THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
“People may fail us, but God never does.”
A Film by John Reidy
STARRING
DAN LAURIA
CAROL ALT
TONY LIP
NELSON VASQUEZ
JOE FRANKLIN
ILENE KRISTEN
ROBERT CLOHESSY
CHUCK ZITO
VINNY VELLA, SR.
EDDIE McGEE
FRANKIE GIO
EILEEN FULTON
ANTHONY MANGANO
MARC COPPOLA
CHRISTINE NAGY
Running Time: 90 min.
Sales Contact
John Reidy
Climbin Hi Entertainment
516-695-3770
[email protected]
Press Contact
Brian Geldin
Clincher Entertainment
347-239-8393
[email protected]
www.thesignofthecrossthemovie.com
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
SYNOPSIS
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS follows three stages in the tumultuous life of
John Coyne.
Born a poor Irish Catholic with an abusive, alcoholic father, John finds no
solace in the Catholic school and church he attends.
As a young adult, John endures a tragic loss that leaves him alone to deal with
his own destructive behavior and addiction.
Finally, a mature John must find the strength to overcome his most dangerous
opponent if he wishes to live the free and happy life he has long desired.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
JOHN REIDY
DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER
BIOGRAPHY
Woodside, Queens native, John Reidy began his career in the early 1990s
taking acting classes in Manhattan from method teacher Marilyn Roberts of
the Heather Company. He then moved on to HB Studio and continued
studying with the legendary William Hickey, to whom his first film was
dedicated.
John got his start like most of the great actors of today, by working student
films at NYU and Columbia. He graduated to roles on the soaps including
ABC’s All My Children and Loving. He’s been featured in spots on FOX’s
America’s Most Wanted, NBC’s Saturday Night Live and the syndicated news
magazine A Current Affair. He also guest starred on NBC’s Ed.
John worked his way around TV, and then ventured back into film. His credits
include Malcolm X, Enrapture, The Love Lesson, King of New York and
Death Magic.
NETHERLAND, the Winner of Best Feature Film - Video category at the
Long Island International Film Expo-2000 marked Reidy's feature film
writing, producing and directing debut. In 2002, his film KNOW THY
NEIGHBOR won Best Long Island film at the same festival.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
CAST
Dan Lauria... Mr. Coyne
Ilene Kristen... Mrs. Coyne
Frankie Gio... Gaetano
Carol Alt... Linda
Robert Clohessy... Vic
Eileen Fulton... Betty
Tony Lip... Mario
Chuck Zito... Tony Esposito
Anthony Mangano... Father Jeremy
John Reidy… John Coyne
Nelson Vasquez… Father Ruiz
Vinny Vella Sr... Gus
Mike Babel… John, 23
Julia Barnett… Margaret
Marc Coppola... Landlord
Joe Franklin... Himself
Eddie McGee... Jimmy
Christine Nagy... Rosie
Danny Salerno… Little Johnny
Dennis Cabrini… Paulie
Fran Capo… Real Estate Fast Talker
Anthony Caso... Jason
Joseph I. Ciaccio… Frankie
Dan Cignoli... Peter
Patrick Cooley... Harry
Victoria Corsel… Vicki
Ed Deacy... Detective Deacy
Andrew Drake… Patty
Shane Etter… Jeff
Kyle Fischbach... Kevin
Jim Mauro... Father G.
Annmarie Moloney… Detective
Moloney
Cynthia Polakovich... Judy
Robert Presno… Robert
Judy Prianti... Sr Jean Albertson
Melinda Reidy… Little Linda
Nick Reidy… Mike
Sean Reidy… Bully 1
Peter Rogan… Sonny
Kenneth Ryan... Pastor Egan
Elizabeth Seton … Sandy
Helen Proimos… Sister Marie Thomas
Brandon Hannan… Chris
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
CREW
John Reidy… Director/Writer/Producer/Editor
Donna McKenna… Co-Producer
Judy Prianti… Co-Producer
Helen Proimos... Associate Producer
Bruce Jehle… Editor/Director of Photography
Didier Rachou… Original Music
Donna McKenna… Casting
John Rebecchi... Production Manager
Megan Marinello... Assistant Director
Joshua Banton… 2nd Unit Cameraman
Lenny Tso… 2nd Unit Cameraman
Lisa Makowski… Makeup Artist
Helen Proimos... Makeup Artist
Robert Sartori... Assistant Makeup Artist
Mary Ellen Winston... Costume Design Consultant
Steven Sabonjohn… Sound Editor/Designer
Bill Burns… Sound Recordist
Katie Huisentruit… Boom Operator
Al Burgo… Boom Operator
Aldo Romero… Computer Animation
Tommy Barz... Stunt Coordinator/Set Design
Kelly McKenna... Production Assistant
Michelle Ciardulli… Production Assistant
Barbara Driscoll… Titles
Peter Figetakis… Still Photographer
John Carpenter… Archival Film Consultant
Brian Geldin... Publicist
Christian Gutierrez… Consultant
Diane Jehle… Digital Photography
James La Scalia… Production Coordinator
Peter Papageorgio… Production Design
Website Design… Debra A. Casilio
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
CAST BIOS
Dan Lauria (Mr. Coyne)
Dan is well known for his portrayal of Jack Arnold on ABC’s Emmy-winning series
The Wonder Years. He is currently directing the film The Book of Joe, for which he
also wrote the screenplay. He is the Artistic Director of the Playwright’s Kitchen
Ensemble of L.A., and starred in the play Ears on a Beatle in New York in 2004. His
film credits include Independence Day and Stakeout.
Ilene Kristen (Mrs. Coyne)
Ilene started her soap career as Delia Ryan on Ryan’s Hope, when it debuted in 1975.
Her current role as Roxanne Balsom on One Life to Live garnered her Daytime Emmy
nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2004 and 2005. She has made
guest appearances on The Sopranos and Third Watch, and also appeared on
Broadway in Grease.
Frankie Gio (Gaetano)
Frankie’s film roles include Lou ‘The Wrench’ Ragazzi in Analyze That, Frankie in
Robert Duvall’s Assassination Tango, and Arty Clay in King of New York amongst
many others including Moonstruck , Married to the Mob and My Blue Heaven.
Carol Alt (Linda)
Carol is a world-famous supermodel who’s graced thousands of magazine covers
including the coveted Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit Edition. She is also an
accomplished actress, appearing in the critically praised Howard Stern biopic Private
Parts. She most recently appeared in the film Snakehead Terror. TV credits include
the series Amazon and Walking After Midnight. She next stars in the film Mattie
Fresno and the Holoflux Universe.
Robert Clohessy (Vic)
Robert is currently starring on Broadway in the play Twelve Angry Men. He played
Officer Patrick Flaherty on Stephen Bochco’s gritty police drama Hill Street Blues.
Other primetime series include Without a Trace, Law & Order and Oz. He appeared
in the film Angels in the Outfield, and stars in the Sidney Lumet telepic Strip Search.
He next appears on the big screen in The Interpreter.
Eileen Fulton (Betty)
Eileen originated the role of Lisa Miller on As the World Turns in 1960. In 2004, she
received the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. She’s kept herself very
busy this past year, shooting several independent films, and starring in her own live
cabaret show in New York.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
CAST BIOS
Tony Lip (Mario)
Tony played the role of Carmine Lupertazzi on HBO’s The Sopranos. He has appeared
in many films including Donnie Brasco and Goodfellas. He next stars with Danny Aiello
in That’s Amore.
Chuck Zito (Tony Esposito)
Chuck has acted and performed stunts in many films and television series, most notably
as Chucky the Enforcer in HBO’s critically acclaimed Oz. He has been a member of
Hell’s Angels for over 20 years. He next stars as Captain Sallie in the film Remedy.
Anthony Mangano (Father Jeremy)
Anthony starred in 8 Heads in a Duffel Bag with Joe Pesci, and has appeared in such
films as Point Break and Out for Justice. He also recurred on ABC’s long-running
series NYPD Blue. He next stars in That’s Amore.
Nelson Vasquez (Father Ruiz)
Nelson co-starred with Benjamin Bratt in the ALMA award-winning film Piñero. He
portrayed Officer Eugene Rivera on HBO’s Oz, and made guest appearances on Law &
Order and NYPD Blue. He next appears in Carlito’s Way: The Beginning.
Vinny Vella (Gus)
Vinny played Artie Piscano in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. He has appeared in many other
films including Jim Jarmusch’s Ghostdog: The Way of the Samurai and Coffee and
Cigarettes. On TV, he plays Jimmy Petrille on HBO’s Emmy-winning series The
Sopranos.
Mike Babel (John, 23)
Mike appeared as the lead in the film Blissfield, an award winner at the Gen-X Film
Festival. He has made several television guest appearances in such shows as Law &
Order: SVU and Sex and the City.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
CAST BIOS
Marc Coppola (Landlord)
Marc starred in the digital film Bel Aire, directed by his brother Christopher, and also
appeared with his brother Nicholas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas and Vampire’s Kiss. He
currently is an on-air radio personality at Q-104 FM in New York.
Joe Franklin (Himself)
Joe has hosted his own radio show, The Joe Franklin Show, for over fifty years. He has
lent himself as a commentator on documentaries such as Gigantic and played himself in
films such as Ghostbusters and Broadway Danny Rose.
Eddie McGee (Jimmy)
Eddie is the first-season winner of the CBS reality series Big Brother. He has now
turned his attention to acting, making appearances in the series Mutant X and starring
in the independent films Drop Dead Roses and Rose Woes and Joe’s.
Christine Nagy (Rosie)
Christine is a morning radio show personality at Z100 in New York. She appeared in the
independent films The Rules (For Men) and A Packing Suburbia.
Danny Salerno (Little John, 12)
Danny’s role as Little John in The Signs of the Cross marks his first lead role in a
feature film. He also appeared in the feature *69, and several short films. When he is
not acting, he plays the piano and loves all sports.
New York Daily News - http://www.nydailynews.com
Flood of films vie for L.I. Expo-sure
BY LAURA WILLIAMS
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
John Reidy, outside home in Massapequa Park, is entering film “The Signs of the Cross” in
L.I.’s Film Expo. Award-winning filmmaker wrote, directed, produced and acted in movie
set in Woodside.
Sunday, February 27th, 2005
Call it the Sundance of the East.
Sixty independent shorts and features are set to be screened during Long Island's International Film Expo in July and the judges have been flooded with submissions well before the May deadline.
"I watch every submission," said Debra Markowitz, film festival judge and director of Nassau County's Film Office. "At
first, I'll watch five to 10 a weekend. Toward the end, it gets a little crazy and I'm watching movies all night long."
As it's done since 1994, the festival will take over the Bellmore Movies theater for a week, which is capped by a
black-tie awards ceremony.
Long Island filmmaker John Reidy is confident his gritty feature, "The Signs of the Cross" - starring Dan Lauria of
"The Wonder Years" and soap actress Ilene Kristen - will be among those chosen.
His autobiographical movie, shot for less than $300,000, was very well-received at a local screening last week, said
Reidy of Massapequa Park, who has won awards at past Expos.
"The film is about growing up in Woodside, Queens, in an Irish-Catholic family, an abusive home life, an abusive
church life, alcoholism, making decisions and coming out the other side," said Reidy, 48, who wrote, directed,
produced and acted in the film. "I like to write real."
Though only a quarter of the films screened are by Long Islanders, the festival is a great showcase for local talent,
filmmakers said.
"They really do a great job of giving young filmmakers a chance to get work shown," said Matt Morillo, 29, of
Hicksville, who along with his partner has made two award-winning short films. "They generate a great audience,
people who are willing to give you feedback."
The festival also strives to show filmmakers in other places what locals already know, that Long Island is a great
place to shoot, said Robert Hansen, head of the L.I. Film/TV Foundation, which co-sponsors the festival.
"We have just about everything - your beaches, your Gold Coast mansions, your golf courses, your suburban
settings," Hansen said. "And if you need big buildings, just go over to Manhattan."
"Long Island has a great talent pool," added Fred Carpenter, a fortysomething independent filmmaker from Shirley
who snagged distribution deals after his films were screened at past Expos.
And shooting on Long Island is a lot cheaper than filming in the city, he said.
Carpenter needed an office set built for his 2003 film "Blue Lizard," which centers around a Commack lounge that's a
front for gambling and prostitution. The estimate from Kaufman-Astoria Studios was $50,000. So instead, he built it at
Hofstra University for just $4,000.
Nassau makes more than $40 million a year from the film industry. And this year already is looking strong, Markowitz
said.
"February is our slower season, and it's not slow at all," she said.
Boxing News -- 24 hours/day - Reload often!
King of the New York Streets!
King and Judah celebrate at the Pink Elephant
February 19, 2005
By David Greene
Promoter Don King threw a celebratory party earlier
this week for the new welterweight king Zab Judah in
honor of his impressive 9th round victory over Cory
Spinks on Saturday, February 5, in Spinks' back yard
in St. Louis.
The party for Judah (32-2-0-1, 24 KO's) was held at
the Pink Elephant on 8th Avenue. In a weird mix-up
that actually created a more lively atmosphere, a
party for the film, "Signs of the Cross," ran late and
coincided with the Judah party.
Actress Fran Capo, who holds the record as the
fastest talker in the Guinness Book of World
The grandfather of the talk-show, New York
Records, is matched against promoter Don King.
broadcasting legend Joe Franklin joined the films
--Photo by David Greene
actresses Helen Proimos, Judy Prianti and Fran Capo.
Former Sopranos cast members Lillo Brancato, Jr., and Sal DeBella rubbed elbows with
King, Judah and their entourage.
In one bizarre scene, Don King, not known for his quiet side, had a conversation with Capo,
who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest talking person, at over
603 words per minute.
King was joined by his attorney Willie Gary, who is representing King in his $2.5 billion
lawsuit against ABC/ESPN. King, Gary, Zab and his father Yoel cut a cake in honor of
Judah's recent victory.
Brancato, Jr., whose Sopranos character Matt Bevalaqua was rubbed-out by Tony Soprano,
was at the club for his friend Patrick, who also stars in "Signs of the Cross."
"I love boxing," Brancato, Jr., said, adding, "I was just at the Arturo Gatti fight on January
29." The actor, who starred in three films last year, said of Judah, "It was great meeting
Zab. I love Zab Judah and his style of fighting."
On Wednesday, Judah was honored with a New York City Council Proclamation and on
Thursday, Everlast and FootLocker were sponsoring an autograph signing for Judah.
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
IN THE NEWS
TheaterMania.com
March 25, 2004
Loose Lips
Dan Lauria is all Ears…
By: Brian Scott Lipton
LENDING AN EAR
Playing an FBI agent keeping tabs on John Lennon in Mark St. Germain's new two-character play Ears on
a Beatle, which officially opens Sunday at the DR2, has Dan Lauria coming full circle in more ways than
one. A former marine officer, the 56-year-old actor -- best known for playing dad Jack Arnold on TV's The
Wonder Years -- has actually taught FBI trainees and still counts Bureau members among his friends.
Moreover, Lauria had a brief encounter with Lennon less than a year before his death. "I was walking by
Central Park and saw him, and we nodded. A few seconds later, he came back towards me and said 'Gus
Thompson' -- which was the name of the character I played on One Life to Live. It turns out he was a big
fan of the soap."
Lauria and co-star Bill Dawes first did Ears last summer at Barrington Stage in the Berkshires, and Lauria
was amazed at who its fans turned out to be: "I was shocked to see how many young people came -- all
these 15-year-olds wearing John Lennon T-shirts. I hadn't realized that he has become an icon like James
Dean or Marilyn Monroe. So many of these kids kept coming backstage to ask to see the FBI files that we
eventually had to put them in the lobby, which is also the case at the DR2."
The actor first met St. Germain in Los Angeles, where Lauria has spent the last 10 years running The
Playwrights Kitchen Ensemble, which helps develop new playwrights. His commitment extends to young
screenwriters too; Lauria recently shot an independent movie titled The Signs of the Cross, in which
he plays the father of the main character (portrayed by the film's writer-director, John Reidy). "When
young writers call me, I usually give them a day or two," he says. "I know how hard that market is." Should
Ears ever become a film, however, Lauria thinks his role should be played by Tim Robbins; he even called
the recent Oscar winner personally and asked him to come see the show. "Tim likes to make statements,
and this show certainly makes a statement," Lauria explains. "Even if you don't like it, it gets the juices
flowing. After it's over, you want to go out and protest!"
Lauria may soon be back on series TV: He just shot a sitcom pilot for NBC called Come to Poppa, in which
he plays another father -- of the show's star, comedian Tom Poppa. "Jerry Seinfeld helped with the script,"
Lauria tells me. "He's a really nice guy and so dedicated to comedy."
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
IN THE NEWS
February 27, 2004
ODDS AND ENDS
One Life to Live's Ilene Kristen (Roxy), who's in the running for a supporting actress
nomination in the 31st annual Daytime Emmys, thought she hadn't made the
preliminary cut. "The list was supposed to come out at noon. It was 2:45 pm, and I
hadn't heard anything," she says. "I had a friend visiting from Los Angeles, and I told
him, 'Well, the only good thing about not getting [a pre-screen nom] is that I won't have
to sort through all my tapes to find a show.' Not even 60 seconds after that, I got the
call." Kristen's pleased her cast mates voted for her to have a shot at the gold. "It was
really important to me, and I'm thankful. Having said that," she says with a chuckle, "I'd
like to get to the next level. I think about all those years I did on Ryan's Hope when I
really should have had a nomination, so it would be great. But the competition is fierce."
To calm her nerves, Kristen's forging ahead with projects beyond the daytime screen.
She's just shot a pivotal role in The Signs of the Cross, which also stars ATWT's
Eileen Fulton (Lisa). Kristen sheds her flashy, trashy OLTL persona in her latest
independent feature film. "I don't wear any makeup or wild clothes," she says of the
abused mother she portrays, a woman struggling to bring hope to her troubled son. "I
know these type of women. I worked with a lot of them when I ran my arts program for
homeless kids. And I feel a lot of compassion for them" Kristen's also flexing her pipes
again. "I just got my second song recorded on an album by Kaitlen Lusk. Now that's
neat."
THE SIGNS OF THE CROSS
PRESS RELEASE
Appeared In:
Massapequa Post
Long Island News
The Llanview Banner
Soap stars show Signs of independent film life on Long Island
Some of daytime television’s brightest stars have spent their free time since December on Long Island
shooting the feature-length independent film The Signs of the Cross. The film’s talent includes EILEEN
FULTON who plays Lisa Miller on As the World Turns, and also a recipient this year of the Daytime
Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award. Also in the cast is ILENE KRISTEN, who this year received her
first ever Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as
Roxanne Balsom on One Life to Live. The Signs of the Cross marks the most recent writing and directing
project for actor John Reidy, who took home prizes for best feature film at the Long Island International
Film Expo for Netherland in 2000 and Know Thy Neighbor in 2002.
The cast also boasts acclaimed actors CHUCK ZITO (Oz), VINNY VELLA (Casino), DAN LAURIA
(The Wonder Years), CAROL ALT (Private Parts), FRANKIE GIO (Analyze This), ANTHONY
MANGANO (NYPD Blue), TONY LIP (The Sopranos), EDDIE McGEE (Big Brother) and radio
personalities MARC COPPOLA (Q104), JOE FRANKLIN and CHRISTINE NAGY (Z100).
The Signs of the Cross follows three stages in the tumultuous life of John Coyne. Born a poor Irish
Catholic with an abusive, alcoholic father, John finds no solace in the Catholic school and church he
attends. As a young adult, John endures a tragic loss that leaves him alone to deal with his own
destructive behavior and addiction. Finally, a mature John must find the strength to overcome his most
dangerous opponent if he wishes to live the free and happy life he has long desired.
Reidy will take The Signs of the Cross on the festival circuit once production wraps and post-production
concludes sometime in the spring or summer. For more details on the film, visit
http://www.irishmanfilms.com/page5.html.
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