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Actor and Director Tony Schiena – On Wearing Multiple Hats Starring In and Directing His Latest Movie, The Weapon

Tony Schiena
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Tony Schiena, known for his role as Darc in Darc, has returned to our screens as Dallas Ultio in The Weapon, a fast-paced action film bound to have its audience paralyzed with excitement.

Official Synopsis: Tony Schiena is Dallas, a one-man killing machine on a mysterious rampage. His attacks on biker gangs and meth labs anger the Vegas mob boss who’s holding Dallas’s girlfriend hostage. But who is Dallas working for? Even torture won’t make him talk, and he won’t stop until justice is served.

Written by Michael Caissie, the film also stars actors Donald Cerrone (News of the World and Copshop) as Marshall Railey, Cuba Gooding Jr. (Jerry Maguire and Radio) as Blue, and Mark Justice (Bleach and Demon Pit) as Patrick Tanner.

Schiena promises that Dallas “will take the audience on a wild ride filled with action and suspense” throughout the film.

Although The Weapon serves as Schiena’s directorial debut, the heavyweight karate champion and actor is no stranger to swapping hats. However, as a former intelligence operative, he was destined to star in action films. 

“Growing up on action movies, I wanted to be the characters in those movies, and I guess, in many ways, my life went that direction. That’s the true beauty of film-making; it can make a young child dream, imagine, believe, and conceive,” Schiena said. “Action is organic for me, so I love doing it as it’s easy. Doing roles similar to the ones I watched over and over as a kid, life came full circle. It’s a really beautiful thing.”

Directing and starring in a film proved to be as tricky as it sounds; Playing multiple roles throughout the film’s creation was not always easy, and the director frequently found himself challenged throughout production.

“It was a challenging shoot on many levels, but we worked through each challenge effectively.  It’s not easy when you’re wearing multiple hats, especially when you’re also exec producing, and your company is also involved in making the movie,” the actor said. “You have to be ok with being challenged, and some of us excel in those conditions. 

Fans of The Weapon will be excited to hear that this movie is only the first in a series, as the production team is already working on a sequel.

“We are already in pre-production to the sequel of The Weapon, and I feel it’s the one to watch as the story is really powerful, and the action will top the first,” Schiena said.

In the future, fans can look forward to seeing Schiena branch out in an upcoming romantic comedy.

“I just starred opposite Claudia Gerini, Italy’s biggest star, in a romantic comedy shot in Sicily called Sicilian Holiday. I had the character have an Italian accent, and I had to learn a Sicilian dialect. I enjoyed filming in Italy, and I think the director Micaela Scolari is going to be a real force in the future,” the director said.

Learn more about Schiena here and watch The Weapon on digital and demand. 

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