Come si organizzano e si svolgono le riprese in Italia dei film indiani? Ivano Fucci di ODU Movies svela i segreti del mestiere in questa esauriente intervista concessa a Bhavi Gathani e Titas Chowdhury, pubblicata da Box Office India il 9 febbraio 2019. Nello specifico, Ivano prende in esame tre pellicole girate nel nostro Paese (Roam Rome Mein, Saaho e Radhe Shyam), rivelando dettagli interessanti. L'articolo raccoglie anche alcune dichiarazioni di - fra gli altri - Prabhas e Tannishtha Chatterjee. Italy says 'Benvenuto':
'A new financial incentive and a vast and versatile canvas make Italy an ideal destination for filmmakers. Italy, a classic Mediterranean landscape, has served as a backdrop for films across the globe for a long time. Italy is famous for its rich history, diverse cultures and cuisine, as well as for its beautiful coast and mountains. Among its cities, Milan, Rome and Venice are the most popular destinations for filmmakers. Blockbuster Bollywood films like Rockstar, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Housefull were shot in Italy. Even upcoming South Indian films like Saaho and [Radhe Shyam] have used Italy as a backdrop. Upcoming Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Roam Rome Mein is centred in this land of art and culture. Apart from these, major portions of the recent release The Fakir of Venice starring Farhan Akhtar was also shot in Venice. (...)
What prompted the filmmakers of Roam Rome Mein, Saaho and [Radhe Shyam] to choose Italy as their films' location?
They are two completely different kinds of stories: RRM has its heart in Rome. Italy was in the script and we just had to make it possible in the budget given to us. Saaho and [Radhe Shyam] both star Prabhas. While shooting the latter, we got the opportunity to have Saaho's action director Kenny Bates (...) shooting in Italy as well (with Six Underground) and we made a two-week shooting schedule in Rome, building the biggest blue screen ever made in Italy. A common reason that pulled the filmmakers to Italy and to us was undoubtedly the new tax credit, a 30 per cent rebate scheme that is working perfectly. Another important reason was the wonderful support we have got from the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai, that actively supports the power of audiovisuals from West and South India and has eased the process for getting visas. (...)
What locations were used to shoot Roam Rome Mein and Saaho?
RRM has been shot extensively in Rome. (...) We explored so much that you will see the good and the bad side of the city, giving depth to a tourist spot which is usually explored lightly by travellers. Saaho was also shot in Rome, at the Cinecittà World Studios and at the Fiera di Roma Hangars: huge places, kind people, great professionals, accessibility, and the whole crew was local so there was no need of hotels or dinners for the Italians. (...)
Did you get local crew for any of the films? How easy or difficult was it?
During RRM, the crew was 60 per cent Italian and 40 per cent Indian. During Saaho we had a wonderful mix: 60 per cent Italian, 30 per cent Indian, 10 per cent American/Czech. During [Radhe Shyam], we were 50 per cent Italian and 50 per cent Indian. It wasn't difficult, it was exciting to put together working cultures and get the best out of both. We all learned and that's our biggest profit: the more we meet, the more we know and the faster we go.
How many people were there in each unit?
RRR: 60 pp crew (35 Italians + 25 Indians) + 10 Secondary/Tert Cast + 100 Extras. Saaho: 110 pp crew (60 Italians + 35 Indians + 15 Americans/Other Nationalities) + 5 Sec/Tert Cast + 60 Extras. [RS]: 250 pp crew (125 Indians + 125 Italians) + 20 Sec/Tert Cast + 400 Extras in total.
RRM also has an Italian cast. What was the casting process over there?
Yes, the actress is Valentina Corti, who will be paired with Nawaz (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) in certain scenes. The script required a strong Italian cast presence and we have chosen the best team of casting agents in Italy to make sure Tannishtha (Chatterjee) and her team could get all the possible options at the budgeted cost. It was a task that ended beautifully, creating a wonderful Indo-Italian combination on screen. (...)
What financial incentives were provided by the government to shoot these films in Italy? What were the qualifying criteria?
Tax credit rebate: 30 per cent. VAT refund: average 70 per cent of the whole paid VAT. There is a cultural test to pass, but it's very easy to do it. There is no minimum expenditure required.
Do the incentives differ with every province?
There is a national incentive, valid also if the shoot happens in other EU countries (up to 30 per cent of the total foreign shoot). Every region (...) has a film commission and each one has its own incentive scheme. The most popular are Apulia, (...) Alto-Adige, (...) Lazio (...) and Veneto. (...)
How cost-effective is it to shoot a film in Italy compared to other countries?
I would position Italy at the same level as Spain, one step cheaper than France, two times cheaper than the UK/Scandinavia, and once or twice more expensive than East Europe. The good thing about Italy is its size and the variety the country offers in visuals, naturally and culturally. It helps you contain the costs. Wherever you place the camera, it looks beautiful.
Did you hire any equipment from the locals? If so, is hiring local equipment more convenient or importing it?
Yes, we hire everything from the biggest film equipment rental company of Europe, based in Milan and Rome. We can literally get anything we need at the same price we would get equipment in India (considering the 30 per cent rebate and VAT refund). If the Indian production house owns the camera, we strongly suggest carrying it along; you just need to make an ATA-Carnet at FICCI and the job is done. Hiring equipment locally is not always the best choice. It depends on the kind of shoot and the number of days the equipment is required. We would accordingly suggest the best solution for our clients.
How convenient was the accomodation, food and logistics for the crew members?
In Rome, everything was extremely convenient. For [RS], we toured a bit and so it was a hectic shoot. (...) Our own Indian chefs are surely one of ODU's plus points. We set up the kitchen in the hotel itself and we serve breakfast and lunch on the set, and then dinner at the hotel. (...)
Why, according to you, there are so few Indian films shot in Italy?
Because Italy hasn't yet been highlighted or captured very well as a prominent part in Indian scripts. (...) Hopefully with the release of RRM and [RS], people will see Italy as part of the narrative, as a character within the film's story, and it will stay in their memory after the film. (...)
Prabhas: Italy has beautiful locations and we have shot here before, and I think it is always a wonderful experience shooting in Italy. I was fascinated by the scenic beauty and the awesome food there. Communication wasn't really an issue because I felt most of the natives are comfortable and happy speaking in English to tourists who can't speak Italian. (...)
Pramod Uppalapati, (...) Producer of Saaho and [RS]: The Italians are some of the most friendly and cooperative people in terms of getting permissions for a shoot. They took measures to help us complete our shooting process without any hiccups in the schedule. Approximately 70 members were hired to be part of the local crew. They were very professional and a joy to work with. They understood what was expected from them and ensured that they gave a 100 per cent effort to deliver it. I would like to thank them for their cooperation and effort, which helped us in the successful completion of the shoot.
Tannishtha Chatterjee: (...) I have always been fascinated by the art and architecture of Rome. But why I chose Rome as a backdrop is very integral to my story. Valentina's (Corti) character is a painter in the film and some of the most famous Italian women Renaissance painters came from Rome. The contribution that Italian feminists had to the world of women artistes is immense. So, as my first film, I wanted to celebrate their contribution to the world of art. (...) When I travelled to Rome, I did more research on Artemisia Gentileschi, whose art I am fascinated with. I think Italy and India have many things in common. On one hand, both countries have a very strong, ancient culture and history. On the other hand, they have family structures that are quite similar; families which can be an anchor but sometimes oppressive as well. It's this commonality that I have tried to explore through my film. There were many Italians in my crew. We have seven Italian actors in major roles. Our costume designer and casting director were Italian. Our production designer, line producers, all our production assistants, light assistants, sound assistants and local junior artistes were Italian'.
Vedi anche:
- Roam Rome Mein alla Festa del Cinema di Roma 2019, 5 ottobre 2019
- Radhe Shyam: le riprese in Italia, 31 dicembre 2020
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