Tell us about your background and when did you decide to become a filmmaker?

I was born in New York City and lived in Brooklyn with my mom who is an actress and a writer and my dad who is an Italian musician from Rome and my Nonno up the street. I started making paintings when I was about 2. Now I live in LA and I started acting. I decided to become a filmmaker when the quarantine happened I woke my mom up in the middle of the night and asked her if I could take a filmmaking class. It’s because I love movies so much and have so many ideas. The next day I called her friend the director Tony Kaye and he taught me how to be a filmmaker and a director. He told me to watch Lawrence of Arabia and 2001 by Stanley Kubrick. I did. The same day I wrote a script about a bird which is Bird and the Wild and then I filmed it.

Films that inspired you to become a filmmaker?

The films that inspired me are all the Pixar films… Frozen Two is the best and also Doolittle, Sonic, Chronicles of Narnia, the book of Lord of the Rings that my mom reads me, all makes me want to be a director. 

Who is your biggest influence? 

I have a lot of them. It’s books and films. The ideas I get from going in nature and the city.

What were some of the challenges you had to face in making your films? 

I have so many big ideas for films that thousands of people and I have to find a way to make them.

Do you have a favorite genre to work in? Why is it your favorite?

My favorite genre is action, adventure, comedy and fantasy. I love action and adventure movies they make me happy and feel good because I love all the characters, costumes and creativity.

What’s your all-time favorite movie and why?

My favorite movie of all times is lots of them and it's so hard to answer. I would say Frozen 2. Because it has a lot of action and adventure in it and the best characters and I love all the music. And Olaf is so funny in the movie.

If you could work with anyone in the world, who would that person be?

I want to work with Tony Kaye, also the director of Ratatouille, Guillermo Del Toro, Martin Scorsese, Joaquin Phoenix and the director of Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson.

Tell us something most people don't know about you.

Most people don’t know that I’m really good at math, science, Legos, reading, writing, dancing and dribbling a soccer ball. I’m especially good at writing my own songs.

The one person who has truly believed in you throughout your career.

My mom is the one person who has believed in me. Also my Nonno.

What was the most important lesson you had to learn as filmmaker?

I’m learning green screen now. It’s a lot of focus even to do some of the credits. It’s a lot of work to write the script, filming it and editing it. Scripts I can write pretty fast but sometimes I am working all day just on credits. 

Is it harder to get started or to keep going? What was the particular thing that you had to conquer to do either?

Might be a bit harder to finish my ideas cause then if it’s a feature film it could be harder to get a lot of ideas. In Bird in the Wild and The Wishing Fountain there weren’t that many hard parts. In The Wishing Fountain the days that we were filming there was a bit of sun so I couldn’t look at the fountain, and the fountain was the shot so it was hard to get the shot.

What keeps you motivated?

The thought of seeing my movie on a big screen! The fun of it keeps motivated.

How has your style evolved?

I want to make movies in all styles. Right now I’m working on a documentary about Los Angeles. I learn about styles every movie I make and by watching them. Having a new iPhone 11 to use now changes the style because the lense is clearer.

On set, the most important thing is:

The most important thing is the lighting. And that everybody is collaborating. It’s important that you have fun filming. 

The project(s) you’re most proud of: 

The project I’m most proud of is in my opinion Bird in the Wild because it was my first. Then I have The Wishing Fountain and the one I’m doing now. I’m also proud that I wrote a 20 page script. And I’m doing editing on I-movie all by myself.

The most challenging project you worked on. And why?

The most challenging project is the one I’m doing now about LA. I have to get shots from the moving car a lot and film homeless people even though I don’t want to.

What are your short term and long term career goals?

Short term I am a filmmaker and a director and I am that long term too. Right now I want to finish 3 scripts I’ve written. I want to be a writer and an actor. I want to have lots of animals. I’m building two film companies. Their names are Doozie Productions and Walt Doozie. I want also to do animation films.  I want to edit films and make lots of my own music. And travel.

Your next projects?

My next projects are a documentary about LA, and a series of Doozie films which are also books. I’m also writing a screenplay with my mom that will take place in Italy.