MovieBytes Interview:
Screenwriter Angelo Campanile

An interview with screenwriter Angelo Campanile regarding the ENDAS Writing Competition.

A: The original Italian title is "Tutti Quei Giorni", which literal translation is, "All Those Days". The inspiration to write it came from one of Italian songwriter/singer Gianni Togni's songs, so it seemed natural to "steal" the title of the song and make it the title of the screenplay, as well! It's about four friends in their early 40's who, during the soccer 2006 World Cup in Germany that Italy ended up winning, take the same field trip to Gargano they took after graduation in 1982, when Italy also won the World Cup in Spain. One passage from the song gives a better idea of what this script is about, and it goes something like, "All those days will never come back. Now, those stories live only inside of us."

A: Although Endas Expo is only at its second year, it's already one of the most prestigious competition in Italy. Just to give you an idea, Syd Field was the chairman of the jury. I did submit the script to a couple of other contests - Premio Solinas and Roma Independent Film Festival - and though I received positive feedback, the Endas Expo's Best Comedy Script is the only award I won.

A: Absolutely. The organizer Silvio Nacucchi and his staff did a wonderful job. Unfortunately I couldn't attend the ceremony to accept the award in person, but I received it in the mail only a couple of days later.

A: Yes, I was. Although my script won the award, they were very direct in pointing out a couple of things that need improving, and I'm grateful they did. I believe the only way to improve a script is to receive constructive criticism, no matter how harsh it is.

A: Not yet, but instead of waiting around for someone to call, I started contacting people myself. This award definitely gives me some leverage in order to find a good agent or manager. And it also gives me some more credibility when I talk about other projects of mine to producers, actors, etc.

A: So far I've written five feature length scripts, plus a half-dozen more that I'm still working on, and about 20 short scripts. I have also written and directed a short comedy called "Out Of Focus" that was an official entry at a dozen film festivals across the US and Canada, and I have produced and directed a 40-min documentary on Italian rock-star Vasco Rossi.

A: Yes, I live in Los Angeles, which is where I'm about to shoot my next project - tentatively at the beginning of 2009. I also hope I'll have a chance to work in Italy in the future. Who knows-- maybe thanks to this award it will happen with "Tutti Quei Giorni".

A: I'm actually working on a couple of those unfinished scripts I mentioned earlier-- only in the spare time, though, because I just recently started pre-production of my new project, a feature length documentary that& has something to do with money-- and that's all I can say about it at the moment!

Posted Monday, December 1, 2008