Skip to main content

Basilicata: Terra di Cinema - Interview with Director Nicola Bisceglia of “Flipo con la Basilicata”

A brand new short film is about to make its Rome premiere. Flipo con la Basilicata is a labor of love made to present the filmmakers' beloved southern Italian region on the international platform of the worldwide web. Accompanied by a rhythmic soundtrack created by Krikka Reggae, the film is a journey through the enchanting region of Basilicata. 

The film's producer Nicola Bisceglia tells us about the inspiration behind Flipo con la Basilicata and what it was like to shoot on location in Italy's emerging "Land of Cinema". Our interview was done Italian, so both versions are included.
How did this story come about?
The story opens in Madrid, where Pedro, a university student, receives the news that he was awarded a scholarship- not in Rome where he wanted to go, but in Potenza, Basilicata, which is unknown to him. His initial reaction was despair, but after arriving in Potenza and meeting Lucia and Gerardo, Pedro begins a journey of discovery and falls in love with this land. I would say that it’s a docu-fiction because the story comes from conversations that I’ve had when I invited friends to come and discover Basilicata. No one was elated at first, but once they arrived, they were speechless. I like to spread the word about my land and this is one way to reach a lot of people.

Come nasce questa storia?
La storia si apre a Madrid, dove Pedro, uno studente universitario, scopre di aver vinto una borsa Erasmus; non a Roma, dove voleva andare, ma a Potenza, nella sconosciuta Basilicata. Dopo la prima reazione di sconforto, una volta arrivato a Potenza conosce Lucia e Gerardo e inizia un percorso di scoperta del territorio che lo farà innamorare di questa terra. Direi che è una docu-fiction, la storia nasce da alcuni episodi che mi sono accaduti: quando dicevo agli amici di venire a scoprire la Basilicata, nessuno era euforico, ma una volta arrivati rimanevano a bocca aperta. Io parlo molto spesso della mia terra, questo è un modo per parlarne a quante più persone possibile.

What is the story’s message? First, that Basilicata is a land to discover, rich in history and stories, culture and excellence in all areas- and that often the eye of the stranger is the one to really see the treasures as sometimes we ourselves who are from the region don’t actually get to know it well. There are some special dynamics to the story that will be unveiled during the premieres on Saturday and Monday. Then, we will make the short film into two separate episodes that will air as a web series, that in part I wrote and for which we did pre-production. It’s a cross-media project that we will also broadcast and promote on social networks as well as traditional media.

Qual'è il messaggio della storia? Il messaggio è in primis che la Basilicata è una terra da scoprire, ricca di storia e di storie, di cultura e di eccellenze in tutti i settori. Che spesso l'occhio dello straniero aiuta a valorizzare, a volte noi lucani stessi non conosciamo la nostra terra. Inoltre ci sono alcune dinamiche nella storia che si svilupperanno nel corso della prosecuzione: quello che presentiamo sabato e lunedì è un cortometraggio che si sdoppierà e diventeranno le prime due puntate di una serie web che in parte ho già scritto e per la quale siamo in pre-produzione, il progetto è cross-mediale e abbraccerà anche i social network e i media tradizionali.  
 
What was it like shooting in Basilicata? For example, were the locals cooperative in shooting in their towns and railway stations? We shot in the province of Potenza.. in the towns of Lagopesole, Melfi, Monticchio, Venosa and San Severino Lucano. They are places quite different from each other, but all beautiful and unique in their own way. Shooting was pretty hard because we had a very tight time schedule, but we had fun on the set and there was a great atmosphere among the crew. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. The locals that we met were very helpful and it goes without saying that Basilicata is a welcoming land.

Raccontami le riprese del film in Basilicata.. per esempio, i posti.. la gente lucana.. Per adesso siamo stati a Potenza, Lagopesole, Melfi, Monticchio, Venosa e San Severino Lucano, posti tra loro abbastanza differenti e peculiari, tutti incantevoli a loro modo. Le riprese sono state abbastanza dure anche perché avevamo un crono-programma molto serrato, ma ci siamo divertiti e sul set si è creata un'atmosfera bellissima con tutta la crew, è stata un'esperienza fantastica. I lucani che abbiamo incontrato sono stati molto disponibili e ci hanno agevolato in tutto, non c'è bisogno di dire che la Basilicata è una terra accogliente.
 
Tell me about the main characters of this film. Pedro is a student from Madrid. He’s just a good Spanish kid that enjoys life and likes to have fun. After the initial shock of his scholarship in Potenza, he undergoes a personal evolution, which has a positive effect on his life. Lucia is his tutor. She’s a beautiful, smart girl who puts Pedro’s mind at ease. They get to know each other and begin a beautiful friendship. Gerardo is the outgoing friend that is just about to finish university. He’s the one who accompanies Pedro in his discovery of Basilicata.
Puoi descrivere i protagonisti del film?
Pedro è uno studente madrileno e da buon spagnolo apprezza la vita dinamica e il divertimento, dopo lo choc iniziale della notizia dell'Erasmus a Potenza avrà una evoluzione positiva. Lucia è la sua tutor, una bella ragazza, in gamba, che è incaricata di mettere Pedro a proprio agio, tra i due si inizia a intravedere qualcosa di tenero. Gerardo è un lucano doc, anche lui sta finendo l'università ed è il "Virgilio" del gruppo, la guida che accompagna Pedro a scoprire la Basilicata.  

What are the qualities of that make this land of Basilicata a land of cinema? The visual part of film speaks for itself. I would say that Basilicata is a land of cinema because, aside from offering perfect locations for all kinds of production, it’s a land rich in poetry and inspiration. The work initiated by the APT and continued through the LucanaFilm Commission is very commendable. #Flipo is also a result of this process. It was co-funded regionally by #bandoallacrisi. All these initiatives are creating the conditions to make Basilicata a complete cultural excellence, and thanks to the push of Matera2019, as my friend Sergio (Ragone) says, Basilicata is the #luogoideale, which means “ideal place”.
Queli sono le qualità che fanno della Basilicata una terra di cinema?
Parte la storia cinematografica che parla da sola (sono tanti i capolavori girati da noi), direi che la Basilicata è una terra di cinema perché, oltre ad offrire location perfette per ogni genere di produzione, è una terra ricca di poesia e di ispirazione. Il lavoro avviato dall'APT e proseguito alla grande insieme alla Lucana Film Commission è davvero encomiabile: anche #Flipo è un risultato di questo percorso, è stato co-finanziato dal #bandoallacrisi regionale. Si stanno creando le condizioni per fare della Basilicata un'eccellenza culturale, anche grazie alla spinta di Matera2019, come dice l'amico Sergio, questo è proprio il #luogoideale.  

In addition to the theater release dates, will the film also be available to view online? Our initial idea was to design #Flipo for the web with a few launch events in theaters. The web-based platform that will host the first two episodes and the collective story is an integral part of the project. We want to get Basilicata in the world, so the international reach of the web is a perfect platform. Once it’s there, we hope that everyone will like it and then follow Pedro’s adventures.
l film sarà online o solo nella sala?
#Flipo è stato pensato per il web, gli eventi di lancio prevedono le proiezioni in sala, ma la piattaforma web che ospiterà le prime due puntate ed il racconto collettivo è parte integrante del progetto, vogliamo far arrivare la Basilicata in tutto il mondo e il web e l'internazionalità del prodotto filmico ci aiuteranno in questo percorso. Poi servirà la rete, speriamo che piaccia e che la gente si affezioni a Pedro e voglia ripercorrere le sue avventure.  

If you're in Rome tonight, don't miss Flipo con la Basilicata - 8:00 PM at Cinema Adriano in Piazza Cavour.  Check out the trailer.. and to listen to the full version of "Lukania"- the song featured in the trailer, check out Krikka Reggae's music video, directed by Basilicata's own David di Donatello winner, Giuseppe Marco Albano..


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Legend of Alberto Sordi - Rome's Eternal Son

′′They will always judge you, whether you behave well or if you behave badly. So screw it and live as you want but above all don't listen to anyone.′′  - Alberto Sordi By giving his fellow Italians something to laugh about during tumultuous times, he emerged as his generation’s King of Comedy. One of Italy’s best-loved personalities, Alberto Sordi played a pivotal role in Italian cinema from the end of World War II to the postwar economic boom of the 1950s. During those tumultuous years, he gave his countrymen a hearty laugh when they might have otherwise cried. Former Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi perhaps said it best: “Alberto Sordi interpreted the feelings of Italians, especially in their most difficult and tough moments.” Born in the Trastevere neighborhood of Rome in 1920, Sordi grew up in a creative household. His mother was an elementary school teacher and his father, a professional musician for the Rome Opera House. A young Sordi joined the children’s choir o...
Post a Comment
Read more

7 Days - 7 Women: Gina Lollobrigida

Update, January 16,2023: Gina Lollobrigida has passed away at the age of 95.  On Day 3 of our week-long series, 7 Days - 7 Women, in which we are showcasing seven strong, talented women working as filmmakers, writers or visual artists, we celebrate the forceful, creative energy of movie legend Gina Lollobrigida. She has been called the most beautiful woman in the world and at 87 years old, she is still a sight to behold. Her outer beauty mirrors the talent and inner beauty of this true, complete artist. Lollobrigida, the iconic actress, photojournalist and sculptress, was born Luigina Lollobrigida on July 4, 1932 in Subiaco, Italy, a town located outside of Rome in the province of Lazio.  Adored by fans all over the world, Lollobrigida has worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood including Humphrey Bogart, Rock Hudson, Frank Sinatra, Anthony Quinn and Shelly Winters. She acted opposite Bob Hope in his 1968 comedy, "The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell," and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Federico Fellini: A Look into the Life and Career of an Icon

A Fellini family portrait  “The term became a common word to describe something on the surface you can say is bizarre or strange, but actually is really like a painter working on a film,” said Martin Scorsese when asked to define “Felliniesque,” an adjective inspired by one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. The oldest of three children, Federico Fellini was born in the seaside town of Rimini in 1920. His father was a traveling salesman, so his mother was left to do the bulk of raising the children. One can argue that Fellini was born for his destiny. “You could tell that even as a child, he was different and unique. He was very intelligent, well above average. He was always the one to organize things, direct the others, make up games. He could control the other kids with just a look, said Fellini’s sister, Maddalena, in an interview with journalist Gideon Bachmann.  Not only was Fellini directing the children, but he was also putting on shows and charging ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Alessandro Gassmann: Born to Act

Alessandro Gassmannin his directorial debut "Razzabastarda" Alessandro Gassmann is the son of the iconic Italian actor/director Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He was born in 1965 and grew up around cinema royalty.  He made his cinema debut in 1982 at the age of 17 in his father's autobiographical film, "Di padre in figlio." He went on to study his craft under his father's direction at the Theatre Workshop of Florence.  Vittorio Gassman was very active in theater and seemed just as comfortable on stage as he did in front of the camera. Known for his powerful interpretations of Dante's "Inferno" and "Paradiso," it is no surprise that he nurtured his son's acting aspirations on stage before he launched his career in television and film. One of Gassmann's strong qualities, which he undoubtedly inherited from his father is his incredible range and ease in going from genre to genre. He can play ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Martin Scorsese's Voyage to Italy

Martin Scorsese’s deeply personal documentary “My Voyage to Italy” is an exploration of Italian cinema and the films that shaped him as a director and storyteller. Released in 1999, the documentary is both a history lesson on Italian cinema and an autobiography of Scorsese’s childhood and artistic influences. Using family movies and actual footage, Scorsese begins by explaining how important movies were during his childhood in New York’s Little Italy. Because he suffered from asthma, he could not play outside often, so he spent much of his time watching films with his family. Italian cinema became a way for him to connect with his heritage and understand the lives, emotions, and struggles of not only Italian people but also his close relatives. He notes that these films were different from Hollywood movies because they felt more realistic and emotional.  A large part of the documentary focuses on the Italian Neorealism film movement that emerged in the wake of World War II. The fil...
Post a Comment
Read more