IL PENSIERO “THE THOUGHT”
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Local Italian Immigration Documentary to Air on WPNTTV Channel 22
il Messaggero Tells the Story of an Italian Immigrant’s Unique Mission as He Settles in Sharpsburg, PA The award-winning documentary, il Messaggero had its commercial television debut on Saturday, April 29 at 11 a.m. on WPNT-TV Channel 22, “The Point.” Filmmaker and Sharpsburg, PA native, Pete L Ferraro, brings his film to commercial television for the first time since its premiere during Italian Heritage Month in October 2022 on WQED-TV PBS. il Messaggero (The Messenger) tells the story of Pete’s late father, Pietro Ferraro from San Pietro in Guarano, a small village in Calabria, Italy and his 1966 mission to bring messages of hope to the United States as an immigrant. In doing so, he unknowingly immortalizes a generation of Italians through rare and touching audio recordings. More than 50 years later, Ferraro surprises the descendants of those who recorded messages, and we see their
An Italian American Publication
emotional reactions. The film also discusses significant topics of local interest such as the migration of Italians from Sharpsburg’s sister community in Italy, the origins of Madonna of Jerusalem church and the H.J. Heinz company in Sharpsburg, and an Italian American radio host from Aspinwall. Ferraro said, “The premiere last October on WQED was met with such a high degree of interest and enthusiasm, yet some people missed the opportunity to watch it or wanted to see it again. With the support of several sponsors, I’m thrilled to bring it back for an encore presentation.” The presenting sponsor is Labriola’s Italian Markets. Labriola’s is a familyrun business with four locations in the Pittsburgh area. Its stores offer authentic Italian foods imported from Italy and dishes made fresh daily. Other sponsors of the broadcast are Northside’s Refucilo Winery, Mary Grace Ferraro Realtor with Berkshire/Hathaway HomeServices, Italian Impact Weekly, a new Italian American radio program airing Thursdays at 5 p.m. on 102.1FM/94.1FM/92.3FM and 620 KHB, and Il Pensiero, an Italian American publication. Ferraro was the recipient of a film grant provided by Pittsburgh-based The Italian Sons and Daughters of America, The National Italian American Foundation, and the famous Hollywood directing duo, Anthony and Joseph Russo. The Russo Brothers Film Forum selected eight film concepts to fund from more than 200
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pitches submitted from around the world exploring the Italian American experience. The documentary has appeared in film festivals in the United States of America and Italy and received several awards including the People’s Choice Award at the Ocean City Film Festival in Maryland in 2022. Ferraro was born and raised in Sharpsburg and graduated from Fox Chapel High School in 1986. He graduated from Clarion University in 1990. He is a first generation American and a ten-time regional Emmy award-winning writer, producer, and creative director. Ferraro has been in the television and marketing industry for 32 years and has worked with celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Alex Trebek, Joe Jonas, and Arsenio Hall. In 1995, Ferraro was the creative director and editor of a documentary entitled Fighting Back: Pennsylvania’s Special Session on Crime hosted by Steelers legend Lynn Swann. The production won numerous awards and aired on every TV station in the state. His experience spans several Mid-Atlantic markets including Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Washington, D.C., Cincinnati, and currently Baltimore. Pete and his wife Lori have three daughters and live in Maryland. The WPNT-TV Channel 22 “The Point” broadcast is edited for TV with a total running time of 54 minutes plus sponsor commercials. DVDs of the documentary including the longer “Director’s cut” and extras are available at the film’s website Continued on page 5