The Real Story Behind Furio Giunta | Federico Castelluccio

Federico Castelluccio joins Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. for a conversation about The Sopranos, James Gandolfini, Italian identity, acting, painting, and a life spent moving between different forms of art. Dominic calls Federico a true Renaissance man, and his story explains why. Long before audiences knew him as Furio Giunta, Federico won a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts for painting. He talks about discovering acting as another art form, creating a portrait of George Burns as a teenager, and eventually expanding his work into acting, directing, and filmmaking. Then the conversation turns to The Sopranos. Federico remembers hearing about the show before most people knew what it would become and immediately recognizing something special in James Gandolfini. He first auditioned for Johnny Sack, but when the second season came around, his agent sent him a new role: “Furio, Tony Soprano’s cousin from Naples.” For Federico, the character hit close to home. Born in Naples and raised in New Jersey, he spoke Italian and grew up surrounded by the accents, language, and cultural differences the role demanded. He explains how Furio helped contrast an Italian from Italy with the Italian-American world of Tony Soprano and his crew, and how details from Federico’s own father and neighborhood found their way into the performance. Federico and Dominic also reflect on the cast becoming a family, the difficulty of leaving a character behind, and why Federico still considers The Sopranos a work of art. The conversation eventually comes back to Federico’s first love: painting. He discusses reconnecting with his Italian roots, teaching young actors in Italy, and the visual artwork he continues to create today. He also shares the story behind his striking portrait of James Gandolfini and Edie Falco as Tony and Carmela, inspired by a Renaissance painting he encountered while visiting the Uffizi in Florence. It is a conversation about Furio, Naples, New Jersey, acting, painting, family, and the different ways an artist can tell a story. Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for more conversations about The Sopranos, New York, Italian-American culture, family, acting, music, art, and the stories worth passing on. CHAPTERS 00:00 Federico Castelluccio Joins Dominic & Junior 01:17 Winning a Full Scholarship for Painting 02:02 Discovering Acting as an Art Form 03:20 Painting George Burns as a Teenager 05:24 Federico’s Unexpected Path Into Directing 08:28 Hearing About The Sopranos for the First Time 10:10 Federico Originally Auditioned for Johnny Sack 11:24 The Role That Became Furio Giunta 12:16 Italian vs. Italian-American Culture 15:33 “We Were Dedicated Soldiers to The Sopranos” 20:35 Was It Hard to Leave Furio Behind? 23:15 Naples, Memory and Federico’s Life as an Artist 36:04 Reconnecting With His Italian Roots 44:58 What Federico Is Painting Today 45:25 The Story Behind His Tony & Carmela Painting Hosted by legendary actor and musician Dominic Chianese and his son Dominic Chianese Jr., Dominic & Junior is a father-and-son podcast about family, New York, culture, creativity, acting, music, and the stories worth passing on. From The Sopranos and The Godfather Part II to Broadway, old New York, Italian-American culture, fatherhood, and life behind the scenes, each episode brings together nearly a century of experience with a modern perspective. Discover the stories behind Dominic Chianese, Uncle Junior, The Sopranos, The Godfather Part II, New York acting history, Italian-American culture, Broadway, music, and a lifetime in entertainment. Dominic Chianese and Dominic Chianese Jr. share personal memories, behind-the-scenes stories, family history, Sopranos experiences, lessons from the stage and screen, and reflections on the people and places that shaped their lives. For fans of The Sopranos, Junior Soprano, James Gandolfini, David Chase, classic New York, Italian-American storytelling, film history, television history, acting, and family legacy, Dominic & Junior offers a rare first-hand perspective from one of television and film’s most recognizable actors. Follow Dominic & Junior: YouTube:    / @officialdominicchianese   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialdom... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/domin... Facebook:   / 61591454796480   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TXZBI5... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Subscribe to Dominic & Junior for full episodes, stories, guests, behind-the-scenes moments, and new conversations. #FedericoCastelluccio #FurioGiunta #DominicChianese #TheSopranos #DominicAndJunior