Gaetano Di Vaio , 56 years old, Neapolitan from Piscinola, producer and actor, screenwriter, an important piece of the celebrated Neapolitan cinema of the last twenty years, has died. For a week he had been in very serious condition in Giugliano hospital after an accident with his scooter.
Ten years ago he played “O Baroncino” in the first overwhelming season of Gomorra on Sky, of which he was also a producer. Because Di Vaio, after a difficult childhood and adolescence to say the least, with periods of drug addiction and imprisonment, through his passion for cinema had become a true cultural entrepreneur, a point of reference for important sets: from the activity of socially to Peppe Lanzetta's company, up to the foundation of the Sons of the Bronx, a very active production company, now Bronx film.
Among his titles to remember are "Napoli Napoli Napoli" by Abel Ferrara (2009, also author of the story and screenplay), "Là-bas - Criminal Education" (Lion of the future at the Venice Film Festival in 2011) and "Take five" by Guido Lombardi (2013), the director who co-wrote the novel “Non mi hai mai” with him, published by Einaudi, in which the protagonist is Salvatore, Gaetano's alter ego, a petty thief, then manager of a drug dealing square in Scampia.
He was a producer not only to tell his own story but that of an entire community seeking redemption: from important documentaries such as "Largo Barracche" and "Ilro Natale", up to the Venice Film Festival where he brought "Per amor voi" by Beppe Gaudino (2015) with Valeria Golino and then again at the Lido "Veleno" by Diego Olivares with Luisa Ranieri.
«You will always remain in the hearts and eyes of those who were lucky enough to know you», is the greeting from Gianluca Curti, friend, associate and producer of Minerva Pictures, who was working with him on an eagerly awaited debut, “Ciao Bambino” by Edgardo Piston. «He did a lot for Naples and was doing a lot, together we received awards for Per Amor Vostro with which Valeria Golino won the Coppa Volpi in Venice in 2015, and with his Bronx he had just produced a debut film. We all - added Curti - loved his energy, the desire for redemption and the generosity of giving opportunities to others too."
