The filming, by New Jersey-based Exit 135 Productions, of the short independent movie Crackers has finished and everyone involved is preparing for its premiere.

Crackers is a dark comedy about an Italian chef named Gus whose life is turned upside down after a mishap during a Sunday dinner when Jack, his father-in-law, chokes to death on an ossobuco bone. Gus is happily living in his small paradise surrounded by his younger wife, his vibrant garden, his kitchen and his opera music. This all changes when his overbearing, loud, large and obnoxious mother-in-law Bidelia invades his home. Gus slowly loses his paradise and his sanity as Bidelia methodically destroys everything that is sacred to him.

The idea for the film first came to Gregory Principato about ten years ago after a trip to New Orleans and a tour of some of the haunted spots in the French Quarter. After years of thinking of the story line and changing the plot a few times, Gregory teamed up with Timothy Reinhardt and completed the script in a few short months. “Although I have been in the film business for over 16 years, mainly working in the camera department, I have yet to write a story of my own that I can be proud of,” Greg explained. His co-writer Tim added, “Working with Greg was an incredibly creative and enjoyable experience.”


THE PRINCIPAL CAST OF ‘CRACKERS’ – From left are Beth Ann Bonner, Anthony Laciura, Vincent D’Onofrio, Brenda Vaccaro and Sal Richards.

Greg carefully selected an all-star cast for this film, writing many of the roles with a specific actor in mind. Vincent D’Onofrio, in the role of Gus, is best known for his role of Detective Robert Goren in “Law and Order Criminal Intent.” He has also acted in many other films and TV productions such as “Mystic Pizza,” “The Break-Up,” “The Whole Wide World” (which he helped produce) and also in the recent highly acclaimed film Full Metal Jacket. He was pleased to work with Gregory when he was contacted and asked to join the film cast.

“There has to be some loyalty in our business,” he told the Tribune during a break in the filming. “I worked with Gregory on ‘Law and Order,’” he continued, “and when I received a call from him asking me to join the cast I had an opening in my schedule.
I was glad to participate in this project due to the relationship I had established with Gregory.”

Also featured in the film is the legendary Brenda Vaccaro, who was recently nominated for an Emmy in the award winning film You Don’t Know Jack. Ms. Vaccaro has been in numerous feature films and TV series in the course of her career with a variety of nominations for her work. In 1976 she was awarded a Golden Globe for the film Once is Not Enough, and in 2001 was given an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Los Angeles Italian Film Awards. In the film Crackers Ms. Vaccaro plays the role of Bidelia.

In the role of Cat, Gus’s young wife, is the actress Beth Ann Bonner who is best known as having portrayed intuitive cop Talia Sahid on the soap opera “One Life to Live.” Sal Richards, a well known actor, comedian and entertainer, who has also worked in a variety of films and TV shows and headlined at numerous comedy venues, portrays the character Blind Willy. Anthony Laciura, a tenor who has starred in the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire” and has also directed many stage productions of famous operas, portrays Frank the barber. Dan Hedaya, best known as Nick Tortelli, Carla’s ex-husband in “Cheers,” is cast as the ill fated father-in law and newcomer Vincent Mora plays Gus’s neighbors son.

Although this is Mr. Principato’s first short narrative, he has directed before, most recently the award-winning documentary Mr. Laughs, A Look Behind the Curtain. Crackers producers will showcase their film at various high profile film festivals, with the first expected showing sometime in December. The films pending release, with its cast of favorite and well known stars, has created an early buzz and is eagerly awaited.

For more information visit www.crackersthemovie.com.