Stefania Stella, Fatal Cult | poster

At that time I was more like parsley. I went from dancing to racing motorcycles, to my first experience in television, and then cinema, ”so Stefania Di Giandomenico started our conversation.

«My full name is Stefania Stella Maris di Giandomenico. When I started with the most important jobs, the Vista suggested that I adopt Stefania Stella. They are real names, nothing was invented.

We reached out to her to tell us anecdotes about a career that began in the early ’80s: “I was a kid, more like a little tomboy,” she says, making up her mind among memories resurfacing. For many, his image remains closely associated with Deadly Tires – Deadly Tiresa title produced and interpreted by herself under the direction of Festa, which enjoys extreme ambivalence on the part of critics and spectators: those who sacrifice it for the sake of cult movie Which, on the other hand, he inevitably believes in sculpture.

Stefania, before arriving at “Fatal Frames”, I would like to go over some of her work experiences with her: in 1981, for example, she joined Nino D’Angelo in “Celebrities” by Ninì Grassia.

Nino D’Angelo was an amazing person. About Ninì Grassia, eh (sighs) … To understand each other, I had to fight tooth and nail in my profession, without ever receiving support from anyone.

Was it better with Sergio City and Gigi Proetti at Micio Micio?

Ah yes, I did that episode too dreams and needs! Proietti was exceptional, kind, gentle… Sergio Setti was a great friend, I remember introducing me to the Pasquale Festa Campanile and offering me a role for The girl from Trieste But I had to refuse.

Then there was Vittorio De Cesti with “Profession Vacations” and “Everybody’s in the Gym”.

He often called me because of his work, he was such a nice guy. We were very close friends with him and his wife. It was Vittorio, in a way, who introduced me to El Vista one evening.

stories…

At first, Al was surrounded by pretty girls. I hated him too (He laughs). Then, when we got to know each other better, we talked a lot and from there our romantic and artistic relationship began. For 20 years we have been together, but at some point you became like sister and brother. Today, however, friendship, affection, and love in the innocent sense of the term linger.

“Fatal Frames” remains, without a doubt, her most ambitious project: she is a protagonist, producer, singer, and dancer. How did this bet happen?

At the time I met Festa, I was considering moving to New York. At that point, he asked me to shoot a video for my song an excuseI think it was 1991 or 1992. And from there the film production was born. Al wrote the story and showed it to me, and I agreed to do it. We started photographing the monuments in Rome, asking for every possible permit… It was quite an effort, but I’m glad.

Vista himself has, on several occasions, spoken of filming halts related to production issues.

In the beginning, I was just an executive producer. Filming began, but the producers signed bad bills. So, I rolled up my sleeves and took on the whole project financially, with the help of Festa. I remember Bernasconi calling me “The Maiden of Nuremberg” (He laughs). However, the break was not about the money; It was due to the death of Donald Pleasence after Rossano Brazzi, in 1995. We still managed to finish the job with the distribution entrusted to Medusa, but there were also problems on this side that I’d rather not say anything about.

Today the film has entered the status of cult titles. Are you sorry it was labeled “trash”?

Of course I’m sorry, but to a certain extent. Meanwhile, some of the shots captured remain unique, and no one else has done them like us. At the time, a young woman like me made a film of this kind, with an important cast … Enrico Ghezzi asked for a personal screening at the Cinecittà, he liked it and said there was a strong inspiration for the script command sign.

Speaking of actors, how was it possible to bring together all those big names: in addition to Brazzi and Pleasence also Albertazzi, Alida Valli, Ciccio Ingrassia …

It was all thanks to Vista. But not because he was my partner, I’m being objective: he went to all of them to talk about the project and they all accepted.

Let’s debunk or confirm some gossip: is it true that Ugo Pagliai left the group?

Think about what people invent, this is nonsense. He was so kind and available, he loved the part. In case you gave it up, the group! (He laughs). At one point she got angry and disappeared. Everyone panicked, and a production assistant found me in the office a few days later. Pagliai probably confused me (He laughs).

Instead, Linnea Quigley announced, in a rather blunt manner, that she shot her character’s death scene in “miserable” circumstances.

Mah, while filming in a castle in Artena, outside of Rome, it was obvious there was no shower and the floor she was lying on was freezing, but then my assistant, Angelo D’Antoni, escorted her to the hotel to clean up the fake blood. Even Al, to honor her, called in her ex-husband Steve Johnson for the special effects. What he said seems very strange to me, also because there was sympathy between us.

When “Fatal Frames” was shown at Fantafestival in 1996, where it won the “Lucio Fulci” Grand Prix, some in the theater reacted negatively, and Festa did not take it well. Do you confirm that?

There were probably some angry kids in the audience, I don’t know what, they were slurred. But I don’t want to say nonsense. Yes, he got angry, but it wasn’t anything serious. It’s not specifically movie-specific: How many people are annoying people in the theater in general?

To what extent have you been hurt by undiplomatic criticism of your performance?

I acted live in English, I produced, I sang, I danced, I was ready to help the whole crew in times of need, what can I say? Had I been “protected” and someone had sent me, I think this ferocity could have been contained more. I think I was very good at everything I did for the movie. The trouble was that I did many things at the same time: I recited and thought at the same time what lines to study, I sang and in the meantime, I was careful on all accounts… Criticism, of course, hurts, but people can say what they want. You can’t change some people’s thinking.

What degree would you give yourself as an actress?

I’ll give myself, based on everything I’ve done for this movie, a 9; As an actress, given the live acting in English – much better than the Italian version where I double myself – 7.

Well, a good score.

Tell me, however, if my other colleagues have done all I have done for him Killer frames. I think I outdid myself. And above all, no one will take away the sights inside the Trevi Fountain.

What are your current projects with Factory Productions, your production company?

Right now I’m having a hard time with the cultural project big light. Father Pew. Between science and faith. At the base of everything there Secrets of science and lights of faith, a book written by Dr. Giorgio Vista, Al’s great-grandfather, who was commissioned by the Holy See to study the stigmata of Padre Pio. It is, to date, the only medical treatise on St. With Al, we have prepared everything to make this story known through exhibitions, books… Now we would like to look for a space for a permanent creation. I also like to produce a movie.