20 December 2021
Newsdesk
Based on the semi-autobiographical life story of Mark Janicello, the film’s author, co-director and lead, “The Finellis” follows the career resurrection of Tony Finelli, following his release from prison. Having lost his wife, daughters, home and job, former Recording Star Tony must rebuild his life and his singing career, win back his family - and prove to everyone “Here I Am Again”.
The true story runs deeper and darker. Mark Janicello was formerly a “Poster Boy” for the Church of Scientology, and received regular death threats on account of his belief, was targeted for 16 years by the German CIA (Verfassungsschutz), and found himself on the brink of suicide.
“They couldn’t get to Tom Cruise, John Travolta or Kirstie Alley, so they came for me” (Mark Janicello)
Actor, singer and writer Mark Janicello has poured his heart, soul and life savings into the award-winning comedy film The Finellis, which is set to debut on UK TV screens in January.
“The Finellis is a way for me to rewrite my own history,” says Mark. “I am able to tell my story and share my pain by hiding behind Tony Finelli. My experience with Scientology was horrific. I lost everything.”
Mark became a Scientologist in a bid to save his marriage. “I wanted somebody to fix it for me and Scientology gladly took on that role,” he says.
Scientology didn’t save Mark’s marriage, but it did help him with certain difficulties in his life, so he stayed with the church and because of his showbiz experience, was asked to be a spokesman. He says: “I became a poster boy for Scientology. You have to remember that when I joined we didn’t have the internet, so I wasn’t aware of what other people were saying about them.”
Then, when Mark was living in Germany where he played Elvis Presley in a big- budget Musical, he was targeted by anti-Scientology campaigners and so began a 16-year hate campaign that saw him blacklisted, arrested and bankrupted.
“I asked Scientology to help, but they turned their backs and left me to die,” says Mark
The Finellis, also stars Bianca Karsten, Yollete Thomas-Wunder, George Pollock, Kim Tatum and Sophie-Rose Middleton, and will be showing on AppleTV, Google Play and Amazon Prime from 18th January 2022.
