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7 He now plays Frank Capra in  Jimmy. 

7  Jimmy  delves into the making of  It's a Wonderful LIfe,  which was directed by Capra. Courtesy Everett Collection

Casella portrays  It's a Wonderful Life  director Frank Capra opposite KJ Apa, who plays Stewart.

The  Boardwalk Empire  alum told Page Six that he immersed himself in research to prepare for the role.

 I read his book,  he said.  I watched some documentaries about him. What I was really trying to find out is how to play him. What kind of a person is he? How does he smoke a cigarette? How does he sit in a chair? 

 Just get a vibe from, you know. There's not a lot of footage of him at the time when he was younger, so it was challenging. 

Other guests at the screening and afterparty at The Skylark included Apa, Lucy Liu, Dan Abrams,  Riverdale  star Trinity Likins,  1923  star Jamie McShane and  Stranger Things  star Catherine Curtin.