Many of us know each other through the fig forums but few of us know how we make a living in the real (non fig) world. I am a Key Grip. If you look at the credits at the end of a movie you will see all these titles of film technicians with funny names. Key Grip, Gaffer, Best Boy, Prop Man, Set Dresser.

These are all crafts involved in film production. I am a Key Grip working in movies, Episodic TV, music videos and commercials. My job involves working with the camera and the lighting. I'm a proud union member of IATSE Local 52 and have been doing this type of work for over 35 years

As many of us do, we talk about figs a lot. As the original source of The Dominick, I have grown and given away trees  to over 25 people in film production over the years (and 100's of  others) and they all love it and his story.

I have also heard over the last 20 years about a set dresser (these are the people who place everything you see on the set) who worked on The Godfather movie and wound up with the 2 trees from the movie and was growing them out in Long Island. One plant was at his house and the other plant was given to the gentleman who worked with him. These two trees were imported from Sicily just for the movie.

I always  wondered, how do I get in touch with this man and how do I get a cutting. This gentleman had retired from the business and I didn't know exactly how to get in touch with him, or if he still had this tree 30 years later.

A couple of months ago I was working on a commercial and one of the "prop men" came over to me and said that he heard I was really into figs. I've known him and worked with him before, and he told  to me that after his father passed away, he bought his house and that his father had worked on The Godfather and he had one of the trees from the movie

"Excuse me"... did you just say what I thought you said. "Yes", he worked on the movie and he was given one of the two trees.

Stunned was my reaction. I have been trying to find out where these trees are for over 20 years. He had one and he told me about the other one, but the daughter of that set dresser  told him that hers had just died a couple of years ago. He now has the only one.

My friend told me that the tree  grows every year but it is very leggy and all the other plantings around it  have overshadowed the tree over the last 30 years and it wasn't getting much sun.

So two years ago he moved it, split it and placed it into a much sunnier spot and it grew somewhat better, but not that much better. This year however, it grew really nicely and finally made some figs, but they never ripened. He showed me some pictures of it that he had posted on social media and I could tell that the tree was badly overgrown, needed some nutrition and was not shaped correctly.

I informed him that the tree needed a haircut badly, needed some training and some good winter protection.  I happily suggested to show him how to trim it and protect it the correct way if I can have some cuttings.

He then said to me "show me how to take care of it and you can have all the cuttings you want, and do whatever you want with them".

Deal. I was shaking with excitement by now.

So last Saturday I went to his house and trimmed the tree and we wrapped it well and protected it for the winter, and I took a small bounty of cuttings.

I questioned him about the tree and he said that he never ate one. It wasn't growing well where it was and he didn't know what a ripe one looked like or if it was light or dark.

This I must find out. I will be growing this tree and will see what it really is.

What I do know is that it is quite cold hardy as it has lived out in Long Island NY for over 30 years with no protection.

I have pictures of the leaves and I would say it has all the classic characteristics of the Mt. Etna trees.

I will be growing a number of trees for him and his family and some for  the daughter of the other gentleman who had the one that died.

I am giving a few cuttings out to some of my fig pals, but have not decided on a mass distribution yet.

It is a very special tree and I'd like to keep it that way.

To be continued

Hello, Coop-

Just read through your posted story.  Interesting to learn about this fig with a history.  Much good luck....hope this special fig, tastes great.

Frank

Delightful story!

(I'm a scenic artist, myself, although I've primarily worked in theater.)

Great story! I am curious if any of the scenes showed this tree?
Where on LI are you? I am in Nassau/South Shore area

Love it, great story. I have been a fan of the movie since it came out. If or when you decide to send out cuttings I would love to be on your list. This would really be something to show my relatives, (we are of Italian descent).

Sal Calione remind me to the Calione family in Godfather

Great Long Island fig story.

When the set dressers "dress" a set there are sometimes items in a scene that you don't see that well. They are still part of the scene, but the camera doesn't focus in on it. The scene that the these trees are in is when Don Corleone has a heart attack in his tomato garden. This is what I was told.
I guess you have to look very carefully

I think I will have to buy the movie and go through it frame by frame :) this just gives me a good excuse.

Coop

Great story. I hope it turns out to be a great fig. Does it have Mt.Etna style leaves? You need to get in touch with Francis Ford, he will know more I bet...

Another great story by Coop! Hope it turns out to be a great fig. Love the story.
Thank you for taking the time to do all this.
Vito

Great story. Figs are wonderful but when we don't have any it's nice to read about them. The story of this quest will take its place among the legends. I hope the fig bounty will be as rewarding as the story!

BTW....Theresa Caputo, AKA "The Long Island Medium"....has a rather large fig tree growing in her backyard.  Look closely, next to the garage in the backyard scenes.  It's there....and, her nails...well, you can't miss them.

Frank

Sounds like a great story good luck with the fig

Hey Coop,

I just updated my wish list ;)

I love reading a story like this. It's a story I will remember. I may even use it as discussion at my Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Thank you. 

Thats funny, Peter! Coop, what a cool story! I watched the Godfather A LONG time ago...you've been in the business 35 years! Im xxx years old....yup, this is about the right timeline!!

Another thing thats cool is your trade as a Key Grip. Never knew about this trade!

And, i am also requesting to be on your list for possible future distribution. Really great story!

COOP. Going to watch the movie for the 10th time just to spot these trees. Thanks for the great story
You have a cool job. Richie from louisiana

Wow!  Love a great story and in my experience, you cannot beat a Mt.  Etna fig. One of mine is still ripening the last stragglers and I am still picking a couple a day even after a hard frost or two.
 
Good luck and if you find yourself with a homeless cutting, please keep me in mind. 

A terrific story, Coop. Can't wait to hear the next chapter. As with the Dominick, the Godfather is in good hands. I hope it turns out to be as great a fig as Dominick, who is thriving on the West Coast. Thanks for sharing. 

I decided to follow some others example and added the Godfather cutting to my wish list :)

Nice job Coop..... You made him an offer he won't refuse.. Good luck with the Godfather tree

A great story. Whether the figs ripen or not this tree would make a great collectible item. It would be an added value if the figs ripen.

Thanks for the story, coop.your a intelligent and kind guy.