A teen actor now nearing 40 is hoping his mistakes will be a lesson that Western Connecticut State University students can learn the easy way.  Lillo Brancato will host a question and answer session after a screening A Bronx Tale tonight.  The free event is co-sponsored by WCSU CHOICES, MCAA and Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse.  He will be talking about how substance abuse and poor personal choices destroyed his life, hoping to teach students a valuable lesson. 

The 37-year old was 16 when he filmed the movie and says that's when he smoked marijuana for the first time.  He started drinking at age 14 or 15. 

Brancato was released on parole less than six months ago, having spent nearly 10 years in jail for attempted burglary in a 2005 incident in the Bronx in which an off-duty police officer was killed.  He goes to an out-patient treatment facility as part of his parole and attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings several days a week because his focus in life right now is to stay clean and sober.

Tonight's screening at the Student Center theater on the midtown campus at 6:30.