Actor Freddie Gano
Actor Freddie Ganno is on the run in the latest ‘family’ film to add to your must watch list, “Unorganized Crime.” Directed by 2-time Oscar winner Nick Vallelonga (Green Book) and starring Chazz Palminteri, the film has won over 30 International Awards on the festival circuit and is now available on Amazon Prime Video.
It just so happens that Freddie got his start over 30 years ago in the film “The In Crowd,” starring Joe Pantoliano and Bruce Kirby, which has also recently been made available on YouTube.
Think you’ve seen Freddie before? Well, if you’ve watched HBO then the odds are you probably have. He’s had roles on the gritty James Franco drama “The Deuce” and the political Julie Louis-Dreyfus comedy “Veep.” His films roles include the leading role as Father Gaudio in the dramatic feature, “Father Gaudio’s Confession,” and appearing in the crime-drama, “Mafioso: The Father, The Son.”
To find out more, Freddie Ganno recently answered some questions for FanPop:
Tell us about your role in “Unorganized Crime.”
FREDDIE: I play Tommy Marino, a mob guy who works for the Fifth Largest Crime Family in NYC. Unfortunately, I am also a degenerate gambler and I owe them about 40 thousand dollars and when I don't pay up, they decide to have my best friend and son and brother of the crime Family, Gino make his bones by luring me into a trap to kill me.
What would you consider Tommy Marino’s ‘best’ quality? And his ‘worst’?
FREDDIE: Tommy's best quality is that he is a charmer and can make you believe just about anything he is saying or selling. His worst quality is that he is not a man of his word. A deadbeat that does not pay his debts – also his downfall.
Any interesting stories from the set you can share with us?
FREDDIE: Yes. Yes. Oh wow, in one scene, I am tracked down by Sonny's two henchman. They track me down at a gas station as I am coming out and ask me if I'm paid up. Well, as I snowball them into believing me, they start to call Chazz (Palminteri) who plays Sonny, and as they start to make the call, I begin to run, but one of the guys, is eating a slice of pizza and holding the whole pie in a box in his hand. I accidentally push the box into his brand-new shirt -- pizza sauce is all over. I felt so bad, I bought him a new shirt and presented to him the next time I saw him. The whole set was hysterical. All took it well and laughed, but I was a little guilty about it.
What’s the biggest lesson you learned from working on this project?
FREDDIE: When working on a project like this, you have to go deep into yourself and find those many emotions that are believable. You are playing notorious criminals, but also characters that are loyal to their families and to each other. So, there is love, hatred, conartist behavior, etc. Also, you are playing alongside a star, Chazz Palminteri, who is also one of my mentors and I study with him in his Master Classes. So, you better dig deep and know what you are doing.
A film from your past called “The In Crowd” was recently released on YouTube. What can you tell us about working on that film?
FREDDIE: This was my breakout film that I booked in Philadelphia, my hometown, and we filmed it in Philly and California. I met some of my closest and dearest friends and my first mentor, Bruce Kirby, father of “The Godfather” star, Bruno Kirby. Also, another mentor and close friend and writer, Mark Rosenthal. I play Orson, bodyguard to Joey Pants Pantoliano, another great character actor. The friendships forged just from this movie are still current after over 34 years. Can you imagine, all this from just one movie. What a Blessing!
Watching that film now, do you think your acting style or skills have changed over the years?
FREDDIE: Of course, my style and skills have changed. Just by reason of years of training and experience in the many films and television work I have been involved in throughout the years. If you don’t continue to train and study personally and professionally, you stay where you are. I have and still study with the best as far as I am concerned, including Oscar nominee Chazz Palminteri, Oscar winner Bobby Moresco of The Actors Gym in L.A. and NYC, and Ted Bardy. After studying with all of these great people and all of the projects I've worked on since “The In Crowd,” I better have learned a thing or two.
Do you have anything else coming up that we can watch out for?
FREDDIE: Yes, we are in pre-production for a film titled, "Who Killed Jimmy Gumdrops,” which takes a look at prejudice, culture clash, and comedy all rolled into a mozzarella ball of confusion and misunderstanding under the penalty of death.
And, now just for fun:
Who’s your favorite actor/actress?
FREDDIE: Actors: Anthony Hopkins, as well as Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg, Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman -- I cannot name just one. Actress: Julia Roberts, Jodie Foster, Helen Mirren, and Emma Thompson.
What role from the past do you wish you could have played?
FREDDIE: Alfieri in "A View From The Bridge."
Favorite movie or TV show from your childhood.
FREDDIE: “The Godfather” and “Beretta.”
Tell us one thing that would surprise our readers to learn about you.
FREDDIE: I am a very Spiritual individual. I must start my day with GOD. I pray morning and evening. I cannot read only one book; I must read two or more at once. I have Tourette Syndrome, but you will never know it from my acting and singing as when I focus on something you can't notice my tics.
How can fans keep up with you?
FREDDIE:
Website: FreddieGanno.com link
IMDb.com: Freddie Ganno link
Facebook: /Freddie.Ganno.5 link
Instagram: @Freddie_Ganno link
Tik Tok: Freddieganno
Twitter: @freddieganno link
Actor Freddie Ganno in "Unorganized Crime"
On the set of "Unorganized Crime"
