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Monique Impagliazzo Philly Born Filmmaker Knows which way to Go by John Nacchio photo by Bahareh Ritter
A FILM
director, writer, and producer with more than 15 years of experience in film, television, and documentaries, Monique Impagliazzo was born and raised in South Philadelphia. A graduate of St. Maria Goretti High School, her imagination, creativity, and personality radiate enthusiastic energy. At Temple University, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Media Arts that provided her with a foundation in the craft of film production and fueled her passion for storytelling and creative expression. Impagliazzo gathered vast experience in film and television which also includes working with some of the biggest names in Hollywood - Al Pacino, Julia Roberts, Post Malone, and Jane Lynch, to name a few. She worked on several projects for Barbra Streisand’s production company, Barwood Films, such as Paramount's The Guilt Trip, Back to Brooklyn, and the singer’s studio album, What Matters Most. Impagliazzo’s made her directorial debut with the short film, Turkey's Done, starring SNL's Cheri Oteri. The film won Best Director, Best Actress and Best Comedy at various film festivals in the US and Canada, including the Just for Laughs Film Festival in Vancouver, the Women's Film Festival of Philadelphia, and the Burbank International Film Festival. Most recently, Impagliazzo completed direction on an impactful six-minute music video short, “Which Way to Go,” for actor and musician Malek Hanna. This video, available to view on YouTube, has captured industry attention and screened on opening night of the 2023 Women’s Film Festival in Philadelphia. “I’m proud to be honored with this recognition by a group of filmmakers from my hometown,” Impagliazzo says. “It’s a group that celebrates, inspires and cultivates the powerful contribution of women in the film and entertainment industry.” “Which Way to Go” is the first of many music videos for Malek Hanna, looking forward to the release of his upcoming album later this year titled, On the Right Track. “It’s a declaration of independence and freedom that one takes on their way to self-discovery. Here, we told a
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| ROWHOME MAGAZINE | October /November /December 2023
Impagliazzo made her directorial debut with the short film, Turkey’s Done, starring SNL’s Cheri Oteri.
story that places the artist, Malek, at a crossroads of life, between following his heart and passion for singing. His challenge is potentially living a life in the limelight or leaving that behind in order to keep the family legacy and business alive,” Impagliazzo says of the video’s concept. “The mountaintop filming was an exciting staging production for me as a director in applying the technique of drone camera work to bring forth visually the climax of his struggle. I worked closely with our Director of Photography, Justin Knodel, to achieve these powerful shots. The lyrics and strong visuals are blended and exemplify his inner struggle to decide. Which path will he follow? Will he listen to his heart as the lyric proclaims or live the conventional life that is expected of him?” Currently, Impagliazzo is prepping a music video for the legendary Roslyn Kind and up next, she plans to direct the feature film, Ready, Set, Christmas. She’s also teaming up with Producer Wendy Cox and developing a series titled Agency. The main character is an ambitious female sports agent from South Philly who sets her sights high despite her family’s legacy of involvement in illegal sports betting. PRH gohomephilly.com