StarsMakingaSocialImpact: Why&HowActorGiovanni MorassuttiIsHelpingToChange OurWorld
EdwardSylvan,CEOofSycamoreEntertainmentGroup Follow Apr5 13minread
Atthemoment,Iamconsolidatingcollaborations withseveralinternationalpartnersandwiththe RegionofFriuli VeneziaGiulia.Theactivitiesof theartcenterresonatewiththelocalcommunity. Theoutcomesofmyprojectsareusuallyopento thepublicandhavereceivedaparticularinterest amongthelocalpeople.
Iamalsoaimingtofosterculturaltourismand communityinvolvement.Friuli VeneziaGiuliais aculturallyuniqueregionshapedbyhistory, traditionsandart.Iwouldlovetocollaboratewith otherlocalentities.Iwouldsaythatatthisstage, thethreethingsthatwouldsupportmyeffort wouldbetopromotemycause,donatetotheart center,andcollaborateonourprojects.
Asapartofourseriesaboutstarswhoaremakinganimportantsocial impact,IhadthedistinctpleasureofinterviewingGiovanni Morassutti.
GiovanniMorassutti(bornMarch15,1980,inPadua)isanItalianactor, director,writer,artist,andculturalentrepreneur Heisagraduateofthe CentroSperimentalediCinematografia,andrepresentativeofMethod Acting,beingalong timestudentandcollaboratorofJohnStrasbergand havingalsostudiedwithhissisterSusaninthelate’90s Since2001hehas actedinmorethan20films,includingindependentfilms,primetimetv,and internationalfilms In2016hewrotetheforewordtotheItalianversionof Strasberg´sbook“AccidentallyonPurpose:ReflectionsonLife,Actingand theNineNaturalLawsofCreativity” GiovanniMorassuttiisthefounderof ArtAia Creatives/In/Residence,aninternationalartresidencyandarts schoollocatedinthecountrysideofthenorth easternItalianregionFriuli VeneziaGiuliathatfocusesondevelopingthecreativeprocess,holismand sustainablepracticesbypreservingbiodiversityandfacilitatingcultural exchangeacrossborders
Thankyousomuchforjoiningusinthisinterviewseries!Canyou sharewithusthe“backstory”thatledyoutothiscareerpath?
Thankyouforhavingme.Itisarealpleasuretobeinterviewedby you
Iwouldrathertalkaboutmypathasaculturalentrepreneurandartistic directorofanart relatedorganizationsincethatiswhereIseemymain contributiontomakingasocialimpact Asanactor,Icanonlysaythat
eachtimeIworkonacharacterIalwaystrymybesttoputmyselfinits shoesasahumanbeingratherthananactor
Ilovenature Itinspiresmeandmakesmefeelinharmonywithmyself I amhurtwhenIseehowtheworstkindofhumanityisdestroyingitjust formakingaprofit Issueslikemarinepollution,deforestation,and unethicalhuntingmakemefeelsadandangry Iamalsoconcerned aboutglobalwarmingandallrelatedthreatstobiodiversity.Ifeela strongemotionalneedtosensibilizepeopleaboutthisissue Founding theinternationalartresidencyArtAia Creatives/In/Residence representsmycontributiontoanenvironmentalcauseaswellastoa holisticapproachtothearts.Myfatherhastaughtsomecoursesinthe venuewhenitstillwasanagriculturalcenterinthelateninetiesto developcreativitywithinanaturalsetting Subsequently,Ihaveadded culturalandartisticproposalstointernationalartists’initiativesrelated toexperimentationandresearchinsustainablepracticesaswellasin someofthemajorcategorieswithintheliberalartsliketheatreandfine art
Canyousharethefunniestormostinterestingstorythatoccurred toyouinthecourseofyourcareer?Whatwasthelessonortake awaythatyoutookoutofthatstory?
Well,thatwouldbeproducingthefirstartist in residenceprogramofthe projectMappeFluidebyMarsala11in2014.
Astheresultofanopencall,IhaveselectedtheartcollectiveMarsala11 todevelopaprojectaimingtoresearchthetopographyoftheterritory Theartists,afterresearchduringaresidencyprogram,installedsite specificinterventionsusingtheoldstableoftheartcenterfromtheend ofthe19thcenturyanditsadjacenciesasanexhibitionarea Iwasvery enthusiasticabouttheprojectandIdidmybesttofulfilltheirneedswhile theywereworkingontheircreativeprocess Ontopofcuratingand tutoringtheirartresidency,Iwasalsopreparingmealsforthem.Ibelieve Iamagoodcook,butforsomereason,theydidn’twanttoeatmydishes Theypreferredtogotoabarinthenearestvillageandhavesome sandwiches Ihavealwayswonderedwhatwaswrongwithmypasta!
Ihavelearned,throughtheexperience,thatyouhavetoputboundaries, cannotdoallthethingsatonce,andneedtostructureanart related organization
Whatwouldyouadviseayoungpersonwhowantstoemulateyour success?
Ibelievesuccessisdefinedbyhowmanytimesyoucanstandupfrom yourfailures;therefore,Iwouldsuggestnevergivinguponyourdreams andtryingtodothebestyoucantoexpresswhoyouareandwhatyou wanttodo Inotherwords,determination Thechallengeistomakeyour dreamscomethroughintherealworldwhichrequiresalotofworkand acceptingmanyrejections.Nevertakeitpersonally.Itisjustlifeandlifeis hard
Youusetheword“emulate,”whichIbelieveisabitdangerous.Eachofus hashispath,andevenifonecanbeinspiredandlearnfromothers,it comesdowntoyourjourney Followwhatyouarecalleduponinthis
worldtodo,whichisnotalwayseasytofind.Inmycase,itwasbeingan actorandacreativepractitioner Myadviceistodoyourownthingand tolistentoafewpiecesofadviceonlyfrompeoplethatyoutrustandthat youadmire Caringparents,forexample,giveadviceallthetime,and mostofthetimeareoutoflovebutbecarefulsincetheymightbe projectionsoftheirdreamsandregrets,whicharenotnecessarilyyours Intermsoftheactingbusiness,Iamusedtosaying:“Findagoodteacher, don’tbetrayyourselftosucceedandbeabetterpersonbeforebeingabetter actor”
Isthereapersonthatmadeaprofoundimpactonyourlife?Can youshareastory?
Yes JohnStrasberg,thesonofLeeStrasberg,thespiritualguideofthe ActorsStudio Ihavestudiedandcollaboratedwithhimforover20years, andIbelievehehelpedmediscovermyselfandmycreativeprocess.He hasbeenafatherfigureandasourceofartisticinspiration Togiveyou anexample.Irememberonetime,inNewYork,Ihadthisstrongsenseof guiltaboutsomeissuesrelatedtomyfamily Afterclass,wewalkeddown thestreetsinthetheatredistrictofManhattan,andItoldhimhowIfelt. Heembracedmeandwhispered:“Ifyourparentswouldhavelovedyoua littlemore ”Hearingthatsentencemademeburstintotears Itwassuch areliefforme MyparentsdivorcedwhenIwas4yearsold Ihavealways hadtodealwithasenseofguilt,feelinginadequate NowthatIamolder, Iamlivingmylifeacceptingthefactthatmyparentsprobablydidthe besttheycouldtotakegoodcareofmesoitisbetter,thankstohimand otherpeoplewhohavehelpedmealongtheway.
Howareyouusingyoursuccesstobringgoodnesstotheworld? Canyousharewithusthemeaningfulorexcitingcausesyouare workingonrightnow?
Iamnotgivingup,andIamstilltryingtodowhatIdreamaboutdoing, whichismysuccess.Intermsofmycause,Iamgivingthepossibilityto peopleworldwidetofocusontheircreativeprocessanddiscoverthe naturalbeautyofmyhomeregionthankstoartist in residenceprograms andcoursesintheartsandhumanities
Iamcreatingnewpossibilitiesforcollaborationamongthinkersofall fields
ArtAiaStudiosisoneofmylatestprojectsaimingtooffermasterclasses ontheOrganicCreativeProcessandMethodActingtoactors,directors, andwriters,aswellasScenicartsandSustainabilitythankstomyvarious collaborators
Canyousharewithusthestorybehindwhyyouchosetotakeup thisparticularcause?
Ihadsomanymomentsinwhich,whilebeinginnature,Ifeltinharmony withmyself,andIbelievedthatitisoneofthemainreasonswhyIhave resilientlychosenthiscause.Asakid,Ikeptfrogsinmypocketsand lookedatthetreesandtheflowersforhours Naturehasalways attractedme.Itnurturesmysoul.Ibelievethatthefactthatourplanetis facingvastenvironmentalproblemsisaveryurgenttopic,andIam
doingmybesttoexpressthattoaglobalaudiencethroughholisticart practices,creativity,andcommunityengagement
Canyousharewithusastoryaboutapersonwhowasimpactedby yourcause?
In2018IcollaboratedwiththeEnglishassociationstheArtsTerritory ExchangeandtheCentreforSustainablePracticeintheArtsinthe residencyinsustainablepractices.Twointernationalartists,Beatrice LopezfromNorwayandKellyLeonardfromAustraliacametospend sometimeatmyartresidencytodeveloptheirartpracticesrelatedto ecology Whiletheywerethere,wevisitedthevineyardsofCantinaDei PrincipidiPorcia,aneightcenturies oldwinerydiscussingthecrossovers ofcultureandsustainableagriculturewithPrinceGuecellodiPorciawho wasimpactedbymycauseanddecidedtobecomeourtechnicalsponsor withhisenergy savingcompany.
Whileathisfarm,theartistshaverealizedaperformancepiece “Filtering”toemphasizethenecessitytofilterandrecycle Iamgrateful forhavingcollaboratedwiththeCSPA.Theyaredoingafantasticjobof raisingawarenessaboutenvironmentalbalance,socialequity,economic stability,andstrengthenedculturalinfrastructure GudrunFilipskahas writtenabeautifularticle(ConnectedbyaThread)aboutour collaboration Ibelieveitexpresseswithclarityalsomycommitmentto creatingthekindofconnectionsbetweenpeoplethatleadtocollective civicaction,politicalexpression,communitydialogue,andshared culturalexperiences.
Aretherethreethingsthatindividuals,societyorthegovernment candotosupportyouinthiseffort?
Atthemoment,Iamconsolidatingcollaborationswithseveral internationalpartnersandwiththeRegionofFriuli VeneziaGiulia.The activitiesoftheartcenterresonatewiththelocalcommunity The outcomesofmyprojectsareusuallyopentothepublicandhavereceived aparticularinterestamongthelocalpeople
Iamalsoaimingtofosterculturaltourismandcommunityinvolvement Friuli VeneziaGiuliaisaculturallyuniqueregionshapedbyhistory, traditionsandart Iwouldlovetocollaboratewithotherlocalentities I wouldsaythatatthisstage,thethreethingsthatwouldsupportmyeffort wouldbetopromotemycause,donatetotheartcenter,andcollaborate onourprojects
Whatareyour“5thingsIwishsomeonetoldmewhenIfirst started”andwhy.Pleaseshareastoryoranexampleforeach.
Well,whenyousay“fiststarted,”Iwouldgobacktomyearlychildhood sinceIbelievethatwearebornwithtalent
Thechallengeistofollowthroughwithourmission,nurturingand expressingourselvesinouradultlives.
ThatbeingsaidIwouldhavelovedtohearthefollowingthings:
●Youcandowhatyoudreamaboutdoingbecauseyoucanmakeit happensinceyouareworthit,andthingswillworkoutfine
Ourmindscanbeoneofourworstenemies,mostlywhenweabsorbtoo muchcriticismandpressure,whichturnsintonegativethoughtsand procrastination Weneedtobeself indulgentattimes
●Yoursensitivityisagift,notaflaw Beingsensitivedoesn’tmeanbeing weak.
Iwouldhavevaluedmyselfmorebyacceptingandtrustingmysensitivity asahumanbeing Sensitiveanimals,forinstance,canfeelthedanger beforeanothercan.
●Trustandhelppeoplearoundyou
Ibelievethatrealchangeisacollectiveeffortandthatsharingwith otherscanbringanenormousamountofjoy Helpingeachotherona humanandsociallevelisaprofoundsourceoffulfillmentanddignitybut youstillhavetobecarefulbytrustingyourintuition
●Bewhoyouare,anddon’tworryaboutwhatotherpeoplethinkabout you
FromtheItalianbourgeoisie,Igrewupinanenvironmentconcerned aboutappearance,style,andmaterialsuccessconsideredfundamental valuestobepartofthe“clan ”Iamnotsayingthattherearenotgood aspectsintheupperclass,butIbelievethattolivethelifeyouwantto live,youneedtobecourageous,andbeinganartistisanactofrebellion Itisfundamentaltoexpresswhatyoufeel,takerisks,anddon’tpaytoo muchattentiontopeoplecriticizingyou,asI’vesaidbefore
●Profitissecondaryinlife Commitmentandqualitycomefirst
IalwayswantedtobegoodatwhatIwasdoingtogivethebestpartof myselftotheworld.Itisespeciallytrueinmyactingprocess.IthinkI haveabsorbedtheoriginalspiritoftheActorsStudioatayoungage whereactorskeptworkingonthemselvesregardlessoftheirmaterial success WhenIfocusmyenergyonmoney,power,fame,Ifeelunhappy andtrappedinmyfrustrations
Youareapersonofenormousinfluence Ifyoucouldstarta movementthatwouldbringthemostamountofgoodtothemost amountofpeople,whatwouldthatbe?Youneverknowwhatyour ideacantrigger.: )
Thanksforsayingthat OnceIhaveusedthismetaphorinabroadcasting interview,“Agreatmanyadropofwaterwillcreateacreek ”
Ialreadyfeelpartofamovementalongwithmanyotherexcitingartists andpeoplewhocreateinspiringprojectsacrosstheglobe.Istandupfor preservingnatureanditsbiodiversityandusingartpracticestoexpress topicssuchasglobalwarmingandsustainability.Iamalsodedicatedto nurturingtalentandcreativity
Iamcommittedtocreatingawarenessoftheimportanceofpreserving cultureandnature,whicharepillarstoahealthysociety Ourapproach willdeterminethecourseofthefuture,andweneedtobeanexcellent exampletotheyoungergenerationspassingonourbestknowledge, whichisanessentialthingifwewanttochangethewaypeoplelookat things Forexample,IamcollaboratingwithSadyaMizan,founderofthe UrontoartistcommunityinBangladeshbysharinghermissiontouseart topreserveculturalheritage.Iammovedbythecollectiveeffortofthat artistcommunitytomaintainintacttheDubolhatiPalace,ahistoricalsite thatrepresentstheidentityofitspeople.Inmyrealm,Iamdoingthe samewiththeenvironmentofmyhomeregionbycommunicatingits naturalbeautiesandbiodiversitythankstomyinternationalartistic collaborationsandthepartnershipasaculturalinstitutewiththeonline platformGoogleArts&Cultureglobally Ialsowanttoofferan alternativetostandardeducationbycreatingaspontaneouscircuitof artistsandart relatedopportunitiesfocusingonthedevelopmentofthe creativeprocesswithinanaturalsetting.
Canyoupleasegiveusyourfavorite“LifeLessonQuote”?Canyou explainhowthatwasrelevantinyourlife?
“Beautyistruth,truthbeauty thatisall Yeknowonearth,andallyeneed toknow”byJohnKeats
Ithasalwaysinspiredmyartpracticesincethesearchfortruthisthe coreofmywork WhileworkingonmyfirstdocumentaryfilmPersonal DreamSpaceshotattheartresidency,IrememberJohnStrasberg quotingit,whichinspiredmycause ArtAia LaDolceBerlinhascreated thedocumentary,anindependentproductioncompanythatIhave confoundedinBerlin,thatproducesdocumentariesandnarrativeswith nature,creativity,art,andgenderequality Ibelievethatnatureandart canexpressoneofthefundamentalmysterioustruthsoflife,equaltoall ofus
WeareblessedthatsomeofthebiggestnamesinBusiness,VC funding,Politics,Sports,andEntertainmentreadthiscolumn.Is thereapersonintheworld,orintheUSwhomyouwouldloveto haveaprivatebreakfastorlunchwith,andwhy?Heorshemight justseethisifwetagthem: )
Iwouldsay,EckhartTolle Iadmirehimasateacher,andIthinkhehas sufferedalot.Iwouldlovetoencounterhisspiritualenergy.Iwould haveaprivatelunchorbreakfastmakingsuretobeinthepresent moment.
Thankyousomuchfortheseamazinginsights.Thiswasso inspiring,andwewishyoucontinuedsuccess!
Thankyou,Edward IthasbeenarealhonorIwishyouthesame
boutTheInterviewer:GrowingupinCanada,EdwardSylvanwasan unlikelycandidatetomakeamarkonthehigh poweredfilmindustry basedinHollywood.ButasCEOofSycamoreEntertainmentGroupInc, A
(SEGI)SylvanisamongaselectgroupoflessthantenBlackexecutiveswho havefounded,ownandcontrolapubliclytradedcompany Now,deeply involvedinthemoviebusiness,heisprovidingopportunitiesforpeopleof color
In2020,hewasappointedpresidentoftheMonacoInternationalFilm Festival,andwasencouragedtotakethefestivalinanewdigitaldirection
RaisedinToronto,heattendedYorkUniversitywherehestudiedEconomics andPoliticalScience,thenwenttoworkinfinanceonBayStreet,(thecity’s equivalentofWallStreet).Afteryearsofhandlingequitiestrading,filmtax credits,optionstradingandmergersandacquisitionsforthefilm,mining andtechnologyindustries,in2008hedecidedtoreorienthiscareerfully towardstheentertainmentbusiness
WiththeaimofhelpingLosAngelesfilmmakersofcolorwhowerestruggling tounderstandhowtoraisecapital,Sylvanwantedtoprovidethemwithways tofinancetheircreativeendeavors.
AtSycamoreEntertainmenthespecializesinprintandadvertisingfinancing, marketing,acquisitionandworldwidedistributionofqualityfeature length motionpictures,andisconcernedwithacquiring,producingandpromoting filmsaboutequality,diversityandotherthoughtprovokingsubjectmatter whichwillalsoincludenonviolentstorytelling
PopCulture
BY EdwardSylvan CEOofSycamoreEntertainmentingfilmsabout ubjects
Follow
Follow s,Film,Sports haring authoritiesin esthatare
uptors:Purva kingupthe h intelligentAI Authority
“WheneverIFeel DepressionNippingAt MyHeels,It’sUsually CorrelatedWithFeeling BiancaL RodriguezEdM, LMFTinAuthority Magazine
ou,ALot,” stertagofthe Authority
ManasFuloriaof Nagarro:FiveThingsYou NeedToKnowTo SuccessfullyManagea RemoteTeam TylerGallagherinAuthority Magazine
WRITTENLearnmore
Mediumisanopenplatformwhere170millionreaderscome tofindinsightfulanddynamicthinking Here,expertand undiscoveredvoicesalikediveintotheheartofanytopicand bringnewideastothesurface Learnmore
MakeMediumyours
Followthewriters,publications,andtopicsthatmattertoyou, andyou’llseethemonyourhomepageandinyourinbox Explore
Shareyourthinking
Ifyouhaveastorytotell,knowledgetoshare,ora perspectivetooffer welcomehome It’seasyandfreeto postyourthinkingonanytopic WriteonMedium