On a side street near Youngstown State, director Jimmy Taaffe guided two actors, seated in a vintage Volkswagen Beetle, through their lines.
“Basically, the story’s about the head of the Mancini crime family, which is actually based on a real crime family in Youngstown. It follows the adventures of two young kids who work for the Mancinis,” Taafee explained
The two young kids are played by Johnny D’Andrea and Adriana Vennetti, who were classmates at Cardinal Mooney High School.
“We were on the speech and debate team and in theater together,” Vennetti said.
An ancestor of Johnny D’Andrea was the first business owner on Brier Hill.
“And on the other side of the family, there’s Sicilian descent. So, this role really hit home for me. I feel like I had to pay it some homage,” D’Andrea said.
The movie Brier Hill is based on Jimmy Taaffe’s book “Brier Hill” from two years ago. The story is very Youngstown.
“If you grew up in Youngstown, particularly in 1977, you’ll recognize a lot of the storyline and you’ll recognize maybe some of the characters, too,” Taaffe said.
“I’ve been able to see a little bit of our edited takes, and it’s phenomenal. So, I’m excited for everyone to see it,” Vennetti said.
“It’s a mix of mafia, a mix of crime. It’s a mix of love, a mix of Youngstown, and it’s all Youngstown, ” D’Andrea said.
The filming of “Brier Hill” is winding down. The last day will be on Sunday. The premiere of the movie will sometime in late October.
https://www.wkbn.com/video/movie-shot-in-youngstown-focuses-on-70s-crime-family/10967247
