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Sopranos' Creator Chase
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. -- It wouldn't surprise members of the Italian American One Voice Coalition to learn that TV producer David Chase chose to film his last scene of the cable TV drama in Bloomfield where it would generate national exposure for what is reported to be the show's last season. Founded in 1993, long before the gangster show began depicting the negative side of Americans of Italian descent, the One Voice Coalition was formed to protest the return of "The Untouchables" a television series with a preponderance of gangsters of Italian descent. The One Voice Coalition has spoken out consistently against Chase's cable TV show for its glorification of negative stereotype of Americans of Italian descent. Chase, who is an American of Italian descent, has continued his series unabated. One Voice, however, hasn't sat on the sidelines, the group, consisting of many Italian American service organizations throughout the United States, has vigorously protested negative stereotyping of Italian Americans in the media for the past 14 years. The members of the anti-defamation coalition wouldn't be surprised if they learned that Chase chose a small, old-fashioned ice cream parlor in the northeastern New Jersey township of Bloomfield, which, coincidentally is the headquarters for the One Voice group. Members of the group have discussed the possibility that Chase may have selected the One Voice headquarters town as a site that could generate the most publicity with the least effort on behalf of Chase's production crew. The recent brouhaha regarding the filming permit for the show's reported last scene in Bloomfield has generated national media coverage for the cable TV show. Reaction to the One Voice protest has been mixed, noted chairman Manny Alfano. "We got our message out." In earlier debates Chase described Alfano as 'the crazy guy from Bloomfield.' Chase's efforts on this cable TV series earned him One Voice's first Pasta-tute award in 1999. Candidates were submitted from across the country and the 'Pasta-tute' of 1999 winner is executive producer and writer David Chase, the driving force behind the anti Italian-American series HBO's 'The Sopranos'. Chase. prevailed as ''the Italian-American who has sold out his/her Italian culture and heritage in the media or politics or any other notable field'' by a nearly two-to-one margin over closest challenger singer Jerry Vale. Striking ire at their false witness of Italian heritage were actors Joe Pesci and Robert DeNiro. Singer Madonna, the late Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola also received nominations in the national organization's competition. More recently, One Voice also received its share of protests, including one that began: "Are you out of your damn mind? Do you really enjoy making Italian-Americans the laughing stock of the country? I assure you you do not speak for myself, and the distinguished Italian-American family from which I come, when you carry on with this nonsense concerning the Sopranos... and leave Mr. Chase alone." Another note included this: "I found out about your organization when reading a CNN article about The Sopranos. I don't care if that show says all Italians are bad people and are a waste of space; it is a fictional television show. The type of people that use that as their basis for judging all Italians are the same type of people that aren't worth a second of your time. There are so many other serious issues in this world, I find it deeply saddening when I read about an organization like yours that is essentially fighting a battle against stereotypes. If children were being taught in schools that Italians are bad people, or that they are all mobsters, etc., then I might agree with what you are trying to do." A One Voice group member suggested the writer should check out what's being taught/not taught about Columbus in public schools today. He could then look up and see the snowball coming down the mountain. Earlier in the week, Alfano commended and called on members to support the Bloomfield council members who voted against a filming permit for the cable TV show. The council then under a great deal of pressure from Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo and a few others to reverse their decision. Alfano recapped, This week Mayor Ray McCarthy, Councilman Tamborini, (both Bloomfield Unicans), Councilwoman Janice Maly (member of UNICO & OSIA) and the rest of the council ...(but one) voted to not have "The Sopranos" film in Bloomfield because the show defames Italian Americans. Although the film crew was able to obtain a permit on a technicality, Alfano reiterated his call to Americans of Italian descent to get active with One Voice, "It's time to stop the talking, the complaining and act. It's time to stop blaming others or look for someone else, a group or some organization to do it for us. It's up to us. Each an every one of us."
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