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Wednesday, March 6, 2002
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Danny Provenzano
If you like mob movies with famous faces and plenty of action, actor/director Danny Provenzano has a picture you might be interested in.
His new film, "This Thing of Ours," which he also co-wrote, has a cameo by James Caan.
It stars veteran actor Frank Vincent, and "Sopranos" heavy Vincent Pastore, and it features music specially written by Joe Perry of Aerosmith.
Provenzano says, “My film takes a look at the mafia in the 21st century and the harsh realities of what the mob is really like.”
Unfortunately, prosecutors in New Jersey say 38-year-old Danny knows a little more than he should about those harsh realities. A great-nephew of mob boss Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano, he's facing a 44-count racketeering indictment of his own. His stars even showed up in court recently to support him. Provenzano tells “Extra,” “I face the rest of my life in prison. I take that very seriously.”
Even so, that hasn't stopped the thirty-eight year old from including various elements of his own indictment in his picture. For instance, the court papers charge he strong-armed $182,000 out of a businessman, a scenario he's put in the flick, with the exact same dollar amount. And, after prosecutors said he smashed someone's thumb with a hammer, he wrote an identical scene for the movie.
Of the similarities, Provenzano says, “There were certain glaring things in the indictment that I thought were ripe for Hollywood."
So is there any truth to the 44 charges in this indictment? The budding filmmaker says, “No, there is not. There is not. I know in my heart that I’m innocent of these charges."
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