Actor Andrew Koss wants to know, “Who is your Zizi?”
Koss, who grew up in Bayside, is writing the script for and co-starring in an upcoming movie entitled “Zizi and Honeyboy” based on a 2002 autobiographical book by controversial trend forecaster Gerald Celente. The film will star five-time Emmy award winner Doris Roberts, who is best known for her role as Marie Barone on the hit sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
The movie will portray Celente’s — played by Koss — fall from grace, when he was blackballed as a forecaster, and how talking with his elderly, oracle-like aunt Zizi — played by Doris Roberts — helped turn his life around and open his eyes.
“You would go consult with this guy, yet here he is consulting with this old woman,” Koss said. “She was able to touch him in a way that sparked something and got him to get back into life again.”
Part 1 of the Doris Roberts EXCLUSIVE interview from Andrew Koss on Vimeo.
The movie will be directed by Brett Donowho. Also, longtime Bayside resident Elizabeth Liberatore and Astoria resident Dominick Ciardello are co-producers.
The film will begin shooting in July in Glen Cove, Long Island and also in Manhattan. Koss said the crew is trying to raise $37,000 from crowdfunding site indiegogo.com to help with costs of making the film.
The initial movie will be about 17 minutes long and debut in film festivals later this year, Koss said. He added, depending on excitement and feedback, they plan to expand it to a full-length feature film.
Koss believes that the movie will resonate with the audience because of the emotion behind the story, and since most people have a “Zizi” in their lives.
“I love that the story can be told and can be interesting and there doesn’t need to be explosions going off,” Koss said. “I feel like this subject matter addresses that human element. This guy was on top of his game, and all of a sudden there was nobody there.”
RECOMMENDED STORIES
