NY screenwriter Roy Carlo signs 7-figure development deal with Astoria Films.

NYC-based Astoria Films options 8 feature film screenplays from Roy Carlo, in a deal worth mid seven figures.

(PRWEB) April 19, 2004 --James La Vita, VP of Astoria Films in New York, has announced a 7-figure development deal with Queens-born screenwriter Roy Carlo.

Carlo, 45, unofficially began his career in 1980 when attempting to join the writing staff of Saturday Night Live, but lost out when producer Jean Doumanian was fired. "I was close to getting the job, but was shut out when she (Doumanian) left."

In 1987, he submitted a story pitch to Michael Landon for his 'Highway to Heaven' series, but couldn't get representation and again lost out. Ironically, his idea about a rich man who ends up homeless, was the storyline in the following season of 'Highway...'.

In 1992, he completed his first screenplay titled "...and don't forget the cannoli!", a tribute to Italian cinema about an overweight girl who comes to America by way of an arranged marriage. "It made all the rounds, including Marisa Tomei & Madonna, but was passed on by everybody. Truthfully, it wasn't ready to be made back then" adds Carlo. When he hooked up with La Vita in 1997, they attached Pat Cooper, Brenda Vaccaro, Gianni Russo, Gina Lollobrigida, Giancarlo Giannini, with cameos slated for Rudy Giuliani, Richard Simmons et al.. Jimmy Roselli agreed to let them license some of his songs, something no other director could do. Carlo then changed the title to 'Carmela, From Sicily'.

But after La Vita spent several years to trying to arrange production financing without success, Carlo realized he had his eggs in one basket. So he wrote 8 more screenplays, including a remake to 'Swept Away', a project that preceded Madonna's by 3 years. But due to the greed of others, claims La Vita, the remake rights were sold out to the higher bidder.

"We told the Italians she would ruin it and our prediction turned out to be not only true, but kind. She doesn't belong in front of a camera, and he (guy Ritchie) shouldn't get behind one again. Maybe under it, I don't know" quips La Vita. "Roy's NYC/Caribbean version would not have turned out anywhere near that unwatchable."

Carlo then won a research grant from the prestigious National Italian-American Foundation (NIAF)for his epic story 'paisan', about a soldier from NYC who goes to fight in WWII Italy, while his immigrant father is sent to an internment camp as an enemy alien.

"It's an incredible screenplay about how an entire culture earned their place in the country once and for all" states La Vita. "If this isn't Oscar material, I don't what is."

The other projects include 'A NY Bird Tale', an animated/live-action feature about a crow whose mother develops a strange disease and how he and his pigeon friend Hector must fly around the city trying to find the Protected One for help.

Adds Carlo "I think birds are fascinating little creatures with comical personalities and a busy agenda. So I modeled various species after the different cultures in NY, each mimicing their human neighbors."

"This is another potentially huge blockbuster, as big as 'Nemo' perhaps. Plus it's a true story. Incredibly clever and sad at the same time. I started to think I was reading about people" states La Vita.

Rounding out the slate is a character study and tribute to Italian cinema and Anna Magnagi titled 'Ciao Roma!' which Carlo wrote specifically for Tomei again.

Carlo recalled "I met her a few times and she was very gracious to me. I told her she was right, that 'Carmela' wasn't the part for her, but I would write something else in that genre. It's a dual role and I think she'll sparkle in it. I believe it's her next Oscar."

'King of Clubs', 'Profile of Some Nut Job', 'The Screenwriter' and 'Cousin Johnny Boy' complete the deal. La Vita hopes to set up the first project with another studio before the year is out.