The owner of a Tayside pizza business has paid tribute to the iconic opening to one of the best-loved TV shows of all time – by filming his own version across Dundee.
Michael Fallone, owner of Fallone’s Pizzas, shot his own, localised version of the famous title sequence from HBO show The Sopranos in July, striving to replicate as much as he could “shot for shot”.
The 49-year-old, who is a “huge” fan of the series, said parts of the city had always reminded him of the New Jersey backdrop which was the setting for the show and the opening credits.
In the TV show, James Gandolfini’s mafia boss Tony Soprano is filmed commuting from New York City into New Jersey, with the camera documenting the lead character’s environment – an industrial landscape of roads, bridges, railway lines and factories – to the tune of Alabama 3’s Woke Up This Morning.
In Mr Fallone’s version the journey is from Fife to Dundee via the Tay Road Bridge, with the New York City skyline replaced by the City of Discovery’s waterfront as viewed from the crossing.
The North Marketgait underpass takes the place of the Lincoln Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike is replaced by an entry to a car park.
Mr Fallone, of Angus, was assisted in filming the Sopranos tribute by his brother-in-law Robin Lawless.
Many Sopranos opening credit shots were intentionally recreated, with the footage of Grossett the Butchers a direct reference to the fictional Satriale’s Pork Store seen in the show.
Mr Fallone said: “I’m a huge fan of The Sopranos and always thought that Dundee, bits of it, reminded me of the opening sequence.
“I always thought driving around the docks just made it look like the beginning of the New Jersey scene. It was always one of those things I wanted to do.
“I started the pizza business and it kind of gave me another idea to do it as a wee marketing piece.
“My brother-in-law was with me and we went out one day with the i-phone and pieced it all together.
“You can see we did some pick-up shots. It was right in the middle of the summer, and really hot.
“There is wee touches I always wanted to do. We took the original opening scene and cut it up shot by shot and did our best to replicate the shots. We did our best. It was meant to be as close to the original (as possible).
“It is a great show. Definitely, I would be inclined to think it is one of the best TV shows of all time.”
The video includes a clip from the show in which characters Junior and Livia Soprano discuss “the Fallone kid”.
The Dundee version is a promotion for Fallone’s Pizza, a mobile catering business providing wood-fired slices from a converted vintage horse box. The firm supplies food at parties, weddings and other events.
The Sopranos ran for six seasons from 1999-2007.
