Yes, from the bottom of my heart, I think so! One Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979) is worth as the entire film production made in Italy over the last 16-18 years. And I'm Italian! To me a filmmaker should always strive for and focus on the quality of his work. Even if it takes a lot of pain and hassle to do so, it is always preferable than spending your better years developing a micro body of work, which yes, may even be quite substantial, but also very mediocre. In time, quality triumphs, and certainly the rewards can be unestimable.
Filmmaking / Directing : As a filmmaker you should always pursue quality over quantity? by Daniel Latteo
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Scott was a successful commercials director before making movies.
If u wanna direct, you gotta learn on the job, build a reel and experience. Can't be choosy over a job because everybody is learning and failing. Same for DP, grips, Prod designers, every crew is either learning or failing. But they are consistently working.
Sorry, Daniel, but...Le fate ignoranti, I cento passi, La stanza del figlio, Io non ho paura, Gomorra, La grande bellezza, Fuocoammare... Only to mention some...They might not be your taste, but they express emotions and themes that an “Alien” will never even touch. Alien was a good movie, but belittling others is definitely not fair...Each to their audience.
I am very sorry to disagree Martina, especially because I'm Italian, but of the titles you mentioned there's only one worth of notice, if compared to the works of high level directors like Scott, and that is La Grande Bellezza. And even that it is so just because it entered the festival circuit that counts, more than for the real relevance of the film itself, or the directing. Internationally there is no comparison on how much the people know and respect the one(Alien) to the titles you've mentioned which, for the most, they are completely unknown outside of Italy. The grim real fact is that when people talk Italian cinema abroad, still mention the usual names, the ones which have made the difference for us and could compete Internationally. The ones which were distinctive both in the directing and in style. The ones called Leone, Bertolucci, Fellini, Storaro and Argento (particularly his early works till Opera). Even 70s and 80s B-movies directors like Bava and Fulci are vastly superior to the names you've mentioned, and that's a fact. Just like it's a fact that genre cinema in Italy is completely non-existent. And if you really want to inquire this matter further, ask yourself why don't they give current Italian directors the same budget (not even remotely close actually) that Scott, or even any other International low or mid-level director is given for their films? You know why, because as much as it may be hard to accept, as I have said before, one Alien is worth the entire Italian film production of the last two decades.
Thank you Dan. I know what you're saying, I have been cutting my teeth too with several short films and corporate videos. But, now that I'm in the phase of developing my first feature, I can already tell that it is a completely different ball game.
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If I had a choice, I would watch Suspira over Alien, and I am American :)
-Kevin Gamble- To be fair to fairness, that's fair. Every Argento's film from Profondo Rosso to Opera it's worth watching. In regard to what might have happened to him after that, I'd rather not say.
“La stanza del figlio” won Cannes...Guadagnino has just directed “Call me by your name”, Oscar nominated? Sure, not the same budget, but since when a high budget movie is synonymous of better movie? Moonlight docet...Furthermore, hundreds of movies worldwide don’t win awards or get a great following, and yet there are masterpieces that cannot be discarded (see Asian films). My list might not be of your taste, but that’s what it is, your taste. Not sure why you feel the urge to trash Italian cinema...I’m Italian too, but I stand behind it.
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Daniel - always pursue quality above all - or go home.
Thank you Martina. I'm sorry but I'll have to stand behind my comment, and with a vengeance too. I'm positive that I can state with a certain degree of accuracy (and I'm not the only one doing so) that if you want to find quality films in Italy, you should look way back. I mean, here I give you an example: For a Few Dollars More. Play that movie whichever way you wish. Turn it upside down and watch it mute. And it will still speak volumes. That is the kind of magic that I'm talking about. Prizes oftentimes do not mean anything; certainly do not speak about the movie's visual, dramatic and artistic merits; and rarely do they speak about the ability the film has to compete on an International scale. I mean, seriously, Nanni Moretti and Ferzan Ozpetek? Come on, I mean it is not even about different tastes or genres anymore. There are levels to this game. And as far as I am concerned they are not good representative of Italian filmmaking.
No problem, looking forward to see your movie, that will re-establish Italian cinema at the level it was...all the best :)
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Thank you Martina. I'll try and we will see.
Daniel Latteo what happened to the movie you were making last year? Did u finish writing a script?
Thank you for your interest Dan. I'm almost done. Not sure how much rewriting I will have to do. I'm also trying to prepare a film package plan; not a very complicated package, just the script, a treatment, casting plan and some artwork (especially some visual drawings for the sfx scenes). Then I will start seeking for Production companies.
Daniel Latteo finish your script. There is no point talking about directing when you have nothing to show people.
Can't even do a budget or cast without a locked script.
Then Rewrite script in development with your team. (When you have $$$)
Thank you Dan. Always appreciate your advice Sir. More or less that is the plan that I have; but, you know how it is, I expect a lot of bumps on the road.