'Sopranos' Star Appears in Belleville Native's Movie

Despite featuring a star of the "Sopranos," gritty Jersey scenery and an Italian title, Fratello isn’t a mafia movie.

Writer, star and Belleville native Gerard Garilli said that while the feature film touches on crime, it’s really about family and emotions. 

“It’s a tearjerker,” Garilli said. “At the two screenings I had previously, people left the movie in tears.”

Screening on Wednesday night at the Old Canal Inn in Nutley, Fratello is a gritty drama that follows two down on their luck brothers dealing with the aftermath of a life changing hit and run accident. 

Garilli, a stand-up comedian and actor, wrote the story as a dramatic showcase for his acting ability. In addition to starring, he financed the $20,000 hour-long film himself and filmed it in locations in and near his hometown, including Nutley, Carney, Lyndhurst and Secaucus.

With the small budget, Garilli took nontraditional approaches to tasks like casting, reaching out to potential stars with social media. Joseph R. Gannascoli, known to Sopranos fans as gay Vito, plays Garilli’s stepfather in the movie, and came to play the part after Garilli contacted him through the internet.

“He was awesome,” Garilli said. “I shot him out on Twitter and said I had a part for him.”

Rounding out the cast is Steve Mason, who Garilli knew through acting jobs and Garelli’s sister, Justine. Garelli said acting against with his sister, a former child actress, was easy. They tapped into a lifetime of conversational rhythm.  

“It was pretty natural,” Garilli said. “She knows how I am and I know how she is. Only this time there was a camera there.”

Garilli was happy to report that he had reached a distribution deal with Continuum films and that Fratello will be distributed through Netflix and DVD and hopefully in theaters. 

Fratello is screening Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Old Canal Inn in Nutley. Admission is free.