Letting it Rip With Mattia Lunardi
Born in a town nestled beside a magical tiny lake in northern Italy, Mattia Lunardi's journey into filmmaking began between playing guitars in heavy metal bands and convincing parents and friends to join his early film experiments.
Graduating from the New Academy of Fine Arts in Milan, Mattia went on a career journey that saw him roam through the realms of motion graphics, post-production, and cinematography. Armed with a camera, he then ventured into music videos, branded content, and short films, developing his craft along the way.
Transitioning into the role of a director, Mattia found his niche in comedy, lifestyle, and storytelling. Collaborating with top agencies like Ogilvy, Leo Burnett, and Saatchi & Saatchi, he left a strong mark on the Italian advertising landscape. Eager to expand his horizons, Mattia ventured into the international market, capturing narratives in the Middle East and Asia. His passion for comedy and lifestyle genres shines through in his work, earning awards on the global stage.
In 2020, amidst the lockdown, Mattia seized the opportunity to create an animation series released on Amazon Prime Video Italy, adding a new dimension to his directing portfolio. With a client portfolio including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Vodafone, Mattia's pursuit of creativity knows no bounds. Always eager to travel, brainstorm with creatives, and explore new markets, he continues to push the boundaries of storytelling in the ever-evolving world of filmmaking.
In the latest instalment of this interview series, the team at Let It Rip Pictures chat to director Mattia Lunardi to discuss food, travel and his favourite movies.
PORTFOLIO: Mattia Lunardi
LOCATION: Milano / International
REP: Let it Rip Pictures / USA
BRANDS: Vodafone, Converse, Netflix, Samsung, Adidas, Oakley, Etisalat, Xiaomi
SKILLS: Comedy, transitions, CGI, Food.
Q> What’s the place you feel like you belong in?
Mattia> The more you explore the world, the more the concept of belonging loses its absolute meaning. Places are just the backdrop; belonging is that moment when you feel at home, even if you're on the other side of the world, but with the right people.
I feel like I belong in every place I visit during my travels; sometimes it’s in Central Asia, sometimes in the middle of nowhere on a Pacific island, or while a trekking in Iceland. I easily get used to any place I stay for a while, posing like a local.
Q> What’s your favourite food-related memory?
Mattia> I am Italian, and for me, food is no laughing matter; instead, it's pure poetry and one of life's greatest pleasures. With that said, my favourite memory isn't linked to any special 'grandmother's recipe', but rather to a very simple dish: hot chocolate.
I remember when I was little, my older siblings would usually go out with friends in the evenings and I was a little sad about that. However, on those cold winter nights when my mom offered hot chocolate, even they couldn't resist staying in. We would all end up at home, sipping hot chocolate and watching a great movie together... such fond memories!
How I miss those moments.
Q> Share with us your guilty pleasure. And a sport you’d like to be good at.
Mattia> I’d really love to drink a bottle of wine and discuss the meaning of life, much to the annoyance of whoever has the bad luck to share that bottle with me (usually my wife). I also wish I had learned to skateboarding better when I was a child.
Q> If you’d need to pick where you draw your inspiration from - based on the last three questions - would it be places, foods or guilty pleasures?
Mattia> Places for sure!
Q> What US state would you choose for an open-budget weekend?
Mattia> I would choose Oregon probably.
Q> What’s a scene from a film you’d like to recreate in a branded content?
Mattia> I have several in mind, but I'd particularly love to recreate any sci-fi/horror opening sequence set inside a spacecraft, inspired by the iconic scenes from 'Alien'.
As a second option, I'd choose the scene from 'Goodfellas' where De Niro’s character, Jimmy Conway, is smoking. As 'Sunshine of Your Love' by Cream plays and the guitar riff kicks in, the camera slowly zooms in on Jimmy making a guilty decision. His expressions alone convey the gravity of the moment... simply stunning! Is that suitable for a branded content? :)
Q> Can you name a project that changed the course of your career in an unexpected way?
Mattia> Probably the most memorable project is the Vodafone Happy TV commercial I shot a couple of years ago featuring the living meme 'Hide the Pain Harold'. Thanks to that, I landed my first job overseas. The commercial also won several awards in Italy and enjoyed modest success.
Q> How do you collaborate with actors in order to get their best emotions out?
Mattia> I always try to use examples from real-life situations and explore whether they have experienced anything similar. Then, I add an action or a key adjective to the scene, like: 'Okay, he's arguing with his wife, but as if he's about to pee his pants!' This approach often results in a very funny and creative results.
I usually don't discuss too much about the character's background since we're shooting advertisements. Instead, I focus on action itself and real life references, striving to find a unique balance that enhances the performance.
Q> What’s your favourite in-camera trick?
Mattia> I really enjoy rigging stuff on the camera to create unique POV shots, although this technique is somewhat overused at the moment. I also like using 'revealing movements' that start with a detail or an expression and then expand to establish the scene.
Q> Transitions — love them or hate them?
Mattia> Totally love them when they actually mean something, but honestly, I end up hating them most of the time. :)
Q> What’s your take on AI?
Mattia> I'm both scared and fascinated at the same time (as probably everyone in the industry is). I think that in a world where everyone has to create content, AI could be a very democratic tool. At the same time, a lot of content might end up looking the same, leading to a natural selection where truly creative people will take over the scene.
Q> Did you ever do a cameo role and if so, can you share a picture with us?
Mattia> Yes, but it happened on a project where I was working as a VFX artist a long time ago. It was a bit embarrassing, but also funny.
Q> Dream client?
Mattia> Doritos and Apple :)
Q> What is your advice to producers in order to keep our film sets more eco-friendly?
Mattia> I still see a lot of plastic around the set, especially in craft services and catering.
