Indie Film Makers to Watch: The Gaudioso Twins

Twins are an interesting prospect. Stories abound about them, some fun, some freaky, some interesting. Is there a psychic connection between twins that doesn’t exist elsewhere? Do they share ESP? Although this idea has been debunked by scientists, there does seem to be a unique connection between twins. A deeply embedded ‘you complete me’ kind of thing that they share; and this ‘connection’ is ever apparent in the case of actors, writers and now filmmakers, identical twin brothers, James and Anthony Gaudioso; aka—The Gaudioso Twins. You may remember them as the quirky, battling duo from the Boston Market commercials some years back. Now you know them as film directors, writers, actors and creators, as they continue their amazing journey in the world we call show.

I recently caught up with 'The Next Coen Brothers' aka: The Gaudioso Twins, to wax about the world of indie film, life and artistry.

Born in Kane County, in the town of Crystal Lake, Illinois, the brothers were raised in New York, and attended high school on Long Island. By the age of thirteen, they knew that a life in film would become their career, their profession, their passion. They spent their spare time traveling to auditions in the city, with relatively little success. “Our love of film started early,” says James. But when they couldn’t get into the auditions they wanted, “we said fuck it, let’s create our own roles...and that’s why we became filmmakers. It wasn’t out of a love for the technical side of filmmaking, but out of the need to be heard, speak our truths and create - something lasting.”

When James was 17, the notorious Spike Lee discovered him and cast him in a series of commercials. From there he had some Broadway, and off Broadway success, including Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. James, who has been a writer since his youth, found his hand co-writing, the independent film Medium, when he was 24. His acting ability in the film was pivotal for him. He portrayed the main characters older, mute brother, speaking only one line in the entirety of the film. His captivating performance earned him the “Rising Star” honor by Vanity Fair; and although he wore many hats in the creation of the film, his overriding passion as a writer was further cemented.

Deriving their greatest inspiration from their mother, who told them that they could do anything they wanted in life, “as long as they believed it,” they took their cue, and committed fully to creating their own vision within the world of film.

When asked what the first film he remembers watching was, he answers in a series of memories, which expand beyond the screen, encompassing family and bygone treasures. “My mother would probably say - The Goonies at the drive in movie theatre with my brothers John-Peter and Anthony! Yes we lived close to a drive in that closed when I was 19 years old. I remember I was so bummed,” he says, reflecting on the passing of an era and the passing of time. Then he resumes, in his jovial manner, “I can also remember seeing Return to OZ, in 85 ' as well as Transformers the CARTOON movie in 86' LMFAO!” But for James, some of his favorite movies are more renowned for directing style, than anything. He begins the lengthy listing from the obscure to the more obscure, before he calls cut; “AAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! This is TOO tough...next question,” he commands, like the director he is.

It is said that there are only six stories, maybe twelve. It’s all been done before. And we have seen it all. So, what keeps them fresh? “I think as long as you are out there experiencing life, there will always be stories to tell,” says James. “I do also believe in the collective conscious and that we as people experience things, the ZEITGEIST of the moment together.”

Their first feature length film was Duke. It is filled with an all-star cast, and an intensely deep and moving story, with unapologetically flawed characters that are whip-smart and fascinating; all of which make Duke a film worth watching again and again.

“Duke is a fantastic film,” says James in his animated manner, like a kid on Christmas morning, discovering toys under the tree. “I am so pleased with it. The script was written by my twin brother and is truly a masterpiece. The level of humanity and variance in given circumstances among the characters is so eclectic and I’m really pleased to say that everyone we cast really GOT that, and nailed their parts.” And what a cast it is.

Playing the lead role of Dare, is the always intense and flawless, Carmine Giovinazzo who is well known for his performance as forensic scientist Danny Messer on the hit show CSI: NY. A standout performance, by the Minnesota born, Hank Harris, delivers the tragically flawed and richly beautiful Roost to the audience, in a way that is memorable, believable and riveting. Emmy Award winning actor, Maurice Benard, who is well known and revered as the loveable Mafioso Sonny Corinthos, on General Hospital, steps in to add an element of flare and unexpected mystery to the plot; and let’s not forget the incomparable Richard Roundtree, as the voice of age, wisdom and reason, to characters who are battling their own demons in a story, where winners, if any, will be few.

“I’ll let my brother explain the plot,” says James, “but what I will say is that it’s the best role I have ever played and I thank my brother Anthony for creating such interesting voices, that, I think will be talked about long after were both gone.”

The plot is one of those wonderfully twisted adventures; the sort that once you think you’ve got it; you don’t. According to Anthony, who is credited with writing Duke, “Dare and Roost are brothers who have been raised in a reformatory, taught to survive and conditioned to trust no one. They have moved to West Los Angeles, where Dare moonlights as a detective and Roost blankets himself in old John Wayne films. Cleaning the streets and ridding the neighborhoods of scum, this contemporary study finds Dare obsessed with a phantom like criminal (Winky), who seems to be terrorizing the community. Simultaneously, the same exact investigation is being led by officials and likely engrossed Detective Robert Morrison. As Dare closes in on Winky and the entire department closes in on them both, these brothers must make the ultimate commitment and pay the extraordinary consequences therein. Duke stretches beyond the stereotypical vigilante justice picture with its measurable heart and honest framing of arrested development, codependency, heroic zeal and poetic justice.”

In the film, James plays Joan—(J-Bird), a prostitute with secrets of her own. When asked about similarities between the two, James answers with a hearty laugh. “I am loud and gregarious but I’m not a transgendered woman who is a prostitute. I had to dig deep on this one. I loved Joan. She was the best role I’ve ever played and I am so proud of the work I did on DUKE. Joan is a prostitute informant to the main character of Dare. He is a broken individual, as is Joan, in the sense that they relate, but Joan is an onion with many, many layers. To be gay is one thing, but to be unhappy with the body you were born with, and then to sell that body to make a living is another. I really felt for Joan, and the loss she felt for her best friend and co- trick Cookie. She broke my heart,” says James. “But I left her there and I’m glad I got to tell her story. My brother said no one could have played her like you James and I think he was right! But easy to play, she was not. The only similarity we share is life,” he concludes.

Last year, they released The Ghost & The Whale to both audience and critical acclaim. The film, garnered several awards including being an Official Selection of the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival. It is the story of a bi-polar man who went off to sea with the love of his life and returned back to the sleepy town of Bodega alone. The fantastic Maurice Bernard plays the lead character of Joseph Hawthorne. The small town is divided by the question; what happened to Annabel? There is no easy answer. Annabel’s family wants revenge, while others carry smoldering doubts. Anthony Gaudioso, portrays Annabel’s diabolical brother, with a steadfast creepiness, ala: Cape Fear.

There has been a lot of learning along the journey, as James says “I have learned how important it is to truly hold on to your creative vision while accepting creative input from the tremendously talented contemporaries you surround yourself with.” There have also been struggles, as Anthony mentions, “I think it’s difficult to find the right team out here, of people you can trust and grow with, but when you do, they're people you can trust and rely on for a long time.”

It seems they have found that magic mix as their next film, their third full length feature, is a go. “We are excited to report that we are green lit for our next feature entitled NUMB which is a coming of age piece centered on a young man who suffers from CIPA or Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis.” The film will be produced by Mark Mathis of Precious and Brick notoriety and we are scheduled to begin filming in November in Utah.

And as for any indie venture, these two filmmakers face the same—and perhaps universal challenge; “Getting the money to make the films, I would say takes time and belief and trust from your producers,” he says. Ultimately, they both agree, that “in this, we have been blessed.”

#Turntable