Our Town: Filmmaking is a family affair

 

By Jamie Oppenheim Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 29, 2007 12:01 PM PDT

Think Bonny and Clyde with a twist: Don Scioli shoots and Christine Scioli plots.

But the Sciolis aren't nihilistic robbers - they're filmmakers.

For 27 years, the Novato couple has had their hands in everything from political videos, commercial ads and documentaries to “The Beckoning,”� a feature-length horror film the family created.

Their production company, ZAN media, named after their three children Zach, Alexandra and Nicki, exists within the walls of their San Marin Drive home and it truly is a family affair.

Don Scioli got his start in the film business after attending the University of Southern California's film school. Christine was practicing law before Don convinced her they could make a living filmmaking.

Once Don landed a deal with Weinstock's department store in Sacramento, Christine began to see the possibilities.

“Our very first check was for $7,000. The second check was for $111,000. It didn't all go to us, it went to the crew and the actors, but the fact that you could deposit it in the bank before it went to everybody felt great,”� Christine said.

Their daughter Nicki, who is their associate producer, came up with the idea of creating a documentary on North Bay winemakers a little over a year ago after studying wine business at Sonoma State University.

From that idea grew, “A State of Vine,”� a 60-minute feature documentary on the wine industry.

The film features interviews with famed race car driver Mario Andretti, founder of Andretti Winery in Napa and Fred Franzia, maker of “Two Buck Chuck,”� among other wine celebrities.

Wine culture, something often associated with exclusivity and sophistication, rears its humble head in the film, Scioli said.

“(The winemakers) are extremely nice and gregarious - not at all snobby,”� he added.

Already in the works are plans for a sequel to the documentary.

Christine said she and Nicki are thinking of creating a documentary on the women of wine.

Life isn't always ros for the Sciolis.

While ideas of wine delicately float in their heads they are also faced with harsh realities of making a living through their commercial public-service endeavors.

One such project is a documentary on methamphetamine addiction they're producing for the Mendocino County Sheriff's Department.

Working on the film was eye-opening, Don Scioli said.

Part of the film involved interviews with three female inmates, all arrested for methamphetamine-related charges. Some had lost custody of their children, Christine said.

Also on their plate is a public service video on a vaccine for the human papillomavirus commissioned by Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold, a recruitment video for the Novato Fire Protection District and video work for Comcast.

Giving back to the community and using their creativity, is part of what keeps the Sciolis going. But Christine admitted, “The complete diversity is the best.”�