— Naples —
To make the film, I traveled to Napoli nine times, from 2009-2014 by the time all felt complete. I then had a 3.5 year editing process in front of me. Here are some images from my travels there as well as a few stills from the film.
Not a drone shot, but taken from high above the Castello Sant' Elmo. This image demonstrates the variety and plethora of churches in just a few square kilometers.
Casina Vanvitelliana in the blue hour.
Street Artists Sasà Pellicia and Angelo Picone
This said so much about Napoli, that I was sure to shoot video of this and include it in the opening montage of the film.
View from Naples towards Ischia and Capri
This is another image that said so much to me about Napoli and the Napoletani. The sheer intensity of the city is shown as the locals walk down into the maelstrom, hand in hand, showing the warmth, camaraderie, and companionship that exists in this ancient place.
Cimitero Fontanelle, Napoli
San Francesco di Paola, Piazza Plebiscito
Cristian Vollaro, Napoli
Chiesa di San Domenico Maggiore, Napoli
The Carnivale from Da Attilio in the Pignaseca neighborhood of Naples, Attilio stuffs the corners of the star with ricotta. It's their signature pizza.
"Cell mates", Naples
Cimitero Fontanelle, Napoli
Cimitero Fontanelle, Napoli
Cristian Vollaro, Napoli
Cuma, Napoli
In comparable Peppe Martinelli, playing his character Jose Martinez Navarro in Spaccanapoli. This is a still from the film which features Peppe showing us how he "arranges".
Ercolano, Napoli
Teatro Flavio, Pozzuoli
"Il Maestro di Arrangiarsi", Napoli
"The Heart of Naples". I don't think it is a coincidence that the Neapolitan who designed this bike lock station, made this to exemplify Naples's open heart, which has welcomed foreigners, refuges, invaders, and artists throughout the centuries.
Peppe and friends. I imagine that these kids are taller than Peppe at this point. I love the smiles including Peppe's whilst he ironically holds a gun to his head.
This is a still from the film; a typical Neapolitan scene with vespas, laundry, warm light, no parking, and rough and tumble inhabitants.
"Ode to W. Eugene Smith", Chiaia, Napoli. This image was inspired by the father of photo journalism. He was perhaps the single most important American photographer in the development of the editorial photo essay.
Palazzo Mannajuolo, Napoli. This is a private building which contains medical offices up the stairs - in truth they are closed so you have to take the elevator. I was chased out of here by security, yet managed to snap off this wide angle hand-held shot as I was escorted away.
In another "spettacolo", Peppe arranges the Riflessofono, a show he created where he speaks poetry, wisdom, quotes, passages, and axioms through a giant megaphone to strangers. This is another still from the film and one of my favorite sequences of his due to Peppes philosophical and deep soul.
Piazza Dante, Napoli
Piazza Gesù, Napoli
Cupola di San Francesco di Paolo, Napoli
Piazza Plebiscito looking towards Palazzo Reale, Napoli.
Angels of Galleria Umberto, Napoli.
Stazione Toledo, Napoli
Peppe Martinelli, Spaccanapoli.
Pulcinella is the second patron saint of Naples, only to San Gennaro. He is a character that was born out of the Commedia dell'Arte, and 400 years later continues to be the symbol and master of Arrangiarsi. This is his bust in Spaccanapoli on Via Tribunali.
Tango a Napoli. Of course this was an impromptu street performance. It is Naples after all.
Vesuvio Sunrise, as seen from Chiaia, Naples.
Angelo of Galleria Umberto
Toledo Station, Naples
The student finds the master at Santa Chiara, Napoli.
The ceiling of the Galleria Umberto ©matteotroncone