DMZ

Yes folks, there really is a reason for my avatar.

For the last 2 years, I've working on the show as Tony's photo double. I typically do driving scenes with his Cadillac Escalade going down the road, flying by the camera and/or not close up where you'd normally think it's him driving. That white Escalade is a 2003 with a V8 engine which has such horrendous pickup, that there have been times I've had to floor it to keep up with the camera truck.

In the season premier episode tonight , Sunday, April 8th, there's 3 scenes where yours truly is doing the driving, a few seconds each with the Escalade going across the screen right to left, from behind, and from the front coming toward the camera. These were filmed in the area around Greenwood Lake, NY during the 100+ degree heat we had in the northeast last August.

These pics were taken the day those driving scenes were shot:





There's always tons of cops around at on-location shoots and they're typically shocked when I pull up to their barricade seeing (at first glance) Tony drive a TL.



Now before any of you ask or start PMing me asking about what happens in this final season, let me tell you right off the bat, FUGGHETTABOUTIT! I and everyone else connected with the show had to sign a non-disclosure agreement prohibiting us from revealing plots. Having seen episodes 1 and 2 at the Sopranos Premier at Radio City on March 27th, I will tell you that this 1st episode is at least as much of a comedy as it is a mob drama, especially when Carmela says “Happy Birthday” to Tony. Deaths and hits commence in episode 2. The CEO of HBO joked about continuing negotiations for another season in his speech, evidence that HBO doesn't want to let go either, and why not? After all, The Sopranos is the show most responsible for the largest increase in subscribership in HBO history. More people subscribe to HBO just for Sopranos season than any other show on HBO to date.

They’re still filming the final episode and re-shooting scenes for other season 6B episodes throughout the rest of this month. Last Tuesday was Edie Falco’s last official day on the set, pending needed re-shoots. There isn't one soul who works on the show I've talked to that isn't sad it's all coming to an end. Gandolfini's just tired of playing the roll.

Anyway, I make part of my living as a Celebrity Look-alike & Impersonator doing corporate events, parties, etc. Clearly, the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Nice being able to go up to men at these functions, grab them by the lapels, and in some cases, put 'em up against a wall, threaten them, and be able to get away with it.

I’ll be at the REAL Bada-Bing Club, Satin Dolls, in Lodi, NJ Sunday night for their big Premier Party.

My website, www.sopranoslookalikes.com


Bada Bing !!!

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

sounds like a cool job

jsong83

nice. im such a huge fan of the show. looking forward to the new episodes. just hope they dont suck like last seasons when tony was in the coma.

narnia

Hey DMZ that's a really cool story!

I was at a Yankees game last year and James Gandolfini was sitting in my row. He was with an entourage, and every time they wanted a beer or some hot dogs, Jimmy would get up and walk down to the vendor making sure everyone got to see him - LOL! The crowd was going nuts, cheering and calling him Tony, and he was smiling and waving at everyone.

He left before the end of the game.

blazinginder

Sopranos & Entourage = the two reasons god made HBO haha

darksom1

The Sopranos is definitely one of my all-time fave shows!!! Glad one of AZ's OWN is representing!!!! You go boyyyy!!

Yo DMZ, howz about youz take some pics of dozz friggin' Bada Bing dancers for me??!!?? Ok, ok, ok...for us!

Play on playa!!

csmeance

not to be party pooper, but ramblings Anyway, thats an awesome job.

DMZ

Home from the Bing!

Busy, but not as crowded as it was in previous premier nights. Probably because it's Eashta. Also, the 1st time there absolutely no press there either.


If you saw tonight's episode, you know it didn't suck, that is, except for Carmella right before she said "Happy Birthday" to Tony! They learned from their mistakes. Surprisingly, Joe Ganniscolli (Vito), wasn't even invited to the Radio City Premier. Everyone thinks they went too far last season with him and all the Fanook (gay) stuff.


There's only 1 catch. In the state of NJ, a state I refer to as the armpit of the nation, the law states that the girls cannot go topless if the establishment serves alcohol. They're only topless when they film the show.


If it was 9:04 as you were leaving that message, you're obviously not watching the show and you don't know nuttin like your smiley sez. So ramble and poop it up your azz.


That sounds like this past Friday while filming down in Long Branch. I came out of the makeup/costume trailer wearing the same leather jacket he wears in the scene we shot. Being escorted to the set, all the locals behind the barricades turned and did the same to me. I smiled and waved to them accordingly too.



Like I said, the most fun you can have with your clothes on........

Hapa DC5

Will Tony upgrade to the current gen ESV? Since Carmella got the Porsche and all.

It's sad to hear the this is the final season. I guess you want to leave the party at its peak anyways. Cool website BTW.

07WDP

How sweet?!?!

Awesome man! Congratulations on being a part of one of the best television shows in recorded history. I just watched this first episode of the season earlier this evening and I can't wait for the rest of the season!

Sad to see it all come to an end, but every good story has to end sometime.

I figure though, with Tony having a driver now (the muscle-bound bald guy), you probably don't get as many assignments. True?

MR1

First show was OK, not great but looking forward to more.
Did you gain as much weight as James did since the last shoot? He seems bigger every time he's on.

Anyway, that is a great job you have. Will you go into semi-retirement at season end?

dnd2984

iTrader: (6)

Another reason to love Azine.....

darksom1

Fuck dat Fanook guy! That shit made me sick! If anything, they took too long to waste him! When I saw Tony laying back and groaning, it reminded me of a scene in another Sopranos where he was gettin' blown by a Bada Bing chick, so I knew he was bringing in the birthday right! Smack Edie on the ass for me for doing it up big on that one! She still gotz skillz!

So you know what that means right? Snap OUR action before the director says "ACTION"!!

Nuff said!


Glad you having a ball man! You gotta get yourself blown on the set behind a trailer "mafioso style"!! Go out in style! One of them damn groupies that thinks your Tony Soprano! It's good to be king!

darksom1

This wasn't typed in red, so I am assuming you were serious. But he wasn't Tony's driver, he was his photo-double in driving scenes. Meaning when Tony is supposed to be driving on some scenes, it's really our guy DMZ driving the Caddy! Like a stunt-double and whatnot!

Man, if I was like Wesley or Denzel double...damn, I would come in on the sex scenes though...like "CUT", then I come in, with the director cueing the mist as I open the door and approach the bed with the hapless female eagerly anticipating...oh, this ain't about me? Oh, ok...uhh, yeah...yay Sopranos!

coykiam

wow...thats awesome man. Been following the show since it first started...I missed tonights show...grr!!! Oh welz, theres always HBO on demand (thats how I caught up to last season) Its the best, I didnt have to wait a week I had one of those Sopranos marathon.

A SiQ TL

I think he meant that since on the show Tony has the bald guy drive him around now. there aren't as many scenes where Tony would be driving. Therefore eliminating the need for a photo-double. Still sounds like a cool job though.

DMZ

Yes he will upgrade ... to a black one, but I can't tell ya how.

I don't always do scenes where I'm the driver. Last Friday for example, I (Tony) was a passenger in a van as it flew past the camera along the beach for the upcoming final episode, #9. In episode 6 this season, I (Tony) am the passenger in the Escalade going by the camera at night just before something happens. Also, I've done scenes at Silvercup studios where dressed like he was in the scenes I've had my hands used with his jewelry on and from behind.

Not every scene shot using me made to the final cut, however. There's been plenty of my shots that also made it to the cutting room floor. That's just the nature of the biz. Last season in episode 2, they were supposed to use my picture on his driver's license in the dream that he was someone else. But apparently it was thought that I looked too much like him for that.

Also, not every on-location scene is shot where they want you to think it is. In the episode where Paulie and Chris took the Russian to the Pine Barrens to dispose of him in the snow, that was actually filmed in Harriman State Park in Rockland County, NY in the dead of winter. Just like last night's episode was filmed at Greenwood Lake, NY, not in the Adirondacks where the story took place.

Like I said, the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Then again, in my travels, I've met those women attracted beyond belief to the main man himself.

This coming Saturday nite, I'm working a party at a restaurant in John Gotti's old neighborhood in Queens, NY with my buddy Joe, the Robert Deniro www.deniroimpersonator.com. The hostess is already hitting on me and we haven't even met face to face yet.

mustiy

DMZ - Haha wow, what a cool job. if you dont mind answering, does it pay well and how much Id do it for free mind you...

Also, thanks for the little tid bits here and there, maybe you can shed some (SOME!) light on whats in store for the next episode? A lil preview perhaps...

mustiy

Sorry it was a double post...

EDIT: Bobby shot Harpo didnt he!? Janice's kid with the french Canadian she was dating wayyyy wayy back (revealed in season 2). Im willing to bet Janice and Bobby wil be the downfall of tony.

I hope Tony continues doing what he does when the story unfolds and sadly ends, i dont want to see the NJ crew ending the way most mobsters do: in jail or dead.

DMZ

A major mob figure WILL meet his demise next week. Can't tell ya who or how. Director Syndey Pollack stars in the episode.

As for Janice's 2nd season boyfriend, Richie Apriele, played by actor David Proval, David's cousin Harvey was my next door neighbor until he passed from cancer a few years ago at age 58. He was a proud TSX owner which by the way was parked in the same garage as my TL. The premier party was my 1st chance to offer David Proval my condolences.

chill_dog

Too bad they don't have Tony (you) drive a TL in a scene or two.

Sounds like a great job, though. Is it possible that once JG moves on that you could double for him in other roles?

mustiy

i watch Sopranos religiously, more then anyone on these forums - im willing to bet. It's nice having someone from the crew give us these little tid bits for the upcoming episode!

Thankfully we see some grade-a mob hits this week, some people are itching for it.

07WDP

It's gotta be Phil. Just the way they've set up this new season and the preview from last night. Phil is going down and then it's off to the mattresses!

ahh!

DMZ

Maybe ................Maybe not.........

If you've been watching all along, you should know by now this show is filled with surprises.



Above shooting smiley is not intended to portray the way things will go down, but the priest is!

LKLD

Yeah, I heard Edie Falco's character sucked...guess they were right

Yes...they went too far with the whole gay thing. People don't care about the sexual orientation of characters, but what they do. Hollywood tries too hard to show that they avant garde. Soprano's is about the mob life and killin'!

darksom1

Christopher still had the hottest chick on the show! After the Bada Bing hoes!

When Phil and his family (mob) were talking, a guy said let's take out Tony. Phil didn't want that, so somebody said then let's get somebody else, somebody big. So, I think it's going to be Sil! He's Tony's right-hand man, next biggest! If not him, then Paulie, cuz they showed his face on the previews, but no indication as to why.

Hey DMZ! I took a poll on ESPN, and everybody said that you should get laid in Tony's spot at least once! Get up in the big bed like AJ and that chick with the baby! I wish you could tell us if Tony and 'Carm get home early and find his bratty ass and kick his ass! What a fawkin' brat! No street smarts! His boys used and abused him last season!

DMZ

Where on ESPN?

And remember, demise doesn't automatically mean a 'hit'. Someone big is gonna meet their maker, that's for sure. Do you honestly think they're gonna hit Tony and kill the show in the 2nd of 9 episodes?

mustiy

Christopher is going to meet his demise... Demise in the sense that hes going to get a final wake up call from either Tony/Feds and thats it for him. He's been fucking up BIG time, he's back to doing drugs and when hes not he's obviously persuading his writing carreer.

If its not Chris, then theres no way we can know. For all we know DMZ (Im still in shock you're on these forums, ive seen and read about you some last year and how you attend parties etc - what a small world) might be pulling out legs here Not one episode has shown us where one (other then Chris) might meet his demise.

if not Chris, then maybe Johny Sacks as we never saw what actually happened to him. Phil thinks very low of him ever since the wedding accident (sacks crying) - so maybe Phil wants to get rid of him now that hes got complete control of the NY family.

DMZ, give me/us some credit here if we're right - pretty please.

DMZ

Sorry, my lips are sealed on who's going out next week.

Since you're up north, you may have heard about my trip across Canada February of last year. The Movie Network (HBO Canada) hired me to preside at Season 6 Premier Promotion parties at all the Cable and Satellite Company call centers from Montreal to Vancouver including Edmonton, Toronto, Calvary, and Victoria Island to name a few.

mustiy

DMZ, this might never happen again - but next time if you're up in Montreal make sure we know about it. Hell, you might as well use this thread to let us know of parties or gatherings you will be attending. Id be very happy meeting you, must have one hell of a interesting story.

I've seen some videos of you, and i gotta say its really difficult to differentiate who the real Tony is.

DMZ

Wanna see interesting?
See my bio page, www.sopranoslookalikes.com/bio.html

Yes, I thought it was finally time for 'Superman' to out of the closet here yesterday.

datmrman

Wow, I'm surprise this thread went on for this long. This thread belongs in Off Topic.

Since we cannot move threads across forums, feel free to repost there.