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Vincenzo Pandolfi - The abyss theory

1:00, 2011, Fiction
 
If you look to deep into the abyss, the abyss will look deep into you...
DirectorVincenzo PandolfiProducerVincenzo PandolfiWriterVincenzo PandolfiCameraVincenzo PandolfiEditorVincenzo Pandolfi
 

CountryItalyEdition2011 Screenings"One Minute Film Festival" 2011 - Aarau, Switzerland
 

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Interview

 
Who is Vincenzo Pandolfi?
I’m a 40 years Italian film lover. And I’m trying to find the right way to express my inner visions.


What is The abyss theory about?
The Abyss Theory is a small journey into a dangerous world. It could be hell on earth, an inner world, our mind.


How did you start with film? And do you have an educational background in art or film?
I started making films playing with VHS, and actually I still work with it. I took a degree in Film History with a thesis about the movies adapted from E.A.Poe.. Then I took a diploma in Filmmaking at New York Film Academy.


Could you explain how you work, what themes or concepts you use and what is important to you?
Usually I start reflecting about a single image. Something that has a dark side, like a shadow. It could be a word said in a strange way, or a character doing something unusual. I’d like to explore the hidden part of our life. There are lots of wonderful mysteries in life, and the best thing to do is not to solve them, but to let them free into our mind.


How long do you usually work on one project?
It depends on the nature of the project. I can work for years on a project, making changes and living in the world of the piece. But I’m actually discovering the wonder of shooting "on-the-fly". It’s exiting to see how many different reaction you could have from your subject, and convey all these sensations into a bigger plan.


Do you carefully plan the production process or do you work more intuitive?
I prefer to plan every aspect, unless the improvisation is part of the creation.


How does the title relate to the work, and how do you find a fitting title?
I’d love to use the title as a counterpoint, to change the sense of what you’re seeing or to give new meanings to the images. I have always loved the way in which Magritte titled his paintings. A kind of philosophy lesson, that pushes you to break the walls between the art and your life, forcing you to find your own way into the opera.


Where do you get your ideas or inspiration from?
Everything is an inspiration to me. It could be a song, a phrase or an object. I always find very useful to read scientific essays, that show a world full of strange and unusual things. When you read about the quantum mathematics, it’s like reading a SF book.


How important is sound in film, and if you use sounds, do you create your own or use existing?
The connection between sound and image is something that really makes a film different from everything you’ve seen before. When you find the right combination, you’re in YOUR world. And it’s difficult because you’re not talking about the beat... Is something deeper, something difficult to explain because it relates to the inner world. It’s like to feel yourself breathing... There’s no way to explain how it is. You only have to close your eyes and start listening.


How does content relate to the form of your work?
Form IS the content.


What possibilities of the web are yet to be explored?
Web will change our way to live art. It’s a process that will go on, following the progress of the web connections and the chance to develop interactive platform in which every artist could build a real live interaction with his viewer.


Did the web changed your view on art, or your career?
Not at the present moment. I’m still experimenting with traditional narration. But I’m planning an interactive mystery.


Where would you place your work; cinema or art. And what is the difference between those according to you?
My work is born in an artistic environment... No doubt. I have always loved to see video-art works in the museum. But the difference is just in the relationship with the viewer. I’d like to eat and smoke in the cinema, as Brecht said...


How influential is the reaction to your film by the audience?
I always listen the reaction of the audience, but I’m not changed by it.


What is your next project about?
I’m planning a docufiction to be shot in France, something between "Blair Witch Project" and "JFK". And in January I’ll start shooting my 5th short horror film.

 

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