Lawyer's career takes turn to screenwriting

Michael J. Ricigliano Jr. was practicing land use and zoning law at the firm co-founded 40 years ago by his father, Michael Sr. But about four years ago Margiotta & Ricigliano Llp of Melville merged with another firm, Lewis Johns Avallone Aviles, also of Melville.

"They took over our entire real estate practice," Michael Jr. said. "That left me with a lot more time. I was driving my wife crazy."

One day about two years ago, he said, he decided he wanted to write a screenplay.

The thing was, Ricigliano said, "I was never really good at English in school."

He went out and bought a book on screenwriting.

Now here's the part where would-be screenwriters will be jealous: The screenplay Ricigliano, 40, the lifelong lawyer, wrote, "Lily of the Feast," was made into a movie, which will be shown July 10 at the Long Island International Film Expo at Bellmore Movies.

The film, set in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in 1973, is the story of a bookie-turned-banker who finds himself in the midst of a mobster's bid for power.

"The Soprano's" actor Federico Castelluccio plays the bookie/banker. Paul Sorvino co-stars.

Ricigliano wrote another script, "Redemption," about a young filmmaker. Former Paramount Pictures president Martin Cohen has bought the rights.

"I'm happily surprised," said Ricigliano, who does not plan to give up his day job -- not just yet anyway.

"I do most of this now when the kids go to bed" at 7 p.m., he said. "I have a law practice. I have a family."