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Without Which Life Is Boring

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About Giovanni

Giovanni Vitacolonna was born in the heart of South Philly on Guy Fawkes Day in 1948, the Friday of the same week that Harry S Truman astounded political pundits by winning  the Presidential election. It's been a life full of pleasant surprises ever since. Giovanni entered adulthood as a Franciscan friar until his spirit drove him to San Francisco, actually it was a 1969 Volkswagen van. Eventually he found himself in Italy working as an English teacher and eventually in film and music promotion. The Winds of War, Paul Mazursky's Tempest, The Rolling Stones, Jackson Browne and Bob Dylan were among the productions he worked for at various tasks. He is the published author of A Sweet and Sour Romance (1982), and was a senior editor for Philadelphia's Au Courant. Among his accomplishments at the weekly was the creation of the satirical serial Between Two Rivers. Giovanni managed a band in Nashville, worked for Billboard there and transferred to New York where he worked for Adweek. Eventually he moved on to CDM Publishing, where he functioned as Circulation Supervisor and Community Outreach for POZ and Real Health magazines. Giovanni is also an accomplished cabaret singer performing in small clubs in Manhattan. He has developed the television series Center City, a project he is currently advancing for production and development.

A window on the Gayborhood

American Caponata: It's A Philly Thing

Center City, the series, is well worth the effort. It is based in Philadelphia. The Greater Philadelphia Film Office, a non-profit economic development agency committed to the growth of the regional film and video production industry, can " provide the producer free assistance with parking, permits, labor, and locations, and generally act as the liaison between the production and the local community, cutting red tape as we go." It is unique and adaptable to any premium outlet.

In the first chapter of A Sweet and Sour Romance (Gay Men's Press 1982) the narrator articulates a recipe for deconstructed caponata. Caponata is a classic Sicilian dish often describe as a relish. The secret is to cook each ingredient separately as to retain the integrity of its taste. A deconstructed caponata is a tapestry of color and taste. It is an exceptional salad, an agrodolce, meaning bittersweet or sweet and sour. A delicious metaphor for life.

The story of Center City is all about diversity. The narrator is a Latino former call boy who introduces the parts of this caponata with aplomb. He is someone who has been there and done that. His soft spot, if not an Achilles heel, is his love for Italian American Marc, an ex-priest. the son maternal, formidable, and yet sexy Anna. Tommy introduces us to Anna and her family who sit in Church at a memorial service for her fraternal twin brother Gaetano who has not been seen or  heard from for 7 years, “Anna. I can't say enough about this woman. Except to say that if this memorial is important to her, it's important to me. I loved her brother. I love her.”

The story telling is initiated through the eyes of sous chef Tommy, a reformed rent boy who has a connection to almost every character.

This story sheds a light on the Church and what its ministers are, with an emphasis on their relationships to and with each other. We have something to say about the fluidity of sexuality, mature women, single motherhood, MUSIC, FOOD, non-stereotypical Italians and subtle humor. Well, there may be something stereotypical here and there. Stereotypes do exist.

The gay men here are an integral part of the story telling. Center City, Philadelphia is home to the Gayborhood. 

Italian Americans are an important part of the American world view. In Philadelphia. Italian Americans and Black Americans are inextricably connected here emphasizing the beauty of interracial relationships. The characters in this ensemble have a colorful history. It is a passionate universe. There is nothing like it in television land.

I am selling a well marinated caponata.

Giovanni Vitacolonna

text: 646.246.6346

 

 

Pitching Center City

In the long history of the development of Center City there existed the idea of pitching it to ABC and SoapNet with Frank Valentini as the Executive Producer. Agnes Nixon's creations, All My Children and One Life to Live were based in a fictional suburban Philadelphia where the inhabitants were often going to Center City, which is what Philadelphians call their downtown area.

The critical success of General Hospital's Nightshift was the inspiration. In an earlier incarnation Center City was called Between Two Rivers. We decided to draw on that history and that of the wonderful characters in Pine Valley and Llanview and have them crossover to interact with the Fontana-De Marcos and other core families who live in a fictional Philadelphia.

It's unfortunate that iAgnes Nixon's "stories" are no more. SoapNet, too, disapeared. There is  still a strong, solid market for storytelling with a long story arc. While Center City is not precisely a Soap Opera in the sense of Daytime TV's "stories" it is a serial drama with a long story arc and rich back story. We're convinced there is a place for it and we continue to pitch it where we think appropriate. The biggest hurdles are to get the right people to look at the solid pilot script and the unique story behind it as well as attaching the right people.

It could be a mini-series or a series extending for ten episodes every season. The Bible is and we know exactly where this story is going. The back story is very clear and rich.

The center of the action is an Italian restaurant in Philly's Rittenhouse Square. A divorced Sicilian American mother of two grown sons struggles with the disappearance/death of her fraternal twin and a partner in the restaurant she now runs to keep the family legacy alive. There is an ensemble cast of characters depicting the tapestry of the Philadelphia ethnic landscape. In addition to the Italian matriarch, Anna--the most central of the matriarchs, there are matriarchal characters like Marlena, Rita, Norina and Annunziata,

Our stage readings have been memorable. General Hospital's Lisa LoCicero brought Anna to life at West Hollywood's Celebration Theatre.

Actors tend to love it: "I just finished Center City and I’m really impressed. Your dialogue is real and witty and often moving– it rolls off an actor's tongue. On a personal level, its so refreshing to a read an authentic story about a piece of my beloved hometown … you have juicy, interesting, three dimensional characters living in a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story with me." ~ actor/playwright Mark Borkowski (Boardwalk Empire)

Contact: Giovanni papag@center-city.net

Cassatelle di Catania

 My grandmother who was from Mineo (CT) Sicily and lived in Catania prior to sailing to America made these delectable sweets which we the American born called sweet ravioli. Referring to them as such made the search for the actual recipe almost impossible until I discovered the true name, cassatelle -- little cassattas.

Cassatelle Siciliane (Cassateddi)

500 gr di farina grano duro.

zucchero, 50 gr

strutto, 40 gr

Vino Bianco 250.ml.

Buccia di limone (o arancia)

Ingredienti per la crema di ricotta:

ricotta di pecora ben scolata, 500 gr

zucchero a velo o zucchero semolato macinato finemente, 150 gr

cannella, 1 pizzico

Per decorare: zucchero

Preparazione:
1. Per preparare l’impasto iniziamo a formare una fontana e mettere strutto zucchero e vino. Continuiamo a  lavorare  e formiamo un impasto  mettiamolo in una pellicola trasparente  e lo lasciamo in frigo  x 2 ore.
2. Intanto procediamo con la preparazione della crema mescolando gli ingredienti tutti insieme per riporla poi in frigo.
3.  Prendiamo il nostro impasto dal frigo e formiamo diverse palline da 90 grammi. Stendiamole e farciamole e ricordiamo di chiudere a forma di mezzaluna.

4. A questo punto friggiamole in abbondante olio bollente e appena risulteranno dorate scoliamole e passiamole nello zucchero

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