Today we’d like to introduce you to Dino Sardella.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Dino. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was always a curious person and always interested in knowing people, stories and legends. I developed very early an insane interest for Japanese Anime and Greek Mythology. The first book I have read was a collection of “Aesop’s Fables” and that’s where my passion for storytelling started, together for my passion for Classic Literature. That’s why I have attended Classic Studies because I found that they were the only way for me to know more about Aesop, Hesiod, Homer and all the other storytellers that entertained my childhood days.
A large part of Classic Literature is focused on Theatre and so I started very early to be exposed to Latin Comedies and Greek Tragedies. They opened up a world to me. Storytelling has so many different facets that it is impossible to describe them all, and even list them. But it is possible to create new ones, by merging, mixing, transforming what other storytellers have done. And so I started to write plays, first for fun, then for interest and I was lucky enough to have the chance to produce some of them.
After that, transitioning from playwriting to screenwriting was almost a natural (and smooth) step. Here in LA, I had the chance to work with incredibly talented, committed and creative professionals that helped me understand the different between making plays and making films. Learning the new language of films here in Los Angeles has been one of the most formative and interesting experiences I have ever had. Even production-wise, the differences are huge, and this is exciting. “Differences” are always exciting.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth Roads are boring and never allow you to learn and improve. When I moved to the UK, my first goal was to learn English in a way that would allow me not only to communicate to the shopping assistant, the bar tenders or my roommates, but I wanted to be able to speak a language that was more “organic” and proper to the contexts that I wanted to find myself involved in. The language barrier can only be overcome by studying, practicing 24/7, watching movies, listening to music, radio and guess what (at least in my case)? Going to Theatre. I started to read as many plays as possible in English and that helped me to improve the way I communicate with people around me. Communicating is important in this business but it is not enough, you have to be able to communicate properly and deliver your message clearly. And this was particularly meaningful when I moved to LA. Moving to another Continent means also find a way to adapt to a new life-style which, as excited as it is, it is also very difficult because the way of communicating is different.
This is a very competitive environment and you have to develop the ability to navigate in it in the safer way possible but you also need to allow yourself to take some risks. I was lucky enough to find myself surrounded by honest and protective people that helped me to grow and form a thicker skin. Sometimes is not about who you know but how you project yourself. Once you learn the trick, the road is easier. It just takes lot of time to learn that trick.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am working as a screenwriter/ producer for three different Companies but I am focusing on a project in particular that is very close to me. It is a surreal comedy (a style that definitely “defines” me as writer and producer) that will, hopefully soon, come to life. It is still at a very early stage though.
In the meantime, I am focusing on the production of a feature films and a play. Theatre is, as they say, my first love and I like the fact that, right now, I have the chance to actually dedicate myself to it the way I want to, and at the same time, immerging myself in film projects that really interests me and I am really passionate about. What sets me apart from others? The fact that I am me.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
A.W. Tony Scott and his wife/ business partner Jean Su are the first I’d like to mention. We worked together in so many projects that received acclaims and awards all over the World and we are now in the process of working together again.
Zac Unterman, President of Smart Entertainment (Family Guy, Ted, Blades of Glory) and Luca Severi, CEO of LSPG gave me a lot of space and freedom to work in different exciting projects. With Zac, I’m about to start the development of a new project and Luca Severi’s THAT CLICK gave me the chance to work on a project with great names such as Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone, Buzz Luhrmann and Luca Guadagnino (to name a few).
All these people helped me to find a new and more confident self that is able not only to deliver results but also to do it with respect and enthusiasm.
Image Credit:
Photo by Alice Esposito
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