Tag: Nonna Anna Film Group

Pontelandolfo’s Homage to Film Noir

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo

Nonna Anna Film Group is just one of the collections of artists that are creatively nurtured by the hills of Pontelandolfo. Filmmakers, dancers, theatre people, photographers, painters and writers all call Pontelandolfo home. Living in a small village, I am often asked –

“Don’t you miss the cultural world of New York or Philadelphia.”

Nope, I don’t miss the traffic, crowds and cost. Artists – young and old – to talk to in the piazza. Popping up minutes from our home, arts events and creativity percolate in our little village.

Speaking of percolating – in the past few months Nonna Anna Film Group, led by producer/director Gianluca De Michele has moved from comedy to the dark and grungy world of film noir.

Towerburg – La Serie, is an episodic YouTube series that is different from the comic shorts the company has usually produced. I asked Gianluca why they have shifted artistic focus and the answer made me realize that these young filmmakers were more familiar with early Hollywood film noir than I was.

Gianluca said: Abbiamo scelto di cimentarci nel genere noir perché avevamo voglia di provare a fare qualcosa di diverso dalla commedia, che è stato il nostro unico genere nei corti precedenti. Così abbiamo intrapreso la strada del Noir, uno dei miei generi preferiti, e di un cinema drammatico, non rivolto alla risata. L’idea del corto è nata, parlando con Valerio, della voglia e della necessità di esprimermi attraverso il noir, in un periodo in cui ero totalmente immerso nella visione di film noir come “Il grande sonno” (The Big Sleep), “Il mistero del falco” (The Maltese Falcon), “Il terzo uomo” ( The Third Man), “Viale del tramonto” (Sunset Boulevard) ecc.

We chose to try our hand at the noir genre because we wanted to experiment with something other than comedy, which in previous shorts was our only genre. So we embarked on the path of Noir, one of my favorite genres, a dramatic cinema, not aimed at laughter. The idea for this short film was born. I spoke with Valerio Mancini about my desire and need to express myself through noir. At the time I was totally immersed in the vision of film noir studying such films as “The Big Sleep,” “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Third Man,”and “Sunset Boulevard.”

Inspirations for scenes in Towerburg.

Towerburg was born as a short film. Since the production had cliffhangers, the company decided to divide it and make it a web series.

Bravi! My applause to the production team and the performers. (Pssst, I’m related to Valerio and Alessio – don’t tell anyone.)

Igor Rinaldi as Pat Connaughton

Paola Corbo as Miss Daisy

Valerio Mancini as Jack King

Federico Mancini as Big Brisco

Francesco Mancini as Joe Mitraglietta

Francesco Natale as Wilbour

Davide Mancini as Manny

Gennaro Barile as Jones Portis

Simona Macolino as Miss Emily

Alessio Iacovella as Mac

I absolutely love living in Pontelandolfo where one can meet interesting young people with a passion for the arts. Enjoy the arts, wherever you are.

Ci Vediamo

Midge (www.midgeguerrera.com)

PS. Tell a pal to read my humorous travel memoir Cars, Castles, Cows and Chaos. Ask me about my one woman show – La Dolce Vita or Is It???

Pontelandolfo’s Movie Makers

by midgeguerrera, posted in Any Day in Pontelandolfo, Local Businesses

Ever notice that in some communities the arts just flourish? Kids enjoy not only sports but making art too. Towns comes together and theatrical/musical magic happens. Pontelandolfo, a teeny tiny Southern Italian village, is one of those artistic Petri dishes spawning talented artists, dancers, writers, musicians and filmmakers. Older posts have talked about our dance company, the visual artists, village wide theatrical productions etc. Is something in the air? Is it in the nature or nurturing of our young people? Or an enchanted coupling of both? I think it is a combination.

During the holiday season, I discovered yet another group of young people making art – filmmakers under the moniker Nonna Anna Film Group. Spearheaded by Gianluca De Michele, the bourgeoning company is committed to not only telling original tales but shooting their films in Pontelandolfo. According to De Michele, “The short films we shoot are set in Pontelandolfo, because I believe that there is a reality to be re-examined here, not only from a historical and traditional perspective, but also from a visual point of view.“

Meet Igor Rinaldi, Francesco Mancini, Gianluca De Michele,
Federico Mancini and Nicola Colesanti

De Michele studied directing and screenwriting in Bologna at the Accademia Nazionale del Cinema. (Check out the website, I think Gianluca is in the cover photo!). He has always been in love with using media to tell a story but is quick to say that Nonna Anna Film Group was not something that he created alone. The company was developed with his friends Igor Rinaldi, Nicola Colesanti and Federico Mancini. I asked him – why call it Nonna Anna – you are all in your twenties. This brings us back to the nature and nurture question. When the company was producing their first film Oro nel Torrente – Gold in the Stream – his grandmother, Anna, who provided the locations and support was instrumental. As was his father and brother who provided all of the video equipment. It was their second film, Il Regalo di Natale – The Christmas Gift, that I saw.

According to De Michele, ” In The Christmas Gift,” I emphasized the inner conflict of a father who knows that he will disappoint his son by not being able to buy him the gift he wants, precisely during the period when children dream the most. Pirandello believes that comedy works with tragedy. The message of our short film lies in the fact that, paradoxical as some situations are, the seriousness of a topic is developed on the basis of a comic intention. The film is the mirror of a dream that must not be broken and of the deep love that inspires every parent…” Take a peak and let’s discuss it –

The setting will make you all want to visit Pontelandolfo.

It took the film crew one full work week to shoot what we just watched in a few minutes. I am delighted to have discovered yet another group of dedicated artists living and working in Pontelandolfo.

Ci vediamo!

MIDGE

Join us – Cooking in the Kitchens of Pontelandolfo