Official Press Kit
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Marjan Content Productions proudly present Winner of 12 Awards and 36 Nominations Official Press Kit www.thefinellis.com "The Finellis" List of Awards (So Far) Los Angeles Film Awards • Winner - "Best Comedy" • Winner - "Best Web/TV Series Pilot" Vegas Movie Awards • Winner - "Best Television Pilot" • First Runner-Up - "Best Song" • Semi-Finalist - "Best Actor" - Mark Janicello • Nominee - "Best Director" - Joris Hermans New York City Television Festival • Winner - "Best Television Series" • Winner - "Best Director" - Joris Hermans • Nominee - "Best Actor" - Mark Janicello • Nominee - "Best Actress" - Bianca Karsten London Independant Film Awards • Winner - "Best Web/TV Series Pilot" Prague Int'l Monthly Film Festival • Winner - "Best Web/Television Series" South Coast Film Festival • Winner - "Best Web/Television Series Pilot" After Hour Film Festival • Winner - "Best Television Series" Mediterranean Film Festival - Cannes • First Runner-Up - "Best Television Series" "The Finellis" List of Nominations (So Far) Gold Movie Awards - London • Nominee - Best Animation - "The Flying Finellis" • Nominee - Best Television Series - "The Finellis" • Nominee - Best Director - Joris Hermans • Nominee - Best Actor - Mark Janicello • Nominee - Best Actress - Bianca Karsten • Nominee - Best Screenplay - Mark Janicello DUMBO Film Festival - Brooklyn, NY • Semi-Finalist - Best Short Form Narrative Film Vesuvius Int'l Monthly Film Festival - Naples, Italy • Finalist - Best Web/TV Series Pilot • Finalist - Best Trailer / "Here's Tony" • Finalist - Best Script - Mark Janicello • Nominee - Best Actor - Mark Janicello • Nominee - Best Actress - Bianca Karsten • Nominee - Best Director - Joris Hermans • Nominee - Best Music - Ulf Weidmann Assurdo Film Festival - Milan, Italy • Nominee - Best Screeenplay • Nominee - Best Editing • Nominee - Best Trailer • Nominee - Best Poster VIP Film Festival - Palermo, Sicily • Semi-Finalist - Best Web/TV Series • Semi-Finalist - Best Trailer Upcoming Festivals Amsterdam World International Film Festival Annual CPH Film Festival Austin Comedy Short Film Festival Berlin International TV Series Festival New Media Film Festival Crystal Palace International Film Festival North Fork TV Festival Down East Flick Fest Oz Indie Film Festival Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival Portland Comedy Film Festival Houston Comedy Film Festival Peak City International Film Festival Rome Independent Film and TV Market Film Awards LA Live Film Fest Santa Monica International Film Festival London International Cinema Festival Sapporo International Short Film Festival London International Motion Picture SIMFEST Awards Los Angeles Indie Film Festival Studio City International Film Festival Worldwide Rights Available - 13 x 23 Minutes in 4K UHD Original Language: English Genre: SitCom with Live Music & Animation Producer: Marjan Content Productions Production Years: 2019/2020 THE STORY BEHIND THE AWARD-WINNING SHOW… It’sIt’s “Mrs. Doubtfire” meets “Goodfellas” meets “Glee” LOGLINE: To save his family from the mob, Tony Finelli, the famous singer, spent 15 years in prison for a crime he didn`t commit. Upon his release, Tony finds that he has lost not only his wife, children, and home, but also his name, reputation, career – and all his money. Like a clumsy Phoenix trying to rise from the ashes, the eternal optimist sets out on a very bumpy journey to reclaim his life, and win back the love and respect of his family. Unfortunately for Tony, things don’t always work out as planned. SYNOPSIS: In the 1990’s, Tony Finelli, an Italian-American from New York (Mark Janicello) was a star in Europe. Tony found fame starring in “ELVIS: The Musical” and together with his ever- present manager, Jürgen Drahtseil, turned that initial success into an international singing career. In 1997, Jürgen was approached by an “Italian Concert Promoter” regarding a big concert for Tony in Sicily. This “promoter” turned out to be an undercover agent working for the German CIA, and leading a secret sting operation to arrest ”Mr. Big“ (Godfather of the Gambaretto Mafia Family), who was under investigation in Berlin for both tax evasion and money laundering. In over their heads and caught between the Mafia and the German CIA, Tony and Jürgen were faced with the choice of either going to prison for Mr. Big or having both of their families murdered by the mob. ”The Finellis“ begins on the day Tony and Jürgen are released from a 15-year sentence in Moabit Prison in Berlin. No one meets them at the gate. Tony returns to his former home wanting to rebuild his life. Unbeknownst to Tony, his Russian ex-wife Tina Finelli had filed for divorce shortly before his release. The former model and stewardess' reputation had been ruined by the scandal surrounding Tony’s arrest. Alone with two children and no income, Tina turned Tony’s mansion into a bed and breakfast. Now, as owner of Tony’s former home, she lives there with their two daughters, Lola and Lena (now 27 and 20 years old), as well as with Tony’s parents, Pete and Bea Finelli and his ancient, Sicilian grandmother ”Nonna“. Four generations of Finellis are living under one roof. Recently, the maintenance man in Tina’s boarding house quit. Out of love for his family, Tony Finelli, the proud peacock, swallows his pride and takes over the job, hoping to rebuild his life, restart his career and reconnect with Tina and his children. Take Tony’s two left hands, add a helping of total inadequacy, and you have the perfect recipe for the comedic chaos that is ”The Finellis.” Marjan Content Productions Tel: +49 151 663 627 28 E-Mail: [email protected] MAIN CHARACTERS TONY FINELLI Italian heritage. A family man who loves his home and his children. Blessed with an amazing singing voice but an average intellect. Tony is also an amateur cartoonist. Mark Janicello JÜRGEN DRAHTSEIL Tony Finelli’s manager. Serial womanizer who's never had a serious relationship. Curses profusely, and has a fixation with both America and Martin Scorsese movies. Timo Merkhoffer TINA FINELLI Tony’s ex-wife. Former model. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia. Intelligent. Well-read. Well-educated, but cold as a Russian winter. Bianca Karsten LOLA FINELLI The ”Big Sister“ to Lena, also acts as the peacekeeper between her warring parents, Tony & Tina. She is somewhat ditzy by nature, but has a heart of gold. Sophie-Rose Middleton LENA FINELLI The ”Baby“ of the Finelli family, Musically very talented, extremely intelligent, but like her mother, is a cool customer and has great difficulty expressing her emotions. Gabriela Burkhardt Executive Producer/Author: Mark Janicello Co-Producer: Marco Bischof Produced by: Marjan Content Productions Directed by: Joris Hermanns ScreenshotsScreenshots fromfrom EpisodeEpisode OneOne "The"The Homecoming"Homecoming" AnimationAnimation framesframes fromfrom thethe "Here's"Here's Tony"Tony" (Theme(Theme Song)Song) && "The"The FlyingFlying Finellis"Finellis" fromfrom EpisodeEpisode OneOne ScreenshotsScreenshotsScreenshots fromfromfrom EpisodeEpisodeEpisode TwoTwoTwo "Dinnertime"Dinnertime"Dinnertime Disaster"Disaster"Disaster" Season One - Episode Guide Episode 1 - "The Homecoming" - Pilot Episode Episode 2 - "Dinnertime Disaster" Episode 3 - "Tony's Makeover" Episode 4 - "A (Mr.) Big Problem Episode 5 - "Barbie's Dreamhouse Record Company Episode 6 - "A Bird in the Hand" (Part One) Episode 7 - "A Bird in the Hand" (Part Two) Episode 8 - "And Now A Word From Our Sponsor" Episode 9 - "Coffee, Tea or Me?" (Part One) Episode 10 - "Coffee, Tea or Me? (Part Two) - The Musical Episode 11 - "What A Dump" Episode 12 - "The Heat is On" Episode 13 - "The Comeback" - Season Finale "The"The Finellis"Finellis" Season One Episode Guide Episode 1 – "The Homecoming" TAGLINE: After spending 15 years in jail for a crime they didn't commit, Tony Finelli and his manager Jürgen Drahtseil, are released from prison and return to Tony's villa in Berlin. They find out that nothing isis thethe wayway theythey leftleft it.it. SYNOPSIS: Tony and Jürgen are released from Moabit prison and no one meets them at the gate. After walking through Berlin, Tony finally returns to his home to find out that his wife Tina has divorced him and turned his mansion into a “Bed and Breakfast.” His daughter Lola is happy to see him again, but his younger daughter Lena struggles with her feelings for her long-lost father. Tony realizes that he has no money, no job, and after 15 years in prison, he has been forgotten by the music industry. It's a lot to process, but Tony, the eternal optimist, has a plan. Tony and Jürgen get to work re-establishing his singing career. In the hopes of winning back his estranged family, Tony moves into the attic apartment of the villa and takes the janitor's job in his own home to buy time with his ex-wife and children. MAIN MUSICAL NUMBER: "Here I Am Again" Episode 2 – "Dinnertime Disaster" TAGLINE: Tony's parents, Bea and Pete Finelli throw a "Welcome Home" Party for Tony and Jürgen and try to reunite the family the only way they know how – with food. Things don't work out exactly as planned. SYNOPSIS: Lola and Lena start asking their father Tony uncomfortable questions about the Finelli family history. Tony starts working as the janitor in Tina's Mansion, and tries to impress Tina by painting her hallway. His plan backfires, when more paint lands on Tony than on the walls. Tony's flirting, coupled with his ineptitude, cause Tina to go ballistic. Tony's parents, Bea and Pete Finelli throw a "Welcome Home" Dinner Party for Tony and Jürgen that goes epically wrong, ending in a massive food fight. Nonna, while faking a heart attack to stop the family from fighting, is suddenly overcome by a hallucination of Maria Callas singing to her. Nonna's ruse works. Everyone stops fighting and enjoys a family dinner together. MAIN MUSICAL NUMBER: "Zombie Heart" Episode 3 – "The Makeover" TAGLINE: After 15 years in prison, Jürgen thinks Tony is a bit "rough around the edges" and in desperate need of a complete "Makeover." However, sometimes "Less is More!" SYNOPSIS: After watching Tony in the fitness studio, Jürgen engages both a rough-and-tumble female fitness guru, as well as a very "extravagant" stylist to help transform Tony.