In a time where everything is about visuals and technology, a young italian filmmaker named Luca Finotti is taking the fashion world by storm with a fresh new outlook. He could be directing or editing, however, anything he touches turns to gold, but what’s in the mind behind the name? What is his creative process of creating fashion films, from the storyboard to the conceptualization of the idea it takes form. We have seen many photographers create fashion videos, but the skills and uniqueness is something else that is all under one name, and Luca has it all.
So, We decided to reach out to him and see how his creative process works and share it with all our viewers at metrovelvet.com
JC: Luca, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy agenda to speak to us; How are you? and where are you right now? (NY or Italy)?
Luca Finotti: I’m super fine, working on some projects in Milan right now, but back to NYC very soon!
JC: When did you realize that filmmaking was your call?
LF: I always knew it, but I found the courage to follow my dreams only after my studies in economics.
JC: How was your selecting process in choosing the right college to attend for your degree?
LF: My two main interests were fashion and film making, New York is a city capable of grouping together these two passions.
So I chose the New York Film Academy, the best in town.
JC: What’s a major influence in your work?
LF: The masters of the past.
JC: We see an amazing sense of coloring and the noir touch of your B&W films, how do you decided which way to go?
LF: That’s true, my works have many contrasts, I do not like the middle ground. However, it depends by the topic I am dealing with.
JC: What helps your process of create a new film or editing? Coffee, Tea, Wine, Scotch?
LF: A glass of milk.
JC: At the moment of creating your story board, how many go to trash before you see the concept the way you vision your projects?
LF: Projects change a thousand times, even during the shooting and the editing. It is a continuous act of creation.
JC: How did you get your break in the industry?
LF: Luck, commitment and desire to make it happen.
JC: Which film so far has been the most intricate or challenging to work on?
LF: Up to now, everything went smoothly, especially thanks to my fantastic team.
JC: What was it like to work with Mr. Mariano Vivanco and Nicola Formichetti to mention some big names in the industry?
LF: It was an honor for me to have them as my first teachers. People to whom I will be grateful forever, they taught me how to work hard and keep my feet on the ground.
JC: Do you have a muse that you get inspired by or you like to work with on more than one occasion?
LF: Seb and Simone, for sure. It is amazing to work with young guys, sharing experiences growing up together. I learn from them, they learn from me.
JC: You must be surrounded by an amazing team to see and understand your creative process, how did you get to choose them?
LF: I surrounded myself with guys of which respect the individual talent independently of the work they do for me. We are growing together following the same method, as a strong team. What counts for me is the click with people, regardless of curriculum and knowledge.
JC: Is it easier to be more creative in Italy or New York?
LF: The great thing is to bring the American creativity to Italy, and the Italian taste to America.
JC: Doing a retrospective of yourself. What would you say is your most maturing work from the very first video to the latest one, in terms of techniques?
LF: I’m too young for a retrospective! I’m just beginning to work, I still have so much to learn.
JC: Who would you like to work with in your near feature?
LF: No one in particular, there are too many! What I’d like to do is to be able to have access to the historical archives of the great fashion houses to discover and revisit the past. My training is based on the study of cinema of the past, which is more accessible. I’d like to do it with fashion, archives are a magical place.
JC: Any plans for the summer of 2012?
LF: I’ll be in LA to work on a project.
Luca, it’s been a pleasure to get to know the mind of such an amazing and talented Director as you. We wish you the best, and I must confess your videos inspire not only us, but many fashion lover all over the world.
Ciao Luca!
Special Thanks: Luca Finotti and Marco Crema
Photo credits: Joseph Gray
By J.C. Parra
Editor in chief
JC@metrovelvet.com