Skip to main content

Interview with Producer Angelo Troiano on Basilicata: Terra di Cinema - "Thriller" the Phenomenon

Angelo Troiano, Sergio Ragone, Giuseppe Marco Albano
Born in Bernalda, a small town in the province of Matera, Angelo Troiano grew up watching the work of American directors like Francis Ford Coppola, whose grandfather is from the same town. When he was a child, Troiano’s mother took him to the local Cineplex to see cinematic masterpieces. However, he didn’t hear his calling to be a filmmaker until he was well into his teens.

In 2008, he started Basiliciak, a small production company funded solely by contributions from supporters. He produced three films with Basiliciak, including the highly acclaimed short film, AnnA, which was directed by his friend and business partner, Giuseppe Marco Albano. That partnership has grown and flourished over the years. Their most recent production is the short film, Thriller, about a Pugliese youngster who overcomes the financial hardships of his city by impersonating his idol, Michael Jackson. The film was catapulted into the limelight after winning Italian cinema’s most prestigious honor, the David di Donatello. Co-produced by the pair’s close friend, Huffington Post journalist and fellow filmmaker Sergio Ragone, the Lucano trio travels throughout Italy, presenting their award-winning film to enthusiastic audiences.

Thanks to social media, I’ve been connected with these filmmakers for years and I’ve watched their progress with each new project. I was so happy to see the huge success of Thriller, so I contacted Angelo Troiano for an interview. I found a well-spoken young man truly passionate about his work and his origins. I asked him about this phenomenon called Thriller, and the filmmaking boom currently taking place in his beautiful region of Basilicata.

First, tell me about the story of this boy, the protagonist in your short film, Thriller.
Michele is a huge fan of Michael Jackson to the point of dressing up and moving like him every moment of the day. The film takes place in Taranto, located in the southern region of Puglia. There, everyone recognizes his talent and they know it’s just a matter of time before he ends up on television. But when that day finally comes, his father is unable to accompany him on the trip to the studios due to a workers’ strike. The boy uses his imagination to come up with a solution to keep him from losing his dream. It’s a story of hope in a city that has so much to offer beyond the current issues related to the environment and health.

This film has been embraced by audiences all over Italy. What do you think are the qualities of this story that make it so loved?
Well as I said, it is a story of hope, from the perspective of someone surrounded by many other problems. I believe this aspect has moved people the most, from the citizens of Taranto to people all over Italy and parts of Europe. It also has an erratic pace as its tough subject matter alternates with some hilarious moments. I believe that Giuseppe Marco Albano really created a complete recipe.

Tell me about your evening at the David di Donatello awards.
It was obviously a unique and unforgettable emotion. I just hope the protagonist’s debut made an impact on Italian cinema. It was hard for us to believe that we actually won this prestigious award, but compliment after compliment from all the actors, directors and producers present made us realized that our dream had come true, and that it was a new starting point to do even more. Then to shake hands and speak with a legend like Quentin Tarantino, I think it was the icing on the cake. It was an unexpected turn of events and that will remain forever in our hearts.

Tell me about this “Land of Cinema” that Basilicata has become, and the future of filmmaking there.
Basilicata has the extraordinary advantage of possessing locations filled with ambience that suit any film of any genre. Also, the people of Basilicata realize the positive economic impact cinema can have on the region. The film industry of Basilicata is still working to develop its resources to facilitate the increase in film production. When everything is fully developed, Basilicata will be a perfect land of cinema. We are definitely on the right track.

Any plans for your next project?
I have a couple projects that I am working on with my partner, Giuseppe Marco Albano. One is a documentary about Italian society. Then, my different work experiences in Puglia presented me with the opportunity to learn more about this region. So, I am developing an ambitious project to reinforce the importance of short films that are often disdained in Italy.

Thriller is available to watch right here. The dialogue will be tough to follow if you don’t speak much Italian. However, the images and stellar performances make the story easy to follow.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Anna Foglietta: Actress and Activist with Old School Elegance

One look at actress Anna Foglietta in her any of her roles, and the Golden Age of Italian cinema comes to mind. Among Italy’s most sought-after actresses today, Foglietta brings to the table a classic eloquence of yesterday while representing Italy’s modern woman. Born in Rome in 1979, Foglietta began her career in 2005 with a role in the RAI television series La squadra . Her character Agent Anna De Luca had a two-year run on the series as she was transitioning to cinema with Paolo Virzì’s 2006 ensemble project 4-4-2- Il gioco più bello del mondo . Since then, she has become one of Italy’s most diverse actresses, transforming herself into interesting, layered characters for comedies and dramas alike. Aside from a small part in Anton Corbijn’s 2010 film The American starring George Clooney, Foglietta’s work began reaching mainstream American audiences in 2015. As Elisa in Edoardo Leo’s 2015 comedy Noi e la Giulia , Foglietta showed her funny side playing a goofball pregn

The Life and Work of Monica Bellucci

Monica Bellucci as Malèna Born in Umbria in 1964, Monica Bellucci is one of the most recognizable faces of international cinema. But she didn't always have her sights set on the spotlight. She went to college to study law and modeled to pay her tuition. Her success in the fashion world coupled with the offers that were pouring in to appear on the big screen eventually took over, changing her fate. Bellucci made her on-screen debut in the 1990 television movie, " Vita coi figli." Just two years later, she scored her first American role in Francis Ford Coppola's "Dracula."   In addition to her native language, she speaks fluent English and French, which has made for a smooth transition from Italian to international cinema. Stateside, she has acted in blockbusters such as "The Matrix-Reloaded,"     " The Passion of the Christ" and " The Sorcerer's Apprentice." She has also appeared in several French films, a

Pasolini's Playground of Roman Ruins

Anna Magnani in a scene from "Mamma Roma" Pier Paolo Pasolini’s 1962 “Mamma Roma” starring Anna Magnani , follows the title character, a Roman prostitute determined to change her life and give her son the opportunities she never had. She seizes the opportunity to leave her life on the streets behind when her pimp (Franco Citti) gets married and frees her from his possession. Mamma then goes to the small provincial town of Guidonia to fetch her son, Ettore (Ettore Garofolo), and bring him to Rome to embark on their new life together. She buys a pushcart, finds an apartment in a nice neighborhood, and uses her connections to secure him a job in a restaurant. However, Ettore gets mixed up with boys who are petty thieves and is negatively influenced by them. At the same time, Mamma Roma’s pimp resurfaces and sends her back to the streets. When Ettore learns about his mother’s prostitution, he goes astray and wholeheartedly joins in on the petty crimes of the boys. One day, while

Stefano Natale- the Charismatic Muse behind Carlo Verdone's Iconic Characters

The beauty of Italian cinema lies in the diversity of its genres and styles. Although the ’80s have received its share of criticism for its less-than-profound output, it was the decade in which contemporary maestro Carlo Verdone emerged as a creative young director and actor. The characters he brought to life during those years became permanent fixtures in Roman pop culture. Films like “Un sacco bello,” “Bianco, rosso e Verdone,” and “Borotalco” gave birth to the iconic Mimmo, Leo and Sora Lella.   Enter Stefano Natale, the real-life muse behind Leo and Mimmo. Natale was the subject of a documentary presented at the 2015 Festa del Cinema in Rome. One of four protagonists in Luca Ferrari’s “Showbiz,” he is a soft-spoken gentle giant who recalls his life with Verdone and the creation of his characters in a nostalgic, affectionate manner. “Verdone and I grew up together in the same building near Ponte Sisto,” Natale recalls. “Our grandmothers were cousins, and for 30 years we saw each o

Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni.. What cinema dreams are made of

The Toronto International Film Festival is wrapping up its retrospective of the cinematic collaboration of husband and wife team, Nicoletta Braschi and Roberto Benigni. Over the last few days, the couple have participated in discussions, Q & A sessions and have introduced several of their films. Today, I attended a screening of "La voce della luna" (The voice of the moon). It was  Federico Fellini's last film and is a wonderful tribute to the director's signature poetic madness. The film gave Benigni the opportunity to team up with fellow beloved comic, Paolo Villaggio, and the two created a truly unforgettable adventure. Today's screening began with an introduction by Benigni. The moments leading up to his introduction were noticeably serious and somewhat tense. Benigni's publicist and TIFF security staunchly guarded his privacy. There was no interaction and no photos were allowed. Guided by his entourage, he walked quickly from the Green Room to th