Tell us about yourself. How did you become an artist?
I’ve never thought about me like an artist. I’m only a man who tries to carry on his dreams into reality.
What was your first job in the art field?
My fist job in the art field was photography: my father’s fondness. It soon became my job. Then, I found interest in the camera, a way to give movement to the pictures.
What makes you want to tell stories? In other words, what are the themes/issues you want to incorporate into your work?
I usually prefer not to follow a lead theme, I prefer to follow the most powerful, sudden inspiration. When the imagination flows, I’ve noticed that the issues concern the theme of communication between humans or the wish to bring the audience in a timeless place.
Please tell us about your vision and your method of approaching a new project?
The first approach is led by the instinct: I let my imagination flow free, then I gather my thoughts and put them on paper. The next step is more methodical and systematic: I always follow some specific guidelines.
Who are your filmmaking influencers? What are the films that were influential for you?
I’ve been really influenced by directors like Giuseppe Tornatore, Sergio Leone, Stanley Kubrik, Miloš Forman.
The films that impressed me much are “The Legend of 1900”, “Once upon a time in America”, “Eyes Wide Shut”, “Amadeus”.
How do you think the industry is changing? How has COVID affected independent filmmaking/creation?
To me, the industry is changing in the worst way. There’s too much use of instruments like the smartphones and there is too high definition in the images. Such things make cinema a sort of disposable product because you lose the skills of working with appropriate instruments (cinematographic cameras); in the same time, hyperrealism has canceled the dreamy view of the narration. I also thing that marketing is establishing several rules that put art in a second place in the name of the “politically correct” way of expression. “Diversity” is becoming a very abused concept: normal things are asserting themselves and becoming special things.
COVID has emphasized the use of electronic devices and filmmaking has reached a democratic status. So, the artistic craft is no more a derivation of apprenticeship, is no more for “professionists born in the field”. Even if the visual quality has reached a high level, COVID has brought cinema in a recreational direction.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists? What are some of the things they must follow/avoid?
I’d suggest to aspiring artist to watch the masters of the past and, at the same time, to believe in their own inspiration, above all if it helps to live their inspiring moment like a dream.
It’s fair using modern technology to take a look into the field of filmmaking but they must think that the cost of some devices is equivalent to a professional camera. I suggest them to discover the values hidden behind the curtains of cinema, to study the instruments of the great masters in order to make a good cinema, the one we have known and loved.
Do you think films/stories can bring about a change in the world?
I don’t think film can bring a change in the world. But, we (directos) can transform an inspiration in a visual dream and hope that who leads the world can find inspiration in our works.
What do you think people like to watch these days? Has the pandemic changed people's taste?
These days people like to watch what they need in the subconscious. Cinema had a stop, so probably people had the opportunity of discover films of the past, they have confirmed or changed their tastes upon the needs of the moment.
Please tell us about your upcoming projects.
I’m working on a film based on new historical facts, with an international cast; then, I’m working on some short films born thanks to other inspirations.