Oscar-winning producer sparks interest

Tony Osso, producer, director and script supervisor of several Oscar-winning films, spoke to West Essex’s Gay-Straight Alliance club (GSA) on Dec. 14 about his own life and his passion for telling the stories he thinks people need to be aware of.

Osso worked as a script supervisor for 24 features, some including: “Precious,” “the Messenger,” “Blue Valentine,” “Wanderlust,” “Freeheld” and “Pilot for Divorce.” He has also written and directed two narrative short stories, made the Devotion Project which consists of six short docs and a series of a seven short doc series called Inside Rudy’s.

“Everything that I do is to address a gap that I think is missing,” Osso said, adding he creates films to bring up different ideas and inform audiences on what he believes they should know.

The main focus of the session was based on his six short films that make up the Devotion Project. These films capture same-sex couples and were made to prove how normal their lives are. This is done by showing viewers that these couples’ lives are no different than any heterosexual couple.

“Watching his short films have interested me in the kind of person behind them, so I was very excited to meet him and have the opportunity to ask questions,” junior Lexi Faust said.

“I like how he was not judgemental and I liked how he asked the students to also be supportive of the parents, because it is not something easy for them as well,” Italian teacher and GSA adviser Ms. Bazzarelli said.

Osso said people think homosexuality is a foreign idea or topic that needs to be pointed out in an individual. He then created the Devotion Project to counteract this attitude people have toward those who are a part of the LGBT community, pointing out that this is only one characteristic of an individual’s overall identity.

Osso received a B.F.A in film from NYU and has been working in film for 15-16 years with T.V. shows, movies and commercials. As of now, he works in film production in New York, but tends to travel for work.

He advised students to work hard. “If you are aiming for awards, you are missing the goal completely,” Osso said.