Interview: 2017 David di Donatello Nominee Vito Gallina

Embracing his Sicilian culture, actor Vito Gallina is making a name for himself as he takes on unique roles alongside his trailblazing contemporaries.

Whether he is starring in an independent short film, playing the supporting character in a big budget production or impersonating an American silent film icon, one thing is certain: Vito Gallina's unique look and buoyant style of acting immortalize each character he interprets.

On the set of "Il dolce e l'amaro" with Luigi Lo Cascio

Since 2001, Gallina has appeared in a number of successful films Italian films as an extra or supporting character. However, his most important role came in 2014 in Flavio Costa's tale of friendship and love, Svegliaci quando fa chiaro. His performance in the short film earned him an award for Best Actor at the Cici Film Festival in Sicily.

Watch Svegliaci quando fa chiaro...

His latest achievement is the David di Donatello nomination he recently received for his adorable short film Charlie Chaplin e Stellina, which he made with his beloved pet that passed away last summer.

Watch Charlie Chaplin e Stellina...

Gallina and I are connected on social media and I've particularly enjoyed looking at the beautiful pictures of his homeland of Trapani, Sicily that he posts on Instagram. He also raised my curiosity when he told me about his role in the upcoming film Mary Magdalene, starring Joaquin Phoenix. The film was shot in Basilicata, Campania and Sicily. So, I asked Gallina about his work and how growing up in such a beautiful place has inspired him as an artist.

Tell me about your city and Trapani.. the culture, people and beauty. Do you feel that all this beauty and culture has influenced you as an artist and actor?

I was born in Castellammare del Golfo in the province of Trapani in Sicily. However, I had to move away for work. I teach art education and painting at a middle school in Vicenza, which is located in the region of Veneto. When the semester is finished, I will head back to the mild climate in my beautiful land of Sicily where I'm surrounded by the sea from coast to coast, the warm, hospitable people and wonderful Sicilian cuisine. Yes, the beauty of Sicily has influenced me as an artist and also as an actor. I'm an outgoing, spontaneous person, so acting comes natural.

Is there a particular character that stands out- one that you've really enjoyed portraying?

The role I've enjoyed the most has been Charlie Chaplin. I say this because more than any other character, even the Sicilian characters I've played, I identify with Charlie Chaplin the most.

On the set of "In guerra per amore" with Pif

Tell me about your experience working on the film, Mary Magdalene.

In October of 2016, I worked on the production of Mary Magdalene, which stars many well-know famous American actors. The film was shot in Matera, Naples and Sicily. I participated in the scenes that were shot in the fishing village of Mandala in Sicily.

What is your dream.

It would be great if a director would see the similarities I have in common with Charlie Chaplin and cast me in role to portray him. My dream is to go to Hollywood. It’s always been my dream to be accepted in the city of Los Angeles. Many of the films in which I have participated, such as My Name is Tanino, The Commissioner Montalbano, A Thing Called Love and Celafonia (just to name a few) have been shown there.

Great things are indeed ahead for Vito Gallina. Check out his YouTube Channel to see more of his interesting works.

Comments

Luisa Ranieri: A Contemporary Classic

Paolo Sorrentino’s “The Hand of God” has advanced to the short list in the 2022 Oscar race. The film is available stateside on Netflix. One of the stars of the film is actress Luisa Ranieri as the eccentric, troubled Aunt Patrizia. Luisa Ranieri Born in Naples in 1973, Ranieri hit the ground running, finding her break out film just two years after starting her acting career. That project, a made for television movie on the life of Maria Callas in which she played the starring role, immediately made her one of the country’s most popular actresses. After numerous supporting roles in both television and film, Ranieri scored the title role in Lodovico Gasparini’s 2016 miniseries “Luisa Spagnoli,” giving her another opportunity to portray a deeply complex character. The film follows the trailblazing entrepreneur who created the Perugina chocolate brand as well as a popular clothing line that still bears her name. “I was born poor like you and know how hard life can be.” That inspirin...

Golden Age Masterpiece: Luchino Visconti’s 1957 “White Nights”

Photo Credit: Archivio Luce Cinecittà Luchino Visconti’s 1957 film, “White Nights” (“Le notti bianche”), offers a thoughtful and poignant exploration of themes such as loneliness, desire and emotional vulnerability. Based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novella of the same name, it transports the tale from 19th-century St. Petersburg to a dreamy mid-20th-century Italian setting. While Visconti remains largely faithful to Dostoevsky’s narrative, his characteristic style infuses the film with emotional depth, striking visuals, and a focus on class and societal constraints. The story follows a young man named Matteo, played by Marcello Mastroianni, who lives a solitary life in a small Italian town. One evening, he encounters a beautiful young woman named Natalia, portrayed by Austrian-Swiss actress Maria Schell, who is also feeling isolated. Although she is initially reluctant, Natalia eventually confides in Matteo about her love for a man who has promised to return and marry her, but he ha...

A Conversation with Sergio Castellitto

Sergio Castellitto has made a profound impact on world cinema, both in front of and behind the camera. Born in Rome in 1953, Castellitto graduated from film school in 1978 and credits American cinema with pushing him toward a career in acting. His work has garnered numerous accolades, largely due to his immersive, original approach to projects in film, television and theatre. Castellitto is fluent in French and English, which has contributed mightily to his international stardom. But it's the actor's trademark brown eyes and charming everyman qualities that have lent his various characters -- even the ones that are rough around the edges -- an air of dignity that other actors might not have achieved. Sergio Castellitto and Margaret Mazzantini, 2005 Films such as "Paura e Amore," "L'uomo delle stelle," "Caterina va in città," and "Bella Martha" heralded Castellitto as a versatile artist with far-reaching abilities. But it ...

Alberto Sordi Like You've Never Seen Him..

Twenty two-year-old Alberto Sordi on the set of "I tre aquilotti" Directed by Mario Mattoli, the 1942 film"I tre aquilotti" (The Three Pilots) is set at the Royal Air Force Academy of Caserta where three students– Mario (Carlo Minello), Marco (Leonardo Cortese) and Filippo (Alberto Sordi) become close friends. Towards the end of his studies, Marco casually meets and falls in love with Mario's sister, Adriana (Michela Belmonte). Mario shows his opposition to Marco and this causes the end of their friendship. Due to an accident during a training flight, Marco is demoted from the sailors role to the service role, thus not getting the military pilot's license. After the end of the course, the three friends split up for various destinations but all three find themselves in Russia, with Mario and Filippo already decorated with medals of merit, while Marco is in charge of logistics services. During a war action Mario is hit in flight and is forced to land in en...

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...

Italian Cinema Today

Search This Blog