A beautiful loft in the heart of Downtown, a panoramic rooftop with a pool and a scenic view over the skyline, a professional equipment suitable for big production companies. Definitely not a bad way of introducing themselves to prospective clients! But what lies behind such a stylish look? Hard work, the courage to follow dreams, family and friendship values, faith in the Italian qualities despite the Country’s current situation.
In fact, even if they have left Italy to live and study in the U.S.A, Gabriele Scarfone and Federico Delle Case remain deeply and proudly Italian, and they wish to contribute with their ideas and new-born company to enlarge the local Italian American community. “We are part of it, and only by joining forces we can hit the target,” states Gabriele, a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a passion for screenwriting developed in New York.
Federico, native of Udine (Friuli region), adds: “Success is contagious and we would be particularly glad to collaborate with Italians and Italian Americans who work in the movie industry, helping each other. In the future, we would also like to become a benchmark for others who share the same dream.”
Friends and colleagues at the UCLA, Federico has taken a leap of faith investing in the creation of Purple One Production as the sole founder and CEO, and Gabriele collaborated with him in the beginning. “It was a gamble for me and my family, who has always been supportive as in the best Italian tradition,” says Federico.
“Fortune certainly plays a role, but we are well aware of our skills and strengths,” continues Gabriele Scarfone. “Among them is being Italian and able to produce something international to meet the American taste – also thanks to our team including filmmaker Frank Lucatuorto and director of photography Myles Gilbert –, with a hint of the typical European elegance that makes the difference. Like in the great American movies inspired by Fellini, De Sica, and Sergio Leone, the outcome is something unique: a combination of both cultures and their creativity.”
And the technical aspect is no less important, as Federico Delle Case explains: “We are able to manage any type of project from screenwriting to pre-production, production, and post-production. Although we have just started, thanks to the use of an advanced equipment we can offer high-quality products, from short movies to commercials, from demo reels to music videos.”
In this winning team, Federico is the expert on digital cameras and information technologies applied to cinematography, an interest aroused after he met renowned director of photography Dante Spinotti (The last of the Mohicans, L.A. Confidential, The Insider), who is native of Friuli region as well. The equipment set up by Federico is used by the company for internal productions as well as for renting purposes, at least in this initial phase of the business.
Beyond personal inclinations, Gabriele and Federico work together as far as promotion is concerned: “We always introduce ourselves as Italians when presenting our products to prospective clients, as we know very well that Made in Italy is still appreciated in the United States. In order to prove what we are able to realize, we usually offer a complimentary demo.”
Their short-term goal is to establish themselves in the advertising sector by collaborating with Italian brands in the U.S., and then to enter the film industry and to act as a bridge for other young Italian talents. In the future, they don’t exclude the possibility of returning to Italy with more means to succeed there as well. “Unfortunately, nowadays Italy offers very few opportunities and investments in the film sector. It doesn’t recognize excellence. On the contrary, the U.S. market is larger and more dynamic, the economy moves faster, especially in the movie industry where investment in R&D are significant.”
For all these reasons, Federico decided to establish his company in Los Angeles and, surprisingly, it only took him seven days. “The hardest part is obtaining the Investor Visa. I had to present a lot of documents, to invest a considerable amount of money, and to prepare a well-structured business plan in order to prove the U.S. Government that Purple One Production will contribute to create new jobs locally. Yet in just one week we were ready to start.”
According to Gabriele and Federico, the American Dream is still achievable by working hard and passionately: “We started with commercials and music videos but now we are also developing original contents, including a short movie and a web series. With an interesting portfolio we will be able to move to cinema,” explains Gabriele Scarfone.
The first recognition came during the Academy Award season, when Purple One Production was hired by a Canadian channel to work on a project featuring a series of exclusive interviews on the red carpet.
From cinema to fashion, from music to advertising, the possibilities of collaboration with local companies are endless, yet their main object remains the Italian community.
Before leaving, we are invited to see the impressive rooftop: “Being Italian is definitely a plus, but also this amazing view, the climate, and the light of Los Angeles stimulate our creativity”, admits Gabriele. In this case, the book can be judged by its cover.
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