Not surprisingly, Romano’s favorite actors are DeNiro and Pacino, and Rocky is among his favorite films.
“Sylvester Stallone is someone I look up to, in the way he wrote the first Rocky,” Romano, 23, says. “He was struggling. I’m in the same position he was 10 years ago. I’ve seen that film 100 times.” Romano’s interest turned to writing and drama about two years ago. His first work is to be produced in late May at the Lee Strasberg Theatrical Institute in Manhattan.
Truth is, the actors came to the project, mostly to work with director Terrance Malick, 54, considered one of the best directors in Hollywood even though he has made only two other films - 1973’s Days of Badlands and 1978’s Days of Heaven. Both were lauded by critics, but the latter failed to find box-office success.
Malick has not directed a movie since.
“This is a film of some aspiration, and I think people sensed that.” says Stevens. “And definitely (actors) were attracted to the idea of working with Terry.”"While there were so many of these prominent actors that wanted to be part of the film, we felt there was a point that it would take over the film in a way we didn’t want,.” Stevens says, “So we wanted to find a blend of these accomplished actors and the newer actors.”

Among the new: Elias Koteas, Jim Cavierel, Adrien Brody, Larry Romano and Tim Blake Nelson.
“Terry has a reputation of being reclusive. And, in so far as publicly revealing himself, that may be true,” Stevens says. “But as a person he is on the other end of the scale of reclusive. He is personable. Often ebullient. A man who actors are attracted to.”
Obviously.