Local author Tony Piazza’s books are Anything Short of Murder, a mystery novel written in the style of the 1940s pulp detective thrillers, and The Curse of the Crimson Dragon, an Ian Fleming-style adventure novel. The stories usher readers into a world of action and adventure.
His latest book also features an action hero, but this time it’s written from his personal experience. Bullitt Points: Memories of Steve McQueen and Bullitt shares his experience hanging out behind the scenes while Bullitt filmed, and the net profits from the book will go to one of McQueen’s favorite charities.
Piazza spent his childhood on film sets, including Bullitt and other movies of the 1960s and 1970s. Piazza’s father, Anthony Piazza, Sr., worked as the San Francisco Police Department liaison to Warner Brothers during the filming of Bullitt. The elder Piazza also served as a technical advisor and location scout and directed the logistics of moving equipment, vehicles, and traffic during shoots.
Because his father was instrumental to the filming of many San Francisco-based movies at the time, Piazza had access to behind-the-scenes production most young people don’t get to see. He ate Thanksgiving dinner with Sidney Poitier on his 16th birthday. He had the opportunity to wear a wig and ascot and act as a photo double for Larry Hagman. Piazza said his first car was almost Inspector Callahan’s Ford from Dirty Harry.
He would go on to work as a SAG actor and stand-in in TV series such as Streets of San Francisco, and movies such as Towering Inferno and High Anxiety and with the likes of Michael Douglas, Paul Newman, and Clint Eastwood. He chronicles his experiences in the film industry on his blog authortonypiazza.com.
Of all his film industry experiences, he said his favorite memories come from the filming of Bullitt. The Steve McQueen vehicle features some of the most infamous chase scenes in movie history, zooming through Potrero Hill, the Marina, Nob Hill, and Russian Hill in San Francisco.
With 2013 marking the 45th anniversary of Bullitt, Piazza is sharing some of his cherished memories in his short ebook, Bullitt Points: Memories of Steve McQueen and Bullitt. The book features behind-the-scenes views, trivia, and his experiences from the set. However, in honor of Steve McQueen, all of the net profits from the book will go to the icon’s favorite charity: Boys Republic.
Piazza said McQueen had a troubled youth, an abusive stepfather, and a chaotic family life. He became involved in street gangs and eventually wound up in Boys Republic. Crediting the institute for setting him on the right path, McQueen supported Boys Republic throughout his life both personally and financially, Piazza said.
Earlier this year, when Piazza wrote some posts about Steve McQueen and Bullitt on his blog, the response was overwhelming. When he was invited to speak at a Friends of Steve McQueen Car Show fundraiser in June, he decided to write the book to bring along.
At the event, Steve McQueen’s first wife, Neile Adams, spoke about McQueen’s dedication to Boys Republic and told the story of how she once questioned why McQueen would dress up when he would go to visit the school.
“She said when he left the school himself, he left in a pair of jeans, with the shirt on his back and carrying a tattered suitcase. When she asked him why he got dressed up to go to the school just to talk to
the boys, he said, ‘I want them to know what they can become.’ That just brought everyone to tears,” Piazza said.
Piazza said he himself visited the school and talked to the boys and was sold on the program. He said he’s committed to raising as much money as he can through the sale of his book.
The book will help Piazza contribute to a good cause, but it also gave him what may now become one of his newest favorite memories: “I was fortunate enough to meet Chad McQueen, Steve McQueen’s son, and he was just identical to his dad, a really nice man.”
In fact, Piazza took a photo with Chad and upon returning home, Piazza compared it to a photo he had of his own father posing with Steve McQueen.
“The photo of my dad and Steven McQueen and me and Chad McQueen were almost identical,” he said. “It really meant a lot to me.”
Arts Editor Shelly Cone is a safer driver. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 1-7, 2012.