L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2016 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 7 T he 11 th edition of the Los Angeles, Italia. Film, Fashion and Art Fest, held at the TCL Chinese Theatres, on the pre-Oscars week, from February 21 to 27, channeled its efforts in celebrating two Italian legends. The first, Italian composer, Ennio Morricone (Rome, November 10, 1928), was hon- ored with the screening of four cinematic milestones, featuring his musical score. Ennio, who has been recipient of almost every existent awards, was just awarded the cherry on top, the Academy Award for Best Original Score, for Q. Tarantino's The Hateful Eight. For the sake of not straying from the pastry-making vocabu- lary, a sumptuous frosting was not neglected to Morricone, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on February 26. The second, late lamented filmmaker, Ettore Scola (Trevico, in the province of Avellino, Campania, May 10, 1931 – January 19, 2016), was remem- bered with a special retrospec- tive. The festival's opening film was the Golden Globe winner, A Special Day (Una giornata parti- colare, 1977), a politically engaged dramatic masterpiece. The other two screenings, under the documentary category, were: How Strange to Be Named Federico (Che strano chiamarsi Federico, 2013), last work direct- ed by Scola, as an homage to Italian legendary filmmaker, Federico Fellini; Ridendo e Scherzando: A Portrait of an "Italian-Style" Director (2015), a bittersweet profile of the mae- stro, directed by Scola's daugh- ters, Paola and Silvia. To consider Ettore Scola just a filmmaker is an oversimplifica- tion. At 15, he started drawing comic strips for Roman satirical publications, Marc'Aurelio and Il Travaso delle Idee. In 1950's, he debuted as screenwriter for Italian-Style Comedies, often collaborating with colleague, Ruggero Maccari. In 1964, Ettore directed his first feature film, Let's Talk About Women (Se permettete parliamo di donne), made of nine segments, starring Vittorio Gassman, as the male lead. In 1968, Scola garnered his first hit, with the comedy, Will Our Heroes Be Able to Find Their Friend Who Has Mysteriously Disappeared in Africa? (Riusciranno i nostri eroi a ritrovare l'amico miste- riosamente scomparso in Africa?). The film marked also Ettore's first collaboration with actor, Alberto Sordi. In 1974, the filmmaker authored his masterpiece, We All Loved Each Other So Much (C'eravamo tanto amati), which spans thirty years of Italian histo- ry and pays homage to several movie genres. Another remarkable example of historical fresco is represented by The Family (La famiglia, 1987), which follows an Italian bourgeois household, over eighty years of history. With the turn of the 21 st cen- tury, Scola began focusing exclusively on documentaries, or mockumentary, as in the case of Gente di Roma (2003). My scope here is not to chronicle Scola's outstanding career, but to offer you a heart- felt glimpse about the extraordi- nary intellectual, humorist, histo- rian, in a word "conscience" of our country, whom I had the privilege and honor to meet in person. The first time I met the mae- stro, was a fine evening on June 2006. Ettore was among the spectators of our year's final stage performance, at the presti- gious Roman Acting School "Teatro Azione". Do you think Scola was there to scout for new talent? Sorry to say, but you're wrong. Ettore attended the show to watch his grandson on stage. However, the latter happened to be my partner in one of the comedic sketches. At the end of the play, Scola approached me and compliment- ed me on my comic acting. I was paralyzed and unable to react for a little while. That praise came from someone, who surely knew a thing or two about comedy! The second time I had the chance to talk one-to-one with the filmmaker, was in the sum- mer of 2012. I had just graduated from my Bachelor degree and I was desperately seeking some words of wisdom on where to better complete my formation. Through the kind intercession of Ettore's grandson, I was received by the maestro, in his apartment, located in "Parioli", a neighborhood in the north of We will never forget you, dear Italian maestro, Ettore Scola! Saint Joseph's Table, Sunday March 13, 2016 Italian filmmaker Ettore Scola. Copyrights: Catherine Houard LOS ANGELES ITALIAN COMMUNITY VALERIO VIALE Rome. I asked Scola to give me some feedback on my early attempt of short film's screenplay, before submitting it, as part of my appli- cation, to several film schools. As he was reading it intently, my heart was beating hard. Then, he lifted his eyes and assumed a benevolent look. The story is very "tender." At that point, I was waiting for the inevitable "but", which, in fact, came shortly afterwards. I received, then, my first free screenwriting lesson: the charac- ters, especially the protagonist, need to face some obstacles, or better "conflict", in the pursuit of their goals. I thanked him about his evalu- ation and admitted my indecision about where to enroll. I was divided in my mind about Master programs in Screenwriting, offered by a couple of institu- T he Patron Saint of the Universal Church will be honored by a traditional Saint Joseph's Table at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 870 W. 8th Street, San Pedro, California on Sunday, March 13, 2016. The Many parish groups and all attending will assemble in the parish auditorium at 11:15 a.m. The statue of Saint Joseph will then be taken in procession with chants of "VIVA SAN GIUSEPPE!" The band Mestre da Filarmonica Do Artesia conducted by David Costa will play the national anthem. The procession will stop at the rectory, where the priests, eucharistic ministers and servers will join. The Knights of Columbus will escort the priests to the church where a 12 o'clock Mass will be celebrated. After the church services, the entire procession will, with contin- uous music by the Band, proceed to the auditorium. At the auditori- um door, the Holy Family depict- ed by San Pedro youth will knock and ask for admittance. They and the priest will enter and the priest will bless the food that is later donated to feed the poor and need- tions, respectively in London and Paris, alongside a pair of alterna- tives in the States. He, then, made a slightly dis- appointed face, and remarked how Italy offered formative opportunities, worth to consider. Above all, the newly inaugurated, public and cost-free, School of Cinematic Art "Gian Maria Volonté", launched by the Province of Rome, in 2011, with the encouragement of Scola him- self. Luckily, I didn't follow my first impulse to snap back that I wanted to flee from my home country, for its widespread nepo- tism and lack of meritocracy. Despite I didn't follow the maestro's advice and, at last, I moved to the US, I fully endorse his vision of a new generation of Italian talent, with free and open access to resources, in order to realize their dreams. ity. The statue of Saint Joseph is then placed for everyone to view. After the blessing, the doors are opened and everyone attending is served a "POOR MAN'S MEAL" consisting of fried squid, pasta, vegetables, bread and dessert while being entertained by the Los Angeles Italian Band. Everyone who comes forward to view the statue will receive a small bag containing a bread roll and an orange or lemon - this sym- bolizes the food that the people ate during a terrible famine in Sicily, Italy. This tradition originated in Sicily many years ago where a severe drought caused many to go hungry. The faithful prayed to Saint Joseph to intercede to the Lord for rain. The rains came, the crops flourished and the people were saved. These poor people promised to honor Saint Joseph and to this day they honor him throughout the world. The Saint Joseph's Table wel- comes you to help us celebrate this day. There is no charge to attend this celebration. Donations will be accepted to help our parish church and to award scholarships to deserving students in San Pedro. THE PUBLIC IS INVIT- ED!

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