"MADE IN AMERICA"
According to the US Census, there are nearly Sixteen Million Italian Americans
in the US. Many are descendents of those who arrived on the great wave of
immigration after the war and trace their roots to their great grandparents. They
learned Italian in college or in Florence. They have very little in common with the
struggles of the first and second generation. They no longer feel the sting of racial
stereotypes or prejudice. They see no reason why, nor would they be surprised if an
Italian American were elected president. Today"s generation of
Italians in America represent near total assimilation. And yet they still reach back to
celebrate their culture, not as "Italian Americans" but as American Italians.
"Made in America" is an ongoing web series profiling the most successful and dynamic
American Italians who have succeeded on their own terms, without the crutch of ethnic
injustice or social oppression, and who have gone back to reconnect with today's Italy
and tap into the true Italian experience.
THE MOVIE TEAM
While roommates at Harvard in the mid-1980's Frank Ciota and Mike Hart formed "The Movie Team", a group of friends dedicated to seeing films at the old Harvard Square theater. With a mutual love of cinema, they soaked in all the classics from "Casablanca" to "Easy Rider," as well as contemporary cinematic hits.
Upon graduation they went their separate ways, but their mutual love of cinema never waned. It wasn’t until their 25th reunion that "The Movie Team" reconvened. With Mike Hart stepping up to provide the financing and Frank and Joe Ciota providing the creative direction "The Movie Team" was officially reformed to put Joe’s original screenplay "Crossing the Rubicon" into production as their first feature.
"I always knew Frank and I would do something together," said Mike Hart. "I just never imagined it would be on an international scale. I’m excited about being involved in a film that Frank and I would’ve waited in line in the snow to see at the old Harvard Square Theater."
