Monica Carpanese
Born in Monselice in 1973, I am an Italian actress, screenwriter and director with a training developed mainly "in the field". In 1994 I played my first leading role in a film by Bruno Mattei and since then, after a long pause in which "I tried to quit", I returned to the cinema with determination.
I acted in 15 feature films and over 30 stage plays.
Recently, driven by a strong evolutionary need, I started writing and became interested in film directing. I wrote three feature films; STREET DOGS (CANI DI STRADA) , DO UT DES and GUILTY (COLPEVOLE), as well as two short films. Direction is the most recent passion. "Why didn't you say it right away? (PERCHÈ NON L'HA DETTO SUBITO?) is my only theatrical comedy direction. "Do ut des" my first film co-directed with Dario Germani, and "Annunziata" the first direction of a short film.
I acted in 15 feature films and over 30 stage plays.
Recently, driven by a strong evolutionary need, I started writing and became interested in film directing. I wrote three feature films; STREET DOGS (CANI DI STRADA) , DO UT DES and GUILTY (COLPEVOLE), as well as two short films. Direction is the most recent passion. "Why didn't you say it right away? (PERCHÈ NON L'HA DETTO SUBITO?) is my only theatrical comedy direction. "Do ut des" my first film co-directed with Dario Germani, and "Annunziata" the first direction of a short film.
1. Your project takes a part in our festival. What is your project about?
My project is an animated docu-fiction short based on a book by Fabio Graffiedi, winner of a prestigious award in the literary italian contest "UNA STORIA PER IL CINEMA". It is the true story of Annunziata, a girl who lived during the Second World War, exploited and abused since she was a child and finally killed by the hands of a partisan. Annunziata, unfortunately, is only the extreme symbol of what happened to many, too many, women of those times.
2. What were your requirements for actors to take a part of your film?
The only actor in the flesh is an elderly gentleman who tells the story. But the real protagonist is her, Annunziata, made in illustration by the very good Francesca Romana Spuri trying to keep faith with the woman's features. For the male lead, played by Mario Anaclerio, I needed a calm, wise, intense personality. I think I found it.
3. How did you communicate with the cameraman?
Shooting was the easiest part of my job. All the rest is the result of research on archive material, references for the illustrations and coordination of all the animation work, created by Flavio Evangelisti. Therefore, the communication was easy and intuitive, but it involved different figures at 360 degrees.
4. What locations did you choose for your project? And why?
I only needed one location for filming, the old man's house. It had to be a home that could represent his age and his soul. A nice lady offered us her house, which turned out to be perfect. The other locations, those of the animations, were selected by the illustrator and I, having to respect the different historical periods in which the film is set.
5. Why should distributors buy your film?
Because it's a film about memory. Not the memory that is always referred to, but the memory of that part of people who waged war without weapons and who were killed and forgotten by history.
As our narrator says: "Whoever says that only men make war, is wrong. It just changes in the modes". Annunziata will be followed by other short films that will tell the story of other victims unknown, regardless of gender or political faith. I want to thank R.A.S.I (network of performing artists for innovation) for having supported the project.
6. What expression elements did you use in your project? How would you characterize your work?
As mentioned, this is an animated docu-fiction. A probably unique experiment of its kind, which combines the strength of video footage with the poetry of 2D animated illustrations, which helped me to relieve the drama of the story.
7. At what festivals have you had success? Has the film already premiered? If so, where?
At the moment the short film has not yet participated in other festivals.
8. What motivated you to become a filmmaker?
I made a virtue of necessity. I've been an actress for 30 years, I've always worked with other directors thinking about what I would have done if I were in their place. I couldn't entrust this project to anyone, because it was all in my head. I wrote it with the great professionalism of Valentina Innocenti, and I made it as I imagined it. I won't hide from you that, synthesizing such a complex and important story in 9 minutes was not an easy job.
9. Which movies are your favorites? And why?
Those that force you to think, that don't give you the feeling of deja-vu, but that, while narrating a common story, do it with extreme originality.
10. What topics do you like to deal with in your work?
As an actress, everyone! As a director, I think I still have to grow a lot and therefore I need to experiment with different subjects before choosing. So far I have faced quite dramatic stories and would like to try my hand at smart comedy.
13. What project would you like to shoot one day, what would it be about?
I have a project on violence against... men! I'd like to clear the fact that women's psychological violence can sometimes be so sneaky and ferocious that it's not even recognized as such. I already have the subject taken from true stories.
14. How has COVID affected your film life?
Since COVID I've worked a lot more than before, so I can't complain. I've discovered a great love for film writing that I'm deepening and developing whenever is possible. I have written 3 feature film scripts, realized. Annunziata is the second short film I've written.
15. What do you do if you're not thinking about a movie? What are your hobbies?
I just adopted a dog who, besides being my main hobby, is also my great love. I really like traveling because adventure is the university of life. I read books, study everything that helps me grow and I write screenplays.
16. What projects do you plan to shoot in the future?
I'm making another short documentary to tell another life of someone who died in war and has been forgotten by history: ALBINO. Then I hope to find the funds for the film on violence against men "CARNEFICE", and for a project based on a book by Gianluca Gemelli; a grotesque-horror-comedy: "MOM DOESN'T LIKE IT" An explosive combination of genres!
Learn more about Monica and her project:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1157394/
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Carpanese
https://en.kinorium.com/name/827695/
https://www.instagram.com/monica_carpanese
https://www.facebook.com/monicacarpaneseattrice/