Performance headed for big screen

dockids032: Performance headed for big screenWhen Centennial High sophomores Sarah Franz, Cristina Pandol and Marilee Janneti Rickett finished ninth at National History Day at the University of Maryland in June, it was a satisfying end to nine months of research and performance. Or so they thought.

After their return to California, Rickett received an email from a documentary film director in Berkeley. Judith Ehrlich, from non-profit Interface Productions, was working on a documentary called “Una Storia Segreta: The Secret Story” and wanted the girls in it.

University of California, Berkeley, professor Lawrence Distasi had told Ehrlich about the girls. His book “Una Storia Segreta” served as the inspiration for their History Day performance by the same name. Over the past five months, they were in constant contact with him. He also plays a key role in the upcoming documentary.

Distasi’s book and the girls’ performance deals with Italian-Americans who were persecuted, interned, quarantined and evacuated from coastal areas of the United States during World War II. Thousands were affected. Their plight was largely kept secret until The Wartime Violation Of Italian American Civil Liberties Act was passed by Congress and President Clinton signed it into law in November 2000.

“We were surprised to be asked to be a part of the documentary because so many of the people interviewed were survivors or children of the victims,” Franz said. “During the war, most were unaware their rights had been violated. It was something they kept to themselves because of being proud people and because they felt ashamed to talk about it.”

On July 6, the girls, props in tow and accompanied by their mothers, traveled to Berkeley.

“During a five hour shoot, we were interviewed about our performance, History Day and how we compiled our research,” Franz said. “Then, they filmed our entire performance (nine minutes and 30 seconds) before going back to shoot us again delivering our lines individually in single scenes from different angles.”

The girls’ performance takes place after the attack on Pearl Harbor and involves an Italian mother, played by Pandol, and an Italian-American mother, played by Franz, who have sons serving in the military. Rickett is the narrator.

“It was really different performing in front of cameras instead of a live audience,” Pandol said. “There’s one scene where I fall down on my knees and cry. Using the energy of the crowd made it easy for me. But with just the cameras and crew I couldn’t bring myself to tears.”

Filming also took place on July 7 at Tommaso's Restaurant in San Francisco where a dozen, elderly Italian-Americans, directly affected by the events of the war, were interviewed by Distasi and Rickett, as they talked and dined together in the restaurant.

While researching their performance, Pandol said her favorite interview was Rose Scurdo. She reminded Pandol of her grandmother. “I could relate to how boys wouldn’t dance with her and stole her lunch because she was Italian,” Pandol said. “Since she wasn’t yet 12, and her mother wasn’t a U.S. citizen, the government relocated them from their home in Pittsburg, CA, away from the rest of the family.”

Famed documentary cinematographer Vicente Franco filmed the production. His documentary “Daughter from Danang” was nominated for an Academy Award last year. It also took first place at the Sundance Film Festival in 2002.

In addition to placing ninth at National History Day, Franz, Pandol and Rickett were the History Day in California and Kern County History Day champions. The documentary will be two years in the making, and the girls will be invited back to complete the project. For now, all three said their thoughts will turn to the upcoming school year and studies, but Pandol and Rickett said they may tryout for the Centennial spring play.
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