Lights, camera, music! The Wagner College Band performed in “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” in theaters during 2019, and “The Many Saints of Newark,” being released in 2020. The two appearances are the latest in the group’s list of growing film and TV credits.
Originally, the group was asked to be in a film titled “Bosco.” Just before filming, production staff revealed that “Bosco” was a fake title used as a security measure; the movie was actually “Spider-Man.”
This revelation particularly excited Jose Luis Diaz, Jr., director of bands. “I grew up reading ‘Spider-Man,’” he says. “My daughter is reading ‘Spider-Man,’ … so to be able to be involved in that in any way was so amazing on a personal level.”
The Wagner College Band also filmed an appearance in “The Many Saints of Newark,” a movie prequel to the TV series “The Sopranos.” The scene was based on historical events, so Diaz used the experience as an educational moment. “I was able to … show students pictures of these events that were actually happening and what [the film was] recreating around us.”
Diaz says that he looks forward to more film and TV opportunities. “Once you get my band in place, they’re gonna be ready,” he says.
