Don is the quintessential mob boss living the good life in New York - beating up, extorting and killing people for laughs. When something in his gut becomes too much to handle (one he can't order a hit on), he finally caves and sees a doctor, who gives him life-changing news.
After receiving his dietary life sentence, it becomes apparent that he must decide between being a hardened mobster, or dramatically changing his diet and lifestyle. He decides to start over anew, turning his back on his old way of life. As things seem to finally improve for him, his mob family arrives unannounced to settle some unfinished business with the family capo, Francis.
"The Curse of Don Scarducci" was born out of a trip to the doctor. My wife, Jessie, (co-creator and producer of the film) was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2006, derailing her love of foods containing wheat, rye, barley and a handful of other grains indefinitely. It was a massive blow to a woman I once considered a connoisseur of anything and everything delicious, delectable—and glutinous. It's been a long road for the past 10 years, replete with menu interrogations, arrangements for "special" meals while flying, or even, when down and out, struggling to remain true to her zero tolerance policy of NO GLUTEN. (She once declined a fellow tourist's offer of peanut butter and jelly while she was lost in rural Mexico and basically dying of starvation.) Despite the hardships and her sometimes grumpy, stubborn persona, it has been, at-times, pretty funny.
In the years following her diagnosis, the idea came to me: What would happen if the toughest, baddest individual out there found out he had celiac disease? Who would it be? How would he handle it? Would he take heed and follow doctor's orders? Would he nag his waiter to check with the chef for the umpteenth time to make sure the "crispy" fish isn't coated in panko flakes? Would he —or could he —stop eating the foods he loves so much, knowing that they could kill him some day?
One day of giving up wheat takes a strong-willed human being. Stopping forever will change a person in ways you can't imagine. And with that, Don Scarducci came to life.
Don is the quintessential mob boss living the good life in New York - beating up, extorting and killing people for laughs. When something in his gut becomes too much to handle (one he can't order a hit on), he finally caves and sees a doctor, who gives him life-changing news.
After receiving his dietary life sentence, it becomes apparent that he must decide between being a hardened mobster, or dramatically changing his diet and lifestyle. He decides to start over anew, turning his back on his old way of life. As things seem to finally improve for him, his mob family arrives unannounced to settle some unfinished business with the family capo, Francis.
"The Curse of Don Scarducci" was born out of a trip to the doctor. My wife, Jessie, (co-creator and producer of the film) was diagnosed with celiac disease in 2006, derailing her love of foods containing wheat, rye, barley and a handful of other grains indefinitely. It was a massive blow to a woman I once considered a connoisseur of anything and everything delicious, delectable—and glutinous. It's been a long road for the past 10 years, replete with menu interrogations, arrangements for "special" meals while flying, or even, when down and out, struggling to remain true to her zero tolerance policy of NO GLUTEN. (She once declined a fellow tourist's offer of peanut butter and jelly while she was lost in rural Mexico and basically dying of starvation.) Despite the hardships and her sometimes grumpy, stubborn persona, it has been, at-times, pretty funny.
In the years following her diagnosis, the idea came to me: What would happen if the toughest, baddest individual out there found out he had celiac disease? Who would it be? How would he handle it? Would he take heed and follow doctor's orders? Would he nag his waiter to check with the chef for the umpteenth time to make sure the "crispy" fish isn't coated in panko flakes? Would he —or could he —stop eating the foods he loves so much, knowing that they could kill him some day?
One day of giving up wheat takes a strong-willed human being. Stopping forever will change a person in ways you can't imagine. And with that, Don Scarducci came to life.
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WINNER - LA Comedy Shorts Film Festival, "Best Short Screenplay", 2011 (script only, film was completed in 2016)
Greek Australian Film Festival, Sydney, AU, 2016
New York SHort Film Festival, NY, NY, 2016
Shart International Comedy Film Festival, Winnipeg, CANADA, 2017
DAM Short FIlm Festival, Boulder City, NV, 2017
Beverly Hills Film Festival, Bevery Hills, CA, 2017
Cannes Short Film Corner, Court Metrage, Cannes, FR 2017
FINALIST - Food Film Festival, Bergamo, ITALY, 2017
Macon Film Festival, Macon, GA, 2017
WINNER "Best Ensemble Cast" Jury Award, Reno Tahoe International Film Festival, Reno, NV, 2017
Upcoming Festivals:
Eurovision Palermo Film Festival, Palermo, IT, 2017
Way Down Film Festival, Columbus, GA, 2017 (happening in October)
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