American Film Institute & Sundance
Film Festival present............................
DeNiro: Look here Marty....nanci
stays as my acting coach or I take a walk. Marty: Alright! Have it your way.....but
this whole situation reminds of the "King Of Comedy".....I think I directed that.
Marty said I kept looking at the camera. I think Pesci
was jealous. He autographed his Golf ball for me. I asked Frank
Vincent (on the right) if he would autograph his ball for me and
the next thing I know he starts kicking the &$#* out of me.
These guys can be so tempramental. But the joke was on them 'cause Marty let me stay and coach
Bobby DeNiro. He needed some help with his characterization. Glad I could be there for him.
Here we are having an intense discussion
regarding Stella Adler and sustaining critical emotions in a
scene and Pesci keeps staring at my boobs. I mean I like the guy
but "Pay attention pal!" You know what I mean? It was Frankie who took this picture. It is sooo out of focus. I think Frankie is on crack.
Marty:
You've got alot of potential nanci, ignore the people who say you
watched "King of Comedy" too many times. It was a good
movie...in fact I think I directed it. Nanci: Thanks Marty.....Can I
have a driver bring me to the set from now on? My feet are
killing me.
Marty had a driver pick me up every
morning
Pesci: How dare you take all 6 of
my appleboxes away.....you conniving little *$&%&. What
am I ...a friggin' leprechaun to you? I'm gonna make sure your &$*$ is
put in a *$&%& ringer and them I'm gonna #$*%&&#
you, you lyin' $*&#*#. Nanci:(pause)
I take it.......this isn't a "Family" picture?
DeNiro: I'm not kiddin'
here Joe, you should listen ta this Nanci chick...she knows her
stuff. Pesci: She
DOES have a cute ass.
Marty tells my friend Frankie the
Stand-in that Lunch will be around 2:00. I had to show Frankie
how to hit his marks and explain to him that he had to watch the
First Team (the actors) and mimic what they do for the lighting
crew so they can set up the lights while the REAL actors go back
to their trailors for hair and make-up touch ups and prepare to
shoot the scene. I also had to explain to him that when the
Director of Photography called for Second Team, He was
calling for the stand-ins. Other than that, Frankie knew what to
do.
Me and Bobby DeNiro discuss tomorrows scenes over
dinner. He really appreciated my being there for him. "Hey
Bobby no Prob-lem-Ooooh! Hey Bob? Can I have my VHS copy of "King of
Comedy" back? I mean how cheap can you be. You should just buy a copy for yourself."
My only suggestion for Sharon Stone was
to shave her arm pits. Other than that she was terrific. She
didn't need Drama coaching.....just a good razor. That's me
behind her.....only I'm out of focus. I hate when they do that to
me.
The food on the set was to die for
thanks to Chef Sal Manella. Frankie the Stand-in would ask "What
time is Lunch?" at least 20 times every morning.
Bob and I worked very hard to
distinguish the roles of Jimmy Conway from "Goodfellas"
and Rothstein in "Casino". At first it was difficult
but I managed convince him to tap into his inner emotions as if
he were really a crooked Jewish gangster from Chicago as opposed
to being a crooked Irish gangster from New York City. "Stay
in character throughout this entire shoot.......", I kept
insisting. AND of course he listened to me. He shows potential.
And I predict a long career for this thespian.
Rocco: Nanci stays,capisce? By the way, I thought you were
terrific in "Raging Bull". Pesci: Thanks......I think. Junior: Can we go now? I'm
wanted on the Sopranos set.
Marty
and Chef Sal Manella go over Purchase Orders. That's the
Production Manager on the left pretending she doesn't know
anything about the extra Prosciutto that never showed up on the
set. Shortly after shooting wrapped Sal Manella and the Production Manager opened a restaurant. They hosted a wrap party and served Ravioli with Prosciutto, Cannoli's with Prosciutto, Sauce with Macaroni and Prosciutto, Prosciutto sandwiches, Prosciutto wine, and they passed out souvenir jackets stuffed with (you guessed it) Prosciutto.
And the teamster drivers were really
sweet. They told me on the weekends they sing in a choir and have
baseball batting practice.
Four weeks into the shoot and we still
hadn't run out of film. One day Marty was busy
going over "dailies" so as a favor I started setting up
shots for him. Gotta take advantage of the daylight. Not for nothing but, he never thanked me for helping him.
Frankie keeps asking DeNiro if he
knows how long of a day it is going to be. I just smiled and
thought to myself "Oh that Frankie......always bustin' chops."
Little did I know what fate had in store for Frankie The Stand-In.
Finally I suggested that Bobby
should keep his bathrobe closed. And he did. Marty is telling
everyone about "The Last Waltz". I loved it.
DeNiro: So she set up a few shots
and disrupted the set. The grips love her. C'mon Marty? Let her
stay..... Marty: She
DID have some nice set ups, and she took advantage of the
daylight......OK....she can stay. Remind me to thank her.
Frankie the stand-in asked "What
time is lunch?" and "When do we wrap?" one too
many times. Pissed off the Local 399 so for Frankie ......it was a wrap.
The
crew was shocked when they saw Frankie blow up and yet not surprised......seasoned veterans of
the movie business know better than to ask the director "What time do we Wrap and When is lunch". John Ford once bitch slapped
John Wayne for asking where the coffee urn was. What a
treacherous business.
Marty: I wish you could see the
production of Who Whacked Uncle Vito and then you would have a grasp of what
it is to be IN an Italian Wedding.
Joe Pesci's Ball he signed for me at the 2000 Bob Hope Classic I am thinking about selling it on e bay.
I'm
Ok Productions(c)
