Press: Italy-America Chamber of Commerce West
Make Me Italian, a short comedy film written by the husband and wife team, Bryan and Stephanie Mazzarello, recently completed principal photography. The cast is comprised of mostly Italian and Italian American actors living in Los Angeles. The script was a Quarterfinalist at the Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition in the United Kingdom.
Bryan and Stephanie Mazzarello created Mazzarello Media & Arts in 2009 as a communications studio focused on visual storytelling. As expressed by Stephanie, “Our goal is always to be playful, silly, and bring a little joy into the world. Something all of us need.” Make Me Italian is their first co-written narrative short film and is inspired by Bryan’s real-life citizenship process. Bryan, a SAG-AFTRA member, was the director and lead actor, while Stephanie set the visual tone as the production designer.
Bryan’s great-grandparents immigrated to the United States from the Messina province in Sicily at the beginning of the last century. Bryan’s grandfather was born and raised in the 3rd Ward, the Italian neighborhood of Milwaukee. Growing up in California, away from his Italian-American family in Wisconsin, Bryan didn’t have much of a chance to connect to his Italian roots. After graduating college, he took a life altering backpacking trip through Europe which connected him to Italy and his Italian family. It was so life-changing, Bryan claimed his Italian dual citizenship in 2016 which inspired the film.
The film is funded by a successful crowdfunding campaign on the platform Seed & Spark, raising over $55,000 with money coming in from both Italy and the United States. The team received the Panavision New Filmmakers Program grant which awards new filmmakers with access to Hollywood’s best cameras and lenses. Support additionally came from the oldest Italian social club in Los Angeles, Società Garibaldina di Mutua Beneficenza which granted the filmmakers two days of filming at their historic location.
The film follows the Italian American protagonist, David Mangano, on his mission to get his Italian citizenship recognized by the consulate. Pietro, a consulate employee who always dots his I’s and crosses his T’s, begins the citizenship process with a comedic interrogation of David. After passing the grilling, things take a funny twist as David is forced to prove his knowledge and passion for all things Italian. Along the way, he discovers a surprise hidden in the consulate which inspires him to continue on his mission.
Editing the film has already begun. Bryan says, “We plan to have the film ready for the fall film festival season”. WeShort, the innovative streaming short film platform based in Puglia already has signed a letter of intent for distribution on their platform.
