On December 2, the short film “My Kind of People” won the Russo Brothers Italian American Film Forum. Joseph Picozzi, son of former Lincoln High School teacher Mrs. Doreen Picozzi, directed the film, and LHS Graduate Lauren Germani served as a producer. LHS math teacher Mrs. Melissa Schofield is also featured in a small role. Picozzi pointed out the raunchy humor would appeal to his high school self, yet the comedy is balanced with universal themes of identity and family.
The Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum offered a $10,000 grant to produce the short films of five finalists chosen out of almost 800 submissions. As the winner of the final five, Picozzi received an additional $10,000 and a membership with AGBO Storyteller’s Collective, a group of young filmmakers who have had the privilege of working with AGBO, the Russos’ independent entertainment company. Picozzi’s story was chosen, and filming took place over the summer in Rhode Island. The Russo Brothers are best known for directing four Marvel movies.
The 15 minute comedy follows Gio, a proud Italian American twenty-something. At a family dinner in North Providence (in Picozzi’s grandmother’s house), he has a painful yet hilarious existential crisis when he finds out that his late father was adopted. Shocked that he is not biologically Italian, only his family can help pull him out of it. The film is equally humorous and heartwarming. It explores what makes a family, which in this case is simply food, banter, and love.
Mrs. Picozzi taught Germani in the LHS Journalism & Media Communications CTE, and when she connected Germani and Joe Picozzi, they realized they were a great team. Mrs. Picozzi also did odd jobs on set like cooking the food props – an Italian Sunday dinner and some botched rainbow cookies. She even earned the nickname “Mama” from the younger actors.
“It was such a wonderful experience for me to see my birth child doing this so beautifully. And then my school child, Lauren. It was just the most personally rewarding moment for me because I am in awe of them,” Mrs. Picozzi reflected. “They are spectacular. They didn’t really need me. All I did was cook.”
Joseph Picozzi Sr., Joe’s grandfather, also made his film debut as Gio’s grandfather.
“Working with my grandfather was unreal. I mean, you can’t you can’t cast a guy like that. You have to go find him, and he was right down the street,” said Joe Sr..
The close-knit family depicted in the film was formed on set, too, through improvised scenes and an overnight shoot. Even the leading actors who came in from New York were welcomed into the family and inspired by their own. Bonnie Rose, who played Gio’s grandmother, based her own character on her mother in law, for example.
“I think everyone in my extended family had a hand in it somehow, whether they lent us a car or a location or came out came to set and set up the food or helped with the production design,” said Joe. “It was really truly a family affair. It was super fun, and sort of meta with the theme of the movie. You don’t usually get that on a set.”
This broad community was evident at the private screening that took place at the Avon Cinema in Providence on Sunday, November 17. The Avon’s one, elegantly decorated theater was packed with family and friends of the cast and crew, kissing cheeks in typical Italian fashion. The movie was met with hearty laughter and applause. It was followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew in which Mr. Jay Schofield, Mrs. Schofield’s husband and fellow LHS teacher, asked “Auntie Dottie” if she was free for coffee afterwards.
“I don’t know how you top what we did yesterday,” Joe said of the private screening. “We already won. The win was bringing my family together, bringing all those people together that didn’t know each other before, and having a really fun experience. Even bringing the audience there. The best part of filmmaking or doing any kind of art is sharing it and getting feedback like that people had an experience with it.”
Nevertheless, the Picozzis had a tense Thanksgiving weekend as they waited for the news. Joe and Mrs. Picozzi found out together and immediately celebrated by texting with everyone who worked on the movie. Mrs. Picozzi then celebrated with Germani, Schofield, and LHS science teacher and friend Mrs. Denise Collins at the local Coffee Connection. That night, producers and friends came together at the Picozzi family home to continue the party.
“I already knew what we did was awesome and I was already excited about the film in general – but it’s always nice to be reminded that you’re not crazy or delusional,” said Joe. “Getting [awards] makes it less likely you get overlooked, which happens a lot at this level of filmmaking. It’s an incredible win for the movie, and will definitely help in getting the movie out there and seen as much as it can, which is extremely exciting.
“It needs to be said, as well, that The Russo Brothers are legendary filmmakers! They made Arrested Development, Community, the best Marvel movies of all time, etc. They produced Everything Everywhere All At Once. For them to co-sign us is incredibly validating, and pretty insane to think about. I don’t think anyone is going to think I should’ve gone to law school anymore.”
Similarly, Germani said, “For me, it means a lot because this was my first project, so it encouraged me to keep going and that I was on the right track.”
“At the risk of sounding like a Hallmark card, I’ve been celebrating every day,” said Mrs. Picozzi. “My son has always been a true source of joy as well as inspiration for me. I celebrate all of his achievements and am truly an unbearably proud mom.”
Schofield, in her first ever film role, played Gio’s Auntie Dottie. “She’s the typical Italian housewife that comes over every Sunday with the rest of the family for dinner. She’s a little sassy, likes being Italian, likes to talk, likes to be in the know, a busybody. It wasn’t a stretch for me to think about her character,” said Schofield.
“It’s not something that I’ll probably get to do again,” she said “And I would do it in a heartbeat. It was just such a cool experience to see that this is what some people do for a living. This is their job. To see it from start to finish, from auditioning to the finished product this past weekend . . . It was amazing to see it all put together. I was there for my 16-hour day. We did three scenes. I had three costume changes.But I didn’t see any other part of the movie.”
