Draft:The Finellis Movie

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  • Comment: Section "The Finellis Movie Plot Synopsis" is entirely unsourced. Vanderwaalforces (talk) 10:11, 7 November 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: Please remove all the social media sites (Instagram, LinkedIn, blogs), the movie's listing on online movie stores, and any source that did not even mention the subject from the citations. Those google drive files aren't suitable either, as we can't confirm if they are actually from the claimed sources. Some of the cited pages are dead links and need to be replaced with archived links or removed. Tutwakhamoe (talk) 01:01, 22 September 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: Only change since last decline is adding a few references, still reads like an advertisement CodeLyokotalk 07:25, 24 October 2022 (UTC)


The Finellis Movie is a 90-minute comedic film written and created by Mark Janicello that was released internationally on January 18, 2022..[1][2]

The Finellis Movie
Directed byJoris Hermans and Mark Janicello
Written byMark Janicello
Produced byMark Janicello

Marco Bischof

Joris Hermans
StarringMark Janicello

Timo Merkhoffer, Bianca Karsten, Yollette Thomas-Wunder, Sophie-Rose Middleton, Gabriela Burkhardt, George Pollock, Phyllis Pastore, Trish Osmond, Erwin Bröderbauer, Dietmar Wunder, Kim Tatum, Mario Garcia, Kamary Phillips, Judith Shoemaker,

Stan Holoubek,
CinematographyMatthias Zucker and Igor Andreevski
Edited byJoris Hermans and Mark Janicello
Music byUlf Weidmann and Mark Janicello (Lyrics)
Animation by908 Motion Design, Berlin
Production
company
Marjan Content Productions
Distributed byPremiere Digital Services
Release date
January 18, 2022
Running time
94 minutes
CountryGermany
LanguageEnglish
Budget$350,000

Production History[edit]

Originally planned to be a 13-Episode television series,[3][4] a proof-of-concept pilot episode of The Finellis Sitcom was filmed in March 2016. In September of that year, the pilot episode was a featured presentation at the 2016 Berlin Serienale.[5][6][7] In October 2016, with the proof-of-concept pilot episode in hand, Janicello signed a distribution deal for the Sitcom with HG Distribution at MIPCOM in Cannes.[8] After testing audience response at various events, Janicello and HG Distribution did some recasting, Janicello rewrote the scripts and raised money to start filming. In December 2018, Janicello received a development grant for Sitcom from the Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg.[9] In January 2019, The Finellis Sitcom went back into production on location in and around Berlin, Germany.[10] Episode 1 was completely reshot, along with Episodes 2, 3 and certain storylines from Episodes 6, 7 and 11. In the Summer of 2021, Janicello signed a new distribution deal with Premiere Digital Services in Hollywood.[11] At Premiere's request, the decision was made to take the existing filmed material from the Sitcom and combine it with a newly-written, connecting storyline and turn all of the existing and newly-filmed material into The Finellis Movie.

Synopsis[edit]

Five years after being released from prison, on the opening night of his comeback performance in a new Broadway musical, Tony Finelli, gives an exclusive backstage interview to celebrity reporter Barbara Bischof for "Hollywood Hotline." During the course of their talk, Tony looks back at his extraordinary life. To save his family from being murdered by the Mafia, Tony, spent 15 years in a Berlin prison for a crime he didn't commit. After losing everything -- family, home and career- he set out on a bumpy journey to reclaim his life, and five years later, he's back on top. [12] [13][14]

Production History[edit]

Originally planned to be a 13-Episode television series,[3][4] a proof-of-concept pilot episode of The Finellis Sitcom was filmed in March 2016. In September of that year, the pilot episode was a featured presentation at the 2016 Berlin Serienale.[5][6][7] In October 2016, with the proof-of-concept pilot episode in hand, Janicello signed a distribution deal for the Sitcom with HG Distribution at MIPCOM in Cannes.[8] After testing audience response at various event

The Finellis and Scientology[edit]

Janicello, a former Scientologist, stars as Tony Finelli. The story of the film is loosely-based on Janicello's 2011 German-language Autobiography Nackt im Rampenlicht: mein Leben mit Sex, Singen und Scientology.[15] The book was later published in 2017 in English as Naked in the Spotlight: My Life with Sex, Singing and Scientology.[16] The book chronicles his 10-year involvement with Scientology, and the negative repercussions of his membership for his life and career,[17][18][19] Promoting the movie, Janicello was described as a former “Poster Boy” for the Church of Scientology, who received regular death threats, and [was] targeted for 16 years by the German Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (Verfassungsschutz).[20] In another interview, he was quoted saying:

"I [was] earning $60,000 a month playing Elvis in this musical when Scientology happened. I went from that to nothing. I didn’t get an audition anywhere — Germany, Switzerland or Austria, which were the main markets. I was blacklisted. I couldn’t pay my bills anymore; I couldn’t pay child support. At the same time, I went through a divorce. I lost everything at once."[21]

In another article Janicello elaborated on the connection between The Finellis and Scientology:

"The Finellis is a way for me to rewrite my own history," says Mark. “I am able to tell my story and share my pain by hiding behind Tony Finelli. My experience with Scientology was horrific. I lost everything...I asked Scientology to help, but they turned their backs and left me to die,” says Mark[22]

The Finellis SitCom 2016 Proof of Concept Cast[edit]

Role Cast
Tony Finelli Mark Janicello
Tina Finelli Anne Alexander-Sieder
Jürgen Drahtseil Timo Merkhoffer
Lola Finelli Katharina Sporrer
Lena Finelli Gabriela Burkhardt

The Finellis SitCom (2019) and The Finellis Movie (2021) Casts*[edit]

Role Year Filmed Cast
Tony Finelli 2019 Mark Janicello
Tina Finelli 2019 Bianca Karsten
Jürgen Drahtseil 2019 Timo Merkhoffer
Lola Finelli 2019 Sopie-Rose Middleton
Lena Finelli 2019 Gabriela Burkhardt
Nonna D'Agostino 2019 Trish Osmond
Bea Finelli 2019 Phyllis Pastore
Pete Finelli 2019 George Pollock
Agent Schmitt 2019 Dietmar Wunder
Mr. Big 2019 Erwin Bröderbauer
Jorge Gutierrez 2019 Mario Garcia
Eva Klein-Gutierrez 2019 Kim Tatum
Young Lola 2019 Nola Hayes
Young Lena 2019 Yannick Worring
Mike Richards 2019 Kamary Phillips
Helga Brennfeuer 2019 Judith Shoemaker
Louise Ditzmann 2019 Melanie Stahkoph
Fat Louis 2019 Daniel Mele
Ingolf Lutschmann 2019 Stan Holoubek
Helmut Rachmann 2019 Rasmus Brander
Barbara Bischof* 2021 Yollette Thomas-Wunder*

*Appears only in The Finellis Movie

The Finellis SitCom - Festivals, Awards and Nominations[edit]

The 2019 episodes of The Finellis SitCom were entered in numerous film and TV Festivals worldwide. The show won numerous prizes in different categories as listed below.[23][24][25]

Festival Year Award Status
London International Filmmaker Festival 2021 Best TV/Web Series

Best Director of a Short Film- Joris Hermans

Best Actor in a Short Film - Mark Janicello

Best Supporting Actor in a Short Film - George Pollock

Best Editing of a Short Film - Joris Hermans & Mark Janicello

Won[26] Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Oz Indie Film Festival 2021 Best TV Series Pilot Won[27]
Berlin International TV Festival 2020 Best Comedy Series Semi-Finalist
2019 Out of competition Screening World Premiere[28]
Prague Int'l Monthly Film Festival - June 2021 Best Web/Television Series Won[29]
Best Trailer Nominated
Amsterdam World International Film Festival 2020 Best Television Series Won[30]
Los Angeles Film Awards- April 2020 Best Web/TV Series Pilot Won[31]
Best Comedy Won
Portland Comedy Film Festival 2020 Best Comedy TV Episode or Sitcom Nominated[32]
Cult Critic Movie Awards - July 2020 Best Television/Pilot Program or Series

Jean-Luc Godard Award (Best Television/Pilot Program or Series)

Won[33]

Nominated[34]

Vegas Movie Awards - May 2020 Best Television Series Pilot Won[25]
Best Song - "Here I Am Again" (M: Ulf Weidmann, L: Mark Janicello) Won[35]
Best Director - Joris Hermans

Best Actor - Mark Janicello

Nominated

Nominated

London International Motion Pictures Awards ( L.I.M.P.A) 2020 Best Pilot Series Semi-Finalist[36]
London Independent Film Awards (L.I.F.A.) - June 2020 Best Web/TV Series Pilot "The Finellis" Won[37]
Rome Film Awards 2020 Best Television Series

Best Song - "Here I Am Again" (M: Ulf Weidmann, L: Mark Janiello)

Won[38] Finalist
SIMFEST - The Int'l TV Broadcasters & Independent Producers Festival 2020 Best Entertainment Series Finalist[39]
German United Film Festival 2020 Best Television Series - "The Finellis" Won[40]
After Hour Film Festival 2020 Best Television Series - "The Finellis" Won[41]
Assurdo Film Festival - Milan, Italy - June 2020 Best Screenplay

Best Editing

Best Trailer

Best Poster

Nominated[42] Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Vesuvius Int'l Monthly Film Festival - Naples, Italy - July 2020 Best Web/TV Series Pilot Won
Best Script - Mark Janicello

Best Trailer

Finalist

Finalist

Best Actor - Mark Janicello

Best Actress - Bianca Carsten

Best Director - Joris Hermans

Best Music - Ulf Weidmann

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

DUMBO Film Festival - Brooklyn, NY 2020 Best Short Form Narrative Film Nominated[43]
Gold Movie Awards London - August 2021 Best Television Series

Best Animation

Best Director - Joris Hermans

Best Actor - Mark Janicello

Best Actress - Bianca Karsten

Best Screenplay - Mark Janicello

Nominated[44]

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Nominated

Peak City International Film Festival 2020 Best Foreign (Non-U.S.) Television Series Pilot Won[45]
South Coast Film Festival 2020 Best Comedy SitCom

Best Comedy SitCom Script

Won
Mediterranean Film Festival in Cannes 2019 Best Television Series Honorable Mention[46]
New York City TV Festival 2019 Best Television Series Won[47][48]
Best Director Won
Best Actor- Mark Janicello

Best Actress - Bianca Karsten

Nominated

Nominated

Berlin Serienale 2016 Out of competition Screening - Proof of Concept Episode [49][50]

The Finellis Movie and the LGBTQIA+ Community[edit]

The film has an 18-minute storyline involving Transgender Actress/Activist Kim Tatum.[51][52] Tatum's character Eva Gutierrez was based on Janicello's real-life friendship with German Transgender Performer Gloria Gray.[53] This storyline was positively received in the Trans community and written about in numerous LGBTQIA+ Press venues.[54][55]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Finellis award winning comedy film debuts on January 18th 2022". Film-News.co.uk. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  2. ^ Woodham, Karen (December 6, 2021). "The Finellis first look trailer and stills". Blazing Minds. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "The Finellis SitCom (2016)". The A.V. Club. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  4. ^ a b ""The Finellis" A New American SitCom | World Film Presentation". worldfilmpresentation.com. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "The Finellis | Serie 2016 | Moviepilot". moviepilot.de (in German). Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "ANNE ALEXANDER SIEDER & KATHARINA SPORRER in "THE FINELLIS"". Friends Connection Agency (in German). September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Serienfestival 2016: Kino statt Couch". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). Retrieved May 17, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "Mipcom 2016 news 3 by MIPMarkets - Issuu". issuu.com. October 18, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  9. ^ "Förderentscheidungen New Media". www.medienboard.de. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  10. ^ Murrenhoff, Sarah (February 1, 2019). "Der Ritt ihres Lebens - Neue Sitcom über das bunte Berlin". Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). ISSN 1865-2263. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  11. ^ The Finellis Movie (2022), retrieved May 1, 2023
  12. ^ "The Finellis Movie | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  13. ^ The Finellis Movie (2022), retrieved March 17, 2024
  14. ^ "Watch The Finellis Movie | Prime Video". www.amazon.com. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  15. ^ "Nackt im Rampenlicht". Ibera Verlag (in German). Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  16. ^ "Mark Janicello stars as Tony Finnelli in The Finellis, a film based on his real-life involvement with Scientology and the deadly fallout". Manchester TV. December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "The Finellis - Scientology and the deadly fallout". Movie-Blogger.com. January 5, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  18. ^ SuperEditor (December 7, 2021). "Mark Janicello stars as Tony Finnelli in The Finellis, a film based on his real-life involvement with Scientology and the deadly fallout". South West News. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  19. ^ "Scientology-Aussteiger erzählt: Mein schwerer Kampf raus aus der Sekte". bild.de (in German). September 2, 2020. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  20. ^ Ago, 1 Year. ""The Finellis" Award Winning Comedy Film Coming to Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google Play 18th January 2022". pressroom.journolink.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Chatterjee, Anamika. "What The Finellis Movie teaches you about rebuilding life". Khaleej Times. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  22. ^ "Mark Janicello stars as Tony Finnelli in The Finellis, a film based on his real-life involvement with Scientology and the deadly fallout". Manchester TV. December 7, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  23. ^ "April 2020". LA Film Awards. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  24. ^ "June 2020". July 15, 2020. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "WINNERS | Vegas Movie Awards". VegasMovieAwards.
  26. ^ "London". Film Fest International. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Oz Indie Film Festival". Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  28. ^ "SCREENINGS". Berlin TV SERIES FESTIVAL | 12th-16th June 2019 | Berlin. Retrieved June 3, 2019.
  29. ^ "JUNE 2020". PIMFF. Archived from the original on July 5, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  30. ^ "Amsterdam World Online - Screening Links Included.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  31. ^ "April 2020". LA Film Awards. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  32. ^ "Portland Comedy Film Festival Fall 2020". Film Festival Circuit. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  33. ^ "MONTHLY RESULT: JULY 2020". Cult Critic. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  34. ^ "JEAN LUC GODARD AWARD NOMINEES 2020". Cult Critic. November 7, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  35. ^ "WINNERS | Vegas Movie Awards".
  36. ^ "Official Selection 2020 – L.I.M.P.A". Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  37. ^ "Winners June 2020". July 15, 2020.
  38. ^ "Rome Online Screening - Website Program.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  39. ^ dan. "Competiție Oficială & Proiecții speciale". Simfest (in Romanian). Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  40. ^ "German United Online Screening - Website Program.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  41. ^ "Season 2". AHFF. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  42. ^ admin (July 5, 2020). "June 2020". Assurdo Film Festival (in Italian). Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  43. ^ "2020 Official Selection | Dumbo Film Festival". Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  44. ^ "Gold Movie Awards (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  45. ^ DemersTalent (November 1, 2020), 2020 PCIFF Red Carpet Gaddy Awards Show, retrieved November 2, 2020
  46. ^ "Winners 2019". mffcannes. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  47. ^ "WINNERS TV SHOWS & SCRIPTS 2019 – NYCTVF". Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  48. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  49. ^ "Sitcom "The Finellis" feiert Weltpremiere bei Berliner "Serienale"". StagePool (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  50. ^ "The Finellis | Serie 2016". moviepilot.de (in German). Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  51. ^ "Kim Tatum announced as presenter of LGBTQ+ Champion Award". Black British Theatre Awards. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  52. ^ "CONTRIBUTORS". Soul Pride. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  53. ^ Higham, Richard (January 9, 2022). "'It's About Being Me!' Review of The Finellis Movie and its Trans-storyline". transliving.co.uk. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  54. ^ Higham, Richard (January 9, 2022). "Transliving Interntaional". Transliving International Celebrating Gender Diversity. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  55. ^ chrysalismama (January 20, 2022). "Introducing "The Finellis!" Music, Humor, and LGBTQIA -Oh, Yes!". Chrysalis Mama. Retrieved June 25, 2022.

External links[edit]

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